UP Goes Eco-Active

The ECO-Active Day was about to start and set-up was being completed, as students started to gather around the Grandstand. The Mini Program, the first activity for the day, was underway. It was behind schedule but nonetheless, everything else about the program went well. The participants were welcomed by USC Chairperson Third Bagro’s opening remarks where he explained the ECO-Active Campaign and its four highlight projects: Adopt-a-Tree, Ban the Styro, Dagdag Padyak, and Readings on Recycled. The participants were not kept waiting as the program started right away with no less than the Executive Director of Greenpeace Southeast Asia Mr. Von Hernandez. He talked about environmentalism and shared his wisdom from his more than fifteen years of experience as an environmental activist. Afterwards, Mr. Enrique Gallardo of the Solar Electric Company brought excitement to the program with the high-tech eco-friendly gadgets he demonstrated and let students dabble with. The last speaker was the renowned environmentalist and one of Time Magazine’s 2003 Asian Heroes, Ms. Chin-Chin Gutierrez. She inspired the participants by asserting that before having advocacies, we first have to make the advocates, precisely the essence of ECO-Active. All speakers inspired students to continue the practice of being environmentally conscious. The performers from the UP Singing Ambassadors were also instrumental in achieving that. The Mini Program ended with the closing remarks from yours truly as the ECO-Active Project Head.
The perfect weather continued in the afternoon as students lined up to join the second ECO-Active Day activity, the March for the Environment. Participants rushed early in front of the Vinzons Hall to enlist in what would be the biggest march yet in UP dedicated to the environment. In front was the e-jeepney that was lent by the Green Renewable Independent Power Producer (GRIPP). UP Kontra Gapi led the participants to a lively march, chanting “Kalikasan alagaan para sa kinabukasan.” Worthy to note also were the padyak bikes ridden by students and some USC members, which displayed one of the highlight projects of ECO-Active, which is the Dagdag Padyak Project. The march transpired around the Academic Oval, passing through the University Avenue and going to a few stops including the AS Steps at Palma Hall, where participants got more energetic and animated in shouting out loud the chant. The march ended at the same spot where it started, Vinzons Hall. Participants were then invited to join the last of the activities for the ECO-Active Day, the Human Formation.

Immediately after the instructions had been given, the participants proceeded to the Sunken Garden. After several minutes, with approximately 15-20 students per letter, the human formation “BAN STYRO” was formed, the signal that UP will soon be styro-free and a call for other communities to do the same. The end of the ECO-Active day saw the students singing wholeheartedly UP Naming Mahal.

This, my fellow Iskolars para sa Bayan, is only the beginning. Let us collectively show that we truly are also Iskolars para sa Kalikasan by supporting our next projects and by leading an ECO-Active lifestyle.