Award-winning indie actress and Human Nature dealer Angeli Bayani's real life role as an environmentalist

Award-winning indie actress and Human Nature dealer Angeli Bayani's real life role as an environmentalist

It's not everyday that we get the honor to chat with an award-winning actress - what more have one as our very own Human Nature dealer!

The beautiful Angeli Bayani has definitely distinguished herself in the realms of theater, television, and independent films. A professional actress since 2002, Angeli has since made a local and international name for herself by earning numerous Best Actress awards and nominations for films such as Melancholia (2010), Presa (2010), and Ka Oryang (2011), as well as major productions such as Tatlong Mariya (Tanghalang Pilipino's 2010 adaptation of Anton Chekhov’s “Three Sisters”), Noli Me Tangere The Musical (2011), and Care Divas (2011). No stranger to international film festivals, Angeli recently had the rare privilege of walking the prestigious red carpet of the 66th Cannes Film Festival 2013 for two simultaneous films: Norte, Hangganan Ng Kasaysayan (by Filipino director Lav Diaz) and IloIlo (by Singaporean director Anthony Chen).

So how did this world-renowned artist find her way to Human Nature? “I found out about Human Nature through a fellow actress and friend,” Angeli recalls. “We were doing a film on location where there was a river nearby, and she started putting something on which smelled like citronella.  Since I am a huge fan of scented candles, I immediately asked her what it was.  She handed the bottle to me - it was, of course, Human Nature Citronella Bug Spray. As soon as I got back to Manila, I hunted for Human Nature products and was very happy to know that there were branches where you can shop at leisure.  I immediately signed up at the nearest one.”

Because Angeli is often placed in the spotlight for her outstanding reputation as an actress, it’s a rare opportunity that people get to know Angeli as a mother and environmentalist. “I am very particular about what I put on my child's skin,” Angeli explains. “It naturally follows that I have to put the same all-natural stuff on myself to protect my son. I don't want chemicals on my skin that can rub onto him!”

“It's also very important to me that [Human Nature is] pro-environment.  I've always been concerned about our planet.  I love its low impact on our environment and it's one of my selling points to my customers - you take care of Mother Nature while taking care of yourself.  [What is] even better is the fact that it's tied up to Gawad Kalinga.  It's an insanely attractive package - you help people help themselves each time you buy a Human Nature product.”

So what are Angeli’s favorite Human Nature products? “I absolutely cannot live without my Citronella Bug Spray, All-Natural Spray Sanitizer, Sunflower Beauty Oil, Hand & Foot Salve in Eucalyptus, Tough Love 100% Natural Liquid Detergent.  I would never leave the house without [my] Tinted Lip Balm in Flame Tree [and] Natural Mineral Powder in Boracay Bronze.  My other faves are the Baby Care line, 100% Natural Cleansing Oil, and Purifying Facial Scrub.”

As a passionate artist and environmentalist who is always on-the-go, Angeli makes it a point to incorporate her values in her daily life and work. “Caring for the environment is on the top of my list,” Angeli declares. “Little things matter like not littering, especially when I'm on location.  If there are no trash bags available, I take my trash back home where I can dispose of them properly.  I teach my 5-year-old boy to do this as well.”

Living by example, Angeli also makes sure to bring her own reusable bottles for water and coffee whenever she is filming, use reusable bags while shopping, segregate trash, recycle old plastic and paper products, and donate old clothes and toys at her local parish.

“When I shop or do the groceries, I tend to patronize local products even if some of them are more expensive than imported counterparts,” Angeli adds. “I am of the belief that when products are resourced in your own country – especially personal care products – they are created to address your specific needs, as well as taking into consideration the climate and how it affects us.”

Angeli also believes in kindling a spirit of compassion and bayanihan towards the poor, specifically by helping rebuild the lives of out-of-school youth. “What we do in our family is that we invite out-of-school youths to our church or even inside our house,” Angeli describes. “We have helped quite a few of them by encouraging them to participate in church activities or by giving them odd jobs.  We believe that once they are given responsibilities, once they are trusted with something, they develop confidence and self-respect and begin to see themselves differently.  We are happy to say that this has kept some of them off the streets.  Those who have stayed now invite other youths and encourage them to do the same.  It's not much, but if we can help one kid change his life for the better, it really helps make the world a better place.”

Angeli
Angeli (front, center) at Human Nature Parañaque branch's grand relaunch

So what tips does Angeli have for building a healthier and more sustainable lifestyle?

  • Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Really. "Plastic is forever!  Seriously!  And if it is not disposed of properly, it just gets into everything, especially into our waters.  And that is not good."
  • Use less water, pay for less water. "We are very careful of our water consumption at home.  We had our own water tank built in our front yard so we can monitor just how much water we use, and it also helps with our water bill. I really love it that Human Nature has come out with Tough Love Natural Detergent.  It now takes less water for me to wash our clothes because it rinses easily.  And because it's all-natural, I use the 'dirty water' from washing for watering the plants.  Our plants are all still very much alive!"
  • Turn off and unplug all appliances when not in use.  "I even try not to be too dependent on the washing machine, if I can help it.  We're very 'old school' at home.  There's 'TV time,' after which the TV is turned off for a certain period of time.  We keep the windows open for ventilation instead of having the fan on all the time.  We don't use air conditioner anymore even when it's really humid.  We just hang out in the front yard or garage and enjoy the breeze."
  • Commute – or better yet, walk.  "I think it would be great if people just walked or bought bikes instead of taking the tricycle or the jeep when traveling short distances."
  • Live simply. "In this day and age, I try to remember what it was like when I was growing up and take it from there.  We like to keep it simple while keeping in step with all the developments in technology.  We have an iPad but nothing beats teaching your kid to draw with real pencils and paper instead of an app.  You get the picture.  Simple living, going back to basics and not being too dependent on machines.  Technology was created to help man, not to handicap us. :)"

 

Photos courtesy of Angeli Bayani and Tracy Cruz