The Good and Green Podcast, hosted by sustainability advocate Chit Juan, was created for the purpose of helping social entrepreneurs overcome challenges and grow impactful ventures that drive meaningful change. Each week, we share the tools, strategies, and stories that empower changemakers to build businesses with purpose. Whether you're launching your dream social enterprise or looking for fresh inspiration, this podcast is your go-to space for practical insights and uplifting conversations. Let's create a brighter, more sustainable future together!
Episode 57: A New Beginning Rooted in Sustainability with Ces Oreña-Drilon
•Pacita Juan•Episode 57
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What happens when one chapter of life comes to an unexpected end? In this episode of Good and Green, Chit Juan sits down with veteran journalist Ces Oreña-Drilon to talk about how she reinvented herself through sustainability, wellness, and entrepreneurship. From building a rammed earth farmhouse and cultivating herbs to creating natural wellness products through Provenciana, Ces shares how curiosity, resilience, and a willingness to keep learning helped her discover a new purpose. She also reflects on why every setback can become an opportunity to grow and create something meaningful.
GUEST BIO:
Ces Oreña-Drilon is an award-winning broadcast journalist with over four decades of experience in Philippine television. Today, she combines journalism with sustainability advocacy through her #Cestainability segment while leading Provenciana, a wellness enterprise that promotes native botanicals, natural products, and sustainable living. Through her work, Ces continues to inspire others to embrace resilience, innovation, and a deeper connection with nature.
WHAT YOU’LL LEARN:
How a career transition led to a new passion for sustainability.
The benefits of building with rammed earth and other sustainable materials.
Creating natural wellness products from locally grown herbs and botanicals.
Why gardening, aromatherapy, and nature can support personal well-being.
Lessons on resilience, reinvention, and finding opportunity during life's biggest challenges.
QUOTES:
Never give up. —Ces Oreña-Drilon
You have to use your herbs. You don't just let them be. You need to harvest. —Ces Oreña-Drilon
Scent grounds you. Scent is very powerful. Scent brings back a lot of memories. —Ces Oreña-Drilon
In a crisis there is opportunity. —Ces Oreña-Drilon
Welcome to the Good and Green Podcast. I'm your host, Chit Huan. In this show, we share stories of farmers, food advocates, social entrepreneurs, and community leaders working to build a more sustainable future. Let's discover how to live lives that are truly good and green. Our guest today is Cess Oranya Drillon. Veteran journalist Cess Orenia Drillon brings four decades of experience, credibility, and fearless storytelling to Philippine television. One of the country's most respected broadcast journalists, Cess is known for her incisive coverage of national issues and her ability to connect complex stories to the lives of everyday Filipinos. A longtime advocate for women's empowerment and reproductive health, CES is the immediate past president of the Towns Foundation, the Outstanding Women in the Nation service. Under her leadership, the organization prioritized climate action, partnering with the National Academy of Science and Technology to deliver science-based climate workshops for local governments nationwide. Her sustainability advocacy continues on air through her weekly segment, Sustainability, where she highlights innovators and communities leading environmental solutions. Off-camera, she runs Provenciana, a wellness enterprise promoting native botanicals and sustainable practices. Sess has really reinvented herself beyond the newsroom, pursuing agriculture, sustainability, and wellness entrepreneurship. So, Miss Sustainability herself. Nice uh Barbara Streisand. Yeah, Barbara Streisand. Hi, hi, Chit. Thank you. Thank you for having me. I'm curious about your latest project because I know you have your outdoor garden. I've been to your rooftop garden. And you know, it's really a nice, pretty jungle in the city. But then you also found another reason to go back to, I guess, the earth. And as we talk about your house that has taken how many months? Years. Months. Years to construct. Okay. Tell us about this rammed earth. Okay. Yeah. Well, it was really my architect, Justin Gayab, who thought of using rammed earth. He's a young architect. He's based in El Nido. And I first learned about him when I went to Cinepop in Cuba. I don't know if you've been along St. Mary's Street. You should check it out. Okay. It's an old house, I think post-war, that was converted into a mini theater. And the architect was Justin. And when I saw it, I want to get him to do my little farmhouse. So that's how I got him. And then I said, I give you free reign to design the house. And then he went to Indand, he stayed overnight, meditated. He wanted to build earth and imbibe the place. Yes. And then he suggested rammed earth. That was pandemic no ne. And I think he was building his father's house in El Nido at a time when walang construction materials nahira pa gilapin, kasi pandemic. And so they used rammed earth. So rammed earth is actually using mostly just soil, sand, gravel. And in our case, 10% concrete lamp. Okay. To build. So it's an ancient building technique. There's a mold that's built, and then you pour the mixture in of sand, of soil, and gravel into that mold. And then you ram it down. Parang pini pit pit musha angigas, and then you pour another layer. So there it's like a lasagna, but compressed. Yes, yes. You compress it down. Yes, correct. Okay, I say lasagna because that's how you make soil. Yes. Mix different substrates, right? And then it becomes soil. So this rammed earth is, you know, to me, it looks like a big potting medium. Soil, sand. Not really because that's how we plant rosemary, for example. Yeah. Soil and sand. Yeah. Yeah. So does it have to be underground? No, it's not actually underground. Okay. His original design was not exactly an underground. Okay. Me pakan yung unan yung design. Sabiko, wow, I also bought into the idea. Pero parang It's hard to maintain. We changed our mind. Pero sabiko parang bunker, to pag ng end of the world. So now, so now it's on flat land. Yes. Yes, it's on flat land. And then his design was spherical. Kasi most rammed earth structures are angular. And so it's more challenging. Parang sexy shak curved. Curvy. Curved like an eagle. It actually. You know, a lot of people when I was posting, sabin parang hobbit house. Totto onga. And then when I went, kasi, have you ever been to Hobbiton in New Zealand? There's a theme park because they filmed the Hobbit there. Uh-huh. But I haven't been. Remember the last time we went to New Zealand, the two of us was because of Christchurch and the earthquake. Yes. So one of the trips I made to New Zealand, I went to Hobbiton. And then I looked for my picture there. Okay. It churan nyam yung bai kung mejo. Oh. Bilog and door. Parang it just anyway out of the earth. Yeah, something like that. So maybe it's cool. Maybe the advanced. It's very cool. Okay. Because it the walls are very thick. No, but inside, I'm trying to imagine. I'm inside. Don't you see like, you know, if you wet, it's gonna be potek or mud. Or does it compress? So it's like what compresses. It looks like actually parang chang cemento. But more natural. Okay. So do you sleep in it already? Do you live in it already? That's the thing, hindi pa. Okay. Because right now the doors have been installed, but just recently. And so shampoo makatolu they'll dibang book snabukas. Yeah, uh uh. And then this week, the makers of the ceiling, which is going to be copies from Iloilo. Wow. Are coming. Yeah. So it's gonna be like inlaid capis, like in a window that you see. No, different. Okay. Well, I have yet to see it. But anyway. And then so the door will be. I want them to design the door. At first, I was thinking just plain glass, but I want to add a capee something. Okay, so we'll check it out probably in September, October when the weather is better everywhere. I'd also like to add that I had my architect compute the reason why it's rammed earth so that it's sustainable. It's an alternative way of building, using less concrete. Because in making cement, so much carbon emissions are made. So I had him compute by how much in our construction of this one-room house, how much less carbon emissions we made. Okay. And it's 63.38% less compared to if we just use the conventional way of building, which is pouring concrete. Okay, that's pouring concrete. But of course, we have our usual by Kubo. We have our usual, you know, different materials that are also sustainable. But I would imagine, you know, this thing would be really nice and cool. And so we look forward to checking it out. And I wish to add also that the design of Justin included a roof garden, also called the house. So I'm sure he's made all the structural integrity. Yes, that's why it took long. Because you don't want to be buried in the earth with your flowers. That's a very bad idea. So instead of steel to hold up the roof, yes, we used engineered bamboo from rhizome. That's where your