On this Day of the “Yes” of the Servant of God, Chiara Lubich, Foundress of the Work of Mary – Focolare Movement, the day we launch her 100th Birth Anniversary in Trent, and as we observe here in the Philippines the Year dedicated to Dilaogue: Ecumenism, Inter-religious and the Indigenous Peoples, I am happy to acknowledge how Chiara’s Yes and her commitment to live for the priestly prayer of Jesus: “That All May Be One!” has impacted my life and the lives of many others… how it has saved my vocation and has given much hope to me as someone coming from NEGROS – a land of beauty and plenty – yet besieged by social inequality, poverty, violence and armed conflict!

An award as Steward of Creation

On this day – the 7th of December 2019, I am honored to have been awarded this 3rd New City Achievement Award through the lens of our being “Stewards of God’s Creation.” Many thanks for this, because it is another affirmation of God – that what we have been seeking to achieve – for our people, the environment, and the care of our Common Home – is most pleasing to God and is indeed worth pursuing.

Thus such an honor is deserved by colleagues in the environmental and social justice movement, be it those who are raising their voices today or the many who have come before us. I’d like to acknowledge the leadership of women and the firm stand of mothers and grandmothers in

Negros Island to protect the future of their children and grandchildren. I also recognize the inclusivity of the campaign in our long history of struggle — the constant and conscious efforts to include the less educated and professionals, poor and rich, young and old.

In our recent campaign against dirty coal and for renewable energy, and against the climate of impunity currently gripping Negros Island, I am also most inspired by the prominent role our youth have taken. I can only humbly accept this – in behalf of and thanks to – all of them!

The Negrosanons and their current plight

These past few days, many of our people including fellow Negrosanons have feared for their lives and their families’ safety, lost their homes, their living, due to Typhoon Tisoy. All the more saddening is the fact that this storm is only one more addition to the long list of typhoons that have come and gone from our country’s shores, in addition to climate impacts we experience in between.

These past months, too, our priests in the Diocese of San Carlos have buried most of
the 59 bodies of the victims of Extra Judicial Killings across Negros Island. In Guihulngan City alone, 24 people have been summarily killed since 2017. But I have not come only to be a bringer of bad news. Today I would like to share to you hope, and how we – the people of Negros – are fighting our way through the crisis, and towards a sustainable and just future.

The present ecological crisis dictates that the use of highly polluting fossil fuel – especially coal – needs to end without further delay. Humanity has grown accustomed to a model of development based on the intensive use of fossil fuels because of a greedy, progress-seeking mindset which has compromised both the people and the planet.

In the midst of this fossil fuel obsession, Negros Island stood out for its abundant renewable energy technologies. 97% of the energy Negros produces comes from renewable sources that bring little to no harm to the climate. As such, Negros has come to be known as the Renewable Energy Capital of the Philippines and of Southeast Asia.

What is unknown to many, however, is that while there are a total of 17 renewable energy technologies in the island, these are not being used by Negrosanons. To date, Negros is mainly powered by fossil fuels being burned in neighboring islands, with up to 64% of our contracted capacity comprised by coal.

A living paradox in Negros Island

While we produce clean energy, we contribute to the climate crisis by consuming dirty power, even as we too suffer the impacts of a warming world. Our people are being doubly killed by this obsession to fossil fuels, and by the extra judicial killings in our beloved Negros Island, which were dramatically escalated by the termination of the peace talks and the release of Memorandum Order 32

and Executive Order 70. Some of my priests and lay people have cried for grief over these senseless deaths that left children orphaned, parents burying their children, wives or husbands widowed. This culture of violence has undermined the sanctity of human life. Pope Francis tells us that the right to life is the first among human rights. The killings in Negros must stop. The death of human lives and of the environment due to fossil fuels must stop, too.

Loud cry continues for environmental and social justice

Today, we – the people of Negros – are taking charge and doing our best to secure the tomorrows of every Negrosanon. We bravely fight for our common home, having a history of four battles won against coal projects proposed by big corporations – like David before Goliath – and a history too of resistance against the violence brought about by centuries old issues of land rights, poverty and injustice.

Now, with the youth and church in the forefront of the movement, inspired by Laudato Sí of Pope Francis, the campaign for both environmental and social justice has never been louder and clearer. Since we started to ring the church bells in Negros Island, the killings have lessened. Until they fully stop, we continue our loud cry for peace and our fervent prayers for God’s love, justice and peace to reign in our land.

Meanwhile, the local clean energy movement is demanding that existing clean energy in the island will be made accessible to its people. It has gained numerous victories including coal-free and clean energy declarations in both Provinces of Negros Occidental and Oriental.

There is hope amidst the hard fight Different sectors are working together and are harnessing the power of collaboration and solidarity in setting up the landscape of Negros into future sustainable development and energy democracy. This movement to REpower Negros is still a long fight, and the story of hope persists beyond the initial victories.

For now, one thing is certain — that Negrosanons will not stop until we ensure that a bright and livable future awaits Negros, and we hope that the fight for clean energy and for the protection of our people’s right to life in this island serves as an encouragement in the other 7,106 islands of our country. A Blessed Advent and Christmas to you and a New Year full of God’s blessings and surprises!!!