To all like-minded environmentalists and passionate guardians of this planet, let me be the first to greet you a happy World Environment Day!
Yesterday morning, I had the opportunity to read a book about the environment to grade 3 and grade 4 students of Bagong Ilog Elementary School from Pasig. The book reading took place at the Philippine Daily Inquirer Library as part of the company’s read-along program. Although the rains poured heavily, I looked forward to the opportunity to talk about my advocacy to wide-eyed students who had that eagerness and idealism that our planet badly needs.
As I am also an advocate of reading and literacy, I commend the Inquirer for this activity, which encourages Filipino students to develop a love for reading. I remember that when I was still a young girl, my mama and yaya, would read to me every night before I sleep. That instilled in me a genuine love for books.
The children listened, their faces full of enthusiasm, to the story of the Crying Trees, which I read in Tagalog. The book talks about the legend of the rubber tree and touched on environmental issues such as: illegal logging, the ill effects of human intervention and development on nature, and forest denudation.
What I originally expected to be a 30-minute book reading session extended to more than an hour of exchanging and sharing ideas with the students. I enjoyed it very much that I’d like to do it every week!
On this important day for the environment, I truly feel complete. Thinking back on all the hard work that I have done to give a voice to Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction, I felt so happy that at the young age of 8, most of the students are aware of the importance of planting trees, having clean air and taking care of the environment.
I know, in my heart, that there is hope that we will soon realize that the environment should be everybody’s concern.
Early this week, I just came home from a five-day trip to Bhutan to attend a conference where I delivered a keynote address on Disaster Risk Reduction and Gross National Happiness. Just yesterday, I started my day early by planting trees with ambassadors from different countries in Luneta. Now I’m doing another tree-planting activity with the Federation of Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce.
That’s all for now. Watch out for the highlights of my Bhutan visit!
1 comments:
That is so sweet my lorna. You should write a book about the environment and share it with us. I am sure it will be a huge hit. If only I was there to support and travel with you personally. I want to be one of your allies in changing the world.
I am also an environmentalist so understanding your advocacies is not a problem. Thank you so much for serving the country for more than three decades. If only I supported you before.
I will definitely visit you in the Senate to express my support. Than you so much. Mahal ka namin!
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