Life Mission(?

)
By: Mabelle Allenlou Gonzaga

I was sitting alone a just admiring how lively the trees were dancing along with the
winds. As if the trees have its own lives, and it’s pretty amusing how well the wind made their
lives missionary. As I was staring intent fully, an image of a woman appeared and sat beside me.
Because of curiosity, I was about ask who she is, but then she stopped me and answered my
question immediately. Although I’m a bit shocked and curious if she’s a mind reader, I just let
her to speak and told me here story. Regina Paz “Gina” La’o Lopez”. That was she told me. She
spearheaded a lot of programs for the environment and Filipino communities, and became the
managing director of ABS-CBN Foundation. She initiated Bantay Banta 163, the country’s first
media-based hotline. That time, she found her mission. She also founded Bantay-kalikasan, and
produced various educational TV shows. Gina initiated the rehabilitation of the Pasig River that
led to the cleaning of numerous tributaries. Gina was also an anti-mining advocate, giving large-
scale miners a splitting headache with her determination. It was for these efforts that President
Duterte appointed her to head the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, with
that, she found her life’s mission. That moment, I felt how passionate she is. Her love for
environment has a special spot in her heart. I was caught on-guard as she continued, “For me,
the environment has always been about people because, there is an intimate relationship
between people and the environment. If you really want to help the people, which is my
passion, you really can’t do it if you’re not aware of the impact of the environment on their
lives”. With that, I took a gaze on the trees that I had been staring, there’s something that made
me realized. It was like there’s something that can make our lives to have its own mission. As
what I saw earlier, the mission of the wind is to let the trees dance along with it. It was like a
life’s mission. A strong wind filled my mind with a light that made my soul awake. So I opened
my eyes and a small smile crept into my lips. It was all dreamy.