engineered bamboo comes in because you were telling me about it, and really, it's going to be used as the post or the structural support. Support, yeah. Yes. Okay, now let's talk about Provenciana. Okay. I was trying to spell it provinciano. I said no, it's Provence. Yes, Provenciana, yes, from Provence. Well, actually, parang, I like to say it's like provenance, a combination of provenance and padiging provinciana. And provenance is like going back to your origin, from flowers. I mean because I know you seem to have a green thumb, and that anything you put in soil actually grows. Because I envy your sage, I envy your lavender. I have a secret weapon. Irma is her name. Okay. She's my housekeeper for 40 years now. And angalinya sa garden grabe. No, she's a big thing. The thing is, I've seen your garden in the city. Yeah. And I see your garden now in the rural or let's say the less urban area. Yeah. And your herbs and flowers are just as healthy. Yes. So what is the formula? Never give up, lang. Okay. Holland, never give up. Okay. Try again and then you realize, oh, this is what I have to do. You prune them. You have to use your herbs. You don't just let them angandagandanyain, just let them be. You need to harvest. They're meant to harvest, yeah. Yeah, yeah. I didn't know that until my friend said, Why did you choose herbs? They're the hardest to do. Unless if you're cooking every day, I said, Yeah, now I know. Okay. But they're pretty. And your flowers are very pretty, of course. Well, remember before I used to towanto wakako sa cosmos molang. Cosmos lang? Na na pakara ni wang ano diba. It's practically wild. But it all started again in the pandemic. So remember when we were we all had alcohol, diba. We needed to buy tons and tons of alcohol, because a lati, lati na sanita. And then it was putting herbs in alcohol, and it became a quick selling thing. This was the precursor of proven channel, vagabond si gin ngabang ko. Okay. And then pasta Christmas season, ngang hating gabin nag li infuse herbs alcohol, because it was selling like hotcakes. I saw you taking a course. And then I said, wow, that's it. Then I took a course. Oh that's so ABS EBN did not get its franchise. And then they let go of me. I was one of the first, actually, because at that point I was a consultant na lang in ABS E BN. I retired in 2017, I think, or 2018 from my regular job as a reporter. And then I maintained my job as an anchor, and then I became a consultant. Last to be hired is first go. So yon, walakung trabaho. Okay. It was online because we were all, you know, trapped in our own. The pandemic. Yes. Yes. Soap making because you were making soaps for our Na wala lang na easy. And then the teacher had so many other courses, and one was natural perfumery. It was a one-week course, and then suddenly during that pandemic period, ng karonang opening, remember close open, close open time. So there was a time that there was an opening, and then I spent a week in Antipolo, where her school is to learn natural perfumery, which is using essential oils, which are extracted from plants, to make perfume. Because most of the perfume that's sold commercially are synthetically produced now. Yes. So this one pure essential oils, only natural. Which is that are local grass oils like lemongrass. Yeah, not just what some are imported. Oh, okay. Okay. And then one subject in that course was making of smudge sticks. There you go. That's why I mentioned to you we'll talk about the juju. Yes. And I had no idea what these smudge sticks were at that time. Galit na galit pa hung gumu wakasi ang hirap, ang hira. You're tying dried herbs together like you're making a taco, let's just say you're and then so that was just one subject. And then time came when kina ilang ko ng gamiti nyung smudj stickra nahung stress and ng down ming yung ng nyare during the pandemic. Yeah. And I lit my smudge stick in my house, and it's a practice that traces its origin from ancient belief that herbs can heal, can purify, and you also light these herbs to invite divinity. Okay. You know, ancient cultures celebrate even Catholics. So think of the smudge stick as an ancient what is it? That thing that we plug in and then lumalabasum smoke. Um purifier or yes. Well, it's called something, no, the the thing that that brings out smoke and steam and all that. Yes, that you put in your essential oil. Yes. Before, walana manganyang. Uh oh. So they would dry the herbs. Mga iba ibang civilization do with the Egyptians, the eyepies in Latin America. Native Americans would burn sage. And they use white sage, which only grows in the desert area, like in California, ganyan. So, unang