Environmental Movements in the Philippines: The Case of the Concerned Citizens Advocating Philippine Environmental Sustainability (COCAP)

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Environmental Movements in the Philippines: The Case of the Concerned

Citizens Advocating Philippine Environmental Sustainability (COCAP)

John Frederick A. Lauron Master in International Studies

College of International, Humanitarian and Development Studies Miriam College Foundation Quezon City, Philippines

[email protected] or [email protected]

Abstract

The Concerned Citizens Advocating Philippine Environmental Sustainability (COCAP),

formerly known as Concerned Citizens‟ Against Pollution is one of the environmental

movements in the Philippines which have a track record in advocating environmental policies

such as Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act. It was established on February 28, 1993 during the

Ramos administration through the leadership of Ester de Tagle.

This essay provides an analysis of COCAP, as an environmental social movement in the

Philippines. Individual level of analysis was employed using the rational actor theory. The

organizational level of analysis provides the context when the movement began and it provides

a brief discussion of how resources are mobilized by the officers and members of the

organization. The researcher concludes that six characteristics of New Social Movements

outlined by Gusfield, Larana & Johnston (1994) in their book entitled, New Social Movements:

From Ideology to Identity, were demonstrated by COCAP.

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“I see myself as a pioneer in advocating environmental ideas and practical ideas that are to be implemented starting from my experience in Germany, many years ago - forty years ago. In the 70‟s, we had the “First Car-Free Sunday” in Germany. That was the kind of revolution, triggered by the shortage of oil from the Middle East and that started really big movement into thinking as to how we proceed in developing the world. That triggered major legislations to protect the environment and to reduce consumption and propagate conservation measures.”

Juergen Lorenz (COCAP member) in an interview on September 15, 2012 at Environmental Science Institute, Miriam College, Quezon City

I. Introduction

Social movement is a collective enterprise seeking to establish a new order of life

(Blummer 1969). It is an organized group that acts consciously to promote or resist change

through collective action to influence policies and promote social change. The Philippines is

home to a number of social movements or social movement organizations. Social movements

proliferate in the country and these organizations have truly influenced governance, policies and

decision of leaders. While there is a growing popularity of political and grassroots‟ movements in

the country, one cannot deny the fact that environmental movements have become more active

in advocating environmental policies. One of which is the Concerned Citizens Advocating

Philippine Environmental Sustainability (COCAP) which was established on February 28, 1993

during the Ramos administration. It lobbied environmental laws such as the Clean Air Act and

Clean Water Act. This essay attempts to discuss the nature of environmental movements in the

Philippines using the case of Concerned Citizens Advocating Philippine Environmental

Sustainability (COCAP).

COCAP is one of the many environmental organizations in the Philippines. In a book

entitled, Asia‟s Environmental Movements: Comparative Perspectives, Felix Magno (1999)

cited that most environmental movements in the Philippines had gone through different phases

namely: 1st Phase - Environmental Defense Phase (1978-1985), 2nd phase - Identity-Making

Phase (1986-1991) and 3rd phase - Strategic Engagement Phase (1992-1997). The

environmental defense phase was characterized by active environmental defense, where

coalitions were based on specific issues in order to protect communities from possible

environmental destruction brought about by huge infrastructures and development projects by

companies, investors and government during the Marcos martial law regime. The identity-

making phase was the period when the bases for identity and unity were clarified by most

environmental movements. This was the start of Cory Aquino‟s administration wherein

ecologically sound development alternatives were seriously proposed, studied, and pursued

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through the involvement of NGOs in community-based resource management initiatives in many

parts of the country. In the strategic engagement phase, environmental movements were able

to intervene in the process of governance. Angelo Alcala, an environmentalist who used to be

the director of Haribon Foundation and president of Siliman University was appointed as the

DENR secretary. This was the point in history of environmental movements wherein the voice of

environmentalists was heard and their proposals were translated into policies and laws. It was

during this period when COCAP was established.

II. The Making of an Environmentalist: Individual Level of Analysis

Environmental movements are new kinds of social movements wherein the traditional

class struggle have been replaced by struggle for sustainable development and protection of

one‟s rights to clean air, clean water and fertile land. If no one will care for the environment, who

else will? If not now, when? Environmental movements in the Philippines respond to the call for

a more sustainable future. Development is good but not at the expense of the rights of the next

generation. This chapter attempts to present the individual narratives of one COCAP member,

Jurgen Lorenz and the founder of COCAP, Ester Perez de Tagle. The main purpose of narrating

their stories is to have a deeper understanding of their motives for organizing or leading such a

movement, using the rational actor model as a framework for analysis.

Ester Perez de Tagle established the Concerned Citizens against Pollution (COCAP) on

February 28, 1993. At present, she is no longer active in the movement but she still attends

important events of COCAP, such as their anniversary celebration. She continues to inspire

members to care for the environment. When asked in an interview why and how she

established the movement, she said:

“I started thinking about putting up COCAP when the headline said, „Metro

Manila, was one of the most polluted cities in the world‟, so that was it … and my friends

(said) “Did you read?” and “What was it?”, “How Manila is?”, and oh my gosh! It‟s going

to kill us. And if it is going to continue, if my grandchildren were born there, my first

grandchild, and I said “Oh my God!” I have to fight for my grandchildren. My second

grandchild was on the way and so that‟s why I talked with Odet Alcantara (an

environmentalist who helped her start the fight against pollution)… and you know Odet.

She would become enthusiastic. She has many friends. She started calling and then we

had a meeting in her place. When my friends heard about it, they also wanted to join.

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… Yes, that was COCAP. An army against pollution! So we were named

“Concerned Citizens Against Pollution”. Now, the acronym is different.”

Her initial decision to initiate a movement against pollution was a product of genuine

concern for the next generation, especially for her grandchildren. She could not afford that they

will live in such an inhumane condition due to pollution. It was also the right time to mobilize

because the media has painted a very negative condition of air quality. Media‟s strategy of

frame amplification of environmental issues led Mrs. de Tagle to realize the severity of

environmental problems and the necessity of “standing up” for environmental justice. The way

she narrates her experience in starting the movement against air pollution shows that it was

relatively easy for her to mobilize people because she has the right network and the appropriate

skills such as leadership, management, and writing articles to spread her advocacy. Another

element that contributed to her success in mobilizing people is that she belongs to the middle

class and her circles of influence are persons of authority both in government and business.

She narrated how the group started to get the attention of people and she said:

“So when we had meetings, the first thing we did was to organize a rally and

naturally, our main concern was the air, because we had the dirtiest air as the headline

said… So that‟s how we merited an editorial from the Philippine Star. I think I kept a

clipping of it that said an army against pollution is born.”

Mrs. De Tagle obtained Journalism degree, Magna Cum Laude from the University of

Sto. Tomas. Aside from her intellectual giftedness, she also admitted in the interview that she

has always been “cause-oriented”. She fights for what is right. She is principle centered and she

really loves nature. These factors contributed her passion for the promotion of clean air which

then later on was translated into a policy, The Clean Air Act. She and her husband decided that

she would be a full-time homemaker which allowed her to have time for her advocacies. Another

contributing factor for her success as an environmental movement leader is her very supportive

husband. They both are environmentalists.

Jurgen Lorenz, a German national who is married to a Filipina, is one of the active

members of COCAP and he currently serves as one of the directors. He heads the renewable

energy team of the organization. When asked about the factors that contributed to his being an

environmentalist, he said:

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“I see myself as a pioneer of advocating environmental ideas and practical ideas

that are to be implemented starting from my experience in Germany, many years ago -

forty years ago. In the 70‟s, we had the “First Car-Free Sunday” in Germany. That was

the kind of revolution, triggered by the shortage of oil from the Middle East and that

started really big movement into thinking as to how we proceed in developing the world.

That triggered major legislations to protect the environment and to reduce consumption

and propagate conservation measure… so we had a very active time… There were a lot

of social changes that took place… That was the time of the young people rebelling

against the established, the older generation. It was at the height of the 69 movements…

But it was strongly influenced by this development which created a more liberated

environment… a more open … not a narrow minded environment… open thinking was

the way to go…

Yah… But also… not only … the pure… I‟m really not for the socialistic past

because I don‟t think it is economically viable. I see the market-based approach and

commercial approach is the way to go…but in a balanced distribution approach… not

monopoles… It should be on a free discussion, liberated discussion approach using

market-based approaches.

I graduated there… So in my 20s…Then I formed my first company. So I work in

this environmental project. I was very successful at that time … and then later on I

moved for the two more research and planning activities. Before, we were effectively

focused on project implementation only. Today, I tried to be both.”

Jurgen is an entrepreneur who graduated with Master of Science and Master in

Business Administration in Germany. He witnessed a number of mobilizations happening in his

country at that time. It was the time when social movements were at its pinnacle of success and

the movements have become instruments of radical social change. His companies and/or

enterprises are focused on solving environmental problems. Initially, he received a lot of

opposition from environmental non-government organizations (NGOs) and social movement

organizations (SMOs) but when he was given the opportunity to explain how his technology

works, especially in waste management, they became his partners in promoting sustainable

development using the market-based instruments. He pointed out that combined effort to

implement market-based instruments and commercial or industrial implementation will work, not

only through government subsidy approaches. In an interview, he said, “I think if we are able to

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create market development and utilize the market, I think we can establish a more efficient

process. That creates also the financing instrument. When we analyze implementation today in

more sustainable power generation, many measures we can implement today are commercially

viable approaches. We just need or the government just needs to provide the enabling

environment to start.” Indeed, he is correct in saying that utilizing market-based instruments

combined with government support can possibly help in materializing sustainable development,

using alternative or renewable sources of energy.

Using the rational actor model, Jurgen and Ester‟s motivation for respectively joining and

organizing the movement was based on the potential benefit of their actions. In the case of

Ester, she knows that her efforts will benefit her grandchildren while Jurgen will grow his

business on alternative energy. However, the free-rider dilemma might have prevented them

from initiating such a movement or by being active in COCAP. They both know that free riders

will also benefit from their actions but after doing cost-benefit analysis, it appears that the

benefit is greater than the cost of being an environmental advocate. The collective action was a

response to the concern due to the worsening condition of the environment, especially at that

time when COCAP was established, wherein Manila had one of the most toxic air in the world.

III. COCAP as a New Social Movement (NSM)

Environmental movements can be classified under New Social Movements (NSMs).

According to Gusfield, Larana & Johnston (1994), there are common characteristics among

NSMs. This chapter presents each characteristic as manifested by COCAP, as an

environmental movement. The following are common characteristics among NSMs.

1. “NSMs do not bear a clear relation to structural roles of the participants. There is

a tendency for the social base of new social movements to transcend class

culture.”

The researcher observed that COCAP‟s members are generally middle class and elite.

However, this does not prevent those who are within the poverty line to join the organization. In

gatherings, it was observed that all members and officers are very welcoming and warm.

Members are not exclusive to a specific social class. During their Christmas party and general

assembly, participants from all walks of life came together to show their concern for the

environment by doing something collectively. Thus, the first characteristic is manifested by

COCAP as a NSM.

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2. “The ideological characteristics of NSMs stand in sharp contrast to the working-

class movement and to the Marxist conception of ideology as a unifying and

totalizing element for collective action. They exhibit pluralism of ideas and

values, and they tend to have pragmatic orientations and search for

institutional reforms that enlarge the systems of members’ participation in

decision making.”

COCAP, as described by Jurgen in the interview, is more engaged in influencing policies

using members‟ expertise and networks. Unlike the traditional social movement, the group

rarely used rally as a means to push their agenda and in order to be heard. Instead, they

organize forums and round-table discussions of think-tanks and collectively write their

proposed policies. They then submit their proposal to the appropriate policy makers. They

show interest and support in many ideas. While ideology is important to them, they are not

hindered by others to present their own ideas because what matters most to them is the

solution to environmental degradation which affects everyone regardless of ideology. Most

of the members are pragmatic and they use their respective circles of influence to develop

policies and programs that would address environmental related concerns.

3. “NSMs often involve the emergence of new or formerly weak dimensions of

identity. The grievances and mobilizing factors tend to focus on cultural and

symbolic issues that are linked with issues of identity rather than on economic

grievances that characterized the working-class movement. They are

associated with a set of beliefs, symbols, values, and meanings related to

sentiments of belonging to a differentiated social group.”

COCAP‟s source of common identity is the set of beliefs that we live in a finite world

wherein exploitation of resources for economic purposes is not sustainable and that the present

condition of the environment is in its worst stage that if no one would dare to care for it, who

else will. Members consider themselves as stewards of God‟s creation. Individually, they

practice sustainable or green lifestyle through waste segregation, recycling, upcycling, and

training. While individual efforts of segregating waste might be a good mitigation effort, the

movement believes that the problem is so huge that collective effort is needed to push for and to

implement policies that will curb pollution and promote sustainability. As a movement, their set

of values is stated in COCAP‟s prayer:

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“ALMIGHTY FATHER, LORD OF CREATION,

THY KINGDOM COME, THY WILL BE DONE

ON EARTH, OUR ONLY HOME. LET YOUR

GOODNESS, TRUTH AND BEAUTY SHINE

FORTH AND FILL THE WORLD WITH LOVE,

JUSTICE AND PEACE. LET US BE YOUR LIGHT

BEARERS, HEALING INSTEAD OF HURTING,

REPLENISHING INSTEAD OF DEPLETING THE

RESOURCES OF THE EARTH, SHARING THEM

FAIRLY WITH ALL YOUR EARTHLY CREATURES,

AS STEWARDS OF CREATION. LET US AFFIRM

OUR INTERCONNECTEDNESS, LIVING IN

HARMONY WITH NATURE AND THE WHOLE

HUMAN RACE, IN THE CYCLE OF LIFE;

GOING THE WAY OF SUSTAINABLE

DEVELOPMENT NOT WILD TUMOR-LIKE GROWTH.

LET OUR LABORS BEAR FRUIT FOR

YOUR GREATER GLORY, CONTRIBUTING TO

THE BUILDING OF OUR NATION, AND THE

SURVIVAL OF FUTURE GENERATIONS,

CREATING ONE WORLD, ONE PEOPLE, ONE

KINGDOM – YOUR KINGDOM COME!”

4. “The relation between the individual and the collective is blurred. Contemporary

movements are “acted out” in individual actions rather than through or among

mobilized groups. The movement becomes the focus for the individual’s

definition of himself and herself, and action within the movement is a complex

mix of the collective and individual’s definition of himself or herself.”

The fourth characteristic is demonstrated by most members of COCAP. Individually,

members initiate interventions through mitigation and adaptation and others through enterprises

that would address the environmental problems. The member‟s definition of himself or herself is

truly a mix of collective and individual‟s definition. Being a part of COCAP means that one has to

live out the movements‟ values. Most of the members try to exemplify environmental practices in

their day-to-day life. Mrs. de Tagle mentioned that she and her husband live in Antipolo and the

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design of their house is based on green technology. The use of natural light and well-designed

ventilation were employed such that they would consume less energy.

5. “NSMs often involve personal and intimate aspects of human life.”

Most of the interviewees showed very personal and intimate aspects of their lives as the

reason for their involvement in COCAP. For Mrs. de Tagle, she established COCAP so that her

grandchildren will breathe fresh air. For Jurgen, his own companies namely: Environmental

Dynamics Corporation, JL Business and Technology Consultancy and Remondis could be a

significant reason for joining COCAP. Most members joined for very personal reasons and that

they find hope in doing collective action through COCAP.

6. “NSMs use radical mobilization tactics of disruption and resistance that differ

from those practiced by the working-class movement such as nonviolence and

civil disobedience.”

COCAP did not exhibit the sixth characteristic because they took advantage of the

political climate at that time when they had to pass various environmental laws to the congress

and the senate. The government was very attentive to people‟s voice because the country just

experienced martial law under the Marcos regime. Also, most of those who pushed for

environmental laws such as the Clean Air Act are from the middle to elite social class and they

have the right network.

7. “New social movement organizations tend to be segmented, diffused, and

decentralized.”

COCAP as a social movement organization is decentralized. Their organizational

structure is very flat and there is no such thing as hierarchy. According to Jurgen (2013),

COCAP prefers it to be flat and decentralized so that whenever there are issues that need to be

addressed, they don‟t have to go through a very long process of bureaucracy, making them

more effective and quick in responding to challenges. Anyone may initiate a project or a

program, as long as it is thoroughly discussed during their gatherings or meetings. While there

is wisdom in being decentralized, social movement organizations find it important to consolidate

their efforts by creating a bigger network of environmental movements. Thus, the Green

Convergence was established as a network of different environmental organizations wherein

COCAP is a member.

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IV. COCAP’s Resource Mobilization

The annual membership fee is Php 300.00 and in order to become a member, one has

to fill up an application form and submit it together with the registration fee. They accept

members from all walks of life but majority of those who are attracted to join usually come from

the middle to elite social class. In order to be abreast with environmental issues and to ensure

that they always keep in mind the vision-mission of the organization, all COCAP members are

invited to a once a month environmental forum at Kamayan Restaurant along EDSA. The forum

is organized by the Green Convergence wherein, COCAP is a member organization of this

network of environmental organizations and movements.

Most members of COCAP are within the middle class and some are elite and some are

within the poverty line. Their usual involvement in advancing the causes and vision of COCAP

includes the following: book project on native Philippine trees for education purposes and for the

preservation of these trees, campaign against irregularities in the implementation of

environmental compliance or environmental policies, and research on renewable energy, urban

greening and sustainable development.

COCAP is a national organization but most of its members are from Metro Manila.

According to COCAP‟s treasurer, Elsie de Veyra, their organization received funding from the

Asian Development Bank (ADB) which amounts to four hundred thousand pesos (Php 400,

000.00). The said amount is intended for human capacity building through trainings, workshops,

forums, and seminars. However, the organization decided to invest the capital and use only the

interest whenever they organize human capacity building activities. The capital is just invested

and they agreed to spend the interest to execute intended projects with ADB. The interest is

intended for honoraria for experts who will be invited for forums or round-table discussion. The

officers do not use the seed money or interest of their investment for meetings or any other

projects. Whenever they meet, they contribute fifty pesos (Php 50.00) to one hundred pesos

(Php 100.00) for their snacks or meals.

Aside from the very strategic way to manage their financial resources, COCAP employs

synergizing with partners. It is a registered member of Green Convergence, a network of

environmental organizations and environmentalists in the Philippines. It was observed that a

number of COCAP members are also members of other environmental organizations and some

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of them are officers of Green Convergence. Their effort to synergize with other environmental

organizations helped them in becoming more effective as environmental movements.

V. Beyond Resource Mobilization

Resource mobilization is essential in social movement organizations. However, beyond

resource mobilization, COCAP members join the organization because they believe that their

collective effort and actions are aligned to their own ideologies, ideas, beliefs, symbols, and

meanings. Here is what the treasurer of COCAP has to say about their members during the

interview with her,

“…because the members really have the heart to do it voluntarily…kung wala kang heart,

how would you feel for the activities, na first of all, you do not receive anything, di ba? Eh,

nobody told you to do so, sa amin lang yung voluntary from heart. You have to do this

because it is very important for your health and for the concern of the public. Eh kung

hindi natin gagawin, sino ang gagawa? Kung hindi natin gagawin ngayon, kailan pa? It

should be today, it should be now. Not tomorrow, not next year.

Otherwise, wala yang unleaded gasoline, di ba? Wala „yang climate change, di ba? And

then now, I am in partnership with Clean Air, yung board may partnership with Clean Air.

Then, Rene Pineda, who was our president before, was the president of that partnership.

That partnership with Clean Air, we are collaborating with the different vehicle operators;

then, we are closely working with the LTO dahil nga ang pollution, nandyan ang COCAP

dahil sa pollution, ang mga pollution that‟s why all of us are collaborating. And then with

DOST, kasama natin „yan, ang DENR kasama rin natin „yan. Parang nandyan din ang

friend mo against pollution.

So now sa DENR, they have the Air Quality Center. Doon kami nagme-meeting about

air, partnership with Clean Air. And what we are doing now, kasi nga sa partner, sa

pollution, konektado „yan.”

Most members and environmentalists who joined the movement are driven by the spirit

of volunteerism. They do it for the love of the environment and the genuine sense of service for

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the greater good of everyone. They are motivated to work towards clean air, clean water and

fertile soil. Most of them are driven by that sense of responsibility that if they don‟t act, who else

will and if not now, when? The sense of urgency that something must be done to reverse the

process of environmental degradation motivates most members to act collectively. Their

collective action resulted in many sustainable and environment friendly practices and policies

such as the preference of many vehicle owners to unleaded gasoline, the creation of Clean Air

Act, anti-pollution initiatives with government agencies such as Land Transportation Office

(LTO), the creation of Air Quality Center and many more.

VI. COCAP’s Future Direction: Renewable Energy and Urban Greening

COCAP has been instrumental in the creation of many environmental policies in the past.

The organization is actively involved in drafting the Philippine Clean Air Act and Clean Water

Act. Below is a figure that shows the milestones of COCAP which provides the reader a sense

of history and one can derive from it possible directions of environmental movements in the

Philippines.

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At present the officers focus their discussions on issues related to renewable energy and

urban greening. Talking points will be prepared by the assigned officer. Mrs. Esther Pacheco,

incumbent president will take charge of the urban greening project and Jurgen will be in-charge

of the renewable energy project. Members may contribute in the development of talking points

depending on their interest and expertise. As soon as talking points will be ready, the

organization will organize a round-table discussion with think-tanks and experts in the field of

renewable energy and urban greening. Through the round-table discussion, the so-called

experts and policy makers will be engaged in the possible drafting of policies and programs.

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Thus, the future direction of COCAP is to push for renewable energy and urban greening

through policies and programs that will be drafted and initiated by its members.

VII. Conclusion and Recommendation

COCAP is an environmental social movement which demonstrates the six

characteristics of New Social Movements stated by Gusfield, Larana & Johnston (1994) in their

book entitled, New Social Movements: From Ideology to Identity. Using the rational actor model,

one may conclude that members and leaders of COCAP responded collectively to

environmental degradation after determining that the benefit is greater than the cost for initiating

such movement. Resource mobilization is not very much of a problem for COCAP because

most of their members belong to the middle and elite social class and they have access to those

who are in position. Most of its leaders are highly educated and well respected which contribute

to the success of their efforts in pushing for environmental policies in the congress and senate.

The organization is instrumental in legislating Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act of the

Philippines. The future direction of COCAP is to advocate urban greening and renewable

energy.

Bibliography

Buechler, S. M. (2000). Social Movements in Advanced Capitalism. New York: Oxford

University Press, Inc.

Crossley, N. (2002). Making Sense of Social Movements. Bukingham: Open University Press.

Joseph R. Gusfield, e. a. (1994). New Social Movements: From Ideology to Identity.

Philadelphia: Temple University Press.

So, Y.-s. F. (1999). Asia's Environmental Movements: Comparative Perspectives. New York:

M.E. Sharpe, Inc.

Wiest, J. S. (2012). Social Movements in the World-System. New York: American Sociological

Association.

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Appendix A: Interview Guide INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

I. Individual Level (The Advocate and Change Agent) 1. May we know more about you in terms of professional and academic background, affiliations, civic engagements,

family history and context, and personal mission and vision? 2. When did you join COCAP? Briefly explain your context and the context of our country in that year when you

joined COCAP. Who recruited you? Why were you recruited? 3. Why did you join COCAP? What motivates you join the organization? 4. What made you decide to stay and later on, lead the movement? 5. What have been your significant contributions for COCAP, both as a member and as one of the leaders? 6. What are your incentives for being a member? 7. How do you benefit from being the leader of the organization?

II. The Birth of COCAP: Context (Local, National and Global) 8. COCAP was established on February 28, 1993 during the Ramos administration. What were the contexts of

pioneering members of the movement and what was the country‟s context prior to February 28, 1993. Would you be willing to share some anecdotes about COCAP‟s pioneering members?

9. What were their (pioneering members) respective motivations for joining the organization? 10. What were the preconditions that led to the establishment of COCAP? When COCAP was founded, was it a totally

new organization or a daughter organization from a previously parent social movement organization? If yes, kindly explain the nature of the movement and why should it bear COCAP, as a daughter organization?

11. How did you start as a movement? 12. What was the context of the Philippines at that time when COCAP was founded? 13. What was the context of Asia at that time when COCAP was founded? 14. What was the global context at that time when COCAP was founded? 15. According to Francisco Magno (1999), environmental movements in the Philippines can be classified into the

following phases: Environmental Defense Phase (1978-1985), Identity-Making Phase (1986-1991), and Strategic Engagement Phase (1992-1997). COCAP was established in 1993 which implies that it falls within the Strategic Engagement Phase. Do you agree or disagree that when you established COCAP, your priority was strategic engagement?

16. What do you think is the next phase, after the Strategic Engagement Phase, meaning from 1998 to 2012? Using the case of COCAP, what do you think is our current phase in the historical trend in environmental movements in the Philippines?

17. Was the movement established as a reaction to any grievance or injustice happening at that time? Kindly elaborate. (If yes, kindly explain the injustice or grievances. If no, kindly explain what specific negative status quo that you would like to change at that time when COCAP was established.)

18. Based on the stages of social movements by Blumer et al, which stage of social movement do you think is COCAP right now?

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Incipiency The birth of the movement Coalescence The movement becoming a co-operative force Institutionalization Develops into an institution - or – Fragmentation

Falls apart

III. COCAP’s Resource Mobilization 19. What is the profile of most members of COCAP in terms of professional and academic background, age and social

status? What are their affiliations (academe, corporate, NGO, etc.)? 20. As of today, there are approximately how many registered COCAP members? 21. Are all these members active? What are the usual involvement of members in advancing the causes and vision of

COCAP? 22. What are the requirements to become a member? 23. What qualities are you looking for in a member? 24. How does COCAP ensure that the members will carry on the mission and vision of of the organization? 25. How do you ensure that members will continue to support and be committed to COCAP‟s advocacy? 26. Is COCAP a national organization? If yes, how did COCAP mobilize and expand its organization nationwide? 27. What are the sources of funding for COCAP? How does COCAP generate financial resources? 28. How did COCAP manage its financial resources from the time it started as a movement until it became a social

movement organization? 29. What strategies or techniques did COCAP employ in order to make its projects and activities sustainable? Do you have

fund raising activities or projects? How were these activities? 30. Where does the membership fee go? 31. Where do you get your funding for operating expenses? 32. Do you have partner organizations? What are these various partner organizations or movements which work together

with COCAP in advancing environmental sustainability? How do you describe your relationship with these partner organizations?

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IV. Beyond Resource Mobilization 33. Do you think COCAP members join the organization because it is aligned with their own ideologies (ideas, beliefs,

symbols, and meanings)? Please elaborate. 34. What do you think is the motivation of people joining the organization? 35. How would you describe the collective identity of COCAP members? 36. How do you describe COCAP‟s approach in dealing with environmental issues? Proactive or reactive? Please elaborate. 37. Of the so many environmental movements, what makes COCAP unique? What is the specialization of COCAP? 38. Does culture play an important role in organizing COCAP?

V. Framing of Environmental Movement: The Case of COCAP

A. DIAGNOSTIC FRAMING 39. Do you think that COCAP has to act because there are victims of environmental injustice? Who do you think are

the victims of injustice? 40. Who is to be blamed of the environmental injustice? 41. What do you think is the cause or are causes of injustice? 42. Who do you think is COCAP‟s ally and who are your enemies in the pursuit of environmental justice?

B. PROGNOSTIC FRAMING

43. What are the proposed solutions to the problem of the environment being pushed for by COCAP? 44. What are your plans as social movement organization in the next five years in terms of solving environmental

injustice in the country? 45. What strategies do you intend to employ in carrying out your plans?

C. MOTIVATIONAL FRAMING

46. How does COCAP motivate its members? 47. How do you align the framing of environmental issues so that members will engage in a collective action?

VI. COCAP and Contemporary Environmental Issues

48. How did COCAP get into the Technical Working Group for the Philippine Clean Air Act? Who represented for COCAP and what was the specific contribution of COCAP to the Clean Air Act?

49. What strategies did you employ to campaign against JPEPA? Why did you vehemently oppose the said agreement? How would you describe the level of success for the said campaign (as stated on the brochure)?

50. What is COCAP‟s stand on mining? Are you involved in the campaign against irresponsible mining? What strategies did you employ to fight against mining (if there is any)?

V. The Future of COCAP 51. What do you envision of COCAP in the next five years?

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Appendix B: Transcribed Interview with Ester de Tagle, Founder of COCAP

Interviewed and transcribed by John Frederick A. Lauron Legend: JL – John Lauron Fr – Founder (Esther de Tagle)

JL I divided the interview into three parts – three major parts. From the individual to the founding of COCAP and then to mobilizing resources , then we go to things beyond resource mobilization. I think kanina medyo nabanggit na ninyo yung background, pero I would like to synthesize the first part. What led you to start, kasi since you are the founder, what led you to start something like COCAP, or whether events that happened; were you a member of a previous organization?

Fr I was not... I was. We were in Cebu. We just arrived here from Cebu where my husband was a manager of San Miguel. Yeah. We lived in a compound where they had all the key employees of San Miguel and then we, from there, in 1987. We moved from there in 1982 and then we came back in 1987. And then, we were here in Manila. We lived in Blue Ridge, that place which was a school but I don‟t know what it is now. It used to be a restaurant...

JL Holy Angel?

Fr I‟m not sure if it‟s Holy Angel, but actually it looks like, just think of, a story house. There‟s a big basement down. Well, it was too big for us. We were there when our son was being (?) married. We wanted our eldest son married and so, just in case, we would like to make it that our grandchildren are born there. Siguro, we were there, for about, to 1995. 1987 to. We moved back to Manila in 1987 to 1995, then we moved to Xavierville Street. So after that. When we were there, in Katipunan, actually I started thinking about COCAP with the headline that said “Manila, Metro Manila, was one of the most polluted cities in the world”, so that was and my friends (said) “Did you read?” and “What was it?”, “How Manila is?”, and oh my gosh! It‟s going to kill us. And if it is going to continue, if my grandchildren were born there, my first grandchild, and I said “Oh my God!” I have to fight for my grandchildren. My second grandchild was on the way and so that‟s why I talked with Odet Alcantara, kasi she was, I would fish, and you know Odet. She would become enthusiastic. She has many friends. She started calling and then we had a meeting in her place, and at the same time, my friends, when they heard about it, they wanted to join also. So that‟s how and we merited an editorial from the Philippine Star. I think I kept a clipping of it that said an army against pollution is born.

JL And it is COCAP

Fr Yes, that was COCAP. An army against pollution. So we were named “Concerned Citizens Against Pollution”. Now, the acronym has a different name. So when we had meetings, the first thing we did was to organize a rally and naturally, our main concern was the air, because we had the dirtiest air as the headline said. How to clean Metro Manila‟s air and the number one culprit was identified as the fuels that we are using leaded gasoline and diesel.

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So that we had as our task, our first focus. We fought in the Congress; we fought with our same friends in the Lower House and in the Senate. And at that time, you know, we were lucky at that time, that People Power was still very fresh in the minds of people and we were heard and in fact, President Ramos invited us for breakfast. And after, when he decided, after all of the campaign, leaded gasoline was finally phased out. We were invited to Malacañang for lunch. It was a momentous time because we heard that the Management Association of the Philippines was trying to stop us and you know, but all the government agencies are for us; they were really supporting us. It is not the case now. Very sad, but it wasn‟t like that. They listened to us, maybe because we were an environmental group. Oh, yes. There were already environmental NGOs before but they did the work honestly and effectively, We were quite noisy that we went straight to the House, to the Congress, and we went to the Senate. We went to the media. So we had, we got interviews and then since I write, my articles were published and in fact, I was written up in a good way to spread news about environment. We were also lucky at that time. We came at the right time. So we worked and we were able to phase out leaded gasoline. We were able to get the reduction of sulfur in diesel to 0.5 and so after that, the other battle was against incinerators. We fought for the Clean Air Act and we had a lot of supporters. In fact, in the incinerators, we had foreign experts meeting with the congressmen and we were invited. That‟s one thing, we were invited. We were very lively and it is good that I had some training in debate. So many times, they thought there were experts but we did the work. There were times when we caused them flood protests and they could not answer. These so called experts on incinerators and all these. To make the story short, the Clean Air Act was passed with the banning of incinerators. I‟m worried now that they were planning to revive it again. We worked so hard to get them banned and my goodness, if it‟s going to be, then our task would be... I think the young people has to take over

JL Right now, Ma‟am, is there someone who is championing the banning of ...?

Fr Right now, the danger is not very obvious. Everything is still quiet and probably, when you talk to people and they say “We thought the incinerators were banned.” I think people would think “Oh! Here we go again.” People would get discouraged. That‟s why I pity Esther and the rest of COCAP. It‟s harder actually now to work because there are so many. First of all, the businessmen in mining. You know, how clever they are. They put the blame on more miners when in fact, these miners are being used by them. They put them also in the state that is dangerous. They left them to do the dirty work and they would say “Oh! We are the responsible miners” Like that. And now, COCAP has seen all these things going on. So that‟s why, COCAP decided to expand. It‟s not just anymore about clean air but really sustainable development. To be holistic. We were in fact fighting more than we can chew. But the environment is interconnected; that‟s the whole point. That‟s why we stick to. No, we just go there. So there, that‟s not our focus. But it wasn‟t like that before. We worked together and that‟s why the Green Convergence is very good because that‟s what it was like before. Actually, I was a founding member of Green Convergence...

JL Ah, yung Green Convergence

Fr Yes, I was still active in Convergence as a founding member

JL As a founding member...

Fr I was one of the small group that Mina. Mina Galang was the head of that. So we were talking about and “Let‟s work together.” In union, we have spent. We worked with EcoWaste Coalition, with Haribon Foundation. We were partners. Mina and I did a lot of work together. So this thing of working together

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really strengthened the advocacy. That‟s what we were doing and that‟s why I hope because we continue that now. I remain as a supporter of Green Convergence even if I am not active anymore when they invite me. They invite me like during Christmas parties and I come because that‟s the way we really do. We work together. I hope that will happen, that whenever one NGO is having a hard time with it, which is cause, you go there and give support. So we support out each other and it was a very nice arrangement. Of course, you have niches but you cannot push just within your niche. So like the hatching place and look at yourself, you have to go out and interact with the other. This is an important thing

JL So basically you‟re networking, especially right now that it is hard to push something that is about the environment. In a way, the political climate is not similar during the People Power or EDSA.

Fr It is really different now. Somehow, people now are more blessed. You know, they are laidback when it comes to grocery.

JL I would like to give very specific questions. COCAP, when established in February 28, 1993 and it was...

Fr 1993

JL 1993, during the Ramos Administration. You mentioned about the context on the pioneering members; basically, what provided the context. You mentioned Manila was headlined and it was one of the, oh, it was the most polluted, yata...

Fr The most polluted city, but that is already alarming

JL But prior to February 28, 1993, what was the context that in a way prepared you for establishing COCAP?

Fr I have always been cause oriented. Probably. Actually, for the long time, I was just a housewife. I graduated Magna Cum Laude, but...

JL Journalism, right?

Fr Right. But actually, I had the highest Magna but I was not allowed to graduate even by in spite of the fact, because of a professor. They said that I had the highest Magna and the whole faculty together with the team met with this person. Unfortunately, because I was very outspoken, I got the ire of one of our Philosophy professors who taught nothing. He would come to class and talk about her 2-year-old son who was already a philosopher. He was wasting our time and since I couldn‟t take it anymore. I took my nail polish set and right under his brow, I was polishing my nails. I was daring him to call my attention because he was not teaching. He was in the middle of his stories again and he could not tell me “Hey! Listen! I am teaching” because he was not teaching. He could not say “pay attention” because he was not talking about any lesson and I think that made him very angry. Because I did that really, to dare him. I was mad because he was wasting our time. So he never forgot that and I remembered how mad he was. There was an awarding of the Catechists in UST Catholic Action because I was also active in the Student Catholic Action and I told my classmates “Oh! You wait because we would be inviting the whole classes to go over and attend the awarding ceremonies and I will come to get you and go there.” And you know, when the time came I went up, and I think the students got excited and knew that it was their time to go. I asked the professor and so it happened to be him. I asked if we could ask the students to go down and watch the awarding of the Student Catholic. He said “No. We‟re having a lesson” but I said “The other classes have allowed their students to go.” And he said “Well, in class, the professor is the dictator, and I do not want them to go. “ They were so disappointed, I could not say anything, and then they left.

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I felt very uneasy with that confrontation in the class. I did not say anything disrespectful but I just looked at him and I turned around. You know, he never had quizzes and my classmates said “If this has happened five years from now, what you could have done – go to DepEd and complain.” He never gave quizzes, he was not lecturing, and he would not set motivations. He would just talk and talk. SO whatever he learned, because he was taking his MA in Philosophy, whatever was the lesson there, he would make it our lesson when he taught. And so definitely, that was not the way to teach. But really, the thing of that time was the professor seemed to be the dictator. People have not learned to stand up for their rights and to question. I went to him after that and said “Sir, look. You gave me a 79” – that means it disqualifies me from any honor. Then I said “Look at my grade, and the other grades, and the grade you gave me. Isn‟t it funny?” He said “Well, that‟s what you think you get. I corrected the papers.” He never returned the papers and I heard he corrected papers while he‟s in the jeep. Oh, I don‟t know if he could have lost it or maybe he pretended to lose. So I said “If you want to know, why don‟t you give an exam? Because I think my grade is very unfair.” He said “Let‟s see. Let‟s see.” And everytime I see him and remind him, he would say “Let‟s see.” Until the time I graduated, parang wala, nothing happened. By the way, he said later on that he probably lost the papers already so he had no way of knowing anymore. And then I went to the dean. So with the deans, there was a deliberation for the honors and there was a closed door and then the professors They were all surprised. In fact, one of them who told me “I‟m going to contest you with a lawyer.” The late Dr. Perez, I‟ll fight for you. During that closed door meeting, only his voice and the voice of the other guy were heard. In the end, they all passed the petition including that guy, he signed it also. Petitioning that he would not own his own mistake, but petitioning me to have me graduate with honors. The entire faculty plus the dean. And this was submitted to the registry, This thing I‟ll never forget. Because the registry director voted it down, voted against it because it might set an example. So you know, I did not march on graduation. Everybody was congratulating me already when they came out of their rooms. They said “How did you do it?” Only for me to find out later that the director did not approve it. So I did not march during the graduation. The funny thing is until now, people thought that I graduated with honors. That‟s what my classmates knew. Anyway, that‟s one of my disappointments. So it helped me also to make an easy choice. Anyway, I don‟t have that big advantage. I was a housewife and I think I can do a better job of taking care of my children everyday. My husband had said “I wanted to be the breadwinner. I will treat you like a queen. I won‟t make you work. I would like you to be my wife. I need someone who will be there, who will be there for our children.” I thought that was a good idea, so I agreed. That was the way our lives have been. And we have been married for about 56 years, ah going on 53 years. We have worked with it in eight years and that‟s the way it has been. (Fr‟s colleague enters, and Fr introduced JL to her.) She has been busy in environmental education. She is a director. This lady. She has become very close to me. It was nice to work because it has allowed me to know nice people who would really like to work. We support each other, we glance on each other but the thing is first, I got demoted. After this, it was

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JPEPA. We worked so hard on it because we were betrayed. My husband... (A man, probably Fr‟s husband comes in.) We live in Antipolo and his car is color coded on Tuesdays all the time.

JL Until what time kayo pwede?

Fr Two o‟clock, so when we reach Marikina, it‟s still color-coded. When we reach Antipolo, there will be no more color coding. So we have to be in Antipolo by three o‟clock. Yeah, I don‟t know, but if you want to continue in our house, anytime that you like.

JL I really want to see as in the nitty-gritty. Marami akong (gustong malaman) habang nag-iinterview...

Fr I hope I have been very helpful...

JL You have been very helpful. Kasi yung context

Fr I see you are interested in...

JL Actually, I‟m still in the 25% of the interview but this is okay po. Thank you po. Okay lang po ba na ako ang pupunta sa inyo?

Fr Of course

JL If that will be very convenient for you?

Fr I think we can still use something about 15 minutes

JL So basically, the context was that you had pneumonia...

Fr And then, when I recovered, my husband had an accident, which you see, he has a limp. He was an athlete. He played basketball, but not in the varsity. He was fond of it. Swimming, pingpong, and a lot of. He was very athletic. He had a strong body. He walked with a limp. I knew he needed blood, but I couldn‟t give him. So I decided to bow out. Anyway, he had to carry on. I had to get new blood so he could carry on. hope that you know, you will be one of those ...

JL Actually, I am considering to specialize in environment

Fr Because that is what we need now

JL It‟s very broad, very diverse, and I have a class in politics but my interest is more on poverty studies and...

Fr Disasters. Especially you know, the UN already warned about the melting caps in Greenland and they said that the water levels will rise. Can you imagine the world with that, the rising water levels? „ The group of islands, the most vulnerable. I think that is what you young people should focus on. That is what we need now – more people (who are) conscious and can make other people conscious.

JL According to Francis Magno, in a treaty in 1999, the environmental activities in the Philippines can be classified into three parts. I‟m not sure if you agree with it, but from 1978 to 1985, it was the environmental defense phase.

Fr We were not yet there.

JL Then in 1986 to 1991, it was the identity phase – the mother earth, Inang Kalikasan, and the youth, and the feminist, the feminine trait of the environment. Naturally, nurturing, and so it is the identity making. Then from 1991 to 1997, it was the strategic engagement phase wherein the social movements or environmental movements partner with other organizations and partner with the government. They became like consultants. Then from 1992 to 1997, that was...

Fr 1992. That‟s right. Because 1993, but we were into that immediately..

JL My question actually is this. COCAP was established in 1993 during the strategic engagement phase. So that‟s right? You did strategic engagement right away. If you are to come up with a way, since you have been with the environmental movement for so many years, after the strategic engagement phase,

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what do you think or how would you characterize or describe the next phase after the strategic engagement phase?

Fr To begin with, I retired from the environment in 19... ah in 2009.

JL 2009

Fr Yeah, I think that was officially retired and I would say it has more or less strategic engagement be continued or the government agencies continue working with other NGOs. But then, we were more focused on getting the people involved by education. It‟s not enough to talk with these people to know already what they want but to get people from outside who has nothing to do with what we are doing to be there and join. I think that should be seriously looked up but you know, you have to grow or die. That‟s the way it is. Anything that is alive, right?

JL Strategic engagement and environment education phase, that‟s up to the present.

Fr Awareness, that‟s up to the present generation

JL In terms of the stages, may theories kasi in terms of social movement, if you are to describe COCAP when you emerge, you bureaucratize, and after that, you either become successful or fail, then co-optation or repression or go mainstream, and they decline. If you are to describe the different stages, where is COCAP now in terms of stages in social movement? Are they in bureaucratization stage or...

Fr I think we went to the bureaucratic stage though, but I don‟t know. What do you mean by bureaucratic?

JL You already have normal structures. Bureaucracy within that...

Fr We have that – the research, and then we have people in charge of energy. Is that what you mean?

JL Yeah

Fr I guess that‟s

JL Then you pass through protocols as an organization

Fr We did go through much of that though but we were not as formal as that. We talked like friends then we (talk) like “Oh „yan. That‟s your expertise, ha. So you just tell us. You‟re in charge. You tell us what you want to do. What you should do, ganoon. There was something really... (Silence falls)

JL Ah sige po. This one is either... I think for COCAP, it is successful because you were able to push for qualities that are...

Fr Somehow, we have our successes; that is something that inspires you. But how long you do that? In fact, I was very worried when I left. I remembered what I had to say that if something falls into pieces when the manager leaves, it has not been... it is a good measure of leadership that you are able to leave the organization you left behind to be able to survive. Because that worries me. I also ask myself if I was successful or I was just flashed with a fan or if not, COCAP will die a natural death. Oh my God! I hope not, that‟s why I help in whatever way I can help, short of being there. Because that‟s the hardest thing for me now...

JL Actually, one of the main challenges that a social movement faces is that the original leader has retired, then there‟s difficulty of pushing the original...

Fr That‟s why we have to look for people who will carry on and hope that you can be one of them

JL I hope...

Fr That‟s what I have been praying for, that we really need people like you who can carry on the fight for survival. It is really a matter of survival, you see what can happen in times of disaster. That‟s why we have to stop it. When the waters run, how will it be? Manila is, Metro Manila is really below sea level. We have to get our leaders to prepare for that time, so that you will do that for your children and grandchildren. That‟s what we must do.

JL Thank you very much. Baka maabutan po kayo ng... Anyway, nasagot naman yung mga (tanong), I

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won‟t go through all the questions, but overall, there are just some additional information I might...

Fr You have my number, right?

JL I have your number and let‟s keep in touch. I will contact you, Ma;am, if may mga pahabol pa po ako.

Fr You know my old cellphone number. 0917-692-3498. (JL writes down her number.)

JL Thank you very much po. Salamat nang marami. Keep in touch

Fr Good luck and I hope that you will become one of them who will work towards the environment. We need more people who can help now. It‟s more difficult now. Okay?

JL Okay. Thank you very much

Fr John, just call me when you need some more help and information.

Part 2

Fr I have to stop working. I have to stay home. Nawala ang career ko...

JL Ah, kasi nagfull time (housewife) po kayo...

Fr It was only at that time when I went into the environmental work when I started writing. Fortunately, my writing appears in a lot of papers and they are in Inquirer, some magazines, and so I think my profession was able to help even though I was not able to work.

JL So independent journalist po kayo?

Fr No, I never had the time to write because I have babies, then I have children who are growing up. I wasn‟t able to work. Parang he (husband) wanted me to stay and so I did. I have two son doctors. One just came here three weeks ago.

JL So you mentioned your writings appeared in newspapers. Di talaga siya career na talagang nagsusulat kayo?

Fr When there is something I would like to write about...

JL You just write it down

Fr In fact, one of them ended up in the editorial column, especially when I was writing against JPEPA (Fr was presenting clippings of the articles to JL) Oh, we‟ll eat upstairs

JL Ma‟am, ok na po.

Fr No, we‟ll have some food upstairs.

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Appendix C: Transcribed Interview with Juergen Lorenz

Interview with Juergen Lorenz, M.Sc., MBA September 15, 2012 (11:30 AM) Environmental Science Institute

Part 2 Interviewed and transcribed by John Frederick A. Lauron

Juergen You have to understand how young people are thinking and understand what is in it for me. It‟s also going back to values that are being teach/taught to them. The values now are reduced to money making. But when you see people who are rich now and they have all the money in the world, they don‟t have social life with people. You can have all the money in the world but you‟re unlucky. I‟m the happiest person in the world. So there, maybe it‟s not the real value we propagate. What we have to, actually I believe from the technical point of view, we have a great time today because for the first time today, we have the production capacity and the technology and the manpower capacity to search everybody to create the most balanced work. But in the present economy in the States, we don‟t do that. And that‟s the big challenge we have today – to create this new balance and unleashing and using this new technology to an integrated and more sustainable approach to balance economic development. Right now, we have a very unbalanced development from the income side. We have a smaller and smaller group and elite with exponential income. Also, development in companies. Example in America, also in Europe, the numbers of companies went down to 50% so we have less and less companies growing bigger and bigger. But in the end, it may help one company and one person may earn all the money. But what happens to the other people? They won‟t earn anything anymore and it won‟t also consume anymore. So in the end, the whole system will break down. So, it cannot be the solution. So it cannot also solve it by producing more and more. There is also elite in the Philippines class. We heard it yesterday that he consumed 1.5 times the growth of resources and then we go to ten times the consumption. If all the people are in the developing now in the Asian sector or in their population and when they have the same growth and consumption, what we have in the best ever, we will need tenders. So we will also need our development in the disaster. From the income side, we can not sell economically to the disaster and from the environmental side, it will work towards the disaster. But we have the solution. You have the technology, theoretically, to balance it out. You just need to bring the balance economically in work, manufacturing, and consumption. And that‟s the big challenge today. That‟s what we actually want to achieve today – to bring into the mind of people that there are other solutions. But unfortunately, right now, the discussions and or policy from economists and financial people, we don‟t have this thinking yet. So it has to be brought and be part of the discussion this paradigm shift also here. It will start leading to the socialistic approach, but it scores more on the balanced, sustainable, market oriented approach, which is spreading in the income and also benefits equal around the world. That‟s why in some countries they fight for balancing. That is the main challenge we are facing right now.

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But on the positive side, the solutions are there. We can do it today, with the resources we have, the manpower we have and the technology we have. So I would say we have to check the mindset of our economists and leaders right now. That is the problem right now. But if we can activate the paradigm shift right now in terms of environmental issues, also in terms of economical issues, from the income side, so solutions are there. It sounds maybe theoretical, but I strongly believe it‟s possible. But unfortunately the mindset is not yet there. When people discuss on balancing income, for example, it is often put in the books “communist”, “socialist”, and then they just shut up. But I also see common notion is they also know the solution because we also have to start with human nature. Human nature is basically I get everything for free and nobody will get part of it anymore. So we have to cut this incentive mechanism. In place, we have to teach people to keep moving, to develop things. But the big challenge is to balance.

John You talk about balance, how do you...

Juergen It‟s also the economic system, you get rewards. You get rewarded in the economic system. If you just displace jobs, there is no balancing in that. There is no incentive for the informal people. Actually, when you employ many people, you have the tendency to protect that. So the companies who want to win will be forced and displaced it. So those people who are displaced are not finding other jobs right now. Here is the problem, in States for example, 50% of the young people are not employed. So you have more severe situation than here in the Philippines. But this is a clear disaster in the making. So if you allow that to be sustained and you don‟t bring the things to work and bring the balance into that, to create that social access, those huge capacities of thinking, so it‟s a negative outcome. So this is a main, main problem in balancing worldwide economic activity.

John Pushing for more environmental and sound practices and lifestyle, in your opinion, which one is more effective, being more active in rally...

Juergen Strategies

John Strategies, or solutions

Juergen Solutions, you can implement all the changes in the local economy today if you apply it worldwide. Then the cost on one side is income in the other side. So if you applied it equally or let‟s say it this way, you apply it to ten countries and others don‟t care, then the cost is neutralized. It will become an incentive and it will mean a huge economic activity towards the better. Nobody in the politicians takes this as a main and key goal in the international standards. Right now, anybody is inclined to take his own turf towards development of work from the Antarctic to the Pacific and all other areas where they can get. So it is distorted to the wrong direction.

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You can look at Obama. Obama is pushing “you have to develop, you have to develop the docile workers” It is a wrong way. It is a way which is just isolating you from the economy. They don‟t see the worldwide set, and they reject the major disaster. Maybe the politicians will change their mind. And again, keep in mind, if all economies will apply a change towards the paradigm shift towards renewable energy, or low carbon economy today, there is no more cost if there‟s a big development incentive and incentive program, economically booster program. There is no need to wait for ten years, no need to wait for twenty years, if you can do it today. Because technology is there. It is all there.

John Why do you think it‟s not here?

Juergen Because people are not ahead thinking, they did not see this overview. That is really the key problem, the people and their shallow thinking. They don‟t see right and left. For example, the technologies industry develops a low polluting industry in Europe, also in Americas. Then in the last ten, fifteen years, they exported all these manufacturing industries to China, and they contribute to the standards. But the import is only good. So suddenly, in the very short time, all the environmental achievements which were established in Europe and the Americas, I mean, it‟s absolutely idiotic, from the development. So only now, there is a slow re-thinking of this, China is also pushed to improve in their compliance in the environmental standards, but it has not yet started yet. But again, it is an international political task but it is not yet in the real agenda of politicians, in economies. I have not seen economies who are stating goals and ideas internationally in discussion, which is stating the problem that caused, if we applied worldwide, would be an economic booster and development program. Keep that in mind and discuss it further. I would appreciate....

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Appendix D: Transcribed Interview with Elsie de Veyra, COCAP Treasurer

Interview with COCAP Treasurer (Part 1) Interviewed and transcribed by John Frederick A. Lauron Legend: JL – John Lauron Tr - Treasurer

JL Basically, my paper is all about COCAP and environmental movements. I divided the interview into six parts. The first part is basically about the individual, kasi in analyzing social movements, it‟s important to know the individual who started the movement

Tr The founder is Esther Santos de Tagle...

JL Ano po yung background ni Ma‟am Esther? Ano po yung context niya noong sinimulan niya ang COCAP?

Tr Kumuha siya ng Chemistry but I know she is an educator. She‟s from Cebu. Pero ngayon, I think she is staying at the Xavierville. Then, they sold their house there and they transferred to Antipolo. She already twice the mild stroke and she was advised not to stay out anymore and stress herself because the infection might get in, Though in spirit, she would like to be active sa COCAP kasi may heart talaga siya sa aming activities. There were times, she was not able to attend regularly but once in a while, nag-aattend siya especially kung may mga special events. She‟s in her early sixties. But she is a nice lady. I believe she is talented. Now ang specific course niya ay environmental educator.

JL Ano po ang inyong background? Paano naman po kayo napunta sa environmental movement?

Tr Ako naman. I finished Nursing here at the School of Nursing. Walang pang college at that time, noong 50s. They called it UP-PGH School of Nursing. Scholar po ako dito We were housed at the Papua Avenue Nurses Home. However, noong 1976, they merged the school to UP College, kasi nagkaroon na noon ng College. Sad to say, may mga older student sa school that because they loved the school, they don‟t want the school to be merged to the college. Then the School of Nursing had money in the early part. There was a time naman when we had a reunion, a celebration. We tried to be together. Kami (younger batch) nag-attend, pero sila (older batch) nasaktan, hindi nag-attend. Alam mo naman ang mga matatanda.... (A colleague comes in, chats with Tr, and JL is introduced by Tr to her colleague.) I finished Nursing in 1965. My husband then finished Medicine sa College of Medicine. He‟s a scholar of Harvard and he took his course there in a specialized field of medicine – brain pathology. He is talented. His scholarship is granted by Rockefeller. Then, we went to Harvard. That time, we only had three children. Sana isasama namin ang mga bata. Di naming sila naisama kasi ang mga passport nila were not yet done. Then, my husband was already being involved by the university for his schooling, so we left for Harvard. We left our three children with my Mama. My mother was also a nurse, by the way. So we went there and scholar nga siya doon. We got married when we were 23. We knew each other when we were 11. Pareho kaming scholar, kasi that time when I enrolled

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here, ang selection and admission dito is by region or province. The highest scorer sa exam was sa multiple intelligence test, hindi pa UPCAT. Ang tawag nila doon ay intelligence test and kapag ikaw ang highest doon, admitted ka na dito and then, you are also considered a scholar. I was at that time, I represented Leyte, because my mother then after the World War II, kinuha siya ng Leyte Provincial Hospital Chief Nurse, ngayon tawag Director of Nursing. Noon kasi Chief Nurse pa. Kinuha siya sa Leyte Provincial Hospital to become one of the Public Nurses ditto sa hospital, So she was selected, so she went there sa Manila, When she was there, we went there also. And my father is a Doctor of Philosophy in Theater. He is a German, that‟s why my name is not Filipina. My father is born in Germany and he is a full German. Half (foreign) blood lang ako, mas malakas ang dugo ko as a Filipina, and that‟s why I do not have the features of a German, but he is also a linguist. He taught here in UP, in PUP Manila. He was a linguist. During the Japanese occupation, the Japanese were looking for an interpreter from English to Tagalog, whatever, to Japanese. Actually, my family name is Frandision but sa birth certificate ko, nawala yung “ision”, napalitan ng “Frandes”. Akala namin mababalik pa, pero wala na, nairecord na. My father was threatened by the Commander of Japanese “If you will not serve as an Interpreter for the Japanese, then we will kill your family.” So, we were evacuated to Visayas kasi hinahanap din kami ng mga Hapon dahil kung di raw mag-interpret ang father ko. So naging interpreter pa rin siya, para di lang kami makuha. Then my mother as a nurse joined naman as a guerilla. She was with the Peralta-Padilla group that gives caring to the people in the mountains kasi nga they were hiding sa mga Hapon. I can vividly remember kung papaano tini-treat ng mga Hapon ang mga Pilipino. Ang sabi ng mother ko, kasi nga they were hiding in the forest, yung mga babae sa countryside nire-rape ng mga Hapon. They were tied up to the trees and were strangled. Nakikita po niya iyan at ikinukuwento niya sa akin. Napaka-animal. May mga nag-eevacuate noon sa may river to hide from the Japanese. When the Japanese soldiers were at the sea, natakot ung mga fishermen na Filipino. They were shocked and nahuli sila. They were naked; they were tied up. Ipinadaan sa mga tao. Nakita namin. Then dinala sila to a further place, to a fountain. There, they gagged them, parang ni-rape. Siguro, John, tayong dalawa pa lang ang nagkakakuwentuhan tungkol ditto, pero nakakaawa talaga ang mga tao noon. Sabi ko, kahit anong gawin ng Japanese na favor para sa Philippines, hindi ko pa rin maalis yung memory ng behavior nila noon dito. Though I was still a kid, naaalala ko pa rin. And then, when my mother joined the guerilla, she left her papers of her government employment. Dumating naman ang mga Hapon sa lugar where we evacuated. Then nagtatanong “Sino dito ang connected sa Philippine government? Pero you know, may take home pala yung mga bahay na naging contact. Eh di sana may pension na ang mother ko. Anyway, when we remember these people, they buried it and their death. Kasi yung soup kasi noon, kinutkot lang na kanin, then lalagyan ng kanin at kalan sa itaas. Sabi ko, hindi naman siguro masusunog ito if I will just be careful with the use of fire. Every morning, kunwari nagluluto kami, I will wash the kalan agad, then bury the ash. Kasi the following day, the Japanese will look for

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evidence na merong connection sa government ang mga tao doon and they will kill. So ganoon ang ginawa ko. It‟s really traumatic; I don‟t know what to do. Maybe, it was God‟s will. The papers of my mother were turned to ashes. They buried them. They didn‟t tell her. Then the same day, before noontime, the Japanese asked for permission to use our stove to cook food. Eh nag-aapura na sila kasi aalis na sila. Which we were thankful that they are going to leave. As soon as the Japanese left, I checked again to look for the papers pero wala na talaga. Noong sinabi ko sa mother ko, ang sabi niya “Di bale. Safe naman tayong lahat.” Idealistic pa kami. We‟re all safe naman. Then my father came to us also. He was released from the Government of Japan. I seldom say this. Even to my husband, I think twice about it. Kasi it‟s hard for me to remember back. Sabi nga nila, I could write a book with all that I have undergone in my life. Like in 1997, I was chosen as strongest woman in the Philippines. Before the Republic Act 1900 or the mandatory Waste Management, lumabas kami with my team movement. Lumabas na kami sa ibang bansa to teach how to segregate, to take care of the waste, how to plant. So in 1997, we collaborated with DENR. Through the Department of Education, we provided the education, they provided the participants. The Recycling Movement of the Philippines invited us to conduct trainings on technology, socio-economic, lahat nang yun, amin na „yun, without salary. We go to the provinces for one week to do yung mission naming. We give certificates to the participants which means they can already teach or whatever they have instituted. When we were there, eh ang DENR naman may mga regional offices, at the same time meron silang parang dormitory type. Para di na pupunta sa mga hotel. We had 69 Moslems and 59 Christians – sila nasa second floor, pero kaming mga key members nasa first floor. We were five – one nun, and she lectured about inner ecology and values; kaming apat mga laborers on women re-entry. On the second night, on one province, we‟re supposed to stay for one week. On the second night namin, somebody knocked on our door. Mga 7:30 na yata yun, dinner. We didn‟t ask who the person knocking was. Binuksan lang nya. He thought one of the participants who needed our help for whatever. Binuksan niya. Pag bukas nya, ayun, Abu Sayyaf pala. Eh di pumasok ang Abu Sayyaf. Sinara ng Abu Sayyaf yung door, and some of our beds were pushed kasi sira yung door. Then, dapa raw kami, dapa, kasi sabi nya may 30 Abu Sayyaf daw siyang kasama. So nakadapa na kami. When we were on the floor na, siguro mga little past one hour, sabi ng sister, kasi nga all were nervous, sabi niya “Hindi tayo nakaluhod para makapagdasal. “ I looked up to the Abu Sayyaf. Tinitingnan niya lahat ng things namin, nagsususpetsa siya na parang camouflage lang yung pag-lecture namin. Espiya raw kami ng government. Yun yung kanyang duda. Yun ang nasa kanyang utak. Hinalungkat niya all of our things to look for whatever pero wala siyang nakita kasi that was not our mission there.

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Pagdaan nya sa amin, sinabi na niya “Sige. Luhod na kayo. Walang tatayo.” Tapos mga ilang minute lang, ninenerbiyos na pero sabi ko kung pwede bang umihi ung kasama ko. Sabi niya “hindi pwede. Baka mag-eskapo sa bintana.” Sinarahan naman niya ang toilet. Sinabi niya “Umihi ka na lang dyan.” “Eh papanghi. “ “Di baling pumanghi, wag lang tayo pukpukin. “ He was carrying a hammer gun and a knife. Sabi ko sa kanya “Tingnan mo. Huwag na nating (gawin) kasi baka pukpukin niya tayo. Huwag na lang. Dyan ka na lang umihi. Kahit mapanghi, di naman tayo mamamatay.” Anyway, yun ang kanyang weapon. And then ang sabi ko sa kanila “Don‟t be afraid. Huwag ninyong ipakita na galit kayo sa kanya, na takot kayo sa kanya. Parang ordinary person lang din.” Kaya nobody knew we were having a six folder (?) with the Abu Sayyaf kasi wala namang maingay sa amin eh. Okay naman sila. Paniwala naman sila sa sinasabi ko. Anyway, yung early morning, mga 4:30 na or almost 5, hinila niya ako. Pinatayo niya ako, tapos sa other hand with a gun across my waistline and then sa other hand niya, the knife pointing to my neck. Naku! Sabi ko na lang “Huwag kayong maingay. Magagalit yun kung mag-ingay kayo” Hindi naman ako ni-rape kahit gabi nay un. Hanggang mga 6:30 na hinahawakan niya ako. Tapos noon, ang mga participants went down na kasi they are from the second floor. Then, titingnan nila kung we have prepared the food. Kami kasi nagpeprepare ng food. Pagpunta nila sa dining, wala pa ring nakahanda na food. Ang conference room, wala pa ring nakahanda. So naisip nila “there must be something wrong.” Tapos yung aming bintana with an electric fan, tapos slow yung movement. Nasilip nila kami. Tapos takbo sila sa security guard. “Hindi namin alam na may nangyayari sa mga teacher. Hindi namin alam na may Abu Sayyaf.” “Huh?” sabi ng security. Tinawag na yung mayor. He called right away. Tapos while on the way na yata yung Mayor, he went right to the room to open the door kasi nga nakalock. Ngayon, nasira niya ang door knob kasama yung security guard. Pagbukas ng security guard, he intended to shoot the Abu Sayyaf. Pero afraid naman siya na baka ako yung mapapatamaan. Kasi gaganunin lang naman ako, pwede na akong mapatamaan. So hindi niya mabaril. Lumapit siya sa amin, tapos binatawan ako ng Abu Sayyaf tapos siya ang kinuha. Then, he was the one stabbed thirteen times. Noong binatawan na ako, sabi ng mga participant “Kumusta? Kumusta?” Pero yung mga kasamahan ko, kanina pa nakalabas. So I went out , thinking that this security guard was being stabbed. “Naku! Mamamatay „yan, due to the loss of blood, not to the stabs or whatever. Kailangan babalik ako” sa isip-isip ko. Tapos sabi ko sa kanila, babalik muna ako doon. “Naku, Ma‟am! Bakit pa? Kayo na nga po ang nahostage doon. Nakakatakot kung aalis pa kayo dito.” “Kawawa naman yung security guard” ang sabi ko “na pababayaan lang natin yun.” So I really went back and then I gathered all our towels and put them across his stab wounds. Tapos while I was doing that, dumating yung mayor with 34 soldiers. On the act, nahuli siya (Abu Sayyaf). Tapos sabi ko “Mayor, pwede bang pakidala na lang ito sa ospital, sa emergency room, tapos bigyan ng blood transfusion.” Tapos, nakatunganga lang siya sa akin. Sigawan naman ang mga participants “Kasi nars si Ma‟am...” Anyway, ginawa niya yun. Why I was able to count the stab wounds. Nilagyan ko ng towels para hindi magflow yung blood. Thanks God. He was alive. He was cured and when the Abu Sayyaf was imprisoned, that was the place where Burnham was beheaded.

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JL Uhhh

Tr And you know, I prayed so hard na he will not fire the gun, Yun lang. Sino ba ang hindi matatakot? Eh ako nga tinutusok na sa leeg ko ng knife, muntik lang na ganunin, eh di tapos na rin ako. Eh leeg yun, tapos sa baywang, meron pa rin akong baril. Ikiclick lang niya yun, patay na rin ako. Sabi ko “Maybe, God has a mission for me to do.” So I am here with you. Madami akong kuwento, Iyan. I think yung ibang nurses and women hindi pa nakadaan sa dinanas ko. And I love my life. When I went home, yung mga office priests nagpasalamat sila sa mga Moslem. Nagpasalamat sila kasi they thought when we were attacked by the Abu Sayyaf, they thought that we will go home na. When the mayor came in, they said “Uwi na kayo, kasi prevalent ang pagkikidnap. Yung 13 na dala niya, nandyan lang yan, nagbabantay, lalo na at taga-Manila kayo. Kikidnapin kayo niyan.” Binigyan kami niyan ng mga prutas, ng patis, tapos “Ibibili ko po kayo ng return ticket ninyo “ Sabi naming “Sir, di na naming kailangan kasi (ito na) ang aming round trip na mga ticket namin. Thank you po. Sir, pwede ba dagdagan na lang ninyo ang security guard rito kasi iisa lang ang security guard. It‟s a big compound. Nakapasok sila kasi siguro nagroround yung security guard. Nakalimutan na isara ang gate kaya nakapasok.” So, binigyan kami niya. So out of 34, 24 soldiers ang sumama sa amin. Sabi ko “Tuturuan ko kayo kung paano gumawa ng burger without meat. So I taught them how to make burger using piling ng saba.” Meron akong ginawa na burger. It tastes like pure meat pero piling ng saba. Why piling of saba? Because among the bananas, ang piling ng saba ay medyo spongy. Tapos makapal. So kaya yun ang pinili ko. May formula ako how to do it. I also make vinegar out of piling ng saba. Kaya when I make lecture, ito sinasabi ko “Ito (piling ng saba) tinatapon lang ninyo. Lahat ng itatapon ninyo, may gamit sa akin, kaya „wag kayong magtapon. I taught them how to make the vinegar. May formula rin „yan. Then the burger. Naku, tuwang-tuwa sila nang makakain sila. “Malamang makakakain na kami ng burger without meat.” Before nang magawa ko na „yun, di sila naniwala na walang meat yun kasi it‟s tastes like meat. Then I demonstrated that to the _____ TB and to the Misibis TB the banana burger daw...

JL You mean original na recipe ninyo yan?

Tr Yes, kaya very grateful sila na tinapos namin ang one week namin dun, instead na pinapauwi kami ng mayor. Sabi namin kay Mayor, di kami makakauwi kasi one week ang mission naming at tsaka, kailangan ito ng aming mga tinuturuan namin. They will know how to do it also in their places. We printed certificates that they can join. „Yan ang isa kong trabaho na very simple but very helpful. Tuwang-tuwa sila. “Ma‟am, balik po kayo dito” sabi sa akin. “Ay, oo. Babalik kami dito” And then when I went home, my children were staying and they used to have lunch with us. Tapos, “Mommy, di ba yung pinuntahan mo...?” “Ay, oo.” “Hinostage din kayo?” Di ko sinasabi. You know, John, I had a second thought. Kung sabihin ko dito, baka di na ako papayagan. Baka pauwiin na ako. May Davao pa ako, may Zamboanga pa ako, may Cagayan de Oro pa ako, kung saan-saan sa Mindanao. Di pa ako tapos sa Mindanao. O sa ibang lugar. Baka di na ako pabalikin. Eh doctor ang husband ko. Eh kung di ko sabihin? I‟m very sure that he‟ll know about it from somebody else. Di ba? It is more

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painful. “Bakit di ko alam ang nangyari sa iyo?” So ikinuwento ko sa mga bata. “Nahostage nga ako.” Nagsigawan yung mga bata “Ay Mommy! Si Daddy.” Eh di dumating na nga ang Daddy nila. Tapos “O. Anong nangyari?” “Daddy, si Mommy, nahostage pala.” “Naku! Si Mommy ninyo, mas matapang pa „yun sa akin.” Ay salamat! I can go back to Mindanao.

JL Kailan po nangyari yun?

Tr 1997. December 1997.

JL Eh yung all out war pa yun?

Tr Yeah. Galit na galit ang Muslims sa akin but you know, if everything naman is God‟s will, we‟ll give us longer life to serve more. „Yan ang aking trabaho. Despite na wala kaming sweldo, we did pure voluntary work. Yung Circle, We cleaned the Circle, Quezon City. That Circle before was like a dumping site. Parang basurahan „yan. Pati patay na tao, tinatapon nila dyan. During yung time nila Simon at Enriquez. May mga old cars and appliances, they dumped it there. Parang basurahan ba. Maliit na kuyakot, kumbaga. During the recycling movement of the Philippines, we really tried our best to clean it because we know that it‟s a beautiful place and it‟s something that will be rehabilitated and can be (done). Night and day, we cleaned it. And then, I asked donation of trees and bougainvillas that we planted around and that amounted to 27 hectares. The recycling movement of the Philippines – we do not say anything, but sa amin lang yun, pag nagawa na namin, ok na. Later, we set to meet with Mayor Mathay na. Yung loob, pag maganda na, magset kayo ng mga eatery so that they have income. And then, that income will come back to the people – to the gardeners, sa mga nagbabantay ng toilet, yung mga nagki-clean, imbes na sa inyo hihingi, meron nang pera. Then, Tony Planas was the vice mayor of that time.

JL Mga what year po yun?

Tr Late 80s – Early 90s – Recycling Movement

JL Recycling movement, not yet COCAP?

Tr Not yet COCAP. But later on, ito nang COCAP. Sabi ni Esther, kaibigan ko rin, “Doon ka na lang sa isang organization...” “Ano „yun?” “It‟s against pollution and then we will focus on cleansing the air.” And so we did. Iba ngang kasama naming, patay na. Isa nga nyan si Pete Lobay (?) Kilala mo yata si Pete. Medyo may edad na yun. Marami na wala na rin. And then when I was there, tinuruan ko si, I don‟t know if you‟re know her, Alcantara.

JL Ano po ang first name? Sa Miriam po?

Tr She used to go there. Nandyan siya sa White Plains, sa may Blue Ridge. Si Odet, Lourdes ata yun. Odet Alcantara. Tapos naglelecture ako ng Waste Management, kinuha niya ako to be a lecturer. So naging student ko siya, na tinuruan ko, na-adopt na rin niya ang Waste Management sa kanilang area. Sabi niya, it took her three months to convince the people in the area to follow what we are trying to teach and then, merong isang vacant lot which is not hers but somebody owns it. Pero she wanted to use it so ginawa naming recycling center. Right now, it is the material recovery facility (MRF) – yun na ngayon ang pangalan.

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So I also started that when I became a commissioner sa Malacañang, May isa na akong MRF doon. Malaki yung sign na MRF, in red and yellow. Yung garderner, tinuruan ko siya how to segregate. Ngayon when it comes to COCAP, isa sa mga meaningful na ginawa naming ay yung sa unleaded gasoline. It is about air – yung gasoline, fumes, and then yun, we worked toward that, unleaded gasoline. We were grateful that it was put into a law at ginawa talaga yun ng mga gasoline operators and managers and they sold unleaded gasoline. Isa yan sa mga ginawa ng COCAP.

JL You were really the group that pushed for unleaded gasoline?

Tr Yes

JL Nababasa ko lang yan dati, and itinuturo ko sa mga estudyante ko, Pati pala yung Clean Air Act

Tr Yes

JL Pinapabasa ko yung Clean Air Act sa mga estudyante ko. Kasi nagtuturo ako ng Science sa mga first year student, so isinisingit naming yung environment sa...

Tr Pag nakikita nilang may umuusok, pinahihinto ng mga pulis yung sasakyan, tapos may penalty pa. Sometimes, they remove the plate when they do not follow. Kasi ang importante dun, you have to clean your engines para di mausok. Kasi kung mausok, it will cause pulmonary diseases sa lungs. It will also cause global warming which brings warmth from the smoke

JL CO2

Tr That will be affecting your health, As a nurse, I am really concerned also, sa health natin.

JL Ano po ang inyong mga specific engagement aside sa COCAP?

Tr I‟ve been with the Philippine Nurses Association. I was the past president of Manila-NCR and I also became the President of the Auxiliary to the Philippine Medical Association in which the wives of the doctors and the husbands of the doctors were under me. That‟s the Auxiliary to the Philippine Medical Association. Then, I am with the EcoWaste Coalition of the Philippines. Under the EcoWaste, there are 153 organizations ang members niyan. And then, I am also with YWCA or Young Women‟s Christian Association of Quezon City as past President, then nasa Council rin ako on the National Level. Ang dami-dami kong concerns, „no? It is unbelievable that you can do it na mag-isa ka lang and then sa Recycling Movement of the Philippines naman, ito na yung old Zero Waste of the Philippines, „yan ang dating pangalan ng Recycling Movement of the Philippines which started all the NGOs..

JL Zero Waste Philippines

Tr Yan ang dating Recycling Movement of the Philippines Foundation,

JL Tapos isa kayo sa mga founding members?

Tr Yes, co-founder ako dyan, dalawa kami dyan. Pareho kaming nurse and that is the mother of all organizations, ang Recycling Movement of the Philippines and even COCAP. Kasi nauna yan...

JL Anong year po itong Recycling Movement?

Tr 70s yun,

JL 1970s?

Tr Yes, it started sa Manila. Noon, we can estimate the waste of Manila. It‟s like six times ng church ng Quiapo ang dumi ng Manila. Actually, ang concern mo dyan ay ang health ng tao, di ba?

JL Labor Day po „yan?

Tr Yes. You have sanitation, di ba? You have less wastes if you take care of your waste and in fact, yung Smokey Mountain, we were also... anong year ba „yun? Si Isko (Moreno) ang... he was one of the scavengers, yung informal settler. Bata pa „yun eh. I taught him how to segregate.

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Ang parents niya yata ay separated. Nung napunta siya sa waste segregation, tuwang-tuwa naman ako sa kanya kasi hindi tamad and later on, he grew also. Sabi niya “Ma‟am gusto kong mag-aral, kaya lang kulang ang kinikita ko dito. Paano kaya ito?” Ang sabi ko “Isko, meron kang personality. Bakit di mo kaya subukang pumasok sa mga teleserye? So that you can earn, you may go to school.” And yes, he did. Pumasok siya sa kung anu-anong teleserye, parang supporting actor, yung mga ganoon lang and then, he was able to save money. „Pag nakikita niya ako, hinahalikan niya ako. He recognized naman na I encouraged him to become a somebody in the future. Tuwang-tuwa siya. I mean, wala naman nakakaalam, kaming dalawa lang naman.

JL So openly naman niya ikinikuwento?

Tr Kung minsan nga sa PNA, we would invite Mayor Lim, pero „pag wala siya, si Isko ang nagrerepresent. Natutuwa siya pag nakikita niya ako. “Ah, Ma‟am, nandito pala kayo.” Kinakumusta ako. “Eto, tumatanda na ako.” “Eh di naman po kayo tumatanda...” Di ba? Tutulungan mo lang sila, okay na? Now, I am serving how many thousands. Ang work ko sa Malacañang, in charge ako ng mga disabled, sa mga senior citizen, sa environment, sa livelihood, tapos nagka-Council pa ako. Grounded naman ako, one focus – one subject matter naman ako. Unlike sa teachers, ako, malawak ang pinapasukan ko. Member din ako ng overloading of tax and buwis ng Pilipinas. I have more than 17 associations kung bibilangin.

JL 17?

Tr Opo. 17. Hehehe. Kaya nga, sabi nila “Paano mo yun nagagawa?” „Yung husband ko nga, sasabihin sa akin “Hindi ka ba napapagod, Mommy, sa mga ginagawa mo? Wala ka namang suweldo diyan” Ang answer ko naman “Hindi naman ako napapagod. Apprehensive lang ako. I have the same day, the same time, at the same meeting. Kung may dalawa or tatlo. I select kung ano ang aattend-an. Uunahin mo yung importanteng ma-attendan mo, tapos yung isa, malalate ka pa. Pero kung president ka, hindi pwedeng ganoon, di ba? You should be ready as a president because it demands your leadership.

JL So hindi ko na tatanungin yung personal vision and mission ninyo?

Tr Oo nga... hehehe

JL Malinaw na malinaw

Tr I hope God will allow me to go on

JL Noong sumali po kayo sa COCAP, ano pong taon ito? O noong papasimula ang COCAP, kasama ba kayo sa founding members?

Tr Teka. Ano bang date „yun?

JL 1993

Tr 1993 ba „yun? Earlier than that, nagstart kami ng COCAP

JL Na-formalize lang siya noong 1993. Pero prior to 1993, nagstart na po kayong mag-organize?

Tr Yeah.

JL Paano naman kayo nayaya? Bakit naman kayo nayaya diyan sa COCAP?

Tr Because it also concerned health. Because of the air. Yung pollution, dib a?

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JL Tapos kakilala po ninyo si Ma‟am Esther de Tagle?

Tr Yes

JL Eh kasi may theory „yan, sa social movement

Tr Ah...

JL Pinu-prove niya „yun...

JL So Ma‟am Esther po mismo ang nagrecruit sa inyo? Ano po ang nagmotivate sa inyo na sumali? Kasi meron na po kayong Recycling Movement, tapos yung COCAP...

Tr Kasi it is because its focus is on air; this is also posing diseases, respiratory diseases. That is why as a nurse, I am parang tinulak din ako Sabi ko, in one way or another, I can help other people to be aware of the diseases, of what can affect them if the air is polluted.

JL What made you stay in COCAP, and then later on, become part of the Board of Directors, aside from...

Tr I‟ve been Treasurer for a long time hanggang...

JL Hehehe

Tr Di nila ako binibitawan simula noon gang President before Esther Pacheco was Rene Pineda. Before Pineda was... si Esther, si Lucay, yung namatay, tapos si Roy Romero dito sa UP. Propesor siya doon, sa Economics. Naginf president „yan. Tapos naging president namin si Pepes Co. Naging secretary yun ng DENR. Nung naging secretary siya ng DENR, sumunod na si Rene Pineda. Noong nagdecline na si Rene as president dahil matagal na rin daw siyang president, ibigay na raw sa iba. Noong during elections, dalawa kami ni Esther na.. Si Pacheco was named president pero sumisigaw sila “huwag ninyong alisin si Madam Professor. Walang mag-aalaga ng pera natin.” Sabi ko “Esther, ikaw na ang president, kasi dalawa lang kaming nominated eh.” So Esther na ang president...

JL Tapos kayo na po ang treasurer?

Tr Treasurer din ako ng EcoWaste for a long time.

JL Ah. Kasi yung kaklase ko naman po, ang paper niya is about EcoWaste Coalition...

Tr That will be interesting. Very interesting kasi in fact, the other day, ah yesterday, we had a meeting on chemicals on toys. We had foreigners and then, I was there. Siguro sa mga papers, naglabas kami at sa TV, kasi usually, any station event, we were invited so that the public will be aware and they‟re very cooperative. Usually, may limang media, then sampung reporters, and they‟re very interested to get the news. Pandagdag ng kanilang alam, then pang-aware. Pag may media, we can make the public aware of the wastes we have around; very important, especially na magki-Christmas, marami tayong toys na may chemical, like lead, mercury, chromium, na nasa toys. We bought some materials, toys in five vendors, and then department stores and even mga major expensive (toys) na may chemical. So that ang public should be aware. Kaya kami meron niyan. We have posters in public, in barangay areas, so that they will be aware. And then, the parents should be educated and trained on what are those chemicals and what are those toys na may chemicals. Kasi wala yan sa aming lecture ng international event. Eh ang kanilang focus lang yung ineexamine nila yung toys at kung ilang micrograms ang meron nito like lead, arsenic, chromium, mercury kaya tinutukan ko. Ang sabi ko “the parents should be educated. This way, they will know what the chemicals are. When you go out, I don‟t think the public really knows. Di nila ito alam, unless sa grassroots, like barangay, pwede tayong magbigay ng parang mga poster, may picture din ng mga bata, and so we did that. Sabi ko “Kung gusto naman nila na male-lecture-an sila, we can be here basta bigyan lang ako ng enough time for the lecture. I‟m sure, time lang naman „yan. Just so that we can educate the parents na

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bumibili, tapos yung mga bata rin, tuturo lang kung ano ang bibilhin. Lalo na yung mga lolo at lola, gusting-gusto nilang happy ang mga apo nila. Tapos, hindi sila aware of what is not good, what is bad, for toys. The public must really be educated, be aware of what that P50 toy contain. Be sure, sabi ko, not all can read the level. Lahat ng toys sana, lahat ng manufacturers should have levels regardless of any food, any what. Pero, sometimes, di naman nilalagay ng manufacturers ang content ng thing doon, di ba? Para mabili, di ba? We should be careful and the government should impose regulations on that matter of posting the levels on the food, toys, whatever, that should be regulated. Para everybody is aware. To minimize and help (in making aware.) Importante yan kasi ang mga bata, susceptible sila sa mga ganyan. Kahit na nga yung teether, sa bata, meron. Pati pacifier, meron. Kaya nga mahirap. Mabuti pa noon, ang ating gamit lang bottle feeding, Yung bottle na nababasag, na bino-boil natin. Eh ngayon plastic na. Isa rin yung mga alternative. Pati na yung mga junk food. We do not encourage the children to drink like ung Coca Cola, whatever. I‟m not against it, but if we can have some pictures, or I can lecture about herbal fruits, herbal drinks that substitute the carbonated drinks. Nilecture ko rin yun, Marami, marami akong ise-share with you. Walang katapusan yan. Sabi nga nila “Siguro, Ma‟am. Kahit natutulog kayo, pwede kayong maglecture.” But I enjoyed my work, kahit hindi ako paid. Yun lang. I have worked with Dr. Veyra. Sinasama ko rin ang husband ko. You know, ang sabi ko sa kanya “Daddy, I‟m not taking you for granted.” I also tell that I do not have a salary. “Eh, paano kayo nakakagalaw kung wala kayong pera?” Sabi ko “I have a very good provider. I‟m telling him (Husband) that you are helping me. My husband provides for everything. I‟m very grateful for that. We are married for almost 57 years, because we got married on November 27, 1957. We do not eat outside, we cook sa bahay. Breakfast, then lunch, I prepare them early in the morning, like 4:30 in the morning, and then fix everything, Malinis na yung bed ko, then natutulog na siya. I prepare his sando, towels, lahat-lahat na. Pupulutin na lang niya. I prepare him coffee and take care of his vitamins. Thank God. We are healthy people. Walang blood pressure, walang blood sugar, walang cholesterol, walang anuman. At the end of the day, siya masakit na ang likod niya, sa kakabasa ng microscope. Ganoon yun. He reads like 100 slides per day. Workaholic siya, from hospital, home; hospital, home. Wala yang barkada, wala ring mga bisyo. As I said, he is like a king to me. He gives me enough provision and gives without any question. Only that I hate to leave the house when I am out of town. Yung pagkain niya, naiisip ko kaagad. So what I usually do, I prepare the menu when I am out of town, They follow it. I do the marketing. Everything. I do the leg work. Lahat lahat ginagawa ko sa bahay. Thanks God, I‟m still strong. I don‟t know how many wives or women like me who can do all of these things kasi despite of my activities, I will never forget to serve my whole family, my husband. Kasi siyempre, siya ang una kong pinagsisilbihan. I think tatlong babae yata ang nagkakagusto sa kanya.

JL Hehehehe

Tr Kasi he‟s very silent, he doesn‟t have a barkada. He chooses his friends, not that he doesn‟t want to mingle. Sabi niya “I want to talk interrelatedly, sa doctors, sa lawyers”, yung mga may sense. Hindi sa mga walang sense ang pinag-uusapan, huwag na lang daw, sabi niya. Parati gusto niyang intellectually, gumagana ang mental activity.

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We are both simple people. We do not go to parties. Ayaw na ayaw niya „yun. Kahit nga homecoming, ayaw niya, kahit na celebrant sila. Kahit jubilarians, yung mga graduates ng PUP Philippines, ako pa ang nag-aalaga sa kanila. I always attend. Kahit we used to stay here for 45 years. We were allowed to stay in the cottage in this area for 45 years. He was teaching in PUP, tapos Dean pa siya ng College of Medicine, at the same time, faculty siya. Head pa siya ng laboratory ng PGH. As I said, workaholic siya. Mahilig magtrabaho, ayaw niyang naiiwang nag-iisang magtrabaho. On Saturdays, he brings home around 200 slides to read kasi sa aming room, merong microscope. Sabi niya “Mommy, „pag balik ko ng Monday, marami na naman akong babasahin, Pag hindi ko ito binasa ngayon, magpa-pile lang ang trabaho. Actually, di yan off duty kasi nga faculty pa ako.”

JL Ang galing. Ang supportive ninyo.

Tr I hope maraming babae like even if we are eating, I peel the banana for him. Sino ang gumagawa niyan? Hehehe. Maniwala ka. „Pag kinukuwento ko „yan sa ibang wives, “Ginagawa mo pa „yun? Ay, hinahayaan ko na siya.” “Hindi. Kailangan pagsilbihan ninyo ang asawa ninyo. Para di kayo lalayuan din.” Eh paano kung may babaeng loko-loko na mas ganito, ganito, pagdating aawayin ninyo, eh buwang-buwang kayo. Eh, what is your province?

JL Sa Leyte po.

Tr Saan doon?

JL Sa Palompon, Leyte

Tr Cebuano?

JL Parang Cebuano pero Waray.

Tr Maaram akong mangoray, I can speak in seven dialects. I can speak Cebuano, Ilonggo, Mastakenyo, Bikol, Ilokano, Waray. Ang dali namang matutunan. I was in the PGH. I choose yung Department ng Emergency Room and then the Admitting Section and ICU. Pinili ko po „yun kasi walang may gusto doon. Masyado raw challenging, eh ang gusto ko naman, my mentality should work also. Kailangan ko ang challenge, so I choose that and pagdating ng pasyente sa emergency room, “Tanan ako”, ang sasabihin “Cebu.” Eh, di magse-Cebuano na kami. “Uy, Ma‟am. Taga-Cebu po kayo? “Ay, oo” Nag-iisip lang ako kung saan, “Taga-Mandaue ako.” “Alam ninyo, Ma‟am...” Magaling na raw siya. You know, you can make something lighten, make the burden lesser for the person who is already in pain. Malaking tulong „yon.

JL Sige po. Marami-rami pa po. Noong 1993, natayo po itong COCAP. Ano po yung konteksto ng mga pioneering member? Bakit po nila itinayo itong COCAP?

Tr Because of the observation, the air is so polluted. And that is the aim of the Concerned Citizens against Pollution. So „yung mismong title ng group is against pollution. And we really observe that, through the years. Kita mo naman, especially kawawa ang mga driver, especially yung mga tricycle na open that they just inhale. If we will examine the tricycle drivers, siguro mga 80-85% ang may lungs na infected. Kasi wala namang covering ang kanilang tricycle, di katulad ng taxi at jeep. Pero ang tricycle open, di ba? So we are also concerned about the drivers, especially the tricycle drivers. Kasi nakita mo naman dyan sa Katipunan, maraming tricycle na walang cover tapos mga sasakyan na two-way. You know what? We worked night and day to call for the trees along Katipunan not to be cut off. Meron

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kaming sample booth. Binantayan namin si Bayani. Environmental justice „yan.

JL Naalala ko po „yan. So COCAP ang nanguna dyan?

Tr Yes. Kami rin ang gumawa niyan.

JL Paano nyo po nagagawa? Kasi noong malaman ko po ang COCAP, hindi siya ganoon kapopular pero ay, ito pala ang mga nagagawa nila. Ang galing ng nagagawa niya pero wala po siyang media mileage masyado, kumbaga. Hindi siya nagpapakita...

Tr Sabi nga po, silent lang pero we are working.

JL Paano po ninyo nagagawa? Paano ninyo nakukuha ang mga resource ninyo para maging effective ang mga strategy even without the “ra-ra-ra-ra-ra”, the typical social movement na at the moment, magra-rally.

Tr Because the members really have the heart to do it. Voluntarily, dib a? Kasi kung wala kang heart, how would you feel for the activities, na first of all, you do not receive anything, di ba? Eh, nobody told you to do so, sa amin lang yung voluntary from heart. You have to do this because it is very important for your health and for the concern of the public. Eh kung hindi natin gagawin, sino ang gagaw mas ma? Kung hindi natin gagawin ngayon, kailan pa? It should be today, it should be now. Not tomorrow, not next year. Otherwise, wala yang unleaded gasoline, di ba? Wala „yang climate change, di ba? And then now, I am in partnership with Clean Air, yung board may partnership with Clean Air. Then, Rene Pineda, who was our president before, was the president of that partnership. That partnership with Clean Air, we are collaborating with the different vehicle operators; then, we are closely working with the LTO dahil nga ang pollution, nandyan ang COCAP dahil sa pollution, ang mga pollution that‟s why all of us are collaborating. And then with DOST, kasama natin „yan, ang DENR kasama rin natin „yan. Parang nandyan din ang friend mo against pollution. So now sa DENR, they have the Air Quality Center. Doon kami nagme-meeting about air, partnership with Clean Air. And what we are doing now, kasi nga sa partner, sa pollution, konektado „yan. Now in partnership with Clean Air, we have little money and in Mandaluyong and in Pasig, we bought tricycles na pwedeng gamitin ng mga tricycle driver. They will pay back, kasi kung kami ang bibili, mas cheaper, kaysa „pag driver ang bibili from the company, mas mahal. So we put out one million for Mandaluyong and Pasig, and then we entertain like 100 drivers to get the tricycles. Then, we assign somebody to collect kasi hindi naman namin makukuha yung payment. Eh hindi naman kami marami and we have some things to do pa. So there‟s a person responsible to collect the payment either monthly, daily, or it depends on the driver how they can pay the payments. Sa kanila po „yun. „Yan ang isang tulong na ginagawa namin sa kanila. This is also connected with COCAP kasi in partnership „yan with Clean Air. Pollution din yan.

JL Hindi po pwede yung ADB project?

Tr Ang ADB nagbigay „yan sa COCAP ng P400,000. But that 400,000, meron „yang equivalent, kung ano „yung gagawin namin with the money. We did not spend anything except for what is required by them to be spent. So, nandyan „yung 400,000. We invested it, and we only use the interest. „Yung capital, iniiwan ko. Kung may mga training tayo, nababawasan nang kaunti. We don‟t like to spend all, para may seed money. That‟s what I‟m doing also as a treasurer. Hindi ko ginagamit yung capital pero pag may mga training, like kapag may mga open forum tayo tungkol sa waste or even waste, we invite specialists in that area, nag-iinvite tayo ng speaker from DENR, speaker from the DOST, speaker from the LTO, we allocate some amount. Halimbawa, bibigyan mo sila ng token kasi nag-speaker sila and you spend a little for the materials, whatever.

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But if we have money that we can spend that is not touching the seed money, even at breakfast time during our meetings, we pay our own. We collect, di ko ginagastos „yan. Kasi kung breakfast lang naman, mga P50 or P100, ok lang. We are all amenable to it. Hindi natin gagamitin ang pera ng COCAP, it‟s for our work. So hindi namin nababawasan for ourselves. Nababawasan lang natin „yung money kasi may ibang source naman tayo ng money. I was able to deposit P100,000 and then ang interest nun ang ginagamit ko for whatever, like when we buy materials, and when we prepare for the venue, then we pay the venue, „yung ganoon. Doon lang sa interest. Then, we receive donations, like P15,000 from San Miguel, yung mga nakikipag-collaborate sa amin during the open forums, for the special occasions and events, meron pa ring nagdodonate like P10,000, P15,000. Binabawasan natin „yan and then ang source pa natin yung membership fee. This is very small lang, P300 lang. For our officers, we pay P500. Hindi namamatay (ang finances). If you know how to take care of your resources, hindi naman... Unlike sa EcoWaste kung saan naging treasurer din ako, ngayon hindi na kasi we had our elections and matagal din akong nag-treasurer doon. Sa EcoWaste naman, we have our international funding, nagbibigay sila when needed. So we can afford to have magagandang brochures, magagandang posters, and then we report. So we have records sa kanila na they continue giving us the fund. Then we invite yung mga foreigner na nagsusupport sa amin sa mga special event, and they stay here for a week, mga three days, or five days. They can see what we are doing. Then they do not hesitate to continue their funding to us. Very active ang EcoWaste. As I said, John , magkakadugtong-dugtong lang „yan. Lahat niyan...

JL Ang galing nga eh. Yung isang nabasa kong libro tungkol sa environmental movement, ginawa ni Alex Magno, kasi nagsulat siya tungkol diyan. Nasa good case pa ang Philippines, kasi historical ang approach. Hinahanap talaga yung COCAP. Mga 1980s na yung sa kanya, 70s, 80s. „Yung pinakahuli niya, 1997 na. Pero wala dito kay Alex Magno. Di yata umabot sa kanya.

Tr Isa pa, ang Recycling is very silent also. We are moving but we are not popular. Noong time na „yon, di kami makuha ng media. You should be wide-read noon, in order to get media support. Eh di kami ganoon. Napaka-silent.

JL Parang low profile, pero very effective ang impact

Tr Oo, kaya hindi popular ang Recycling but we have done something. Meron pa akong isang project noon, dito sa Recycling Movement. Matutuwa ka rin, we held a Miss Environment, Ms. Ecology. What we did was money collecting. Paramihan ng boto, pero ang sabi ko, paramihan tayo ng trees na makokolekta ninyo. Ang pinakamarami niyan, siya ang Ms. Ecology. So yung Pansol, sa tabi ng La Strada Church, „yan ang isang lady diyan ang nanalo. Siya ang pinakamaraming trees na nacollect. Siya ang nanalo. Ipinamigay niya ang trees sa akin. What I did, those are trees around the City Hall. Pinatanim ko. Tapos sabi ni Mathay “Bakit walang Mr. Ecology?” Ang sabi ko “Eh di gagawa rin tayo ng Mr. Ecology. “ Hehehe, kasi si Ms. Ecology noon. This is the first time you heard of a contest na walang pera. Pero trees ang aking ginawa.

JL Paano ninyo nakolekta...

Tr Yung trees? Talagang kinolekta talaga namin trees talaga. Nagcollect talaga sila ng trees, talagang ilang

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thousand of trees ang nakolekta.

JL Tapos itatanim nila talaga „yun?

Tr Oo. So ang ginawa nila, ibinigay nila sa akin yung collected trees but we have to count also. Kung ikaw, ilan ang nakolekta mo? 50 trees, yung ganoon. What I did naman ay I planted them sa City Hall. Kulang ang trees noon, „yun ang ginawa ko. And nobody knew that, except the people who knew me. Yung nasa Recycling Movement, sa City Hall, and I don‟t think the people in the City Hall who knew me know about it. Kung hindi ko ikukuwento, malalaman „yun. And also the Circle, what we have done.

JL Grabe...

Tr Silent lang, hijo. Pero marami tayong nagawa. I am happy already. Meron ka pang self-satisfaction without others knowing

JL Ay oo. Internal ang mga nangyayari sa loob na alam mong nagawa mo „yun. Ma‟am, maitanong ko lang po. Ano po kaya ang motivation ng mga member or pioneering member sa pagsali sa COCAP?

Tr I think, noong first time naming magkaroon ng orientation ng new members, and when we explain to them what we are doing, and what are the effects to our environment, maybe that was the time they realized na kailangan pala sila sa mundo sa ganitong paraan, sa ganitong situation. Na kailangan palang i-work out ang air pollution, di ba? We invite them first in our open forum, tapos may event na everybody is invited, member or not, they are all welcome, and so we send speakers. In that manner, in that occasion, they can put somethingin their heads na ito pala ang ginagawa ng COCAP. Hindi lang basta pangalan lang, you have to be proactive and you have to implement it right here and then. I think they are convinced na ganun. So they joined. We always welcome them and encourage them. We explain to them what the purpose of the legion is.

JL So basically they joined because of ecology?

Tr Yes

JL May theory rin po doon

Tr Kahit hindi popular. Hehehe

JL Sabi ko nga, ang dami kong natututunan dito. Nabanggit na pala, yung time na binuo yung COCAP, wala pa talagang nag-iisip about air pollution?

Tr Wala pa

JL „Yan yung context noon...

Tr From COCAP, diyan nila na-visualize na magkaroon ng Clean Air Act, yung Climate Change

JL Noong time na „yun, wala naman pong major na nangyari like may malaking smoke and maraming namatay na nag-alsa kayo at nag-start ng movement against air pollution?

Tr Di naman ganoon talaga, kaya mahirap na, like yung sa Payatas, „pag ang malaking basura, tapos uulan di ba? After ng ulan, hindi mo mapapansin na may lumalabas na smoke, yung fumes. And we also visualize na yung smoke na yan, merong contamination because it comes from waste, di ba? Iyan ang isa mong observation. Pag mga dumpsites, mga landfills, kung maaari lang, ang impact, ang closure noong February 2006, dapat wala nang dumpsites. Pero wala naman silang nagagawa. Kasi saan naman daw maglalagay ng basura? Bakit po kayo may basura? Kasi di kayo marunong mag-recycle. If you know how to recycle, everything can be recycled. Kahit yung toilet paper ninyo na used sa toilet, ilibing lang ninyo. Magiging fertilizer „yan, di ba?

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Kahit ang balat ng saging na tinatapon at nilalangaw lang, ang langaw may spread diseases. I will use that for my mini garden, for the burger. Wala nang langaw, healthy pa sa tao, kasi makakain pa, di ba? From one matter to another, kunektado sila, hijo. You cannot be independent. Kaya nga ang sabi ko sa‟yo, kung nagtuturo ka lang ng Science, doon ka lang sa Science. Pero ang aking itinuturo, connected to each other. It‟s a circle, without ending. Recycling nga. So when I was invited sa Batanes, Batanes is quite far, but I‟ve been there four times. They invited the Governor, the Mayor, the DepEd Director. They heard about my lecture in other provinces, so I went there. When I went there, ang sabi ko “Malinis naman ang Batanes, ha? Hindi naman ako kailangan dito.” “Ma‟am, hindi po. We‟ll tour you around the island and then maituturo mo where their wastes are. Sa other side, doon nila nilagay sa seashore ang wastes. Sabi ko “hindi ito tama.” “Ma‟am, turuan po ninyo kami saan naming pwedeng ilagay ang basura namin.” Pumunta kami sa beach...

Part 2

Tr Papatayin ninyo ang marine life. Pati yan, magkaka-red tide tayo. Wala na tayong shell na kakainin. Pati isda mapapatay natin. “O sige po. Sige po. Kaya po namin kayo pinapunta.” Have you been to Batanes?

JL Not yet, Ma‟am.

Tr It is a beautiful place. This is their mountain and this is their highway, the seashore, and the sea. Kung gagalaw ang waves, maaabot sa car mo ang waters ng sea. It is so beautiful, parang Riviera. A beautiful place, and then all of them are respectful. Sabi nga doon “daughter ako ng Batanes” kasi when I went there, in the 90s, one fleet lang in a week ang trip. So if I go there, then I have to be there for one week. Di ako makakauwi, halimbawa Sunday, sa next Sunday pa ako makakauwi. So I went there, pumunta ako sa day care ng mga bata, kasi marami rin akong day care na inaattendan. Adviser din ako ng mga day care na walang suweldo rin. In a programming, nag-attend ako ng radio interview. Ayun, naglecture na ako. May mga matanda na nag-attend. “Ma‟am, pwede ba kaming lahat ng matatanda turuan ninyo?” sabi nila. “Pwede naman, “ sabi ko “Paano „yan, eh mamaya gabi na?” “Kahit na hanggang alas dose ng gabi, di kami aantukin, makikinig kami sa iyo.” We did, until 12, naglelecture ako sa mga matanda. Sabi ng mga matatanda “Eh di, wala na pala tayong itatapong basura kasi narerecycle na pala ni Ma‟am de Veyra. Itinuturo niya sa atin.” And I was so happy Lahat sila nagrerecycle, kahit mga apo, pati kung anu-ano dyan, narerecycle nila. They were all so happy, the older people, There were 88 year old, 60 year old, and they were so strong. Every four o‟clock in the morning, they go to the farm. Malalakad lang nila, yung iba nagba-bicycle. They seldom use energy. At 12 am, off na ang lights. They would open again the lights at six o clock na. You can leave the house open throughout 24 hours, walang magnanakaw. Ang kanilang jail, walang laman. Disiplinado naman sila. And they are all respectful na tao. They are all industrious.

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Kapag may mga foreign barge or boats doon sa ocean, pupuntahan nila „yan. Paaalisin nila „yan. “Di pwede mag-istambay „yan dito..” sabi nila “Baka magfi-fishing, mag-dynamite fishing yung mga iyan” Then you‟ll find there a coconut crab...

JL Coconut crop?

Tr Yes, coconut crab. Yung alimasag doon, Yung form ng body niya, parang halfway ng coconut. Pag binuksan mo yung coconut, nakakaob. Ganyan siya, bilog. Pero the meat tasted like the ordinary alimango, crab. Then, yung root crops like ube, white and violet, nakatanim yan doon. Marami akong nakita kasi nga one week ako doon. I have been there four times. Takot nga ako noong sumakay ako kasi nasakyan ko yung airplane na luma, na six-seater lang, two pilots, tapos apat na passenger. Pagtingin ko nga, sabi ko, taba ko nito. Pag gumalaw ako, baka gumalaw din. Sabi nga “here is the brave lecturer that passes the oceans from Laoag to Batanes” kasi there are only two types of ride. Magbabangka ka, eh pag nagbangka, malalaki ang waves. Pag eroplano naman, eroplano naman ang luma. Pero I just prayed na lang that I will arrive safely. Marami akong experience na na-enjoy ko. Sabi nga nila, “you can write a book.” Kailan nga ba akong magra-write ng book? You help me if you can. I don‟t know where to write kasi I‟m so busy. Kung minsan, sa gabi, I will start writing my report, ordinary ang report ko. Sige lang ang write ko. I was so engrossed with my writing. Pagtingin ko, umaga na pala. Di pala ako nakatulog. So I go to my meeting na naman. I hope I stay healthy naman. I think kulang ako ng tulog. Madalas gising ako pag may meeting ako. Di ako inaantok. I just keep on writing. During the meeting, nagra-write lang ako parati. Para ang attention ng utak ko, nandoon lang sa writing ko.

JL Wow! Ang galing naman.

Tr Hahaha. May fan na ako.

JL Gusto ko naman din pong i-validate yung sinasabi ni Francis Magno tungkol sa environmental movement in the Philippines. Klinassify niya ang history. Noong 1978, environmental defense phase daw po „yan… yung mga anti-nuclear

Tr Yeah…

JL Then noong 1986, identity making phase daw po „yan, kasi pag sinabi na identity, tapos environment, mother. Kasi ang nature ng mga mother (ay) caring. We have to take care of our Mother Earth, „yung ganoon. Yung identity na „yun. Then pagpasok ng 1992 to 1997. Ni-note ko dito na noong 1993, COCAP was established. This is the phase naman na strategic engagement kung saan ang ginagawa naman ng environmental movement is that they strategically engage themselves with the government or other partners or organizations to work together Gusto ko lang po i-validate if you agree or disagree sa pagka-classify ng mga historical trend ng environmental movement based on your experience

Tr Well, if you will really (see), inadequate ang support ng government. Kasi despite of what you are really doing, I still recognize na ang NGO lang ang nagtatrabaho talaga. Then, ikaw pa ang nagtuturo sa government on what to do. Yun ang aking (karanasan.) But as time goes on, presently meron namang help ang government. Kasi we can not do the thing we want to be actively doing kung wala ang political means, di ba? Siyempre, you have to collaborate with

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them also, and cooperation with the government kasi paano ba „yan kung hindi nila tatanggapin as acceptable kasi, in one way or another, you‟re stepping on them, di ba? Which is unkind and unethical naman, di ba? So we cannot do that. However, as time goes on, we are working with the government, we learn also. And then, we are realizing what they are doing also. In fact, ako ang nagturo kay Bayani ng MMDA sa Marikina. I was also the one who took the waste management. And then, it became the cleanest city in the Philippines. I also had the first club – the Philippine Columbian Association, wherein it is a first time na ang kanilang basurahan ay converted into a garden para maging eco-friendly ang waste nila. Imbes na may basura, naging garden. First in the Philippines yung sa Philippine Columbian Association kasi ang president noon, nakatira sa White Plains. Si Sonia Mendoza, involved siya sa mga Mother Earth. Nakiusap siya na kung pwede raw turuan ang Philippine Columbian ng proper waste management. That was the first club in the Philippines that implemented solid waste management. Ang aking ininvite doon na intermission ay si Celeste Legaspi and I think her father was also an environmentalist. Kaya na-involve siya. When I finished, lumipat naman ako dito. Sabi ni Sonia Mendoza, at saka si Odet Alcantara, sa White Plains din siya. Later on, their organization became Mother Earth, but later on, di ko na alam kung ano ang nangyari sa kanila. Ang accusation noon, nabuwag „yan. Yung isa naging Mother Earth Unlimited, then the other became Mother Earth something, I forgot na. Si Sonia Mendoza parted ways pati rin si Odet Alcantara. But very few know na ako ang nagturo sa kanila. Kasi hindi ko naman kailangan sabihin pa, di ba? Anyway, as long as you can help, why not? Masarap sa feeling, self-satisfaction. Naging “Ulirang Ina” ako ng Quezon City. During that time, si Speaker Belmonte, mayor siya noong 1975. 26 kaming candidate for that title “Ulirang Ina.” Then, may mga kasamahan ako na galing sa government, gaya ng auditor, congresswoman, may councilor na woman, may kapitana na woman. Sabi ko “Patay! Di naman talaga ako taga-government” but the NGO pushed me when they nominated me, so nag-agree na lang ako. Sinubmit ko ang aking resume and everything. Noong nag-interview, there were 12 judges kasama namin noon si Mayor Adelina Rodriguez. One of them was Helena Benitez, owner ng PWU, then si Justice Paciano. Marami silang outstanding personality noon na magju-judge doon. Tapos, ako ang last na na-interview among the 26. What I passed to the 12 noon, I took up toastmaster. So when I don‟t hesitate. I just explain lang. Impromptu lang ang aking salita. In fact, when I speak, wala akong speech na written; from my heart, I speak out whatever, basta related to the theme. Tapos naisip ko “Ano ang itatanong ako ng outstanding judges, “Mrs. De Veyra, why do you think you‟re nominated by the NGO?” Humbly, I speak to them, “There‟s something unique for example, and I think I can do what the ultimate man or male can do, and I think that what qualifies me.” Yun lang. Hahaha

JL Kayo na!

Tr Ako na! Hahaha, then ako nga ang naging “Ulirang Ina.” Tuwang-tuwa sila kasi nga ang daming candidate eh. They are capable, I think. Pero I think what I have done, I politely grabbed it, the thing na hindi nila nagawa. And I think that qualifies me with that seven shape with differences among us. And I am honest enough to say so. And educated ka naman, di ba? Hehehe. As simple as that. Kailangan namin kausapin na ganun lang. Sabi ko “I think I am a unique person.” Yun lang ang aking opening.

45

Alanganin na magkukuwento ka pa sa kanila, eh nandoon na lahat yun sa biodata mo na nasa kanila. Isa-isa silang may folder mo. It doesn‟t take many words to say. Yun lang

JL Ang galing! Yung noong 1992-1997, yun po yung strategic engagement. After po ng strategic engagement sa case ng environmental movements sa Pilipinas, ano po kaya ang tamang description sa mga sumunod after 1997? How would you describe the… Ang kagandahan ng sa inyo, marami na po kayong nasalihang environmental movement. Dito po sa lahat ng mga nasalihan ninyong environmental movement, ano po yung common theme from 1997 or 1998 to 2000?

Tr Ang kagandahan lang diyan is that the government is aware of what the NGOs are doing for the good of the country and for the good of the citizens of the Philippines. Yan ang maganda kasi there is already a government movement that is supporting in one way or another ang aming ginagawa kasi I think we realize that without the NGOs doing something, walang mangyayari kung hihintayin lang namin sila. Talagang walang mangyayari, di ba? However, we are so grateful that in the years that have come, there is already, you see that there is cooperation from the government which we are happy about. What they are doing, they are supporting. Here, like DILG, may mga barangay – ang mga barangay ang lowest units, di ba? From statistics, this is where most of the people are poor. The barangay has been cooperating and then we approach them, when we have trainings, or we approach them kung alam ko na they are already cooperative and they are already aware that this is for their good, not for us. Kasi in the first place, we are not paid for. Di kami humihingi ng compensation, yun naman ang aming… It depends on them. If you are lecturing, if they will be giving honorarium of some sort, ok lang. Noong June, San Miguel invited me and even the military invited me already. So I know they have budget for some things. Then, I can claim, pero kung barangay-barangay lang, I will not claim. Depende sa kanila, then sometimes, I teach them something to make, like bag making, tapos may nagawa sila. “Ma‟am, sa inyo na po ito.” Sabi ko “Magkano kaya ito pag ipinagbili natin ito? Kung two hundred fifty, three fifty, bibilhin ko na ito.” “Ma‟am, huwag na po. Bigay na po naming yan sa inyo, kasi hindi naman po ninyo kami sinisingil.” Sometimes, you have to give a little. Pwede ka namang magdonate kahit magkano. Ok lang sa akin yun. Kaya yung ibang naglelecture na kahawig ng lecture ko, and they really charge, then magtuturo ako. “Tawagan ninyo si Ms. De Veyra. Hindi nagpapabayad „yan, kung wala kayong ibabayad.” Kasi yung inaapproach nila, siguro humihingi ng bayad, honorarium, or whatever. Kaya napupuno ako ng lecture kasi pupunta sila sa akin. Ok lang sa akin yun, basta ang bilin ko lang sa kanila “Just give me time.” As I said, what is apprehension sa akin, when I have meeting at the same time at the same date at kung ano pa yan, sino kaya ang pupuntahan ko dito?

JL Sa dami…

Tr Maybe I‟ll be late if I am not president at nagpepreside sa meeting. So I am Vice President, PRO, tapos treasurer. Ang aking pagreport sa event, sinasabi ko “Wag ako sa opening, ha?” Ganoon ang ginagawa ko, like in a program, they will give me a part. Sabi ko “Pwede bang sa bandang closing na ako? Sa closing remarks?” Kung sa opening remarks, baka nasa meeting pa ako. Then, nandoon naman ang mga kasamahan mo na kakilala mo, so okay lang yun. You can take your time, but it is hard. If you have two, three bodies so that one there, one there. Kasi I enjoy doing my work in spite na wala akong salary. Just God will save me from a save trip so that I can give in the future. Ano pa hijo?

JL Ano po…

Tr And then later on, the government have opened their windows and their eyes to what we are doing and

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they realize also na talagang may ginagawa naman ang NGOs. On our part, kasi they know naman, they‟re aware naman na we are working sincerely and we are dedicated in our work despite na wala naman kaming salary. Siguro iyan ang kanilang nare-realize na itong mga taong ito, wala namang mga bayad pero nagtatrabaho, di ba? Kaya there are times when I ride along the highway or whatever, may nakikita akong mga nag-gugrupo na street cleaner, yung mga Metro Aide, they will be in one small place, mga six or eight sila. Hindi sila magscatter, isa dito, isa doon. Bakit so small ng area, ano na ang nagagawa nila? Puro sila tsismisan. Then on the 15th day, they received their salary completely but they did not function completely. Eh, ang liit-liit ng lugar, anim, pito. Sana magscatter sila so they could do more, di ba? May mga taong ganoon, ano? They are cheating also the government. Hindi yan mabuti. Well, that is life, yata. I don‟t know. We have different beliefs, different functions, whatever, but still I do not agree na naghihintay ka lang ng end of the month or fifteenth of the month para sa salary mo. It is unfair. The government is paying you enough for whatever services but you are not doing enough for the government, or for the people, at that. Kaya kung minsan, mahirap din.

JL Noong 2000 po, parang sinasabi ninyo that the government is really open na. Parang what you are fighting for prior to 2000, na-mainstream na siya ng government. The typical social movement, once na-bureaucratize na siya, pag napasok na sa sistema, parang magfe-fail, magde-decline, magiging interest group na sila kasi embedded na sila sa sistema. Kaya lang, ang case ng COCAP, tuluy-tuloy pa rin. So ano naman ang sumunod na trend after COCAP in terms of mobilization? Para kasing doon sa last meeting, yung Green…

Tr Ah Greening? Urban greening…

JL And renewable energy?

Tr Yeah

JL In a way, ang mga ito na ba ang sunod ninyong inaasikaso?

Tr Yeah, mga program natin

JL Ang goal pa rin is ma-mainstream siya sa government?

Tr Yeah

JL Tapos noon, kaya magco-commit…

Tr That is why during mga forum or family matter or assembly, we invite people who are in the government para they can expect. Also for the people or the audience, so that they can interchange ideas and suggestions, kaya nga open forum, di ba? Just the right to voice out whatever ideas or suggestions or maybe criticize also kung hindi better way, not really pero nang-iinsulto pa. Kailangan in a kind way or word, di ba? They can express in a kind word but you are hurting the people, hindi naman. Kailangan you should be friendly, para everybody is happy, di ba? Yun lang, but I am very glad that the government, even the DOH, is for health. Marami akong experiences sa unsanitation, unhygienic, but we have approached them also for that reason. Like mga people who were transferred to Laguna, from Manila railroad. They were transferred to Laguna, Cabuyao and then the people there I used to lectured along the railroad, they were able to establish light and water. Tapos ilang months na walang water, they were getting the water from the pump, yung pinapump lang. Tapos when we went there, nagko-complain sila. They approached me and we went there with the EcoWaste group. Sabi nila “Ma‟am, yung tubig na „yan sa palanggana na „yan, puti yan pero mamaya-maya maitim na „yan. May kiti-kiti na „yan. Hindi namin nagagamit na pang-ligo. Makati sa katawan.” And then some of

47

them may diarrhea na, may fever na „yung little children. Wala silang hospital, meron lang silang clinic, midwife lang, walang doctor, walang nurse. Lahat „yan na-experience ko and what is worst, their residential homes were constructed beside the dumpsite. Then the leech na galing sa dumpsite pupunta sa water nila, eh di ba marumi? So we complained na. Sabi ko “Na-notify na kaya ang DENR tungkol dito? Dapat alam ito ng DENR na dapat yung residential homes nila, 9-10 kilometers away from the dumpsite. Eh iyan katabi lang nila ang dumpsite. I think that‟s not right.

JL Nakakabastos yun…

Tr Opo.

(A colleague calls Tr and signals her that they will leave. She passes on something to another colleague.)

JL Ok na po.

Tr Thank you.

JL Thank you rin po.

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Appendix E: Minutes of the COCAP Board Meeting

Environmental Studies Institute, Miriam College, Quezon City September 15, 2012

ATTENDANCE

Present:

Absent:

Time Started: 10: 15 AM

AGENDA

Agenda Item Discussion Action / Decision /

Proposal

1. Reading of Minutes

of the Previous

Meeting

Mrs. Pacheco read the minutes and discussed the main points of

the previous meeting. She explained that last meeting was used to

discuss urban greening.

Mr. Pineda moved

for the approval of

the minutes of the

meeting and was

seconded by Mr.

Ricarente.

2. Urban Greening A. Mr. Pineda proposed that land use should be promulgated as a

national law and that there should be a national framework on

urban development. He cited as an example, the case of Blue

Residence wherein the QC government reversed their own zoning

ordinance. If we focus on the local government, it would be difficult

to inject in their development plan - urban greening. We should

find a way to have a national framework on urban development.

We could sponsor a forum so that we can talk about proposing a

framework. That is the only way we could inject urban greening.

Having a national framework on how urban development should

proceed is essential to set limits for overdevelopment which is not

A. The mandate of

the ECC

emanates from the

National Law.

Therefore, the

body agreed to

start with a

roundtable

discussion with the

DENR to improve

the ECC such that

Name Positon Name Position

Juergen Lorenz, M.Sc., MBA Board Member Comm. Elsie B. De Veyra Treasurer

Melito M. Ricarente Director Esther M. Pacheco President

Rene D. Pineda, Jr. Director John Frederick A. Lauron Researcher

Name Positon Name Position

Ester Perez de Tagle Founding Chair Victoria Segovia Secretary

Ernesto Ellis, Jr. Vice President Gomer Gomez Director

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sustainable.

B. Mr. Ricarente pointed out that COCAP might not have the

leverage with experts because each expert has his/her own

personal interest. He suggested that COCAP will look for an

alternative and localize. He noted that local governments just

implement what deem to be good for them. Having the support of

local government might be an issue if the focus is having a

national framework. COCAP might want to continue to work with a

local government whose leader is considered to be „green‟ and is

willing to partner with the organization. Then make this local

government the model. This local government will be used as a

pressure to compel the observance of a green urban area. In the

same way as there is rating for green buildings and environmental

rating for energy for appliances which could be used as a pressure

to compel observance of a green urban area.

C. Mr. Pineda explained that COCAP may not have the capacity and

competence but may have the platform to do it by engaging the

experts. COCAP may want to sponsor a round table discussion

and the output of the discussion will be used for the drafting of a

national framework on urban development. He noted that COCAP

is good at networking and lobbying.

D. Mr. Lorenz pointed out that it is all about unbiased leadership

implement solutions to environmental problems. COCAP has to

establish this leadership and then multiply by developing think-

tanks to create the seed. And from that seed, the organization can

multiply. Framework is necessary. But framework, not to itself.

What he observes in most studies, frameworks mostly repeat

motherhood statements and are self serving but there are no clear

practical solutions or procedures for implementation.

Implementation is the key to multiplication. Solutions for low

carbon, for renewable energy, etc. are available. It is just all about

bringing the people together to really implement the paradigm

shift.

E. Mr. Pineda cited that there are parallel efforts already by several

organizations. One of which is the Ateneo School of Government

wherein they have an outstanding project with a funder called

„Mobility Project‟. It covers urban renewal. Sky Asia for example

has „Clean Cities Program‟. It involves advocacy on

pedestrianization, carless, low carbon, etc. But still, the aspiration

to inject into the effort to integrate good planning and urban

greening is not there. He clarified that his articulation was

anchored on how we can have urban greening injected in the

framework that one is mandated to green, to create the lungs for

the city. We need a group to discuss if there is still a space to plan.

F. Mr. Ricarente suggested that to get the ball rolling COCAP might

urban greening

would be included

in the

requirements for

developers before

they are allowed to

build.

B. Mrs. Pacheco is

the point person in

the organization of

the round table

discussion.

50

want to start with the ECC (Environmental Compliance Certificate).

The ECC might be the starting point to inject urban greening and

promote livability in cities. In the same way that there are

appliances considered to be green, it might also good if there are

projects or buildings labeled to be „green‟. For example, if Ayala

build something, the company ensures that there is green space.

So, COCAP might want to attack it through the market force

wherein not everyone is compelled to „green‟ but because of

market force, they will be pressured to implement it. He also asked

the body who is the point person for “Urban Greening”? And the

body confirmed that Mrs. Pacheco is the chairperson for urban

greening committee.

G. Mr. