Jean Laurence S. Reyes, a recent graduate of BS Forestry (BSF) of the UPLB College of Forestry and Natural Resources (CFNR) bagged three student leadership awards— the Society of Filipino Foresters’ Leadership Award, UPLB Alumni Association Leadership Award, and the UPLB Outstanding Leadership Award (OSLA). For the OSLA,  Reyes bested seven others who applied for the award. 

The awards were presented at the Parangal sa mga Magsisipagtapos 2024 ceremony held at the Charles Fuller Baker Hall in UPLB on August 1, 2024.

In 2021-2022, he was also given the Forestry Students Professional Development Grant, which provided him with funds to attend international conferences and training programs. 

The third son of Dr. Stephen G. Reyes and Lyris S. Reyes, Laurence is a responsible and caring brother to his four siblings. Raised in Los Baños, he pursued the BSF degree in 2019 and has been actively engaged in various public service activities. 

Gratitude for his academic training

Laurence credits his UP education for affording him many opportunities to extend his platforms, develop compassion, and give voice to the masses who are often unheard, overlooked, and misunderstood. 

He sees his training in BS Forestry as a means to serve the nation, emphasizing that science, technology, and good governance are keys to the development of Inang Bayan. 

According to him, he looks forward to enjoining the public to take part in the development discourse. As he mentioned in the interview, “Bilang isang Iskolar ng Bayan, may gampanin akong pagsilbihan ang sambayanan. Ang pagiging Iskolar ay hindi natatapos sa husay at dangal sa loob ng paaralan; ibinabalik ito sa taumbayan. 

Ang pagsaalang-alang ng interes ng masa at ng kalikasan ay patunay ng husay sa pagbibigay-dangal na karapat-dapat nilang tinatamasa,” Laurence continued.

(As an Iskolar ng Bayan, I have a duty to serve my country. The pursuit of honor and excellence does not end in the University; it must be realized by helping the masses. The true measure of one’s honor and excellence lies in our commitment to serving the interests of the masses and the environment).

He says that he is motivated by the issues and challenges surrounding the indigenous cultural communities, which made him realize that the honor, excellence, and achievements that he desired as a UP student should also be accessible to the marginalized. 

Extra-curricular activities that have helped shape him as an advocate for various causes

Some of his organizational affiliations in UPLB are the UP CFNR Student Council, the Association of Filipino Forestry Students-UPLB, and the UP Ecology and Systematics Major Students Society. 

Laurence is passionate about the role of forests and natural resources in the economic improvement of the Philippines, hence advocating its protection and stewardship. 

He mentioned that the threats against the forests and natural resources must be addressed and communicated across the local and global contexts. 

As a student leader, Laurence believes that lobbying for indigenous people and cultural communities who are directly impacted by the threats to forests and the environment is necessary to help alleviate the perils of environmental injustice. 

Hence, Laurence has also worked with international organizations such as the International Forestry Students Association and the Children and Youth Major Group at UNEP (Asia and the Pacific).

Post-graduation, Laurence looks forward to working in international organizations and academe to train future leaders in forest governance. He also plans to continue doing research and extension activities to further his advocacy and public service. 
What Laurence learns within the four walls of the classroom he applies in real life as he advocates for the environment. It’s an education that has molded him into what he wanted himself to be—a leader and champion for the environment.