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GL: ‘I believe I can fly’

Published on Friday, 13 September 2019 09:41 | Hits: 5520
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‘I love you all!,’ which she often blurted out with her trademark enthusiasm, might well be the reason for GL’s lifework‘I love you all!,’ which she often blurted out with her trademark enthusiasm, might well be the reason for GL’s lifeworkIt has been weeks since Gina Lopez (GL) has left us, and still there is that ache in the hearts of those whose lives she has touched. The overwhelming outpouring of grief when she passed away after bravely facing the last challenge in her life will be hard to forget.

One can only look back at the many impactful seeds that she planted and helped grow. These were truly seeds of hope driven by the love and passion of a woman who was like a star that brightened the darkness of society, a woman who truly believed that she can “fly and spread her wings,” a woman of faith, a woman of substance, a woman of action—the values taught her by her alma mater, Assumption College.

By now, the many heartwarming and inspiring articles about GL in print, broadcast and social media have revealed that her life was indeed one of authenticity (not hiding her flaws and frankness) and, most important, genuine love.

'Genuine Love’

The latter is also the title of the documentary about her life and accomplishments that aired on ABS-CBN on August 25, the day after she was laid to rest. “Genuine Love” said it all—how she left her family to join Ananda Marga, how she lived for many years among the poorest of the poor in Africa, how she was found by her father there and one of the first things she asked for was a refrigerator, how she came back home and yes, how, after GL joined ABS-CBN Foundation Inc. (AFI, now ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation Inc. or ALKFI), the world of NGOs in the Philippines was never the same again.

One of GL’s favorite songs was R. Kelly’s “I Believe I Can Fly” originally released in 1996. The song’s message of dreaming and achieving impossible things by spreading one’s wings in the name of love must have really driven GL to do things in a focused and passionate manner. And her projects indeed showed how she walked her talk.

As one of those who headed ALKFI’s public relations and communications department during the first decade of the foundation, I saw how she challenged each and every one of us, her executives and her staff,  to “fly” with her in achieving the goals of Bantay Bata, Bantay Kalikasan, E-Media and her volunteers for disaster relief and rehabilitation which was the start of Sagip Kapamilya.

Always doing things big

GL did not do things in a small manner. She did it big time. For example, when she embarked on the Clean Air Act campaign, she asked us to gather not one million signatures, not two, but 10! How she went about it is something hard to believe. She gathered all her friends, her networks especially in the academe and religious organizations and, of course, her media resources including the thousands of employees of the Lopez Group of companies, to sign up and help spread the word. Sure enough, 10 million signatures were delivered to the legislators and, after a few months, the Clean Air Act was passed.

Flagship project

There is of course Bantay Bata, then the flagship project of ALKFI. After watching a “TV Patrol” report of a child being abused, GL was horrified and could not just let it go. She saw the urgency of the state of abused children and the Bantay Bata 163 hotline was set up; immediate rescue was implemented and televised to raise awareness about preventing child abuse. The rest is history.

After more than two decades, and with the help of dedicated social workers, BB163 is still around and being sustained by many who believe in loving and protecting the child.

One thing with GL, she was not hesitant in carrying and embracing rescued children, no matter the state they are in. One of the famous cases of child rescue was the case of young Jessie, whose grandmother and guardian imprisoned him for years in a cage like a dog. The rescue was recorded and one can see GL picking up and embracing Jessie from his filthy and smelly cage. Jessie was one of the people seen on television expressing his thanks to GL during her wake at Studio 10 at the ABS-CBN compound.

Under Bantay Kalikasan, the La Mesa Ecopark project was another one whose rehabilitation seemed impossible. La Mesa is not just a small park, but hectares of then denuded forest. There were many challenges and obstacles in the beginning but this prompted GL to be more aggressive in protecting the area that helps in providing clean water to the more than 12 million people in Metro Manila.

Big-time impact

She was able to get the country’s leading corporations that believed in her environmental causes to help her. Today, La Mesa remains one of GL’s sustainable projects.

