Actress Nadine Lustre has spoken out on a range of social issues, calling attention to what she described as growing patterns of disrespect toward communities, animals, and the environment.
In a series of posts on her Instagram broadcast channel, the Kapamilya star highlighted concerns in Siargao, where she has been spending time since the pandemic, particularly the treatment of local residents by some visitors.
“You see it in the disrespect locals here on the island continue to receive,” she wrote, citing what she described as entitlement and boundary violations by some tourists.
She added that the issue goes beyond recent incidents, pointing to a long-standing disregard for the local community amid the rise of tourism.
“You see stories of aggression, entitlement, violence, and complete disregard for the community that existed here long before tourism ever did. It’s painful watching people treat this island like a temporary playground while the people who actually call it home are left carrying the consequences,” she said.
Lustre also raised concerns about animal cruelty, saying animals are often treated as “disposable” and disregarded for human convenience.
She likewise criticized tree-cutting linked to development projects, describing it as “backwards” and expressing concern over the loss of nature in urban areas, including Metro Manila.
“It’s unsettling watching people destroy the very things that keep us alive so casually,” she said.
Her remarks come amid ongoing public debate over tree-cutting controversies in Manila, where environmental groups and citizens have raised concerns over the removal of mature trees for infrastructure projects.
Lustre ended her message by urging greater awareness and compassion.
“More mindfulness. More awareness. More love and compassion. More respect for people, communities, nature, animals, and lives outside of our own,” she wrote.
