Founders
Juan Paolo Villonco
Mr. Juan Paolo Villonco has a wealth of experience in environmental conservation and sustainability. His environmental advocacy began as a law student when he co-founded the Environmental Law Society of Ateneo [ELSA]. ELSA championed environmental awareness campaigns among the Philippine legal community. It organized policy forums and round table discussions. It also lobbied for significant environmental policies and collaborated with legislators to help pass laws and municipal ordinances.
He has the distinction of being the FIRST Filipino to graduate from Stanford Law School, with expertise in innovation, energy, clean technology finance and policy development.
Mr. Villonco regularly advises a wide range of Philippine government agencies on policy. He has been advisor to Local Government Units, House of Representative Committees [Committee on Climate Change and Committee on Justice], the Securities and Exchange Commission, and the Department of Science and Technology.
He is a member of the Board of Trustees of IIRR a New York based Non-Profit which focuses on Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation in rural communities, particularly in Africa and South East Asia.
He is recognized by CNN, Tatler Asia, Entrepreneur Magazine, and other publications for his work in enabling the Philippine Technology sector and supporting Philippine start-ups. In 2018, he spearheaded a public-private partnership with the Department of Science and Technology to help transform Filipino scientists into entrepreneurs. He was also featured by Philippine Star in 2006 as one of the Philippines’ most promising environmentalists.
He is the Chairman of the Young Professionals Committee of the American Chamber of Commerce and a Director of the Stanford Club of the Philippines.
Mr. Villonco enjoys adventure travel, mountain climbing and scuba diving.
Juan Vicente Rufino
Mr. Rufino is a seasoned investor, philanthropist and environmental advocate.
He is a real estate developer and manager for 20 years with various private enterprises. He owns and operates Oceana Maria Scuba, a chartered dive boat business based in Tubbataha. He is Chairman of the Board of the Consuelo Chito Madrigal Foundation, Bikol, which provides scholarships to Ateneo de Naga University through low cost housing and other social enterprise projects in the area. He also sits as Chairman of the board of the Chito Madrigal Microfinance NGO.
His past philanthropic roles include: Director of the Asian Cultural Council, which provides scholarships for Filipino artists abroad; Fundraiser for the Maximo T. Kalaw Institute for Sustainable Development Concert to raise funds for the following initiatives: Large Marines, Vertebrate Research Institute of the Philippines; Carewell Philippines, which focuses on support for people dealing with cancer, and their families; and MovEd Foundation, which provides pre-K instruction and support to those in need.