Smokey M. kids join Earth Day

By: Ana Terrese Junio

Environmentalists, celebrities and children from Smokey Mountain gathered together to honor the Earth Day Celebration, with this year’s theme: Tubig at Lupa Buhayin, Hangin Linisin, Batas Tuparin on April 22, 2009 at SM Mall of Asia.

Rev. Fr. Ben Beltran, SVD delivered a prayer for environment after chanters of Hari Krishna performed their ritual. SM Super Malls Central Vice-President for Operations Lisa Silerio shared SM’s environmental activities with the audience. Earth Day Network Philippines Chairperson Elisea Gozun lauded the sponsors of this event, specifically Department of Environment and Natural Resources and SM Super Malls as two major partners.

Celebrity Rica Peralejo sang and danced the “Ozzy Ozone song” with DENR – Environmental Management Bureau officials. Ozzy Ozone song depicts proper measures to save and protect the ozone layer. Miss Earth Foundation Executive Director Cathy Untalan lectured that ozone layer’s damage results to penetration of UV rays on earth, resulting to skin cancer and eye cataract.

US Ambassador Kristie Kenney urged everyone to protect “this one planet we have,” regardless of one’s status quo. DENR Secretary Lito Atienza stated the Philippine Environment Address. He said that the country has many “non-reinforced” environmental laws. DENR Undersecretaries Teresita Castillo and Mary Ann Lucille Sering joined Sec. Atienza in this event.

“Disturbing weather caused by Global warming affects us especially our farmers as their harvests rely on weather conditions. I even asked the best weather man [Kuya Kim] why, but he also didn’t know the answer,” Sec. Atienza said.

News anchor and weather forecaster Kim Atienza amused children with his ‘extreme animal friends’ in the likes of cockatoo, bubuli, green iguana, Malaysian blood python and Burmese python.

Partners, sponsors and ultra marathon runners received certificates of appreciation for honoring Earth Day celebration. A Memorandum of Agreement between DENR and city governments of Mandaluyong, Quezon City, San Juan and Caloocan rectified the reinforcement of environmental laws. Veridium received the first Ecolabel Award for engine oil from Green Choice Philippines. News anchor Tintin Bersola-Babao presented the story of “Basura Monster” – a tale that teaches kids to throw their wastes properly to avoid the monstrous air, water and soil pollutions.

Bantay Kalikasan – La Mesa Resource Mobilization Officer Darryn Castillo introduced Gawad L.A.H.A.T (Lupa, Araw, Hangin, Ako, Tubig), a campaign inviting people to share their solution against Global Warming. Children also enjoyed the story shared by Rica Peralejo entitled: “Ang aking mga kaibigan sa kagubatan.”