ASIDE from the traditional preaching of the Holy Gospel, the Diocese of Laoag has also been actively advocating the “green sacraments” as a means of reaching out to people and encourage them to join the church’s crusade in promoting ecological balance, and environmental protection and sanitation. “Green sacraments” is one of the church efforts to promote ecological security and balance by way of injecting in the administration of sacraments homilies on ecology. For example, after every sacrament, an activity on ecology, like planting of trees, could be included and during the offertory, the parishioners could include live offerings such as potted plants and flowers instead of cut flowers or commercial ones. Also, Catholic churches here are encouraged to use indigenous decorations and materials as part of the environmental advocacy, which is the major concern of the Laoag diocese’s Social Action Center (SAC). In an exclusive interview with Rev. Leonardo “Leo” Ruiz, SAC director, on April 16, he mentioned that since he started serving as SAC director of the diocese in 1998, the members of the commission has evaluated SAC’s various programs and came up with a strategic plan on ecology as they believe that this is one of the major social concerns the diocese needs to address due to the apparent environmental abuse. “One of the thrust now that we are trying to promote is on ecology and environment. We had a gradual implementation of the program because we don’t simply impose that to people,” the SAC director said, adding that he has been an environmentalist since he was a child. As a procedure, Father Leo said the SAC commission members try to gather and identify the issues and concerns based on pre-evaluation of activities, come up with a program design and let the council decide on whatever proposal the SAC has in mind. Finally, the commission shall seek the permission and approval of the bishop whether this would be implemented or not. The Ilocos Times also learned that the commission evaluates the program every three years to determine its impact to host communities. The new bishop’s support Since the January 11 installation of Most Rev. Sergio L. Utleg, D.D. as the fifth bishop of Laoag, SAC’s programs and activities became more meaningful as the new bishop supports its ongoing programs as Bishop Utleg, who is also known as an environment advocate, recognizes and also believes that the activities and concerns of the social action apostolate be made known to mankind as “social action is essential to Evangelization as the preaching of the Word and the reception of the sacraments.” Among SAC’s advocacy programs on ecology, environment protection and sanitation include practices on eco-waste management, organic farming, tree-planting, biking, seminar workshops and technology demonstrations on the indigenous farming practices for sustainable agriculture as well as the inclusion of the green sacraments during mass homilies and other social gatherings among the Catholic faithful, including other church denominations that share the same passion in caring for the earth. Environmentalist roots Such advocacy on environment and technology has been engraved in the heart and mind of the 40-year old SAC director as he recalled that such conviction started within his family. His father, who used to be a farmer before he became a soldier, never used pesticides in his farming practices as the old Ruiz inculcated the same principle in his family to help safeguard and protect the environment by all means possible. “My parents are truly environmentalists. They plant trees and since I joined him in tilling the soil in the farm, I never saw him use chemical pesticides or spray in the plants. For him, everything should be natural. Every year, we plant trees but we don’t simply cut them. We trim trees but we don’t cut them. The principle of my father was, if we cut trees, we must have to ask permission from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources or other agency concerned,” Ruiz said. Though there are those who are pessimistic and cynical about the church’s advocacy on environment, there are also those who are challenged and touched by the said advocacy by the Catholic Church and the SAC in particular. Surprised farmers Earlier surprised by the sudden the church’s advocacy to make social changes such as organic farm practice, which SAC is actively promoting to Ilocano farmers, these farmers were later amazed that apart from the priests’ teachings on God’s holiness, the church has gradually moved into reaching out to the faithful, appealing to their spiritual conscience while showing them the way to maintain ecological balance, observing cleanliness and sanitation in every little way. As part of the church advocacies for green sacraments, parishioners are encouraged that instead of offering cut flowers during liturgy, potted plants are also welcome. It is also suggested that no nailing of any type of posters and announcements should be made on trees within the vicinity of local churches, the observance of waste segregation, and the proper disposal of waste as well as recycling. This gradual implementation of the church’s programs and activities of an eco-friendly environment gained respect and approval among churchgoers as they quipped that “offering their own potted plants like orchids is more practical than buying cut flowers as offertory.” They also appreciate the idea behind the program on solid waste management as they are taught to make money out of waste materials. Money from waste Citing in particular the way SAC became a model of solid waste management as waste donations such as cartons, papers, aluminum cans, bottles and others from the different church organization are being sold by the church and the proceeds are used to sustain the education of SAC scholars. SAC has an educational assistance program which provides financial help to poor but deserving students in the Diocese of Laoag. As the church also leases out lots to various business establishments in the heart of the city, where the SAC office and the St. William’s Cathedral are located, the church has also requested these businessmen to join church activities, particularly in solid waste management. For example, local bakeries could use recycled paper bags instead of plastic bags in packaging their products. Environment code According to Father Leo, the church is still on the advocacy level of trying to educate and organize their people to become more aware of the harm being done to the environment. With Father Leo having an active role in networking with the provincial government and other local government units in the province, non-government organizations, the academe, and the business sector, the church took part in the passage of the provincial environment code of Ilocos Norte early this year, as well as the formation of the newly organized Green Ilocos Norte Network and Advocacy (GINNA), which is composed of the DENR, the religious sector, the academe, the business sector as well as other concerned individuals and organizations. The province’s environment code was patterned after the code established earlier by Bohol province, which had an exemplary performance in stewarding the environment aims to institutionalize programs and activities toward the protection and preservation of natural resources. The new environment code of the province specifically aims to give a clearer picture of what would be done to protect and conserve the environment which is currently being threatened by illegal fishing, illegal logging, smuggling of logs and other natural resources as well as the ancient slash-and-burn farming of some farmers in the province’s highlands. To inspire awareness and appreciation of the environment for Ilocanos, the GINNA was formed as a highlight of the month-long celebration of Earth Day this April. GINNA aims to promote the seven eco-battles against earth such as the battle for clean air, clean water, water security, sustainable extraction, biodiversity conservation, climate change reversal and garbage-free communities. The earth day activities in the province, which GINNA would actively participate in, are geared to work towards green governance, green economics, green sacraments and green choices. Father Leo expressed confidence that it is not too late for the people to realize that it is high time for us to bring back the integrity of creation, the integrity of agricultural lands and other natural resources by going back to being natural. Since the creation of the world, father Leo reminds mankind, who has been tasked by God to become steward of His creations, and it is quite timely now for all men who did—and continue to do—much harm to the environment, to repent and to have time for conversion. “Apart from being Christians and Catholics, if we can learn a little on how to protect and preserve the environment, please do so,” Father Leo requested. Leilanie G. Adriano
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