This is a late post but it is part of my journey with promoting the encyclical of Pope Francis entitled "Laudato si' Care for Our Common Home".

On June 11, I had the chance to visit the town of Pakil, Laguna.  I was part of a group that joined the Vicar General of our Diocese of San Pablo. His name is Monsignor Jerry Bitoon.  He is our leader in the environmental advocacy here in our province. We visited the parish in Pakil to ask their cooperation and for them to be a part of the the Lakbay Lawa Kaisa ni Maria with the Nuestra Seňora de los Dolores de Turumba as the main icon of the event.  The reason for this is that this image of Our Lady was found in the waters of Laguna Lake making it the ideal symbol for the event, which highlights the care, rehabilitation and protection of the environment, particularly Laguna Lake. 

The Diocesan event was being planned to launch the Celebration of Creation.  The objectives of the event were:

(1)    Promote the encyclical - Laudato si: Care for Our Common Home
(2)    Launch the Celebration of Creation in the Diocese of San Pablo
(3)    Create environmental Awareness to conserve, protect and rehabilitate our lake
(4)    Engage people into concrete Action towards care, protection and rehabilitation of our lake

The event hopes to create environmental awareness on the Diocesan level that would lead to community-based rehabilitation.  The main activity was the Fluvial Procession that would bring several bancas from two points of the province to the baywalk of the City of Calamba where there would be a program and religious service.

While I joined the meeting, some interesting environmental issues were discussed.  The fishermen said that we should monitor what happens on the man-made Caliraya Lake when the pipes of the hydroelectric dam are being cleaned because they seem to be using strong cleaning agents that are harmful.  Fisherfolk have noted that the fish and snails die right after the period of cleaning. Another issue that was brought up is the need to eradicate the invasive species (knife fish and janitor fish) which are a menace to the native species in Laguna Lake.  We were also told to monitor projects like the Laguna Lakeshore Expressway Dike Project that threatens the life, homes and livelihood of those living along the lakeshore towns and cities.