The power of many

My rallying cry for the Pasig River, and for saving our islands, is this: “There is nothing in the world that can stand in the face of a people united for a noble cause — nothing.”

It is something I have experienced time and time again. Hopefully, this article will come out in time for our annual historic Pasig River Run on 11/20/2011. It’s a sexy number. Last year our sexy number was 10/10/10. We needed a number that would fall on a Sunday so that not many people would be inconvenienced by our blocking off the traffic. So this year our number looks like a mirror. Perfect. Because our theme song is Salamin ng Langit.

On this day when again more than 100,000 will take to the streets and run in harmony and joy — for a cause most noble, which is the cleaning of the Pasig River — let me share my reflections on the “Power of Many.”

What exactly happens when hearts and minds join threaded by a noble cause? My perception is that some kind of energetic receptacle is formed. It’s real. It’s not visible to the senses but it’s real. What is the definition of a noble cause? It is a cause which when realized will positively affect the lives of thousands — not just now but for generations to come. My experience is that noble causes have a resonance in Divine Realms. The Divine has interests in objectives that are for the common good. They help. Sometimes in very unpredictable ways. But my experience is that they do.

When a multitude of people gather or commit for a noble objective, what happens? That energetic receptacle aligns in a very significant way to the heavens. They give — and they give big time. Sometimes it feels like a pillar of light giving to our hearts; sometimes it results in joy; sometimes in strength. And sometimes it even manifests physically.

When Ming Ramos turned over the Pasig River project to me, I was entrusted with P6 million and a car. But to date, including the Calauan Relocation Site, over half a billion pesos has been invested in the project. I find the amount staggering and my conviction is that it couldn’t have happened if the Divine hadn’t helped in some way. Sometimes an idea comes. For example, the River Warriors. For me, that’s the key to cleaning the Pasig River. Because no matter how much money we spend on the esteros and the river, if there are no River Warriors — local people who monitor environmental protection — it just won’t work. That’s why previous efforts have failed: because there were no systems and structures to make sure that efforts would be sustainable.

That was an idea that came to me during a retreat. Even the oath they should take came at this time. They would be warriors — à la King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. They would do their duties with honor and courage, for God and country. It was the best idea ever, and has since given me a lot of joy.

This is why I push so much for the run: because I am convinced that, if we run every year, and we run from our hearts, and we run united as a people, the resonance above will help us and enter us as a people — touching hearts here and there, inspiring others, maneuvering so that the river gets clean, because we as a people want it.

That conviction is also behind the thrust to get 10 million signatures. I truly feel that if 10 million people, from their hearts, truly, do not want their environment destroyed — and it is a concern that resonates with the forces above — something is going to give.

I need to say that the private sector has been tremendous in its support. It’s not possible to mention all the many who have come forward. I will, however, give a shout-out to the two water companies — Manila Water and Maynilad — without whose help the esteros could never be clean. Ricky Vargas (president of Maynilad) and Gerry Ablaza (president of Manila Water) have been stupendous. P-Noy and his Cabinet have been absolutely sterling in their support. P-Noy just recently allocated P10 billion every year to clean the waterways! This is the government team that is going to make miracles happen in the coming years.

Here’s the breakdown of projects:

NHA: will relocate.

DPWH: will stabilize the slopes and build the easements.

MMDA: will dredge.

MWSS: handles the sewage.

PRRC: manages the River Warriors.

KBPIP (Kapit Bisig para sa Ilog Pasig): handles nedia, coordination with the private sector.

DSWD: will address the poverty.

Private sector: will invest in entrepreneurial activities to stimulate activity alongside the estero.

So there is a game plan. Next year the determined intent is to clean the esteros behind Malacañang and the University Belt, as well as extend from Estero de Paco into the network of esteros in the Paco area — and Pandacan.

 In 15 months we showed what was possible if people worked together. Now we will expand on a more massive scale through government help into a bigger area.

The power of many, aligned with a noble cause: it’s unbeatable. It’s the formula that will clean the esteros and the Pasig River. It’s the formula that will give our country a better future.

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I can be reached at regina_lopez@abs-cbn.com.