The Letran Legal Management Society (LLMS) in partnership with the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI), gave Letranites a forum regarding the recent environmental dilemmas that the Philippines has to face.
The forum was titled #NowPH: An Assessment on the Environmental Practices in the Philippines on September 13, 2017 from 1:00PM to 5:00PM at the SC Auditorium. Letran SC Secretary, Nico Aquino, the Overall Project Head of the event, is the one who personally reached out UNESCO and YSEALI.
During an interview with The LANCE, LLMS incumbent President Marie Grace Dela Cruz says that the organization’s reason for choosing this topic is because Filipino people often overlook matters regarding our environment “Napili po namin yung ganitong event kasi po sa daming problem sa philippines (drugs, ejk and corruption) yung about environment po di masyado nabibigyan pansin,”
To start the forum, the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Asst. Prof. Darwin Rungduin gave his welcoming remarks with such passion and concern.
In his opening remarks, Rungduin mentioned the quality of relationship that people have with our environment, he shared that the context of environmental concern has its value lessened when people show only a little concern about the Earth, because they do not treat it as their “kapwa” (fellow being).
To keep the ball rolling, the first batch of speakers who are successful people in the field of Legal Management were introduced by the event’s hosts.
First is the Youth Force Philippines’ Ambassador for Climate Action, Mr. Jayson Villagomez, who discussed the Role of the Filipino Youth in Climate Action. “Climate Change is a millennial issue, it might sound cliché but it is real, climate change is happening right now,” Villagomez said.
“I encourage you now to start making a good decision and make your own version of in-lifestyle,” he added, as he reminded students that the youth plays a big role as agents of change, and how big their contribution is in protecting the environment in many sustainable ways.
The Former Vice President of Junior Peer Counselors Club from Technological University of the Philippines (TUP) – Manila, Inaki Morilla threw a question during the question and answer session of the event, “Ano po ba talaga ang dapat naming gawin at kailangan gawin ng government para truly amoblish yung nangyayari sa bansa, sa mundo, sa ating Mother Earth” Morilla said.
Presidential Adviser on Global Warming and Climate ChangeHeherson T. Alvarez answered by saying that every millennial has the chance to foresee the best things for him or her, and the people around, he added that the government also plays a role in the life of a millenial “Ang hirap sa gobyerno hindi sila katuwid-tuwid dahil may kanya kanyang interes, yung millennials they have one common denominator hindi pa kayo nagdedevelop kung tawagin ay best interest” Alvares commented.
The program went on as Chairman of the Board, Jezzalyn Co, highlighted the importance of their hard work “The Pledge of commitment kasi nag-commit talaga kami to help the world become better in terms of our environment. Sa tulong ng mga speakers, we got to know ano 'yung status ng environment natin and how to make it better” said Co.
A SUCCESSFUL EVENT DESPITE CHALLENGES
The said event was open to all Letranites as the LLMS was able to prepare and settle everything few weeks before the seminar; however, garnering audiences from the the CBAA has been tough because they were having their annual Negosyo Letranista on the day of the event.
Getting as many audience as possible is one of the organization’s goals because the message of the seminar will not only be essential to the Legal Management community, but to all the students of the Colegio.
Besides the challenge in collecting CBAA audiences, LLMS Secretary Aira Timoteo told The LANCE how tough it was for them to organize the event after some speakers back out at the last minute “It it was a challenge for us to deal with speakers na last minute na magsabi na they can’t come anymore. We had to stretch the event just to get the whole activity right on time” she said.
THE EVENT’S IMPACT TO ITS ATTENDEES: GRATIFYING
According to a Grade 10 High School Student, Shairrol Lee Mangilog, they have learned how to conserve ng energy; furthermore, it helped her realize how saving electricity helps the environment nowadays. Mangilog says that she wishes to attend more events similar to #NowPH.
The LLMS is in high hopes of seeing Letranites, especially those who were present in their event, grow as good people for the environment. They also wish to have their advocacy be present in the hearts of the students as they start to be environmentally friendly within the walls of the Colegio first, and in their own places after.