SINCE THE LAUDATO Si encyclical publication in 2015, Pope Francis’ deep love and passionate defense for our common home have strengthened the environmentalist spirit in the Catholic church. Of course, the hot global issues of environment degradation, global warming, and climate change in themselves have given a jolt as well.
Here, I wish to single out two Filipino church leaders who have made a mark recently in the advocacy movement and even among the public.
“From his church pulpit in Caloocan to street rallies, Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David has been expressing passionate and pointed views against dominant political and social realities in the country, among them, extra-judicial killings, government corruption, and continuing oppression of the poor.”
CARDINAL PABLO VIRGILIO DAVID
From his church pulpit in Caloocan to street rallies, Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David has beenexpressing passionate and pointed views against dominant political and social realities in the country, among them, extra-judicial killings, government corruption, and continuing oppression of the poor.
In his two recent Facebook posts though, he refreshingly dug up “dirt” in the literal sense –garbage – and how the government manages it.
He titled his posts, “Unsanitary Landfills = Climate Injustice + Public Health Crisis”. According to him, in our landfills, everything is mixed together: biodegradable, recyclable, toxic, industrial, even medical, wastes. A clear violation of the Ecological Solid Management Act which promotes segregation followed by composting and recycling.
So, the reality are unsanitary landfills or dignified dumpsites. The results: methane emissions that worsen climate change; leachate that poisons soil, rivers, and coastal waters; public health risks especially for poor communities; and food insecurity especially around Manila Bay.
He said: “LGUs spend billions hauling and dumping garbage but invest almost nothing in teaching people how not to produce it.” Summing up his sentiment about the environment, he added that the Philippines has excellent environmentallaws, but lacks serious enforcement, political will, and ecological education. Let’s not expect Cardinal Ambo to soften his stance on this urban problem.
BISHOP GERARDO ALMINAZA
Recently, the bishop of San Carlos, Negros spoke to various sectors of civil society, environment included – in the “Hayuma: Mend the Broken” 3-day conference held in UST this January. He urged faith communities and social institutions to treat the Gospel as a mandate for collective action on ecological destruction along with government failures and economic exclusion. Ecological conversion, he stressed is part of mending the broken.
In the 2024 Season of Creation celebrationwhere he reminded that “we have plundered instead of cherished creation, a gift from God” he even named specific actions as atonement: Support energy transition from fossil fuel to renewable; Advocate policies that protect natural resources and sustainable practices; Advocate for stricter regulations on mining and industrial activities; Preserve cultural/traditional/indigenous practices that respect the environment; and Show solidarity and cooperation with vulnerable communities.
OTHER ENVIRONMENTALIST PRIESTS
Based on my direct experience, there are othersfrom the religious sector whose advocacy is etched in the minds and hearts of environment advocates: the late Fr. Pete Montellana, who led the Save Sierra Madre campaign and the opposition to the Laiban then Kaliwa Dam that would displace the indigenous communities and harm the ecosystem in the mountain range; Fr. Daniel Franklin Pilario, a Vincential priest and 7th president of Adamson University who has crafted his environmental speeches with beautiful prose not just depth; and Fr. Bert Alejo, SJ who has written a number of beautiful poems in English and Tagalog on Nature and his country whether in praise or rage.
In a future column, I hope to cite some nunstoo who champion the environment.