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By Christine G. Cenal
IT is said that the formative years of a child
is the best time to educate them. Their early years shape their
consciousness and opinions over the things that they see around
them.
When Haribon conceived the Haribon Ambassadors
for Conservation (HAC) in 2003, it was to help promote the
organization and its advocacy. We gathered the well-informed
celebrities that knew the problems that beset the environment and
who believed in the cause Haribon was engaged in. These celebrities,
considered credible and had a following among a wide section of
society, are Karen Davila, Arnold Clavio, Bam Aquino, Rhea Santos,
Abner Mercado and Jiggy Manicad. They are influential people able to
command active participation in the causes that they champion. These
broadcast celebrities have been joined by other celebrities from
various fields like music (Noel Cabangon, John Lesaca, Medwin Marfil,
Jonathan Manalo, Anya Santos, Flexi Sarte, Joey Ayala, Bimbo Cerrudo,
Raki Vega); entertainment (Ricky Davao, Jolina Magdangal, Chynna
Ortaleza, Piolo Pascual); sports (Romi Garduce); and civic
organizations (Maricris Sarino, Pam Ayson, Mike Lopez) by speaking
for and aligning their work to environmental conservation.
But although these known celebrities were
championing Haribon’s conservation initiatives, there was a need
to organize a group of young, nature lovers who will fill in the
shoes of these senior ambassadors in the future. Thus in 2005, BJ
Forbes or “Tolits” to many of his fans, became the first junior
ambassador. Today, BJ has been joined by other young ambassadors who
are celebrities themselves like: Miguel Aguila of Warner Music and a
Hall of Fame awardee of Aliw Awards; Rita Iringan, a St. Rita
College student in Las Piñas who won the grand prize winner of Pop
Star Kid 2006 and a member of Sugarpop singing group of GMA Records
and Sony BMG; Bea Binene, a Holy Infant Montessori Center student in
Caloocan City and a GMA Network talent; Kathryn Bernardo, who is a
mainstay of Going Bulilit of ABS-CBN; and Jeon Macatangay, a Sto. Niño
Parochial School high school student in Bago Bantay, Quezon City,
and who has acted in some drama series, commercials and advertorials.
Recently, we expanded the group to include young
students from various schools who can promote Haribon and make
biodiversity conservation become popular words in the classrooms.
These are Justin and Julian Garcia of Claret School; Erika Mae
Guazon of Diliman Preparatory School; Andrew Eseque of Queen of
Angels Learning Center in Imus, Cavite; and Joey and Gayle Mangila
of Pura V. Kalaw Elementary School. These kids will showcase to
their schools Haribon exhibits about rainforestation and the
Philippines’ threatened species; as well as join tree-planting
activities with Haribon’s corporate partners. Together with the
senior Haribon ambassadors, the junior HAC will banner activities
under the Generation Green movement, a campaign to plant native tree
species around the country specifically in watersheds and denuded
forests, to call on the youth to be advocates of rainforestation.
This movement hopes to help realize Haribon’s
campaign to plant native tree species in one million hectares of
land until 2020.
Indeed, the time to educate these children in
becoming advocates of good environment is now. The only thing we
need to do is to let them develop experiences with nature and
encourage them to take part in the solution. The Junior HAC is a
step closer in realizing the dream that a better and healthy
environment is still possible.
Christine G. Cenal is Haribon’s Division
Head Resource Development & Mobilization.
For comments or inquiries you may e-mail her
at: resdev@haribon.org.ph
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