Meet our dynamic team!
We are a group of passionate professionals, with a diverse set of skills and experiences, all united by a shared commitment to fulfilling HCWH's goal. Based in three countries in Southeast Asia (Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam), we work together to transform the region's healthcare sector so that it reduces its environmental footprint, becomes a community anchor for sustainability, and leads the global movement for environmental health and justice.
Ramon San Pascual, MPH, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
email: rsanpascual@hcwh.org
A population, health, and environment policy advocate, Ramon brings with him years of experience working in civil society organizations (CSO) engaged in social development work, and has dedicated many years on policy development, advocacy and working with policy-makers and stakeholders on population, health, environment and sustainable development issues.
Having worked with an extensive network of parliamentarians, health professionals, community and civil society leaders, he has helped form and strengthen coalitions of advocates upholding health and social justice in the Philippines and across the Asia Pacific region.
He served as Executive Director of the Asian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development (2012-2015), Executive Director of the Philippine Legislators’ Committee on Population and Development (2005-2012), and until recently, as Head Executive Assistant and Division Head of the Legislative Liaison Division of the Philippine Department of Health (DOH).
A Bachelor of Political Economics graduate from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Ramon obtained his Masters in Public Health in 2007 from the University of Washington in Seattle, WA. USA. Alongside MPH, he also completed Certificate Program on International Health. Earlier, in 2003-2004, he also finished Population Leadership Program as a Gates-Packard International Fellow also at the University of Washington.
Manjit "Jit" Kaur Sohal, REGIONAL CLIMATE MANAGER
email: msohal@hcwh.org
Manjit Kaur “Jit” Sohal is a development professional with over 12 years of experience, most of which are in the field of disaster and climate resilience, designing and implementing programs that have had a significant impact on communities as well as health facilities and systems in Southeast Asia.
Jit currently manages the climate and health program in Southeast Asia, with the overall goal of transforming the health sector in the region to become climate-resilient, sustainable, and low-carbon. Before joining Health Care Without Harm, she supported the Philippine government's disaster response and social protection programs and headed the business development and project management unit of a local consulting firm. Jit is a graduate of Political Science from the University of the Philippines-Diliman.
Laetania Belai Djandam, CLIMATE OFFICER
email: ldjandam@hcwh.org
Laetania Belai Djandam is a Climate Reality Leader and Indigenous Environmental Activist from Indonesia who recently graduated from The University of Sheffield UK with an honors degree in Medical Sciences. She brings a wealth of experience from international non-profit organizations specializing in the Climate and Health Field. She has also actively advocated for climate issues at local, national, and international levels, including the last three UNFCCC climate conferences.
Belai is passionate about integrating a systems-oriented approach to planetary health and empowering healthcare professionals to become climate leaders. Additionally, she is a dedicated advocate for indigenous rights, youth empowerment and community-based forest management in Borneo.
Michelle Reyes, MD, SUSTAINABILITY OFFICER
email: mreyes@hcwh.org
Michelle Reyes is a registered pharmacist and licensed medical doctor who knew early on that she would be working in public health since she became one of the delegates to represent Philippines in the WHO WPRO Meeting. She is an active volunteer and has led several projects and participated in working groups such as the National Medical Students' Conference 2020, the working group on World Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and the policy working group on Antimicrobial Resistance and Demanding Accountability for Climate Change. She is an advocate for controlling Non-Communicable Diseases and is passionate about antimicrobial stewardship.
Prior to working in Healthcare Without Harm, she is the Vice President for Internal Affairs of Asian Medical Students' Association Philippines and one of the editorial board of AMSA-International. She also has experience in facilitating workshops on activities management, global health, climate change and non-communicable diseases, and disaster risk management.
Kyla Patrizze Pernes, SUSTAINABILITY ADVOCACY OFFICER
email: kpernes@hcwh.org
Kyla Patrizze Rimas Pernes is a public health practitioner with a lifelong commitment to public service. Possessing a Master's in Public Health and a Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology, she has garnered a range of awards and recognitions for her work in schools and community service. Driven by a passion for social good, she has actively server her community through various organizations, her involvement ranging from environmental health, emergency response, and public health efforts. Her extensive involvement and leadership in socio-civic organizations exemplify her dedication to eduction and empowerment in the Philippines and globally.
