Inspiring and inspired to inspire the next

The April 30 Roundtable Conference/Sharing on Initiatives and Best Practices in Sustainability and Resiliency of Local Communities was a very inspiring one which allowed the participants (about 60) to RE-VIEW and to do their share to RE-NEW the earth, including their own world, their own personal geographies and spaces.

Vice Mayor Alfredo A. Arquillano set the tone of inspiring sharing about their continuing real engagements in San Francisco, Camotes Island to protect their beautifully God-endowed municipality through collaborative and participatory networks, from the levels of purok and households all the way up to involve leaders and followers in an interactive system of participatory environmental management (PEM), a governance model shared by Barangay Luz Captain Rian Tante.

Who has not heard of the wonders of PEM for converting a usual problematic community like Bgy Luz into an empowered, eco-sensitive, and eco-protective/productive social model?

Cebu City Councilor Nida Cabrera, the pioneer of PEM at Brgy Luz, who generously shared her time to participate in the workshop, clarified so many important experiences, enhancing the sharing about how Brgy Luz evolved to become an eco-model.

VM Al, Councilor Nida and Brgy Captain Rian, however, echoed the same message: change in the communities, change in the paradigm about community management and people’s mind-sets and hearts, took TIME, from 5-7 years in their experiences but the process was all worth it because of clear goals and visions, because of a very clear understanding of their problems and solutions to their needs.

Regional Center of Expertise on Education for Sustainable Development (RCE-Cebu) Coordinator, Atty. Ian Manticajon, also of the University of the Philippines Cebu, continued the sharing of the importance of PEG (participatory eco-governance), the need for multisectoral collaboration and sharing of expertise (local, from within the community and from within the broader local community – LGUs, academe, civil society, youth, media, etc. all throughout the country, and, global, from the rest of the UNU and the rest of the global community) to save Campo Siete in Minglanilla, one of the remaining forest communities in Cebu and in the country.

With PEM and/or PEG, by ensuring that all are involved in the protection and management of Mother Earth, through widespread knowledge networks (KNOW-nets), clear agenda of RESPONSIBILITY and doables (what each one and each group and sector can share), and regular monitoring and evaluation, so much can be done, so much are already in place in this part of the world.

And in the Greater Manila Region as well, according to Dick Balderrama, National Coordinator of PHILSSA (Partnership of Philippine Support Service Agencies). He also stressed and reiterated the value, the urgency of multisectoral collaboration at all levels to effectively manage and reduce risks from disasters.

Even individual can do his/her share for PEM/PEG.

Bob Bajenting, the chairperson of the Cebu Coalition for Food Security, remains bullish about his personal campaign to have sustainable farming and waste management practices throughout various audiences, not only in Cebu, but throughout the country. Former Cebu Councilor Nestor Archival and his famous ECO-HOUSE model always inspires all about the beauty of using God-given intellect and gifts to creatively protect and enjoy God’s creations even within one’s own home. The presence and active participation of Prof. Glen Green of USC (another owner of  an ECO-House model) enhanced the inspiring sharing that day.

Not to be outdone, Mr. Elson Homez, Sustainability Officer of the Cebu Holdings Inc.-Ayala Land illustrated (through their waste management partnership with communities like Brgy Luz) how BUSINESS can do their important share in protecting the environment.   

Lawyers can share and are doing their valuable contribution for making the law work in the midst of challenges to sustainability and resiliency of people, communities, and nature as shown in praxis by the ever-active eco-advocate, Atty. Golly Estenzo Ramos. So can civil society, researchers, and the academe, shared Kaira Zoe Alburo of UP-Cebu and A2D Project-Research Group.

The inspiring engagement to protect our earth, to effectively respond to the challenges of sustainability and resiliency affecting all at all levels urgently calls to all to be inspired to act, to be inspired to inspire the next,  in the tradition of our forefathers, in BAYANIHAN, in close, coordinated, committed, concerned collaboration.

(To be continued) Please check www.rcecebu.org for more details about that inspiring day of sharing...

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