The Unyielding Spirit of Gina Lopez: A Champion of the Environment
Gina Lopez is a name that resonates with passion and dedication to the environment. Her appointment as, then, Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), was a strong ray of hope for a better future for the Philippines. But her stint was short lived when the Commission on Appointments in Congress did not confirm her appointment. Despite all these, her vision and legacy live on. Despite the non-confirmation of her appointment, the vision of Gina Lopez continues through the ABS-CBN and Eugenio Lopez foundation. The people who share the same advocacy are going around the country building communities and encouraging them to protect the forest and go into livelihood programs.
Mao diay nga nangyam-id and mga tawo sa Kongreso sa dihang gibabagan nila ang appointment ni Gina Lopez. Is it because many of them were and are allegedly engaged in logging, mining (literally and otherwise) in cohorts with the DENR? Lopez’s fight against open-pit mining and illegal logging was unwavering. She was a true champion of the environment, and her commitment to protecting the country’s natural resources was inspiring. Despite the setbacks she faced, her spirit remained unbroken.
Pastilan no! Asa naman ta ani mopadulong? Can we still rely on government to protect the people? Come to think of it. We are a government for the people, of the people, by the people. What has happened to this sacred principle? Apan, unsa na naman ang nahitabo karon? Mao na ba ni ilang giingon ug “fool the people, off the people, and buy the people?” Again, we must not rely solely on the government to protect us; we must take matters into our concern. It’s our right to choose the kind of leaders we want, and it’s our responsibility to ensure that they are working for the greater good.
So people of the Philippines, wake up! It is our sacred right to choose the leaders that govern this nation. Let’s not depend on the subsidies of whatever kind they give us. These are all scams of the highest degree. Yes, the subsidies and handouts we receive are nothing but scams. They are mere pieces of bandaid applied on a bullet wound, giving temporary relief and solutions to a much deeper problem. We must not be fooled by these empty promises. We must demand real change, and we must be willing to work for it. Pareha na lang ta ug mga sardinas. And the floods are killing us softly.
And today, over the radio, it was announced that the conference of the League of Municipal Councilors marks a registration fee amounting to thousands of pesos as such conference is held in a five-star hotel. Sobra na oi. Nganong dili man lang mo mangita ug yano nga lugar? I did not anymore continue listening to the details of the news because everything got into my nerves. Maayo unta ug naa bay civil society groups nga mohatag ug exams sa mga participants aron atong mahibaw-an kung duna ba silay nakat-onan sa ilang conference? So that we will know if these learnings are retained and translated into action. Mura man ni ug susama sa concept sa Turismo nga eat all you can??? Haaaayyy! The conference of the League of Municipal Councilors is an example of the disconnect between our leaders and the people.
Gina Lopez may be gone, but her spirit lives on. We must continue her fight and demand a better future for our country. We owe it to ourselves, our children, and the generations to come.