For the past years, GL’s favorite projects were in the field of ecotourism. The residents/beneficiaries affected by the projects are forever grateful to her, not only for providing them with clean and green surroundings, but also livelihoods to better their families’ lives.

Her big-time impact on the environment is such that in one state of the nation address of the President a few years back when she was still Department of Environment and Natural Resources secretary, she was mentioned not just once, but several times in his speech.

And how she showed her support and appreciation for her first group of volunteers who would be among the first to arrive at disaster-stricken areas with relief goods will be remembered for a long time. Then known as AFI Volunteers, they would stay at their makeshift relief center practically 24/7, a practice that continues to this day through the now institutionalized Sagip Kapamilya.

‘I love you all!’

Whenever GL would go fundraising before the heads of the biggest corporations in the Philippines, she never came out empty-handed; she always managed to solicit funds from them. It was difficult to refuse her. She would come well prepared with statistics to back her up and emotional videos to melt their hearts and make them bring out their checkbooks.

Like I said, GL did not do things small, nor did she receive donations in small amounts. It was usually in the millions, and this was because these businessmen could see her sincerity, accountability and transparency. Sure, she may have “fought” with one or two of them due to her antimining position, but it was indeed hard to refuse to support her when she started her inspiring speech with no prepared notes as she would rather speak from her heart.

She would always tell us that Filipinos are a visual people and the best way to convince them was to show images of what is happening with regard to the environment and children. She would even end her speech and presentation with “I love you all!” no matter who her audience was.

Extraordinary

There are just too many anecdotes regarding the colorful and driven personality of this extraordinary lady whose love for family, clan, her foundations and country will be embedded in the hearts of those who knew her.

Now that GL has indeed “flown,” we will always remember her for the seeds of hope that she has given to so many of her countrymen.

As the Carmelite and Spanish mystic priest St. John of the Cross said: “At the sunset of our lives we will only be judged on one thing: how much have we loved.” (Story/Photos by: Dulce Festin-Baybay)

More Filipinos receive Kapamilya love from ‘Pantawid ng Pag-ibig’

Published on Thursday, 20 August 2020 | Hits:370

More Filipinos receive Kapamilya love from ‘Pantawid ng Pag-ibig’

Kapamilya love reached more Filipinos as ABS-CBN Foundation Inc.’s (AFI) “Pantawid ng Pag-ibig: Isang Daan, Isang Pamilya” campaign distributed food packs and ligtas bags outside Metro Manila for those greatly

Mayors express gratitude wellness. to ABS-CBN, AFI

Published on Thursday, 18 June 2020 | Hits:383

Local government units (LGUs) found it challenging to quickly provide relief to families affected by the quarantine. That is why several mayors in Metro Manila and nearby provinces have expressed

‘Pantawid ng Pag-ibig’ gears up for 2nd phase

Published on Thursday, 18 June 2020 | Hits:342

‘Pantawid ng Pag-ibig’ gears up for 2nd phase

As Filipino families continue to struggle with the loss of jobs, ABS-CBN Foundation Inc. (AFI) moves to the second phase of the “Pantawid ng Pagibig” campaign with the aim of

Over 600,000 families to benefit as ‘Pantawid ng Pag-ibig’ raises P350M

Published on Tuesday, 19 May 2020 | Hits:413

Over 600,000 families to benefit as ‘Pantawid ng Pag-ibig’ raises P350M

The “Pantawid ng Pag-ibig” campaign of ABS-CBN and ABS-CBN Foundation Inc. (AFI) has raised P350 million in cash donations and pledges for the benefit of over 600,000 families in Metro

ABS-CBN reaches out to evacuees via ‘Tulong-Tulong sa Taal’

Published on Thursday, 06 February 2020 | Hits:358

ABS-CBN reaches out to evacuees via ‘Tulong-Tulong sa Taal’

NO evacuee will be left behind. This is the promise of ABSCBN as it launches the “Tulong-Tulong sa Taal” campaign, which aims to unite the nation in helping Filipinos affected

ABS-CBN Foundation Europe to hold telethon for London Grenfell Tower fire victims

Published on Friday, 23 June 2017 | Hits:3955

ABS-CBN Foundation Europe to hold telethon for London Grenfell Tower fire victims

ABS-CBN Foundation Europe CIO joins public and private support for the victims of the massive fire that hit the 24-storey residential London Grenfell Tower in West London on June 14

Donate to Operation Sagip Surigao to help earthquake victims

Published on Friday, 17 February 2017 | Hits:4282

Donate to Operation Sagip Surigao to help earthquake victims

A state of calamity has been declared by the Mayor of Surigao City. Relief and rescue operations are underway for the barangays that have been affected.

