Gina Lopez: A Dimmed Light of Hope

Some would say that there are only a few environmentally kind people left in this world, and when one of them dies, the sun sets and hope seems to freeze for a while.

Regina Paz “Gina” Lopez, former environment secretary of the Philippines, an epitome of a true eco-warrior, and one of the big hopes of our country, whose love and passion for our environment remains unparalleled, dies at 65 after battling brain cancer.

Lopez is a daughter of the ABS-CBN Chairman, Emeritus Eugenio Lopez Jr. and Conchita La’O and one of her six siblings is Eugenio Lopez III, the present ABS-CBN Chairman.

Lopez went to Assumption College and Newton College of the Sacred Heart in Boston and held a master’s degree in Development Management from Asian Institute of Management.

After her study in the US, Lopez left her opulent life in Manila and became a dedicated yoga missionary for twenty years and lived in Portugal, India, and Africa. She met her husband in Africa with whom she had two sons, Roberto and Benjamin.

When she finally returned to the Philippines, she embarked on a wider and more challenging arena as she spearheaded corporate social responsibility programs for the Filipino communities and environment.

She initiated Bantay Bata 163, the country’s first media-based hotline, which received a United Nations Grand Award for excellence topping 187 other countries across the world in 1997. She also founded Bantay Kalikasan which received the 1997 International Public Relations Award of Excellence for the Environment and Outstanding Manilans Award for The Environment in 2009.

Moreover, Lopez is the one who produced Sineskwela, for which she was honored with UNESCO Kalinga Award. She also became the chairperson of the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission (PRRC) after initiating the Pasig River rehabilitation through her “Kapit Bisig para sa Ilog Pasig” project.

In the present regime, she was appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte to head the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

Lopez is dubbed to have taken the bull by the horns as she ferociously fought powerful interests in the mining sector and other industries believed to have a negative effect on our ecology.

With the help of ABS-CBN foundation, she has led many social programs which aimed to inspire people to protect nature and humanity. She has done so many things and served so much in her time on earth.

At 65, she passed away and left pain in the hearts of many Filipinos.

Philippines is in grief after losing a gem but is blessed enough to have had the chance of birthing a warrior who dauntlessly used one’s sword for the welfare of our country.

Gina Lopez was a bright light of hope. Now that she has dimmed her light, may a new ray of sunbeam shine to illuminate more lives in this beautiful world.

“Life is beautiful.” – Gina’s inspiring words in one of her interviews./ Jonas Raymond Tatoy, Vladimir Rosaupan & Ericailah Gerasmio