LENT and VaLENTine Convergence: Love Our Earth 2024 February Campaign

Yesterday saw the rare/unique convergence of both Valentine’s Day and the start of the season of Lent.

Upon reflection, both words have the letters LENT in common. Both occasions also involve LOVE.

Thus was born our RCE-Cebu-VHC LOVE OUR EARTH 2024 February campaign.

Why not include LOVE for OUR EARTH as a reason for celebrating this February month of love?

Why not ask everybody to offer their love for the earth by doing their personal ecobricks-storing their own plastic wastes daily inside a used PET bottle- then weighing how much kilos each can save, away from harming/polluting the air, the creeks/rivers/seas, land, dumpsites/landfills?

When I wrote about this campaign in my column last Thursday, it was accompanied by prayers for the Lord to touch readers who could partner with us for this February campaign.

My article specifically mentioned DENR-7, DEPED-7 and their millions of students and DSWD-7 with their millions of Pantawid beneficiaries.

I wrote - imagine how much plastic wastes can be saved from harming marine /people who depend on marine resources and how much protection a simple personal ecobrick can provide for the earth, its air, water, land, people and communities, locally and even globally!

Lo and behold, the Lord promptly answered our prayer!

Within less than a day after my column was published, praise God, on the phone was the DENR-7 RED with the urgent/welcome information about an online meeting with the RDs of DepEd, DSWD, EMB and MGB about this “simple, doable February 2024 campaign!”

Barely a week after our call for LOVE OUR EARTH February campaign, yesterday, during the convergence of Valentine’s Day and Lent’s Ash Wednesday, the happy launching of this campaign and the signing of the Pledge of Commitment took place at the DENR-7 Conference Room from 8:30 a.m!

Gracing the memorable event were DENR-7 RED Paquito Melicor, DSWD-7 RD Shalaine Marie Lucero, DEPED-7 RD and President, ARENA-7 Dr. Salustiano Jimenez, EMB7 RD Ma. Victoria Abrera, MGB7 RD Armando Malicse and RCE-Cebu together with RCE-Cebu special guests/partners, Mr. Bimbo Fernandez of Pagtambayayong, Mr. Ranilo Edar of DEPED-7, Mr. Novie Diacomos of SNPP (Samahan of National Pantawid Pamilya) and Atty. Kristine Joy Argallon of Philippine Center for Earth Justice.

There were others from the said government agencies who joined us, Mr. Pastor of DEPED, former Cebu City Tourism Chief, Heart RIzarri (now with MGB), Sterremae, and others whose names, I apologize, escape me for now!

Karen and Joey Gatus of Gebion Consultancy also shared about their plastic-eco-friendly-networks during the launch.

More about what to do with collected personal ecobricks in subsequent write-ups!

Thank you all for joining us for this joyfu/meaningful February 14thevent!

From now on, we look forward to other partners who may wish as well to pledge their commitment for this LOVE OUR EARTH February campaign and/or would like to avail of our RCE-Cebu-VHC free training on Kitchen Waste Composting and Options for Other Waste Types.

Please contact us atGlobe# - 0927 733 4940 or email [email protected].

Below is the February 14, 2024 PLEDGE OF COMMITMENT for our LOVE OUR EARTH campaign gratefully signed by partners!

“We, representing our organizations, commit to working together with all other partners in pursuing the “No to Waste: Advancing Circular Economy to #beatplasticpollution”

We shall adopt doable ways in practicing circular economy. Support eco-friendly products and promote the no-single-use plastics in our establishments and offices.

We shall do this with dynamism, collaborative spirit, and a sense of urgency in order to attain our objectives in a timely manner encompassing all sectors of society.

For February 2024, we join the Love Our Earth campaign through personal Eco bricking. It is high time to accelerate these actions and transition to a circular economy.

It is time to #BeatPlastic Pollution.”