REAFFIRMING ITS THREE-YEAR commitment to the principles of Laudato Si’, San Beda University (SBU) renewed its environmental stewardship as it opened this year’s celebration on October 23, rooted in the theme “Renewing Hearts, Restoring Creation: 125 Years of Bedan Stewardship as Instrument of Peace and Hope,” in line with the University’s yearlong observance of its 125th jubilee.
The annual celebration opened with its traditional “Laudato Si’ Walk,” joined by all the colleges from the University and its Integrated Basic Education Department (IBED), along with the Teaching and Non-Teaching Personnel (NTPs), and the University’s administrators.
This year’s parade took on a different path from previous years, as it was held within the University premises, culminating at the Lydia Tan Sy grounds, amidst numerous road blockages and ongoing public works along the Mendiola Consortium–the usual route of the walk.
The opening ceremony then proceeded with a Eucharistic Celebration held at the Jonathan Sy Auditorium, which was headed by the University Rector-President, Rev. Fr. Aloysius Ma. A. Maranan, O.S.B.
In his homily, the Rector-President shared that Pope Francis’ Encyclical letter crying for the common home is not just a “cry of despair” but also a call to conversion and “God’s invitation to return to the heart of our vocation,” adding that Bedans, as leaders of the future, must “let go of the convenience that pollutes and the mindset that treats the earth as something to be exploited rather than a gift to be cherished.”
After the Mass, the main program took place as Dr. Divina M. Edralin, the University’s Vice President for Research and Innovation (VPRI) commenced “Tabi po,” a Laudato Si’ talk, calling onto the stage Dr. Neil Aldrin D. Mallari, the resource speaker of the discussion and the founder and incumbent President and Chief Scientist of the Center for Conservation Innovation Philippines Incorporated (CCIPH).
The discussion highlighted the Philippines’ distinct forest and ocean biomes and rich natural ecosystems, while drawing attention to the ongoing degradation due to human activities, pollution, deforestation, and climate change.
Emphasizing the human dimension of the environmental crisis, Dr. Mallari attributed the worsening conditions to the continuous election of leaders with no agenda for preserving the country’s biodiversity.
He then gave the reason behind the talk’s title, explaining anthropologically that it comes from the old practice of paying respect to nature and unseen elements and spirits in every action that may disturb one’s surroundings; hence the practice of saying “tabi, tabi po.”
“If we do not use ‘tabi po’ anymore, I think we are in trouble, because we do not have that respect,” he said, alluding to the importance of cultural roots and practices in promoting environmental preservation.
The discussion then proceeded to Laudato Si’ and how the encyclical is an invitation to all to care for nature—clarifying that nature includes people and placing great emphasis on ancestral lands and the indigenous people inhabiting said land.
Dr. Mallari furthered by imparting his wish for San Beda, hoping that the University does not become subject to the common pitfalls of environmental movements gauging effectiveness through surface-level actions of simply planting trees and posting awareness. “I hope that you [be] measured by the impact that you have on communities and the people that you serve, and the marginalized,” he stated.
After the discussion, a signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) formalizing the collective commitment to work together towards their agreed ecological objective took place between Dr. Mallari and Rev. Fr. Maranan.
The program concluded with the submission of the University’s Laudato Si’ report to the Laudato Si’ Action Platform website and the Renewal of Commitment to the principles of Laudato Si’—signifying SBU’s continued allegiance to environmental stewardship.