World Environment Day (WED) was celebrated in a special way in the Philippines this year.  From all over the Philippines, advocates for the protection of the environment travelled over water and land to arrive in Manila on June 5 in time for the celebration of WED.  The Moving Caravan organized by the Philippine Misereor Partnership, Incorporated (PMPI) is called SALAKYAG, which is short for ?SAkay, LAkad at laYAG para sa Sangnilikha? was kicked off in the island of Mindanao on May 28, 2018. 

The Caravan started in Zamboanga and travelled through the island of Mindanao through May 31.  The participants then sailed to the big island of Visayas and travelled through its provinces on June 1 and 2, then on the island of Luzon on June 3.  They rode on cars and boats on some stretches and walked along main streets to create awareness for environmental protection. Gathering steam as it passed through the different provinces, the SALAKYAG stopped by our City of San Pablo on June 4.  In every stop, they held a program were local environmental issues in the area were discussed.

The Laudato si – Kalusugan, Kalikasan at Kabuhayan, which is the lay arm of the Ministry of Ecology of the Diocese of San Pablo echoes the call of Pope Francis to protect our common home, our Mother Earth.   They hosted the sixty plus environmentalists by opening the doors of our parish to the pilgrims.  They arrived in a convoy of cars from Bicol (farther south in Luzon) and got off their vehicles along the main street of San Pablo where they were met by members of the Diocese. Swelling to about 150 people, they walked in a procession around the City and ended up in a celebration of the Holy Mass at the St. Paul Cathedral.  A program and sharing about environmental protection was held in the Bishop?s residence after that. The guests stayed the night at the Liceo de San Pablo and left early the next morning to proceed to the final stop in Manila.

It was the caravan?s intention to deliver to Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and key officials of his government the 1 Million signatures as proof of the demand to stop the destruction of the environment and push for Green Bills that will give nature a right to exist and become sustainable. Although they did not get to speak to the President, the group was  able to have a Forum infront of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.