Hi everyone,
For this edition of our newsletter, we bring you an important announcement as we have recently released a statement regarding our upcoming organizational change and our current funding situation. We also held our monthly Komunidad event last August, featuring an introductory talk on Biosecurity given by Kirsten Angeles, the project manager of Project SHIELD PH. Additionally, the EAGxPhilippines Organizing team would like to remind you that applications for EAGxPhilippines will be closing soon, so it's advisable to apply as soon as possible.
As for our student chapters, the executive board of EA UP Diliman successfully conducted a hybrid PlanSem this month, during which they discussed their upcoming plans for this semester. In line with this, EA Taft has also been making preparations for their upcoming term.
The month of September seems to be a period of preparations and changes. Uncertainties and circumstances beyond our control can be frightening, but amidst all this, you can rest assured of the certainty that you will rise above it and emerge as the best version of yourself.
As you read this newsletter, may you find certainty and strength to keep on keeping on.
EA Philippines’ statement on our upcoming organizational change and current funding situation
As we’ve announced in our Slack and Facebook group, EA Philippines is making some important announcements about our organizational structure and funding situation.
Firstly, our current core staff members—Elmerei Cuevas, Alethea Cendaña, and Jaynell Chang—plan to transition out of their roles at the end of November 2023.
Secondly, we’re now creating a board for EA Philippines, currently consisting of Brian Tan, Tanya Quijano, and Raymund Bermejo.
These decisions were prompted by EA Philippines’ current funding situation. Last August 5, we received news from the Effective Altruism Infrastructure Fund (EAIF) that we will not receive an additional 6 months of grant funding from them, primarily due to the current funding gap the EAIF is facing. (The EAIF is our primary funder.)
The lack of secured funding, as well as wanting to rethink and redefine EA Philippines’ strategic priorities, led to Brian and Tanya deciding that it would be in EA PH’s best interest to explore new leadership in place of the current core staff.
Given this upcoming transition, the board is now recruiting a new Executive Director (ED) and Associate Director (AD) for EA PH.
You can find the ED job ad here and the AD job ad here, and you can apply for these roles here. The deadline to apply for both roles is September 30, 2023. We think these are impactful roles, and we’d be excited for people who could be a good fit to apply. If you have any questions about these roles, feel free to email anyone in the EA PH board. Our emails are listed at the bottom of the job ads linked above.
You can read more about this announcement in this document, which includes answers to some questions you may have: https://bit.ly/EAPHStatementSept2023
We will also be having a town hall meeting for this month’s Komunidad on September 23 (Sat) from 2:00pm to 6:00pm at the Bayanihan Café where EA PH’s core staff along with Brian and Tanya will answer some questions people may have. You may register through the following link: https://bit.ly/EAPHKomunidadSept2023
As we navigate this challenge, our team is open to any insights, suggestions, or connections you will be able to provide. Your ongoing support is highly appreciated in our efforts to secure the resources needed to thrive in the following months.
Highlights
EA PH Komunidad last August
EA Philippines held their Komunidad event for August last Saturday at the Bayanihan Cafe.
For this edition, an introduction to Biosecurity talk was given by Kirsten Angeles— project manager of Project SHIELD PH— she shared the importance of biosecurity, how to get started with it, and what Project SHIELD is currently engaged in.
Project SHIELD PH is a research initiative aiming to develop a biosecurity research agenda for the Philippines.
We would like to express our gratitude to everyone who took the time to attend our event, and extend many thanks to Bayanihan Cafe for providing us with a productive space for our discussions.
Applications for EAGxPhilippines is closing soon
📣 APPLICATIONS ARE CLOSING SOON📣
We highly encourage everyone interested in joining EAGxPhilippines to pass in their applications to secure their slot! 🧡
We are inviting students and professionals all over Southeast and East Asia to join us for a weekend of learning, collaboration, and networking to solve the world's most pressing problems.
📍 The conference is taking place in Rizal Park Hotel, Manila from October 20 to 22, 2023
🔗 Apply now: https://bit.ly/eagxph_apply
Have any questions? Contact us at philippines@eaglobalx.org
Survey on EA PH Social Media, Newsletter, Website, and Community Safety
Hi there! As part of our end of grant report, EA Philippines would like to get your feedback on your engagement with EA Philippines' social media, newsletter, and Website.
This is so we can better understand our community's engagement with these platforms, implement improvements, and focus on doing more of the things that are having an impact.