Kyla has applied her knowledge and expertise to academia, government agencies, and non-government organizations, demonstrating her commitment to innovative public health advocacy efforts that leverage intersectoral and intergenerational collaboration to achieve community and planetary health.
Mara Medrano, GLOBAL GREEN AND HEALTHY HOSPITALS ENGAGEMENT OFFICER
email: mmedrano@hcwh.org
Mara started her advocacy work as a singer and a member of a cause-oriented cultural organization that aims to popularize people’s art and culture. She facilitates cultural workshops for children, Indigenous communities, and urban poor areas in the Philippines as part of her personal advocacy.
Prior to joining the Health Care Without Harm Southeast Asia Office, Mara was a Program Officer at Asia Pacific Research Network where she led various campaign platforms on environment protection and trade issues in the Philippines, in Asia- Pacific, and at the global level. She then served the network as their Capacity Development officer that is dedicated to building people’s organizations’ capacities to claim their rights and sustainable development.
Mara is a passionate development worker and a cultural worker with demonstrated experience in working with development institutions in the themes of disaster response, environment, sustainable development, and trade issues. She took up a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering at Eulogio “Amang” Rodriguez Institute for Science and Technology.
Rica Rafaela Jarcia, GLOBAL GREEN AND HEALTHY HOSPITALS ASSOCIATE
email: rjarcia@hcwh.org
Rica Rafaela Y. Jarcia is public health professional with experience in supporting the implementation of public health projects including programs related to sustainability, biosafety and biosecurity protocols, biosurveillance systems, laboratory diagnostics, quality management systems, One Health, and Planetary Health.
She took her undergraduate degere in BS Biology major in Wildlife Biology in the University of the Philippines -Los Banos and is currently advancing her knowledge through a Master of Science in Public Health with a major in Epidemiology at the University of the Philippines – Manila. Rica also took short term courses in Foundations of Management at the Asian Institute of Management, School of Executive Education and Lifelong Learning.
She is interested in the management of health systems, environmental health, and public health policies. Her focus is on epidemiology and public health data analysis to execute strategies for improving various health systems on a local and global setting.
Ha Ngan "Hannah" Nguyen, GREEN AND HEALTHY HOSPITALS OFFICER (VIETNAM)
email: hnguyen@hcwh.org
Ha Ngan, also known as Hannah, boasts a distinguished six-year career in gender and community development. With a proven track record of mainstreaming gender concerns and ensuring equal participation, her work began focused on intervention and prevention of gender-based violence, highlighting her unwavering commitment to social justice. Beyond that, Hannah is skilled in network development and stakeholder engagement, fostering collaboration and ensuring all voices are heard throughout the development process.
Throughout her career, Hannah has focused on participatory and inclusive approaches to complex issues, fostering solutions that are driven by the communities. Hannah believes each community has unique strengths and challenges, rejecting a "one-size-fits-all" approach to development. Instead, she champions the importance of empowering communities to address their own needs and implement sustainable solutions.
Hannah holds a Master's degree in Globalization and Development from the University of Antwerp, Belgium.
Donna Ocmeja, COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER
email: docmeja@hcwh.org
Donna is from the beautiful island of Bohol in the Philippines. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Mass Communication and a Master's degree in Development Communication from the University of the Philippines. Since 2016, Donna has dedicated her career to the development sector, using communication as a powerful tool for social causes. While her experience primarily lies in the NGO sector, she also had the privilege of exploring roles in private and government institutions, spanning media, education, business, and services. Her eight-year professional career in communication allowed her to hone skills in digital marketing, multimedia production, media relations, fundraising, community organizing, and event coordination. Beyond her professional pursuits, Donna actively volunteers with NGOs focused on education, poverty alleviation, and community development. While most of her volunteer engagements are devoted to communication-related tasks, she also enjoys exploring new roles that expand her expertise.
