Rethinking resilience and low-carbon development
Climate resilient development (CRD) pathways continue to be framed and understood based on ‘Global North’ or Eurocentric paradigms, marginalising the perspectives and lived experiences of communities in the ‘Global South’
In studying climate resilient development, we are unpacking the relevant yet contentious notion of ‘resilience’. This term has no direct local translation, is often associated with disasters, and is frequently framed through Northern/Western narratives.
Focusing in the case study sites in Tacloban, Leyte and Guiuan, Eastern Samar and using insights from history, linguistics, digital media, and literature, we learned that:
Resilience is deeply rooted in our history. It can be seen in traditions which guided crisis response and mitigation, including rituals by babaylan/asog (female or effeminate male spiritual mediums) and cultural values such as isug (ferocity/courage) and onong (solidarity—‘risking dangers together until death’).
During the colonial and revolutionary periods, disasters motivated movements that prioritised community autonomy (kaugalingnan) and its wellbeing (kaopayan), as well as mutual aid practices (ticlos).
Formal and informal social structures have always been important in recovery and resilience. After Yolanda, local communities—including luck-seeking outmigrants—responded faster than the state, drawing on warrior/guerrilla identities, isug and onong values, reviving ticlos and community enterprises, and practicing novena rituals led by mananabtan/mamaratbat women prayer leaders.
Certain Waray words associated with climate change, mitigation, adaptation, and development may be unique to the Filipino experience. These are: unong (solidarity), pangilal-an (identity), pagdumdom han komunidad (social memory), kaupayan (well-being), and swerte (good fortune).
On social media, the public discourse on climate resilient development tends to be reactive, triggered by typhoons, instead of proactive discussions on what needs to be done.
Government agencies and international organisations are key information sharers of climate resilient development, but they do so only in the context of press releases about projects. More in-depth, and reflective insights on climate resilient development, including its linked to indigenous knowledges are from individuals.
Tied to flooding and political controversies in 2025, narratives have shifted from ‘building resilience’ to ‘taking accountability’.
Similar to digital media, local literature continues to frame resilience and low carbon development around technology and infrastructure.
Justice and equity are key to theoretical underpinnings of climate resilient development, but studies show that these have only been engaged vaguely and often limited to participation.
