HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRIPE-VINE: OUR NEW ABNORMAL
What do the following academic institutions now have in common? Assumption College, De La Salle Araneta University, FEU Manila High School, La Salle Greenhills, Las Pinas Science High School, Manila Science High School, Muntinlupa Science High School, National University of Nazareth School, Parañaque Science High School, PAREF Southridge, Pasay Science High School, Philippine Science High School, and Quezon City Science High School.
The answer is they’re the first batch of academic institution partners of SM Prime and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) in the #YOUthAreTheFuture2023 project. YOUth Are the Future is a leadership program that aims to arm young student leaders with knowledge on climate change, environmental conservation, and on sustainability issues. The grand launch last Oct. 10 had the representatives from the partner high schools taking a discovery tour of the SM Mall of Asia Complex, being shown the mall’s sustainability efforts and disaster resilience practices.
HANS ‘CHICO’ SY, JR. (center), at the pinning ceremony of the partner schools.
As Hans ‘Chico’ Sy, president of SM Engineering Design and Development Corporation, was happy to say, “When we provide our young student leaders with learning opportunities and expose them to practical solutions, we have a chance to help them design a sustainable future. We are committed to make sure that things change for the better.” And I applaud private sector partners such as SM Prime; as they really push the envelope with Sustainability, and you can see how it’s ingrained in their corporate DNA as a developer. We can be confident that future SM Smart Cities will carry these twin bills of public and economic value.
Present during the event, and showing support for the initiatives and projects of SM was DENR Secretary Toni Yulo-Loyzaga, and she remarked, “Our journey is really about the race to resilience, as our climate changes, society is changing. Sustainability is our pathway to survival as a planet.” And WWF-Philippines’ Dino Calderon stressed that, “There is no better time than now to educate the youth. As stewards of the planet, it’s important that they have an opportunity to learn about environmental conservation.”
AT THE #YOUthAreTheFuture launch, led by Hans Sy, his son Chico Sy, and DENR Sec. Toni Yulo-Loyzaga; with the student leaders representing the various partner schools.
Down the road for these youth ambassadors are a three-day eco-camp at the Pico de Loro Beach and Country Club, to learn about waste and energy management, resource optimization, climate mitigation, and adaptation strategies. Known for its role in the Olive Ridley Sea Turtle Conservation program, the stay at Hamilo Coast will also serve as an opportunity to be immersed in a natural classroom. Expected output of the eco-camp includes a Green Manifesto, as created by the children.
The Manila Bulletin will hold its second Sustainability Forum at the UP campus this Nov. 21 and 22, with an appreciation dinner hosted by the Ascott at BGC on the evening of the second day. We support programs such as YOUth Are the Future, as we’ve taken the position that awareness and appreciation of Sustainability issues and their champions still have a long way to go in this country.
AT THE TIEZA-led Philippine Tourism Investment Summit, TIEZA COO Mark Lapid (left) welcomes DOT Sec. Christina G. Frasco (center).
And while I appreciate the argument that the trickle down of any degree of sustainability consciousness is stymied by how so many in the country have enough worries just thinking of how they’ll pay for their next meal or feeding their children; the fact remains that the clock is ticking insofar as our planet is concerned. How we can address poverty, while still making inroads on sustainability issues, should be a priority for everyone with a “voice.”
What geographical advantage?
Attendance at two events that were related to tourism had me listening to a position that I’d like to offer my two cents worth on. One of the speakers, representing one of the local airline companies, was talking about the rosy future for Philippine tourism and for air travel, citing the geographical advantage of the Philippines. And I’ve heard this argument trotted out by other tourism industry specialists.
All I can say is that the Philippines has not moved for centuries, so what exactly is this geographical advantage, and why hasn’t it worked for us to this day? Perhaps back in the age of sea travel, if you were sailing from the Americas, we would be seen as some first stop/gateway to the Orient. But that argument fails if one is sailing from Europe.
To be a real hub, you have to first attract the different airlines as a destination, and having the logistics (read modern air terminal) to cope with the influx of aircraft. Our NAIA is a pathetic offering when you compare it to Hong Kong, Singapore, or Bangkok air terminals. In this day and age, any carrier will fly the extra hours and head to those destinations before making Manila some hub.
To these “experts,” talking about geographical advantage is blinding ourselves to the real issues we need to face, and placing false hope on something of dubious value. Our airports, our infrastructure, our investing in logistical convenience – let’s focus on what has to be remedied, if we hope to boost our tourism industry. And I’m one with you in pushing this agenda forward.