The Season of Creation

The month of September is dedicated to the ‘Season of Creation’ which runs from September 1 to October 4, feast of St Francis of Assisi. This represents a wonderful opportunity to recall the invitation of Pope Francis and celebrate the wonders of creation. We recall that in August 2015 Pope Francis, designated September 1 as the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation for the entire Catholic Church. He further invited the faithful to participate in an annual season of intensified prayer and perceptible efforts to protect our ‘common home’.

The Pope observed that, “The Annual World Day for the Care of Creation offers to individual believers and to the community a precious opportunity to renew our participation in this vocation as custodians of creation, raising to God our thanks for the marvellous works that He has entrusted to our care”.

Philippines

From this tiny part of the world, made up of over 7,000 islands scattered across the western Pacific Ocean, where land and nature are generous but also home to recurrent and dangerous typhoons, earthquakes, floods, and landslides, it is critical to protect and care for this beautiful land called the Philippines.

When it comes to ecology, climate change and sustainability and fair development, there are many good initiatives that contribute to the protection of the environment, and to sustainable development in the Philippines. Not only initiatives which involve the United Nations and government partnership built around sustainability and development goals set to end poverty and to protect the earth’s environment, but also present are others initiatives at the national and local level which prove to be efficient especially when the local population is involved.

Some projects at national and local level sometimes in partnership with local NGO’s are giving beautiful results in raising awareness to local populations on the importance of sustainability and fair development. Examples of partnership of some organizations involving local people are:  Clean Cities, Blue Ocean (CCBO), Climate Resilient Cities (CRC), Energy Secure Philippines (ESP), Investing in Sustainability and Partnerships for Inclusive Growth and Regenerative Ecosystems (INSPIRE) and Forestry Climate Change Support Program.

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, from 2010 to 2019, the damage caused by natural and extreme events, and disasters in the country totalled PHP 463 billion (USD 8.27 billion), with agriculture accounting for 62.7% of the total at PHP 290 billion. As such, as challenges of environmental degradation continue to mount, the importance of environmental sustainability in the Philippines has become an increasingly prominent concern for the Filipino people.

Absolute Priority

Today, environmental sustainability in the Philippines is still a top priority. From grassroots organizations to government-led initiatives, there are numerous efforts geared toward protecting and preserving the Philippine environment. These include programs aimed at promoting sustainable agriculture practices, restoring mangroves and coral reefs, as well as educating Filipino citizens about environmental issues.

Consumers in the Philippines are becoming more conscious of the importance of environmental sustainability. Many Filipinos are becoming more aware of the environmental impact of their actions and are moderating their garbage output. This shows a more significant shift in consumer behavior toward sustainability and environmental conservation.

Despite these challenges, there are government-led initiatives and grassroots efforts aimed at promoting environmental sustainability in the Philippines, including programs focused on sustainable agriculture, marine conservation, and renewable energy.

In the Church and local level

Since Pope Francis issued the encyclical Laudato Si, calling on us to care for our common home, many simple and humble initiatives have taken place in dioceses, parishes, and religious organizations. Many dioceses in the Philippines, such as the diocese of Digos where our parish is located, encourage tree planting to commemorate once a year Pope Francis’ Laudato Si’s seven goals: the cry of the earth, the cry of the poor, ecological economics, simple lifestyles, ecological education, ecological spirituality, community involvement and participation.

On our side, the Missionaries of Africa in the Philippines are also concerned with Pope Francis’ call to care for our common home; our commitment to parish insertion through formation of the youth, children, and leaders has translated into green environment, tree planting, river care, and gardening initiatives in collaboration with the local authorities.

From our side, the Cebu community has been active to create a clean environment. Our basketball court provides an opportunity for impoverished children in the Polton neighbourhood to play and relax via sports, as well as to keep young people away from drugs and addiction. Children and young people understand the necessity of keeping the environment clean by depositing trash in suitable garbage cans. Everyone is equally responsible for committing to this rule. After two years, patience and persistence have yielded good results.

Another source of concern has been the entire Polton neighborhood community, which consists of 60 households living in a small space where a family of 7 members can share a room. Many of them rent the land and are not permitted to build anything concrete. As a result, basic requirements such as toilets and showers are not met. This condition adds to the amount of garbage accumulated on an empty plot where some people meet their fundamental physiological demands. Things get worse during the rainy season, as floods and unclean water attract mosquitoes, and cause skin diseases in children. Thanks to the municipality’s efforts and interaction with members of the Polton community, waste is now collected once a week, significantly reducing the quantity of rubbish deposited. This tiny step demonstrates that the local authorities’ dedication and the local people’s involvement can make the difference. 

However, initiatives are already in place for a fair development to continue. How to involve everybody to be part of the efforts to care for our planet? How can we meet the needs of the present without compromising the needs of the future generations? I believe that education is the key. Children should be educated about ecology, involved in addressing challenges related to it, and taught to love and care for our planet from an early age. Our commitment to this is essential for both the current and upcoming generations. For the sake of everyone, this is not just an option but a duty that requires commitment and perseverance.

By: Sergio Villasenor, M.Afr.,