Gina Lopez: The Woman Behind it All

A heart that speaks for everyone.

“What I know is that when you want something really well, my experience in life is that God sends people there."” — Gina Lopez

Gina Lopez was a Flipino environmentalist and philanthropist who served as Secretary of the Philippines' Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on an ad interim basis under President Rodrigo Duterte. Lopez was formerly the Chairperson of the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission under two consecutive administrations.

After studying in the United States, Lopez left her privileged life in Manila and eventually became a yoga missionary for two decades. Lopez lived in Portugal, India, and Africa. She became an Ananda Marga yoga missionary who taught yoga and ran pre-primary schools and children's homes for the underprivileged. She lived among the slum areas in Africa directly by the slogan "Service to humanity is service to God."

Gina Lopez has made many contributions in helping people and saving the environment. She initiated the well-known Bantay Bata 163, the country's first media-based hotline. Bantay Bata was the United Nations Grand Awardee for Excellence besting 187 countries all over the world in 1997. She launched Bantay Kalikasan, where she was honored with the 1997 International Public Relations Award of Excellence for the Environment and the outstanding Manilans Award for the Environment, 2009. For Sine'skwela, Ms. Lopez was awarded with the UNESCO Kalinga Award. Through the Kapit Bisig para sa Ilog Pasig Project, Lopez established the rehabilitation of the Pasig River and within reach urban streams. President Benigno Aquino III named her as Chairperson of the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission in 2010. She was also in charge of the La Mesa Watershed Reservation's reforestation.

When the president formally chose her to lead the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, or DENR, she sprang right into action on her first day in office. She investigated all mining sites and firms across the country. Her anti-mining position was reinforced by years of Philippine study on mining, both environmentally and economically. Lopez advocated for 100% renewable energy in the Philippines and passionately opposed mining, saying, "The Philippines does not need mining." She also stated that there would be no mining operations in Palawan, known as the country's last ecological frontier. In less than two months, she investigated all Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao's mining companies. She was also a big advocate of indigenous peoples' rights (IP). She began immediately developing forums for DENR and indigenous peoples' sector consultations.

Gina hosted G Diaries, an ABS-CBN environmental show launched on June 4, 2017. The show aims to feature environmental conservation and innovations. She became the first Filipino to be given the renowned Seacology Prize in Berkeley, California on October 5, 2017. Lopez was cited for establishing the first ever consultations between the government and indigenous groups in the Philippines, for "showing the vision and courage the Seacology Prize is meant to honor."

Gina Lopez made alot of contributions in leading and saving the environment – with that she received the following awards:

• United Nations Grand Awardee for Excellence (1997) for the Bantay Bata 163

• International Public Relations Award of Excellence for the Environment (1997)

• Outstanding Manilans Award for the Environment (2009)

• UNESCO Kalinga Award 1998

Article Information from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gina_Lopez

Photo credits to ABS-CBN News, canadianinquirer.net, philnews.ph, getrealphilippines.com