ASSIGNMENT IN ENGLISH

ABOUT READING DETAILS

Submitted by:
CHRISTIAN PHILIP B. VEROSIL

Submitted to:
MS. SAIYA DUMARAN
 Gina Lopez
Birthday/Birthplace:
Born: 27 December 1953, Manila
Died: 19 August 2019, Makati Medical Center, Makati

Family:
Siblings: Eugenio Lopez III, Ramon Javier L. López,etc.

Parents: Eugenio Lopez, Jr., Chita Lopez

Education:
Asian Institute of Management, Newton College of the Sacred Heart, Assumption College, Boston College

Significant live events:

"With Gina’s passing, we lost a fervent advocate of children’s rights and protection, a
passionate proponent of sustainable livelihood among the underprivileged, and an
unswerving champion for environment preservation," the ABS-CBN statement reads. "Her
caring heart and selfless kind of love inspired people within and beyond the organization
to help and serve others."
Gina Lopez lived a life nothing short of incredible and meaningful. Lopez
was Town&Country's cover subject in September 2010. In the wake of her passing, we
revisit the cover story by Lorna Kalaw Tirol, looking back at the legacy Lopez leaves behind
through her work as a missionary, chairman of the ABS-CBN Foundation, chairperson of
the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission, and more.
In her teens, Regina Paz “Gina” Lopez took her first leap into the big world and moved to
the United States to pursue her studies at the Newton College of the Sacred Heart in
Boston. After college, she left all the comforts of the life that she knew and traveled to
India to become a missionary for a socio-spiritual movement called Ananda Marga. The
organization then sent her packing for a mission in Africa. Over the course of two decades,
she traveled to Portugal and India, apart from Africa. She married her superior in the
African mission and together they had two sons. In the time that she was away, “her family
didn’t know where she was or even whether she was still alive,” Tirol wrote.

In 1990, the Lopez family welcomed their daughter back in time for a Christmas
reunion. “I had a really hard time adjusting,” she recalled of her first few years back in the
Philippines. Lopez went from sleeping on the ground and walking barefoot in India to
having to deal with all the societal pressures that come with being a Lopez. “There you
were, so busy because you to do everything yourself and then you come home and
everything’s done for you. And you’re a Lopez. There, you didn’t have to worry about
clothes—I had only two sets and a pair of tsinelas and some and all of a sudden I had to
dress up. I had no idea what to wear. I was totally out of it.”

But soon enough, she found her footing and began to make waves through the ABS-CBN
Foundation, of which she was appointed general manager. Her years as a missionary were
put to good use and through the corporation’s philanthropic arm, she worked to serve the
needy, distributing relief goods to disaster victims and establishing scholarships. Her good
deeds reached authorities such as the United Nations. In 1997, her initiative, the 24-hour
hotline Bantay Bata 163, was named the United Nations Grand Awardee for Excellence.
She was also the driving force behind educational programs Sine’skwela, MathTinij,
Epol/Apple, Pahina, and Hirayamanawari. For producing Sine’skwela, she became the
first Southeast Asian to earn the UNESCO Kalinga Award.
A natural giver, Lopez had also extended her working hands to help the environment,
another passion that would be greatly associated with her until the time of her passing. In
1998, she founded Bantay Kalikasan, most popularly known for rehabilitating the 2,700-
hectare La Mesa Watershed. This would later lead to the establishment of La Mesa Eco
Park and the initiatives Bantay-Usok and Bantay-Baterya.
After La Mesa, her brother, Gabby Lopez suggested she use her talents to clean up Pasig
River. A week later, she received a call from former first lady Amelita Ramos, requesting
her to take over since she was beginning to wind down. It was all or nothing for this eco-
warrior. Lopez agreed to take on the Herculean task only if then-DENR secretary Lito
Atienza would hand over the responsibilities for Pasig, Laguna Lake, and Manila Bay as
well. Her demands were met.

Lopez was also a recognized force in the anti-mining movement and her work to save
Palawan from the large-scale mining had caught the attention of many, including current
President Rodrigo Duterte. The President invited Lopez to be the secretary of the
Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and she accepted. As environment
secretary, she continued her crusade against mining, lobbied for the indigenous people,
and established a DENR hotline that created a way for the public to address their issues to
the government office. She served as secretary for all of nine months, after failing to get a
majority vote from the Commission on Appointments.

Contributers to society events:

MANILA, Philippines – Environmental groups on Monday, August 19, mourned the demise of former
environment secretary Gina Lopez, who was known for her activism and passion for nature and
communities.

Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM) lauded the 65-year-old Lopez for her fight against irresponsible mining
companies, going as far as ordering the conduct of a mining audit and cancelling contracts.

"It is rare to have an oligarch wage a battle against her own class. This reflects how clear the mission
was to her," ATM said. (READ: What drives Gina Lopez?)

