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FPE Echoes Pope Francis’ Call to Care for Mother Earth as it Celebrates 23 Years of Environmental Conservation

Posted on January 23, 2015

The Foundation for the Philippine Environment (FPE), established on January 15, 1992, is celebrating its 23^rd foundation anniversary on January 23, 2015 (Friday) at the FPE Main Office, 77 Matahimik Street, Teacher's Village, Diliman, Quezon City. Celebrating “23 years of partnership with people and nature,” FPE remains as a leading national organization promoting biodiversity conservation and sustainable development (BCSD) in the Philippines through programs and projects done in cooperation with various stakeholders including non-government organizations and people’s organizations, grassroots organizations and community-based groups, national and local government, media and the academia.

Atty. Rose Liza Osorio, FPE Chairman and CEO, noted that “during his recent visit to the country, Pope Francis reminded us that ‘God created the world as a beautiful garden and asked us to care for it. But through sin, man has disfigured that natural beauty.’ To halt the wanton destruction of our natural resources and to restore balance and harmony in our ecology are the very reasons for being of FPE.”

Founded during the presidency of the late democracy icon, Corazon Aquino, the seed of FPE was sown in the soil of a newly recaptured democracy. “FPE is an open, inclusive, participatory and democratic organization that has built partnerships based on transparency and public accountability, reciprocity and mutual trust among stakeholders, and the empowerment of communities and the grassroots,” Atty Osorio stated. “Throughout its 23 years of existence, FPE has remained faithful to the spirit of EDSA.”

“Now, we are experiencing another historic euphoria of renewed faith and moral fortitude with the triumphant visit of Pope Francis,” Atty. Osorio continued. “Let us remember the essence of the various messages of His Holiness in Manila and Tacloban: love and malasakit for others and the environment; concern for the common and greater good; a preferential treatment for the poor, the weak and the marginalized; and the unequivocal rejection of consumerism, materialism, and corruption. To a large extent, unhampered logging, mining, land conversion and urbanization are all rooted in human greed, exacerbated by corruption in both government and the private sector. It is now time to overcome apathy, stop our destructive and wasteful ways, and be proactive and dynamic in restoring the ecology of our nation and our planet. Only then can we realize the proper wellbeing and dignity of every Filipino.”

According to Mr. Godof Villapando, FPE Executive Director, the 23^rd Foundation Anniversary of FPE will include a thanksgiving mass, a message from the FPE Chair and CEO, a video presentation narrating the progress of the organization and its programs and activities, and the formal recognition of some FPE staff for their outstanding service.

“Distilling more than two decades of experience and best practices amongst partners, FPE has recently crafted its ten-year strategic plan that considers the long-term gestation period of BCSD interventions and integrate livelihood development to relieve conservation pressure in biodiversity areas,” Mr. Villapando explained. “Currently operating in nine key biodiversity areas that will soon be expanded by four more, FPE has so far supported more than 1,000 civil society organizations in more than 65 critical sites through more than 1,400 projects.”

A dynamic, relevant, proactive, and growing organization that enables civil society and other stakeholders towards effective biodiversity conservation and sustainable development, FPE envisions communities caring responsibly and living fully in harmony with their environment. Its top agenda is how to properly and sustainably address various concerns regarding mining, logging, unsustainable agricultural and fishing practices, climate change and natural disasters, solid waste and air pollution, urbanization and land conversion, and continued dependence on non-renewable energy sources. 

Below are photos from the anniversary celebration. 

FPE Chair & CEO, Atty. Rose Liza E. Osorio, reminds the audience to relive the papal message of "love and malasakit for others and the environment". 

Alternative Law Groups National Coordinator, Atty. Marlon J. Manuel, recounts how FPE had been instrumental in setting up the environmental defense coalition. 

Members of the FPE general assemby, Board of Trustees, partners and staff join the celebration.

Recognition of FPE staff milestone. From L-R: Mindanao Regional Unit manager Armando C. Pacudan, 10 years of service; Visayas Regional Unit manager Myrissa Lepiten-Tabao, 10 years of service; Investment Officer Leonora R. Dominguez, 15 years of service; and Program Development Unit manager Fernando M. Ramirez, 10 years of service. 

Executive Director Godofredo T. Villapando, Jr., presents FPE strategic direction from 2015 to 2025.

FPE Vice Chair, Fr. Edu Gariguez, thanks partners for journeying with FPE for 23 years.