Gab Mejia

Gab Mejia is a National Geographic Explorer, conservation photographer, Nikon Asia Ambassador, and columnist for The Manila Times.
He has published photos and stories on National Geographic , This country is where you can find some of the world’s rarest animals, National Geographic January 2021, Words by Jason Bittel and photographs by Gab Mejia. Retrieved February 2, 2021., the receding glaciers of Patagonia for the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, to the critically-endangered dwarf buffalos for the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), CNN, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). 
In 2017, he won the Global Wetlands Youth Photo Contest featured in National Geographic. He was awarded by Tatler Asia as a Generation T. Honouree in the list of 400 Leaders Below 40 shaping the future of Southeast Asia.
Gab Mejia was born to Saturnino Mejia and Chie Mejia in the Philippines, with two older brothers, Diego and Jim, and one older sister, Ishka. He developed his love for mountaineering , Gab Mejia, The Mountaineer. Where to Next Philippines. Retrieved February 02, 2021. at a young age of 13 with his father when he climbed the tallest mountain in Malaysia in Mount Kinabalu. Ever since that hike, he dedicated his studies and career to be able to travel and document the mountains of the world. Being raised in the tropical islands of the Philippines, he developed a strong connection with the ocean through skin diving and scuba diving. He was chosen to be part of the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative advocating for marine conservation in the United States Aid Oceans Workshop in Jakarta, Indonesia. He is a trained and certified PADI scuba diver, and took on photography to document the natural wonders of the Philippines.
Gab completed his secondary education in the Ateneo de Manila University with second honors. He then took up a Bachelors of Science degree in Civil Engineering specialising on research on Environmental Engineering in the University of the University of the Philippines. He has authored science work and research on wetlands in the Wetlands Science Practice Journal (January 2020). He joined university environmental organisations such as the Marine Biological Society, and was chosen as a lecturer and ambassador for sustainability across 10 different universities in Europe through the Eurail Europe on Track Program. In 2019, he was chosen in a fellowship in the Jackson Wild Media Lab in the Jackson Wild Summit for natural-history filmmaking and science communication.
Gab co-founded the first ever international non-profit environment youth organization, Youth Engaged in Wetlands, dedicated in conserving and protecting the wetlands and migratory waterbirds of the world. Through his work he was able to connect youth leaders across the seven continents to support the mission of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands in saving wetlands. In 2018, he joined the 13th Conference of the Parties (COP13) of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands in Dubai, UAE, where his organisation declared on stage in front of governmental leaders and environmental institutions in involving the youth sector in the decision-making processes , Report of Youth Engaged in Wetlands at Ramsar COP 13. The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands 2018. Retrieved February 02, 2021.. Gab is also part of the National Youth Council of the World Wide Fund for Nature Philippines , engaging students and youth on the conservation of critically-endangered species in the Philippines through environmental education in institutions and schools.
* 2020 National Geographic COVID-19 Journalist Grant.
* 2020 Inaugural cohort of National Geographic Field Ready Program. , National Geographic Unveils the First Field Ready Class. Retrieved February 02, 2021.
* 2020 Tatler Asia Gen T. Honoree: 400 Leaders Below 40 , For dedicating his career to saving global wetlands
Gab Mejia. Retrieved February 02, 2021. 
* 2019 Brand Ambassador Nikon ., Nikon Ambassador Gab Mejia. Retrieved February 02, 2021.
* 2019 National Geographic Early-Career Grant ., National Geographic Explorer Profile - Gab Mejia . Retrieved February 02, 2021..
* 2018 Best Cultural Photo Award in Transformed by Travel Photo Competition by Cultural Vistas ., Nikon Ambassador Gab Mejia. Retrieved February 02, 2021..
* 2017 Grand winner of Global Youth Wetlands Photo Competition by the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. , Global Wetlands Youth Photo Contest 2017: Winner and Highly Commended Finalists. Retrieved February 02, 2021..
Category:Filipino photographers
Category:Filipino columnists
Category:Filipino columnists