Bulusan workers turn to backyard farming for steady food supply

Published on Tuesday, 19 May 2020 | Hits:993

Bulusan workers turn to backyard farming for steady food supply

The Rural Workers Association of San Rafael (RWASR) based in Bulusan, Sorsogon, which runs Nasipit Eco-Agri Farm, has a simple message for their fellow Filipinos: “There is no problem we

‘Ligtas Pilipinas’ helps educate Filipinos on COVID-19

Published on Thursday, 16 April 2020 | Hits:930

‘Ligtas Pilipinas’ helps educate Filipinos on COVID-19

ABS-CBN helps arm Filipinos with relevant information to stop the spread of disease through its “Ligtas Pilipinas sa COVID-19” campaign on radio, TV and online.

ABS-CBN delivers protective gear, food to health workers

Published on Thursday, 16 April 2020 | Hits:1093

ABS-CBN delivers protective gear, food to health workers

HELP came through for health workers in East Avenue Medical Center after ABS-CBN delivered masks and other protective gear and snacks to show support and Kapamilya love to those leading

‘G Diaries’ bags academic excellence awards

Published on Monday, 09 March 2020 | Hits:779

‘G Diaries’ bags academic excellence awards

“Maraming, maraming salamat po sa award na ipinagkaloob ninyo sa amin. Alay namin ito sa kapatid kong si Gina Lopez,” said “G Diaries” host and Bantay Bata 163 executive director

Finally home

Published on Monday, 09 March 2020 | Hits:795

Finally home

She could hardly contain her joy and excitement when she saw her son walking towards her. She welcomed him with tight hugs and happy tears as a loving mother would

ALKFI renames building in honor of Gina Lopez

Published on Monday, 09 March 2020 | Hits:600

ALKFI renames building in honor of Gina Lopez

ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation Inc. (ALKFI) renamed its building Gina Lopez Building in honor of its late chairperson and founder of ALKFI programs Bantay Bata 163 and Bantay Kalikasan.

Fighting child malnutrition with Alaska Milk

Published on Thursday, 06 February 2020 | Hits:778

Fighting child malnutrition with Alaska Milk

ACCORDING to UNICEF, 95 children in the Philippines die every day because of malnutrition. This is one of the reasons Alaska Milk Corporation supports the advocacy of ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya

Bantay Bata, Globe activate #163 helpline for free

Published on Monday, 16 December 2019 | Hits:1263

Bantay Bata, Globe activate #163 helpline for free

IN 2015, Unicef and the Council for the Welfare of Children conducted the National Baseline Study on Violence Against Children in the Philippines, which indicated that eight out of 10

For the Love of Children

Published on Friday, 05 January 2018 | Hits:1276

For the Love of Children

  For the Love of Children For the Love of Children   These children live everyday making ends meet without losing hope that a better future awaits them. Together, let’s keep their hopes alive

New World Hotels & Resorts Hold Run & Raise 2018

Published on Wednesday, 20 December 2017 | Hits:1591

New World Hotels & Resorts Hold Run & Raise 2018

New World Hotels and Resorts gears up for another exciting edition of Run & Raise in 2018. Now on its fourth year, Run & Raise 4 will be held at

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Bayan Academy Calendar

BAYAN Academy offers the following certificate training courses this month:

June 18-19: Market Research

June 25-26: Human Resource Management For rates, call Carol Arcaya at 426-3140. Bayan Academy reserves the right to change course dates.

 

June 18-19:

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