WELCOME REMARKS: Umalohokan Para sa Kaalaman, Kalikasan at Kinabukasan

WELCOME REMARKS

Umalohokan Para sa Kaalaman, Kalikasan at Kinabukasan

April 13, 2025

Simbayanan ni Maria Community Foundation, Taguig City

Magandang araw sa inyong lahat!

Today is not just an ordinary gathering. This is a convergence of minds and hearts—of changemakers, truth-seekers, and guardians of our environment and future.

Welcome to Umalohokan Para sa Kaalaman, Kalikasan at Kinabukasan—isang pagtitipon na bumabalik sa diwa ng ating mga ninunong Umalohokan—ang mga tagapagbalita ng bayan, ang mga boses ng katotohanan noong panahon na wala pang internet, wala pang media—pero may tapang, may malasakit, at may layunin.

Today, we take up that torch.

We become the new Umalohokan—those who will not stay silent in the face of misinformation, ecological destruction, and apathy.

We rise with knowledge. We act with purpose. And we move together—as one voice, one community, one future.

This workshop is not just about listening and learning. It's about igniting something powerful—paninindigan, pakikilahok, at pagbabago.

Ngayong araw, let us allow our stories to spark action. Let our discussions lead to transformation. Let our unity give birth to a movement.

Because if not now—kailan pa?

If not us—sino pa?

So speak. Share. Be brave.

Dahil ang boses mo ay mahalaga.

Ang tinig mo ay may saysay.

At ang kwento mo ay pwedeng maging simula ng pagbabago.

Welcome, my fellow Umalohokan.

Let’s make this day unforgettable. Let’s make this day revolutionary.

Maraming salamat, at mabuhay tayong lahat!

"One-Minute Actions" for #UMALOHOKAN

Umalohokan Para sa Kaalaman, Kalikasan at Kinabukasan

April 13, 2025

Simbayanan ni Maria Community Foundation, Taguig City

Ipagawa din natin itong mga madalian na activities sa lahat ng attendees, announcing this before the beginning of the event, then reminding them to do this every segment end:

"One-Minute Actions"

Objective: Instantly mobilize attendees to take action on social media for voters education, sustainability, or fighting disinformation.

Instructions for Attendees:

Take out their smartphone and go to their preferred social media platform (Facebook, X/Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, etc.).

Choose any of the following actions to complete in 60 seconds:

1. Share any of today’s speakers talk or message about misinformation, voter awareness, or environmental advocacy.

2. Write a quick post about something impactful you've learned so far using the hashtags #UMALOHOKAN2025 #FightFakeNews #EveryVoteMatters #SustainabilityNow.

3. Follow any of the pages of our speakers like fact-checking, election watchdog, bloggers page

 like VERA Files, PPCRV, LENTE, WAZZUP PILIPINAS OFFICIAL, RED CLOUD INTERACTIVE, etc

 or any of the environmental advocacy groups like Bayanihan Para Sa Kalikasan Movement, Ban Toxics,  Ecowaste Coalition,  Partners for Affordable & Reliable Energy, Green Party of the Philippines, Alkarock Gift of Nature, etc  

4. Take a selfie or group photo and caption it with a commitment (e.g., “I pledge to fight fake news by fact-checking!) then add #UMALOHOKAN

Show their completed action to the nearest facilitator to confirm participation.

Duration: 1 minute

Outcome: Immediate digital engagement and amplification of key messages.

Defending Our Last Green Stronghold: Why the Government Must Stand with Masungi and Sierra Madre

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

In a world increasingly ravaged by the effects of climate change, our last lines of defense are not just scientific innovations or global treaties — they are the forests, mountains, and rivers that continue to quietly protect us. Among them, the Sierra Madre Mountain Range, and within it, the Masungi Georeserve, stands as a powerful guardian — one that has long shielded Metro Manila from nature’s most brutal wrath: torrential floods and deadly typhoons.

But today, this guardian is under threat — not from chainsaws or bulldozers alone, but from indifference, bureaucracy, and unresolved legal entanglements.

Now more than ever, the government needs more allies, not less, in preserving the Sierra Madre. Every tree felled, every hill stripped bare, brings us one step closer to disaster. Conversely, every initiative that protects and restores this vital ecosystem is a step toward survival. In that context, Masungi Georeserve is not just an environmental project — it is a beacon of hope.

For years, Masungi has proven that conservation and development can co-exist. It has turned barren lands into verdant sanctuaries, empowered local communities, inspired youth, and garnered international acclaim — all while working with meager resources but boundless determination. Its recognition from global environmental bodies isn’t just for show — it’s a validation of a model that works.

Yet, even as it thrives, Masungi is beset by legal battles, land disputes, and threats that jeopardize its mission. This is not just an organizational problem; this is a national tragedy in the making.

That’s why we must urgently call on the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to rise to the occasion — to face Masungi’s champions directly, to listen, to deliberate, and to act — not with hesitation, but with the clarity that our future is on the line. Let every dialogue be a step toward resolution, and may every resolution lean toward sustained, if not expanded, partnerships with those who have already proven their devotion to the cause.

We understand: the law must be upheld. But laws should never be wielded to discourage good governance and environmental stewardship. Let us not allow the sweat, the blood, and the sacrifices of countless defenders to go to waste. Huwag nating hayaang maglaho ang mga taon ng pagtatanim, pagbabantay, at pakikipaglaban para sa Masungi at sa Sierra Madre.

Because what is at stake is not just a piece of land — it is the lungs of Luzon, the natural floodwall of Metro Manila, the ark of biodiversity housing countless species we might never know if we lose them now.

Let us not lose sight of the main agenda: not politics, not profit — but the reforestation of our forests and the protection of our critical natural assets. That is the real measure of patriotism and progress.

To protect Masungi is to protect lives. To preserve the Sierra Madre is to secure the future of our children. Let history remember this moment — and let it say we stood on the right side.

By protecting Masungi, we are not just saving a forest — we are saving ourselves.