Metro Manila’s bad air won’t let angels land–Gina

THE AIR of Metro Manila is so bad angels would fear to land here, Environment Secretary Gina Lopez told a meeting of government officials and transport operators looking for solutions to the air pollution in the metropolis.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on Tuesday brought together government agencies and public transport operators to find ways to reduce the pollution caused mainly by motor vehicles.

Lopez, who practices yoga and meditation and served as a missionary in Kenya, India and Portugal many years ago, walked in midway into the meeting to pump up the participants.

Gushing “wow” and “my God” several times, the longtime environmental activist lauded the representatives of the government agencies concerned and major public transport groups for working together to do something about the foul and sickening air.

Looking for the transport operators, Lopez told the officials presiding over the meeting: “You have to help the jeepney drivers, the poor.”

“(Whether) rich, young, old, poor, my God, we can clean the air of Metro Manila,” she said. “Wow.”

Meditation teacher

She then narrated: “My meditation teacher, who unfortunately passed away last week, when he came to the Philippines and then afterwards, told me: ‘Regina—that’s what he called me—the pollution in Metro Manila does not allow the angels to land.”

“That’s what he said, you know. Yung mga anghel galing sa langit hindi puwedeng pumunta dito sa Metro Manila kasi masyadong polluted (The angels from heaven cannot come to Metro Manila because it’s too polluted),” Lopez said, with a little laugh.

Some of the participants also laughed quietly.

Newly appointed Environment Undersecretary Arturo Valdez, who was presiding over the meeting as head of the national anti-environmental crime task force, was smiling.

“We can make a difference. My God, puwede pala (it can be done). If you can do it here in Metro Manila, you can do it all over the country. Puwede pala, kayang kaya pala natin (It can be done; we can really do this) to work together for our future,” Lopez said.

“It’s good for everyone’s soul,” she added.

Before leaving to let the meeting continue, Lopez asked the participants to join her in a military-style cheer consisting of three hand claps, three foot stomps and shouting “hu-wa!” –Dona Z. Pazzibugan