We’re seeing plenty of green this month with the launch of three new books under the auspices of Energy Development Corporation (EDC): “Philippine Native Trees 101,” “Generations” and “Rafflesia of the Philippines” focus on different aspects of nature and the environment.

The book launch serves as a tribute to Lopez Group chairman emeritus Oscar M. Lopez (OML). Environmental protection is one of OML’s advocacies, which is embodied in the 10-year program called BINHI. The program aims to plant rare endemic Philippine trees in a 10,000-hectare area all over the country. Read more about this event on page 2 of this issue.

In his recent email to employees, OML recalled the Manila of his youth, when there were fewer cars, high-rises and malls choking the city. He compared today’s Manila to Singapore and Malaysia, with their “plants, flowers and clinging vines easing the harshness of a humid tropical climate meeting hard concrete infrastructure.”

More than protesting against the authorities and developers who “cover every square inch of open space with concrete and steel,” OML urged the employees to do their part and show respect to Mother Nature. The devastation wrought by typhoon Ondoy in September 2009 should drive home the fact that nature does fight back, he added.

“Let’s all be part of a citizenry that is conscious of what Mother Nature can do and likewise do our part to reduce the stresses on city life. This is part of our social responsibility as Lopez employees,
and more importantly, as Filipinos,” OML said.

For the longest time, SKY Cable Corporation has been synonymous with cable or pay TV—in fact, SKY is where many of us viewed MTV and HBO for the first time back in the 1990s. In the past several years, the company has branched out to offer broadband and even voice services. SKY now is more than just cable, and it continues to push boundaries in terms of product offerings and outstanding customer service, says SKY chief operating officer Ray Montinola in our cover feature this month.

Incidentally, SKYcable now offers the SKYcable Season Pass for die-hard sports fans who want to watch their idols compete in the London Olympics. Whether in HD or standard definition, SKY has got you covered. Give them a call now!

Celebrating a milestone birthday is ABS-CBN chairman Gabby Lopez, also known as EL3, who turns 60 on August 13. Did you know that Kapitan’s eldest son once worked as an ABS-CBN DJ back in the day? Martial law may have cut this budding career path short, but EL3, like his father before him, went on to successfully lead ABSCBN through an extremely challenging period in the new millennium.
Happy birthday, EL3!