HIGH up in the cool hills of Barangay Lumiad, where mornings are slow and the air still carries the scent of soil and trees, a young leader is helping spark a city-wide movement, one that turns trash collection into a team effort, a purpose, and even a sport.
Marvin Ople, in his twenties, isn’t just the head of the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK). Chairman of Barangay Lumiad. He also leads as the S.K. Federation President of the Paquibato District. But ask him why he puts so much effort into organizing youth and leading cleanups, and his answer is disarmingly simple: “I just want Davao to be clean.”
That mission took a major step forward on June 28 in Barangay Leon Garcia, Agdao, where Davao City hosted the Nippon Foundation Spogomi World Cup 2025: Philippines Qualifiers – Round One for the second consecutive year.
The global competition, originally launched in Japan in 2008 by Kenichi Mamitsuka, fuses the words “sport” and “gomi” (Japanese for trash) to turn environmental action into a high-energy race. Teams of three collect garbage, competing to see who can gather the most within a time limit.
With support from the City Tourism Operations Office, the City Government of Davao, Ambox Davao, Capybara Productions, and other groups, Ople helped spearhead the Davao leg of the event, juggling logistics, coordinating volunteers, and partnering with fellow environmental advocates.
“Maximum participants were 30 teams, pero naay uban na wala miabot, so gipulihan sila ug laing teams (Some teams didn’t show up, so we replaced them with others),” Ople explained.
But for Ople, Spogomi isn’t about trophies or titles. It’s about instilling values of responsibility and action—values he’s carried since childhood in the bukid, where neighbors reused, replanted, and respected nature.
“Even if we don’t have a lot of trash here in the bukid, we always had proactive work,” he recalled. That work began early—at 13, he was already Barangay Children’s Association President. He later joined the Youth Task Force Development Council in Davao, finding both his voice and his mission.
In recent months, Marvin and his fellow S.K. leaders launched Spobumin, a localized offshoot of the international contest, designed to engage more Dabawenyos in fun, youth-led cleanups. The initiative also ensures that the collected trash doesn’t just end up somewhere else—it’s processed properly with help from the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro).
“Anyone can join. Even if they didn’t win in Round One, they can still be part of Round Two,” Marvin said, referring to the next leg scheduled in Tibungco. The finals will follow later this year, with the winning team earning a shot at representing the Philippines in Japan.
Celebrities such as Pastel Mix and Miura Ayme graced the event, but for many, the spotlight belonged to the youth leaders and volunteers who made the day happen, not just organizing, but showing up, cleaning up, and stepping up.
Beyond the cheers and scorecards, deeper issues remain. “The waste management problem is rooted in a lack of knowledge,” Marvin said. He said that without proper education and systems in place, trash will keep piling up on streets, in rivers, and near homes. He also expressed concern over worsening floods in Davao, which he believes are linked to uncollected waste clogging waterways.
Still, he’s hopeful. “My vision is for Davao to stay clean, upside down,” Marvin shared, using his brand of humor to express a vision deeply grounded in love—for his community, for the environment, and the future. Bea C. Mangaga, Spamast Intern and Hannah Katrina Marisse Martinez, AdDU Intern