We would also want to know about how comfortable, open, safe you feel about the community.
Answering the form will likely take about 10-15 minutes to finish.
Our Reading Group Program
Have you ever wanted to discuss a cause area from an EA book or resource you read?
Here is your chance with the Reading Group Program!
Simply form a group of at least 3 people, choose a main point-person, and book a call with our Associate Director, Alethea Cendaña!
Previous reading groups were on improving institutional decision-making, Introduction to AI Safety and In-Depth EA fellowship!
You can read more about the reading program here.
News in EA UP Diliman
EA UPD Executive Board’s successful hybrid PlanSem
EA UPD Executive Board members successfully held their hybrid PlanSem meeting in the UP Diliman Student Union Building (SUB) last September 2. The said meeting kicked off with their presentations consisting of their objectives, intentions, proposed activities, and overall plans for the upcoming semester. With such a notable adjustment with the EB structure, it becomes more exciting to see more of what the new EB can do!
Follow EA UPD for future updates!
News in EA Taft
EA Taft Term Planning
The EA Taft Core Team is currently in preparation for the upcoming term. In a recent meeting, they collectively engaged in a productive brainstorming session, mapping out various activities and initiatives set to benefit their members.
Guiding this team is Alicia Pollard, who serves as the mentor to the core team's representatives, Shan Adorna and Kriz Tahimic who have completed the Organizers Support Program offered by the Centre for Effective Altruism.
EA Taft in EA Philippines’ Komunidad
The EA Taft Team recently attended the latest monthly event, "Komunidad," hosted by EA Philippines. This gathering, held on August 26, 2023, at the Bayanihan Cafe, centered its discussions around the topics of Biosecurity.
During the event, members from the EA Taft Core Team, namely Shan Adorna, Kriz Tahimic, and Johann Del Rosario, actively engaged in a wide range of insightful discussions held within the forum.
Follow EA Taft for future updates!
Spotlight: Your guide to EAGxPhilippines
It is normal to get cold feet or be unsure of what to do in an EA conference especially for individuals who will be attending their first time.
That’s why the organizers of EAGxPhilippines prepared this guideline for everyone to take note of in hopes to keep you from being overwhelmed and to aid in maximizing your time during EAGxPhilippines.
Opportunities and potential connections await, so hurry, apply now as applications will be closing soon!
📍 The conference is taking place in Rizal Park Hotel, Manila from October 20 to 22, 2023
🔗 Apply now: https://bit.ly/eagxph_apply
Have any questions? Contact the organizing team at philippines@eaglobalx.org
Upcoming Events
EA Philippines' Komunidad this September
For this edition of our Komunidad, we will be having a closed town hall meeting during which the EA PH core team and board members will discuss and address any questions the community may have regarding our recent statement on the upcoming organizational change and current funding situation within the organization. We encourage active members of the community to be part of the updates and discussion.
[Deadline September 21, 2023]
Upcoming Events at EA Anywhere
• September 24, 2023 (Sun); 01:30pm - 03:00pm via Zoom
Join EA Anywhere’s reading group for a discussion of Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood, a dystopian novel set in a future where genetic engineering rules the world. It explores themes of existential risk, animal welfare, trans- and posthumanism, and the psychological effects of widespread poverty and violence.
They'll be discussing the book in full, but if you don't get a chance to finish the book before the group, feel free to join anyway!
• They can provide you with a free digital copy of the book if you're planning to attend the discussion.
EA Creatives and Communicators meetup
• September 26, 2023 (Tues); 05:00pm - 06:00pm via Zoom
Are you a writer, musician, YouTuber, marketeer, painter, or anything else that falls under creativity and communications?
Join EA Anywhere’s upcoming meetup! Here, you can talk about the intersection between EA and art, how to use our work for good, how we could collaborate, ask for feedback, form connections or whatever seems fit!
The Future of Effective Altruism Relies on Effective Giving
• September 27, 2023 (Wed); 04:00pm - 05:00pm via Zoom
Grace Adams, Head of Marketing at Giving What We Can, will talk about why it is a mistake not to prioritize giving as part of effective altruism and how effective giving is the key to unlocking the impact that effective altruism seeks to create. You'll also learn practical ways we can all help increase funding to effective charities and projects.
You can learn more about Giving What We Can here.