Lopez's move against elite mining companies cost her the post as environment secretary, as she was
rejected by the Commission on Appointments. She only held the post for 10 months. (READ: Green
vs greed? The Lopezes' new family saga)

"It was always personal for her, because the advocacies for her were all about people's lives. How
can it not be personal, when you know that this destruction will impact other people and especially the
next generation?" ATM added.

Her successor, retired military general Roy Cimatu, remembered her as a "pure champion of the
environment" who took her advocacies to heart "regardless of the consequences." (READ: Green
groups: Lopez is 'right choice' for DENR post)

"She was uncompromising in protecting watersheds and imposing high standards of responsibility on
the mining industry," Cimatu said.

Greenpeace Philippines said that with Lopez's death, the Earth "lost a warrior."

"But her spirit lives on in the movement that she so helped build. Those of us she left behind will
continue to forge on for a better environment, the protection of people's rights, and better lives for the
Filipino people. Heeding Gina's exemplar, we will not be cowed by the greed and arrogance of those
who destroy the environment," the group said.

Gina Lopez was a generous soul. She was a lifetime philanthropist, environmentalist, child-
abuse warrior and former government secretary who had built a legacy that will continue to
impact and influence the Philippines. Today, she unfortunately passed away at the age of 65.
During her tough battle with brain cancer Gina had never lost her tenacious spirit.

She dedicated her life to paying it forward. Gina was a woman who did not think twice about
giving back to her community. Gina created a legacy that will continue to impact and influence
the country for years to come. She was a staunch eco-warrior who fought to better the country
’s environmental efforts, and educate people on the value of caring for mother earth. As the
force behind Bantay Kalikasan, Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission and government
secretary for the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, her efforts made waves for
Kapit Bisig Para sa Ilog Pasig, No To Mining in Palawan, the reforestation of the La Mesa
Watershed amongst many other environmental advocacies. Gina even held educational TV
programs like "G Diaries" in order to spread the word on the importance of going green.

Interesting facts/quotes:
On making protecting the environment her life's mission:
“For me, the environment has always been about people. Because there is an
intimate relationship between people and the environment. If you really want to
help the people, which is my passion, you really can’t do it if you’re not aware of
the impact of the environment on their lives... It’s air, water, I mean this is part
of life. How can you help people if the air is dirty, the water is dirty, polluted?”

On making her passion sustainable for communities:

“After we determine the scientific landscape, we then focus on a shift based on
values. Because without values, you can’t do anything. That’s my experience in
doing development work. If you want to invest so that the community will get
better quality of life, just putting in money there won’t do it."

On alleviating poverty:
“I have no doubt in my mind that we can get our country out of poverty. No
doubt. But the resources of our country must be nourished and protected such
that the greater majority benefits. Not exploited to benefit the few... I truly feel
that the way for our country is for everyone to work together.”
 On the beginnings of one of her projects, Bantay Banta:
“I started with children. That was very close to my heart... I was watching a
program on TV where a child was beat up by her mother continuously. The
neighbors heard her screaming. They didn’t do anything about it but they knew
it was happening. In the end, this really cute child… died. I was horrified. I said,
maybe if there was a number that child could have called, then we could have
prevented that death from happening.”

On how small things can make a big impact:

“I saw that by cleaning one estero, that life changed. If there’s an impact on
human life, I get excited, because I feel that that’s what we’re all about. And
that’s why I love the environment: because of its massive, direct impact on
human life... I think I got that from daddy. I like to do things with impact.”

On her relationship:
“We were together for eight years then we split, but were still very good
friends... I think that’s the way it should be with relationships. People move
forward, why do you have to be enemies? Why not be friends? And besides, we
have two kids. We’re good.”

On accepting her position at the Department of Environment and

Natural Resources:
"I didn’t say yes right away because for me, spirituality is non-negotiable… but
during a meditation session, I felt the possibility of my infusing into this heart.
Then this whole thing took on a spiritual turn. It wasn’t politics for politics, it
was the fact that it was a way for me to help and how, if I played the game well,
it wod actually be a spiritual journey.”

On her family:
“It’s been a blessing to be born in a family where people genuinely and sincerely
care for each other... I would say I’m blessed.”

On having strength as a public servant:

“You inherit an environment which you didn’t make, and you’re even
handicapped at changing it because of all the rules and regulations... And then
you go on field and you find out that people are suffering—that’s very hard for
my heart, when people suffer and especially when people suffer because my
people have been corrupt. It’s really hard for me. And so the challenge there is
for me to keep my cool, and that entails some spiritual muscle. You have to be
strong.”

On having hope for the Philippines' future:

“If we in this country dream and hope the common good and commitment to
integrity, I have no doubt in my heart and in my mind that our country will see
the light of day.”

On injecting spirituality in her work:

"What I know is that when you want something really well, my experience in
life is that God sends people there."