Rm 232, St. Anthony Bldg., cor. Cambridge St.

,
Aurora Blvd., Cubao, Quezon City
secretariat@urgentinitiative.org.ph
(0917)102 6949

April 1, 2019
Your Excellencies and Reverend Major Superiors:
Re: National Convention of Diocesan and Selected Religious Ecology Ministers

Dear Bp. Ronald Lunas:

Maka-kalikasang Pagbati!
This year’s summer is much hotter than last year’s and this was aggravated by water mismanagement in
Metro Manila and by drought in many provinces.

The “breaking point” that Pope Francis spoke of in 2015 “due to the rapid pace of change and
degradation” (Laudato Si 61) is now drawing closer to us yet people in general are still indifferent in
responding to the challenges of climate change. We are still in the “business as usual” mode.

Last October 8, 2018 the UN-based Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) said that WE
HAVE ONLY 12 YEARS LEFT BEFORE WE REACH THE TIPPING POINT OF 1.5℃ in global
temperature. We must now adopt urgent and innovative actions, shift values and influence positions in
authority for radical change.
In response to this challenge, 10 diocesan ecology ministers together with Fr. Napoleon Sipalay, Jr, O.P.
and Bp. Broderick Pabillo decided at the URGENT INITIATIVE general assembly to convene all
ecology ministers of the dioceses in the country with those of bigger religious congregations.
May we invite your diocesan / religious ecology minister to this national convention to be held at the
Lay Force on June 25 – 27, 2019 to respond to the following objectives?
1. To have a comprehensive understanding of climate change and the urgency to act now;
2. To learn from one another’s experiences in resolving ecological challenges on each diocese and
to be equipped with legal and extra legal tools;
3. To deepen the link between ecology and spirituality; and
4. To make a workable plan of action 1) responding to the urgency of climate change and, 2)
supporting each other in the challenges met.

We are asking the participants to shoulder their travel expenses except those who need assistance. It is
important that all dioceses are here. Those who intend to live out, kindly inform us ahead of time. We
have only 25 rooms in Lay Force which can accommodate more than one person in a room however,
those who prefer to be in a room by oneself, we’ll also look for place for you. May God save his
creation!

Sincerely,

Fr. Pete Montallana with the assistance of Fr. Ric Valencia and Fr. Jun Sipalay. OP
Cc: Diocesan/Religious Ecology Minister

The convenors of Urgent Initiative are: Bp. Broderick Pabillo, Fr. Pete Montallana of SSMNAI, and Yeb Sano of Greenpeace.
 Rm 232, St. Anthony Bldg., cor. Cambridge St.,
Aurora Blvd., Cubao, Quezon City
secretariat@urgentinitiative.org.ph
(0917)102 6949
The Schedule:
June 25, 2019: Morning
Arrival, Registration and Snacks
12:00 – Lunch
01:00 PM – Panalangin, Introductions and Expectations Check
01:30 PM – Welcome and Presentation of the Convention Program and House Rules,
02:00 PM– Climate Change and the Urgency to Act (Mr. Yeb Sano/Greenpeace Personnel)
03:00 PM– Open Forum
03: 30 PM– Responding to Eco Challenges: Legal and Extra-Legal Options
Atty. Genee Mislang from Tanggol Kalikasan and now head of the Alternative Law Groups
04:30 PM- Open Forum/ Working Snack/ identifying members of steering committee from Luzon,
Visayas, Mindanao and from Religious
05:45 PM – Preparation for Mass
06:00 PM – Mass (A priest who can share how defense of ecology has transformed him)
-7:00 PM – Supper
(Steering committee Meeting/ Eco Videos )
June 26, 2019 –
07:00 AM – Breakfast
08:00 AM – Creative Morning Prayer to the Creator
08:30 AM – Balik-Tanaw and picture taking
08:45 AM LEARNING FROM OF EXPERIENCES IN RESOLVING ECOLOGICAL
CHALLENGES
( The participants will be grouped into their main eco challenges: mining, logging, ancestral domains,
rivers, garbage, organic agriculture etc.)
10:00 AM – Plenary (Working Snacks)
11:00 AM – Open Forum
11:30 AM – Synthesis
12:00 – Lunch
01:00 PM – Pasiglang Bilang
01:15 PM – 5-Year Plan: Ecological Families Towards a Carbon Free Philippines
Some clarifications

The convenors of Urgent Initiative are: Bp. Broderick Pabillo, Fr. Pete Montallana of SSMNAI, and Yeb Sano of Greenpeace.
 Rm 232, St. Anthony Bldg., cor. Cambridge St.,
Aurora Blvd., Cubao, Quezon City
secretariat@urgentinitiative.org.ph
(0917)102 6949
01:45 PM: LEARNING FROM CONCRETE
EXPERIENCES TO BECOME CARBON
FREE (Groups are divided according to their interests: 1) simple life style, praying for ecological
conversion, prefer walking if possible, lowering electric and water consumption 2) waste disposal:
segregation at organic fertilizer, plastic – eco bricks, single-use plastic, etc. 3) planting and nurturing,
defending trees trees, urban gardening and natural farming; 4) recruiting families/neighbours, organizing
barangay/towns/ province to lobby for envi policies; 5) electing envi candidates, etc.
02:45 PM - Plenary –
04:00 PM – Snacks
04:30 PM – Ecology and Spirituality ( Unlearning values that separate care for the earth and spirituality
and learning that “(Jesus) has united himself definitively to our earth” (LS #245)
05:45 PM – Prepare for Mass
06:00 PM – Mass (Bp. Pabillo)
07:00 PM – Supper
(Steering Committee/ Videos)
June 27, 2019
07:00 AM – Breakfast
08:00 AM – Creative Morning Prayer and Balik-Tanaw
08:15 AM – MOVING TOWARDS FROM A CARBON FREE CHURCH TOWARDS A
CARBON FREE PHILIPPINES (Group Work: A. Checklist on becoming 1) a carbon free parish, 2)
carbon free diocese,/carbon free congregation. B. Best strategies to influence 1)communities. 2)
barangays, 3) towns, 4) provinces. C. Best strategies to influence 1) media, 2) schools, etc
09:00 AM – Plenary (working snacks)/
11:00 AM – Open Forum
11:30 AM – Synthesis
12:00 – Lunch (Home)

Reply Slip (Please reply on or before April 30, 2019)

National Convention of Diocesan and Religious Ecology Ministers

Layforce, San Carlos Pastoral Formation Complex, EDSA, Guadalupe, Makati

The convenors of Urgent Initiative are: Bp. Broderick Pabillo, Fr. Pete Montallana of SSMNAI, and Yeb Sano of Greenpeace.
 Rm 232, St. Anthony Bldg., cor. Cambridge St.,
Aurora Blvd., Cubao, Quezon City
secretariat@urgentinitiative.org.ph
(0917)102 6949
Diocese/ Religious Congregation:
________________________________________
Name: _____________________________________________________________
Ecology Minister: (Pls. check: ____________; Representative: (Pls. check: _____
Mailing Address: _____________________________________________________
Email Address: _______________________________________________________
Ecology Challenges in your diocese/congregation: Pls. enumerate__________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
I need help for my travel expenses/ how much:P ____________________________
________________1. I will be attending.
________________2. Sorry I will not attend.
Please email your response: secretariat@urgentinitiative.org.ph
or Text: 0917-102-6949 or 0920-9684982
or Call: 912-0224

The convenors of Urgent Initiative are: Bp. Broderick Pabillo, Fr. Pete Montallana of SSMNAI, and Yeb Sano of Greenpeace.