Seeds of Hope planted in Bantayog ng mga Bayani

What’s the difference between hope and trees?

Trees are planted in soil while hope is planted in the hearts of young people who still believe that something better can happen in the Philippines.

Last June 10, about twenty young students and individuals planted not just flowers and trees but also seeds of hope in their minds and hearts as they participated in the ceremonial urban greening activity spearheaded by the iamninoy movement, in coordination with its partner organizations Sagip Pasig Movement (SPM), Hands On Manila and International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), at the Bantayog ng mga Bagong Bayani in Quezon City.

The environment-inspired event gave the students not only an opportunity to engage themselves in helping green the environment but also an avenue to know more about social advocacy as representatives of
iamninoy’s partner non-government organizations (NGO) seized the momentum to inspire young people and speak about their projects.

Ms. Myrna Jimenez, SPM project director, discussed the projects of her movement to the students. She told them how her movement is heavily involved in reviving the once-glorious river that was Pasig. Ms. Jimenez added that Sagip Pasig is engaged not only in cleaning Pasig River but also its four tributary rivers in San Juan, Marikina, Manila and Quezon City. She also relayed that SPM is active not only in reviving Pasig River but in other environmental activities, as well, such as composting and recycling.

Further, Dr. Rene Gayo, executive director of Hands On Manila, presented a profile of his organization and what it does to assist other people, especially the needy. He said that as of now they have 75 NGO partners and 6,000 volunteers who tirelessly help them in their charitable activities, particularly in their Galing Mo Kid program. Dr. Gayo also said that Hands On Manila aims to conduct not only sustainable volunteer activities but to create a ‘culture of volunteerism’ in the country, as well.

Moreover, Mother Lila, a representative from ISKCON, also narrated how their society helps the needy by fighting malnutrition and feeding thousands of people in Manila’s slum areas through its Food for Life program.

The event, according to Mr. Rapa C. Lopa, executive director of the Benigno S. Aquino, Jr. Foundation (BSAF), served as a follow-up to its iamninoy campaign, which began last year on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of Ninoy Aquino’s martyrdom. Though he acknowledged that the youth-inspired advocacy helped bring back public consciousness of Ninoy’s sacrifice twenty five years ago, Mr. Lopa said that every Filipino should play a role, big or small, in building a better Philippines. “Ninoy’s being cool [through iamninoy] should not end there. Aside from being cool, we need to do something,” the BSAF executive director stressed as he challenged the students who were present at the Bantayog to do something for the country.

The activity culminated with the signing of agreement and strengthening of partnership between iamninoy and Hands On Manila.