HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRIPE-VINE: OUR NEW ABNORMAL
Before we close the book on the 2023 Manila Bulletin Sustainability Forum, I’d like to give a shout out to the participating speakers, our corporate sponsors, our academic institution partner UP Diliman, to the DENR and QC LGU, and of course, our student audience. The wonderful MBrand team that organized the two-day event, the MB Marketing Group, and the dependable 1Lit crew who handled the Recognition Night also deserve our kudos. Collectively, they helped make this year’s forum a resounding success - in spite of what fate threw in our path.
This edition of the Forum was our first foray in conducting the Forum with a live audience - as the first iteration in 2022 was a pure online execution. We approached the University of the Philippines; and both Irish Lorenzo, head of MBrand, and I will always recall how we had to present to a room of over 25 deans from the different UP Colleges during an ExCom conducted by UP Chancellor vistan. This was to get the Colleges to approve, and subscribe to the Forum being held on campus. Irish likened it to giving a dissertation, and seeking a passing grade - and joked how the shoe was on the other foot as she teaches at Letran, but was now the one presenting to get the faculty’s nod.
Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte, during her keynote address that focused on the LGU’s sustainabilty initiatives.
As it was, we did get their unanimous OK, and the assurance that they would encourage their respective students to attend the Forum, cherry-picking the topics and talks most relevant to their courses. And I know that our participating speakers all looked forward to this live audience of the youth - the demographic for whom all these efforts of Sustainability were addressing, as it’s their future we’re really discussing, and doing something about.
I’ve often remarked that the great bulk of what we’re talking about in the name of Sustainability won’t be felt in a year, or even three years’ time. It’s really about retro-fitting the future, making the planet a more hospitable place for my children and my children’s children. That’s what’s truly at stake here, and if we’ve been lax or slow in understanding the urgency of acting today, then we’re condemning their future, and just repeating what my generation failed to recognize.
And when I speak of the 17 Sustainability Development Goals, ESG agendas, and the circular economy, let’s be reminded that the environment is just one aspect of the discussion. Of the 17 goals, only four to five directly impact on the environment; the others speak of quality of life, infrastructure and innovation, renewable energy, inclusivity and income opportunity. And I know it’s important to remember that, as to this day, a lot of people still view Sustainability as a one-dimensional, environment-focused concept.
Manila Bulletin, The Ascott Limited, Megaworld Hotels & Resorts, IKEA, and UP Diliman at the MB Sustainability Forum, day one, Morning session, with SM Prime on the screen.
It’s precisely to debunk that generalization that we created the format for our Forum, putting together champions of Sustainability from a diverse range of industries and arenas, and harnessing representation from the private to the public sector. The hope being that our audience would find ways to support these ‘champions’; and if even only on a soft impact basis, weave Sustainability into their own lifestyles.
Little did we know that a nationwide transport strike would be announced the week prior to the Forum, and it would fall on the days of our Forum. UP advised all colleges to conduct their classes online those three days of the announced strike. Of course, we panicked… for all of three seconds. But in the end, we discussed the situation with UP, they offered us the opportunity to livestream the Forum on their UP campus network, and we shifted to a smaller venue to better manage the live audience that we felt would still be an important part of the proceedings.
As for the strike, in my opening remarks I actually referred to it, saying that while it did ‘rain on our parade’, I wished for a just and peaceful resolution to the issues causing the strike, as they do connect with Sustainability - the striving for job opportunities and inclusivity.
Ayala Corp., Arthaland, ACER, NEO, and UP Diliman with host/moderator Issa Litton, Day 2, Morning session.
We reached out to Centro Escolar University (which has close ties to the Manila Bulletin), and along with some sister companies, we bused individuals to the Malcolm Hall, UP Diliman; and an enthusiastic audience attended the sessions. And I say enthusiastic without qualification, as we asked the audience to fill out response forms, and I was impressed by the detail of their answers, and how they expressed their valuable takeaways from the Forum. Food for our soul these survey forms, as they demonstrated that even if just a small step, the Forum is an effective step to achieve Sustainability trickle-down.
Watsons, Aboitiz InfraCapital, Aboitiz Power, ACEN, and UP Diliman, with moderator Mica Pineda and Sam Thurman, Day 1, Afternoon session.
More food for our soul, music to our ears, came during the Recognition Night dinner held at the Ascott BGC; as our sponsors repeatedly expressed their appreciation for what we had mounted, and declared they would be ready to return for the next Forum.
Sustainability in our nation still has a long way to go. Our fervent hope is that our efforts help more people understand why that journey is so crucial, and needs to happen now.