Office Hours with the Organizers of EA Anywhere
• September 30, 2023 (Sat); 11:00am - 12:00pm via Zoom
Drop in and ask questions to the organizers of EA Anywhere— Sasha, Dion, and Marisa— where you can ask about effective altruism, EA Anywhere, or just say hi! They would be happy to see you and welcome your questions whether you're totally new to the group or a regular attendee.
Upcoming Conferences
If you’re considering applying, kindly check first this forum post on updates on spending for CEA-run events.
[Oct. 20-22, 2023]
[Deadline September 30]
• EA Global Boston 2023
[Oct. 27-29, 2023]
[Deadline: October 12, 2023]
[Nov. 17-19, 2023]
[Applications will open soon]
Check out the EA Global website to be updated with upcoming events!
• Principles of Intelligent Behavior in Biological and Social Systems (PIBBSS) Summer Symposium
[September 18 - 22]
[Deadline September 17]
• Building Effective Spaces Conference
[September 30, 2023]
[Deadline September 29, 2023]
Upcoming Programs, Workshops, and Reading Groups
• Charity Entrepreneurship Incubation Programs 2024
Running for its 5th year, applications for CE's upcoming incubation program is now open for applications in the following dates:
February - March 2024: with a focus on farmed animals and global health and development mass media interventions.
August - September 2024: with a focus on the top most cost-effective Sustainable Development Goals (as identified by Copenhagen Consensus) as well as organophosphate pesticides and other neurotoxicants (as identified by a CE Incubation Program graduate).
[Deadline September 30, 2023]
• Global Challenges Project Existential Risks Workshop
• Nov 24 - Nov 27, 2023; Berkeley, US
• Dec 15 - Dec 18, 2023; Oxford, UK
• Jan 12 - Jan 15, 2023; Boston, US (TBC)
• Feb 16 - Feb 19, 2023; Berkeley, US (TBC)
• Mar 22 - Mar 25, 2023 Oxford, UK (TBC)
Express your interest while slots are available through here
News relevant to the Philippines
Be in the loop with local news and resources.
• EA Philippines’ Career Planning Retreat for Students and Professionals
—by Alethea Cendaña
(6 mins. read)
• Local climate change action plans to make LGUs disaster-resilient
—by Philippine News Agency
(2 mins. read)
• Enhancing Financial Inclusion Impacts for the Newly Banked in the Philippines
—by Innovations for Poverty Action
(4 mins. read)
• Ecowaste Coalition Exposes Online Sale of Controlled Hazardous Chemicals
—by the Ecowaste Coalition
(3 mins. read)
• [Report] Tracking SDG 7: The Energy Progress Report
(~15 mins. read)
Foreign EA-related news
Some important updates in the global community
• Learning from our mistakes: how HLI plans to improve
— by Peter Brietbart and Michael Plant
(5 mins. read)
• Announcing the new 80,000 Hours Career Guide
— by Benjamin Hilton and 80,000 Hours
(6 mins. read)
• Progress report on CEA’s search for a new CEO
— by Max Dalton
(9 mins. read)
• CEARCH's Cause Exploration Contest: Awards
— by Joel Tan and Stan Pinsent
(1 mins. read)
• Probably Good published a list of impact-focused job-boards
— by Probably Good
(1 mins. read)
• Why some people disagree with the CAIS statement on AI
— by David Moss and Willem Sleegers
(19 mins. read)
Some interesting reads
A list of some interesting and detailed resources we found
• We’re bad at predicting the future and there’s no way around it
— Vox
(6 mins. read)
• Everything You Need to Know About Diabetic Retinopathy
— by The Fred Hollows Foundation
(4 mins. read)
• Animal Rights Movement: Understanding When and Why It Started
— by Animal Charity Evaluators
(7 mins. read)
— by the Fred Hollows Foundation
(2 mins. read)
• How much do EAGs cost (and why)?
— by Eli Nathan
(7 mins. read)
• How the radical history of plant-based eating illuminates our future
— by Vox
(2 mins. read)
• Nuclear winter - Reviewing the evidence, the complexities, and my conclusions
— by Michael Hinge
(32 mins. read)
Opportunities in EA-aligned organizations
Below are some featured opportunities that are accessible to Filipinos from our Opportunities Board. It shows all the current opportunities available (full-time, part-time, internship, and volunteer opportunities). It also has links to other relevant places where you can find impactful jobs, and we also include there how we choose which jobs to feature.