Bringing a deep passion for communicating stories that inspire hope and ignite change, Donna finds her role at HCWH exciting and challenging. As the Communications Manager for HCWH Asia, she is committed to developing and implementing communication strategies that reach target audiences and drive tangible action toward a healthier, safer, and sustainable future.
Portia Lapidario, COMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATE
email: alapidario@hcwh.org
Portia is a development practitioner and visual artist from Leyte, Philippines. As a young Filipino creative with a heart dedicated to the pursuit of climate justice, human rights protection, and sustainability, she is driven to use good design, art, and storytelling to create meaningful change.
She graduated Cum Laude from Ateneo de Manila University with a degree in Development Studies. Possessing extensive experience in project management, graphic design, illustration, and communications, she has served in non-government organizations dedicated to farmers and fisherfolk, youth and women empowerment, and art education. During her time in university, she served as the Vice President for Marketing and Promotions in the Development Society of the Ateneo where she led a team of creatives in creating good design for good. In 2022, she was awarded the Loyola Schools Award for Visual Arts (Illustration Category).
Portia is a strong believer in the power of collective action and is determined to contribute what she can to the movement that seeks to speak the truth amid disinformation, honor and amplify voices in the face of forced silence, create connectivity where there is isolation, and spark hope where there is despair.
Lovely Gubalane, FINANCE OFFICER
email: lgubalane@hcwh.org
Being in the industry for a decade, our Finance Officer, Lovely, is backed with a solid 10-year professional experience in International Non-Government Organizations (INGOs). Throughout her career, Lovely has been involved in diverse developmental projects, spanning disaster response, education, children's nutrition, Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), Agriculture, Marine Protection, and various development initiatives.
Lovely takes charge of crucial responsibilities, including handling payment transactions, ensuring internal control, budgeting, donor reporting, and fulfilling legal financial requirements.
Outside of work, Lovely's passion for empowerment shines through her advocacy in providing training to community-based organizations and small local businesses; this includes workshops on Simple Bookkeeping, Auditing, and Financial Reporting.
Lovely's skills in finance, accounting, and administration, along with commitment to social impact, make her a significant asset to the HCWH Asia team.
Deisiree Caparoso, FINANCE ASSISTANT
email: dcaparoso@hcwh.org
Deisiree grew up in a youth-oriented community and has worked on various initiatives aimed at both young people and elders. She has been actively involved in numerous youth organizations, including the Task Force on Youth Development and the Sangguniang Kabataan.
Deisiree graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Accountancy from Our Lady of Fatima University. She is skilled in various accounting tasks, including handling payables, insurances, inventory, and management accounting. Through her experience, she has developed a strong work ethic and excellent communication skills. Her ability to build camaraderie and respect with her colleagues has been key to fostering strong professional relationships.
Kris Evangelista, ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER
email: kevangelista@hcwh.org
Meet Kris, a passionate individual who was raised in a socially-aware family. With an unwavering commitment to making a positive impact, he has been an invaluable member of Health Care Without Harm Asia team since 2012.
As a senior member of the organization, Kris plays a significant role in ensuring the smooth implementation of administrative policies and procedures. He provides crucial support to the team, handling logistics, managing the office inventory system, and preparing the mandatory benefits for the staff.
Beyond his professional achievements, Kris brings his culinary expertise and creativity to the table, fostering a culture of well-being within the organization. His commitment to sustainability and a healthier world extends beyond the workplace, where he actively advocates for environmentally-friendly practices and initiatives.
Dianne Tiffany Mason Tagudin, FUNDRAISING & DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
email: dtagudin@hcwh.org
Tiffany is an advocacy, communication, and marketing professional whose accomplishments resonate particularly in the realm of fundraising. With over 14 years of experience in Development Work, Tiffany's expertise extends to community development research, analysis, data collection, and reporting.
Tiffany's exceptional skill set includes not only first-rate communication and analytical thinking but also a deep understanding of fundraising strategies. Her proficiency in this area is evident through her successful management of two national political campaigns, where she displayed an innate ability to strategize, execute, and achieve remarkable fundraising results.
Tiffany Mason is a dedicated professional who has proven her track record in both community development and fundraising. Her commitment to making a meaningful impact through her skills and passion solidifies her as a leader capable of driving positive change.