Well-being is not a solo pursuit—it’s about creating a more just and equitable world for everyone.
That’s according to Julia Ormond, the celebrated actress and activist, who was in the country recently to participate in the four-day Heart Summit Philippines held in Siquijor organized by The Wellbeing Project and Lunas Pilipinas.
“True well-being isn’t just about individual health or happiness,” Ormond said. “It’s linked to the well-being of our communities and the environment around us.” She emphasized that achieving a balanced life requires understanding the larger social and ecological structures that shape our lives.
Flying in from England for the event, Ormond is one of the participants who helped facilitate the event, opening up about balancing personal wellness with the demands of advocacy work, highlighting the connection between individual and collective well-being.
Ormond stressed the need to connect ecological health with human well-being. “It’s as if people think they’re separate,” she said. “Bringing those two groups together and creating a space where people feel valued and nurtured is essential for real progress.”
Ormond’s commitment to advocacy spans over two decades, particularly in the fight against human trafficking and modern slavery. As the first United Nations Goodwill Ambassador against trafficking, she has used her platform to push for systemic change.
Her advocacy work includes legislative efforts in California to hold companies accountable for human rights abuses in their supply chains. “We took the stories, the footage, and the data to lawmakers,” Ormond said. “We pushed for a law that requires companies to disclose what they’re doing to prevent or address exploitation in their supply chains.”
But the work hasn’t come without personal cost. Ormond admitted that the weight of activism sometimes left her burned out and disillusioned. “I felt completely exhausted at times. But when you take a step back and allow yourself to shift your perspective, you regain the strength to keep going.”
One of Ormond’s strongest beliefs is the importance of reparations for historical injustices. “We don’t get to draw a line in the sand and say, ‘Oh, that’s the past.’ One of the reasons why slavery still exists today is because we’ve never fully repaired what happened in the past.”
For Ormond, activism is not about achieving quick wins—it’s about showing up and trying. “Do something. Just start. Find a purpose. Explore it,” she said. Her own journey from Hollywood star to global activist is proof that meaningful change comes from sustained effort and a willingness to engage with the hard questions.