una hang, sa sage, kili kelipo. No, but there is a wood, right? Which you call Palo Santo? Palo Santo. That's from Peru, na man. Indigenous peoples in Peru would use the dried parts of the Palo Santo tree. Paga namatain pa naturally. Pagan namatain Palo Santo tree. Okay. From dead treats. Yes. And their b belief is it brings new life to you. Wow. The dead becomes alive. Yeah, because when you naman burn these plant essences, or burn or add to anything, you're you're imbibing the power of that plant. Okay. Yeah. So have you found any local wood that would be like the palas? You know, I already make a smudge stick that I call halimuya. Okay. Well akong mak wood, but I combine over 20 kinds of herbs. Okay. I dry citronella. Lemon. Tanglad lemongrass. Halos anun nayun. Parang they get stiff. Lalon ng center. Yeah. Of the grass, di ba. Yeah. Of the lemongrass and citronella. Then I put pandan. Kaya haming yawasa yung panda, remember. And then I put me, I put holy basil, thai basil. Grasses and herbs. Yes. Yes. You still need a burner like the palo santo. No, I no, no need. Oh, okay. No need. But the halim muyak does not need the Peruvian palo santo. No. But I I bali I have two um creations. Isa Cecilia. Siempre. Kanino pa ipinaalan. Yun yung combination ng white sage, palo santo, lavender, cedar, leaves. Na different elements from different cultures. But I wanted that's why na kahali muya. Because some people frown on parang cultural appropriation, some would say, but that's only a practice by the other cultures. But mugi na goa kayam bayabas yung a dry guava leaves me some bung. It's still used as a maj stick. I mean you don't I like to call it na for some who don't know what maj stick is, it's an aromatic ritual stick. Because you combine different aromatics for a ritual, like in the morning when you wake up or when you want to pray and give gratitude. I thought really it was just to ward off like bad spirits and a combination of other things. Because scent grounds you pa dang easy when you're anxious. It calms you. Scent calms you. Scent is very powerful, di ba. Some of our memories brings back a lot of memories. Yeah, yeah, that's very true. Yeah, so that's the power of sense. So says let's go to the macro view of your Indang garden of something. Perfume delights. Of perfume delights. That's the name architect gave to the project. But they have a short name for it. I mean Provinciana Farm. Okay, Provinciana. Okay, because is it open for people to check out your herbs and all that? Or only when you're there? Well, two friends. I don't know yet what tomorrow will bring. What yeah, no, I mean, if I should open it up for something. So for right now, it's a private sanctuary where you can find friends. Yes. But maybe eventually. Yeah, you can continue your ritual stick making. Yes, you know that's how I got the idea of Alibuya. Oh. When you dry it, ladona. Yeah. So what is the next step after the ramp house is done? And after, you know, while you still grow your herbs with Irma around, what is the next plan for Cessus sustainability? Actually, it's like a living laboratory for me. You know what I've been doing lately? Because I occasionally join Hiraya Wellness Retreat. It's like a four-day retreat for people who want to deal with anxiety or kaitin dika anxious. Maybe you want to be set in your life or you want to explore your mission in life, your purpose. I talk about what I do, like aromacet. Therapy, how it helps to relieve stress. But you personally have to be at peace, relaxed. I mean, you cannot go there and facilitate when your cortisol is. No, no, no, no. Of course that. But ang segue ko jan is ang problema sapalawan. Ang daming nicknick di ba. Oh. Tapo sualang yung sand mites, sand mice. Yes, sand. Grab di ba yung parang paginagatka. Ngglelace la nang eggs and daladala mw yung nicknick na yan for months mean sandba before it disappears. So na challenge ako to make. Kcause my very first scent actually was inspired by dokwa nang. Do you know dok wanang in Antipolo? Uh uh. Pinto Gallery. Yes, yes. Sabiko al design a scent for Pinto Gallery. Sabiko? So excited. Tapo sabi ng na mama hala ng gallery nya. Alamung problema na mendito. Ang dabbing namhok. Uh-uh. Dibba. Kasi it's dabbing plants. And then people go around, gatsila, ganyan. I designed an anti-bug spray. Uh uh. I formulated one. So na yon fast forward to buswanga, where the Hiraya Wellness Retreat holds their sessions. Ang reclamon de la yung ano nicnic. So now I'm formulating an anti-niknic oil. Kasi oil is better than a spray to ward them off. Yeah, oil is better than a spray sticking feeling. Yes, yes, yes, yes. And then in my