Our opportunities board has remote jobs from foreign EA organizations, and also some roles at local organizations that we either think are impactful to work for, or they provide good experience and skills for making an impact later on.
Remote opportunities from foreign EA-aligned organizations
• Outreach Director - Charity Entrepreneurship
[Deadline: September 17, 2023]
• Programs Manager - Charity Entrepreneurship
[Deadline: September 17, 2023]
• Executive Research Assistant to Co-CEO - Rethink Priorities
[Deadline: September 17, 2023]
• Operations (finance, legal) and Fundraising Officer - Suvita
[Deadline: September 24, 2023]
• Open Wing Alliance Asia Coordinator - Open Wing Alliance
[Deadline: September 25, 2023]
• Marketing and Communications Contractor - Giving What We Can
[Rolling applications]
• Facilitator - Effective Peer Support
[Rolling applications]
• Research Engineer - Fund for Alignment Research
[Rolling applications]
• Research Analyst - Charity Entrepreneurship
[Rolling applications]
• Research Intern - Fortify Health
[Rolling applications]
• Research Assistant - Forecasting Research Institute
[Rolling applications]
Learn or deepen your knowledge on the core ideas of EA
• Introductory EA Program - Effective Altruism Virtual Programs
Starts from September 04 - October 29, 2023
[Deadline: September 24, 2023]
• In-Depth EA Program - Effective Altruism Virtual Programs
Starts from September 04 - October 29, 2023
[Deadline: September 24, 2023]
• Pilot Career Planning Program - Effective Altruism Virtual Programs
Starts from September 04 - October 29, 2023
[Deadline: September 24, 2023]
• The Precipice Reading Group - Effective Altruism Virtual Programs
Starts from September 04 - October 29, 2023
[Deadline: September 24, 2023]
Take the challenge and participate in these Opportunities
ProVeg International Food Innovation Challenge
• Open to all students
Do you want to be a game changer? Join the ProVeg Food Innovation Challenge and use your creativity to help build a more sustainable world. AND have the chance to win cash prizes totalling up to US$10,000. All you have to do is to submit your idea before the deadline!
[Deadline November 20, 2023]
Most Important Century Writing Prize - Superlinear
[No deadline specified as of the moment]
Climate Tipping Points - Metaculus
[Deadline: March 1, 2027]
Micro- grant for educational module/ tools related to EA - Clearer Thinking
Win up to $595
[No deadline specified as of the moment]
Opportunities for Filipino EAs
Executive Director - Effective Altruism Philippines
[Deadline: September 30, 2023]
Associate Director - Effective Altruism Philippines
[Deadline: September 30, 2023]
Associate Director / Director - IDInsight Philippines
[No deadline specified as of the moment]
Associate & Senior Associate - IDInsight Philippines
[No deadline specified as of the moment]
Professionals Talent Directory
High Impact Professionals (HIP) has launched a Talent Directory to assist those looking to transition to a higher impact role at an EA-aligned organization. The directory will increase the visibility of your profile,, with your consent, as it will be proactively shared with organizations and shared publicly on HIP’s website.
If you are looking to transition your career to higher impact opportunities, please sign up to HIP's Talent Directory to ensure you are in front of organizations looking to make a hire.
Tälist Talent Community
Tälist is on a mission to accelerate the transition to an animal-free food system by matching Alternative Protein Businesses with top talent from around the world.
Check out their resources and services for both job seekers and employers, including monthly virtual candidate Q&As, an impact calculator, and the most comprehensive, global Alternative Protein job board. You may also sign up to their talent community to receive individual recommendations based on your profile and preferences
EA Philippines’ Code of Conduct
The EA Philippines core team recently created the official Effective Altruism Philippines Code of Conduct in hopes to facilitate a constructive and meaningful collaboration among individuals. In order to achieve this objective, we have established some guidelines that we expect our community to adhere by as our local community slowly grows.
EA Philippines Anonymous Feedback Form
As a response to some of our members noting that sometimes it is uncomfortable for them to provide direct feedback to some EA PH members, we decided to create this form so you may raise any concerns you have related to EA Philippines, including on any of our projects, leaders, volunteers, or community members.
Feedback here will be visible to the EA Philippines core team: Elmerei Cuevas, Althy Cendaña, Tanya Quijano, Jay Chang, and Brian Tan.
We may follow up with your answers via chat or a call if you would like us to.
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Best,
EA Philippines