The Diocese of San Pablo which is the district under the pastoral care of the Catholic Bishop organized the LAKBAY-LAWA KAISA NI MARIA: Paglalayag ng Bayan ng Diyos Para sa Kalikasan.  This is the fluvial procession I mentioned in a previous World Report.  This is a fluvial procession held in Laguna Lake on July 30, 2016.  Laguna Lake is the biggest freshwater lake in the Philippines and one of the largest in Asia.

The fluvial procession had more than 50 boats coming from two towns along Laguna Lake with bancas meeting up in the baywalk of Calamba City. The image of Nuestra Seňora de los Dolores de Turumba was brought by boats coming from Pakil town while the image of San Pablo was brought by the boats from San Pedro town. 

The Monsignor of the Diocese, Jerry Bitoon is the Director of the Diocesan Ministry of Ecology.  He was the main leader of the whole event.  Over at the baywalk, he led the people in a morning activity of praise and exercise while they waited for the boats from the fluvial procession to arrive.

During the program, The Monsignor introduced the environmental encyclical of Pope Francis entitled Laudato si': Care for our Common Home. My friend, Fr. Robert Reyes, OFM also known as the ?Running Priest? challenged the more than 4000 people to do their part in caring for the environment.  Department of Environment and Natural Resources Undersecretary Atty. Ipat Luna reminded the people to avoid dumping wastes into the lake. Actually some people have called the lake a huge septic tank because domestic wastes (and even industrial wastes) goes into the lake water untreated.  Also a part of the program were speakers representing fisherfolk, informal settlers, women and youth.

The event ended with a Concelebrated Holy Mass presided over by Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales, Archbishop Emeritus of Manila and 25 priests from the Diocese.  At the close of the event, the Cardinal sent off the crowd with a blessing to become stewards and protectors of the environment.

I wasn't at the event because I was in Krakow, Poland for the World Youth Day, but I know that it is important to report about this significant environmental event.