research, lemon eucalyptus, it's an herb, is very potent in warding them off. And do you grow this lemon eucalyptus? No. I have to import the essential oil. Oh, okay. I haven't gone into how to plant the top. I'm sure you will find something like neem or something that will also work. Neem and eucalyptus. Against nickname. So yang ginagawa hung a yun. That's a good segue after all this smudge and ritual making, is to really make something very essential, especially for our tourists who are unfamiliar with our bugs and mites. Because our bugs seem to come from different species. Yeah. But they say only by tourists, but they don't die. Oh my god. The nickname, yes. The nickname knows no bounds. Yeah. So this is what you're busy with. Yes. And then what I do, because normally when you make a perfume, or instance, or an oil-based scent, you just use the oil, then you add the scent. But this time I'm infusing dried herbs and flowers in the oil or in the alcohol. I'm making tinctures and parang macerations. Wow. That's nice. Yes, I'm so alamo tungtu wa ako poginago. I have this ibang la se in fulfillment when you're creating something with your hands, your imagination. Kasi, it's easy to just put this herb na ayo na mga insecto, pero you when you formulate it into something that's nice smelling, di baitas to naval be pleasant, like a perfume. And I must say, I I have been a believer of your bug sprays from yes, I remember you bought them. From your past life, you know. I remember I would buy them by the gallon. Okay. Yeah. You remember, right? I'm the only one probably who said, I don't want 100 ml, I want the whole jar. Yes. So yeah. So Wow says, I think we will need a second episode. But for now, I'm really so happy that you know you have these things going on and that they actually help a lot of people, whether it's your ritual sticks, yeah, or your oils. No, yeah, you've found a new calling actually. Besides your public service, being a journalist and talking to all these people like a journalist should. I really like what you're doing. And thank you, Chit. Thank you. I guess what I want to ask is you know, like you, you get so inspired, and you know, from your past life, you've moved on to another life and all that. What are your tips for our listeners? You know, what are your good and green tips? Like you said, keep trying. I heard that. Uh, that's never give up. Never give up. Ask as a reporter. That's my that was my motto. Alamo means then you're chasing a story lypical, yeah, and you have to be persistent. You just keep going. So it applies for both your careers. Okay. You never give up. And also another tip, and it has worked for me, that in crisis there is opportunity. Okay. Or when you think you're so low, you're so down. Get a smudge thing. No, pivot ka. Maybe you're just 180 degrees. Just look at your situation in a different perspective. Na merong anodito. Bakadme, there's something here, there's an opportunity here. It has always worked. I like it. That's very refreshing. As refreshing as your juju sticks. And I guess how to close this episode would be to just tell them how they can find you. And I guess they know where to find you. I just recently relaunched my site to order. We were away for about two years because originally my two sons were with me in Provenciana. My youngest was the one managing it. We got quite big. We hit, I guess, something that people needed during the pandemic. That's right. So we were on Shoppy, we were on Lasada, we had. But don't you think we need it all the more now? I guess. But then my sons wanted to do other things. So until I said, Oh no, magisa na langakupa, no to nag post moon hame. But then again, says maybe because it's really yours. Maybe because maybe it's really your hands, it's your spirit, it's your bong kata uh. It's really you who's the provinciana. I mean, so the site is back, you can check it out. Provenciana P-R-O-V-N-C-I-A-N-A dot com. And that's my site. You can order there. Okay. Yeah. So until the next episode. Thank you so much, Chit, for allowing me to just talk my mouth. Of course. Of course. About the things I love. Yes, because you always ask people things, but people never ask you. So here I am. It's my turn to ask. But thank you for the enlightenment. Thank you for the inspiration, Ses. Thanks a lot. Thank you. Thank you so much. Thank you for listening to the Good and Green podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, please follow the show and leave a review. It helps more people find us. And feel free to share it with a friend. Until next time, keep it good and green.
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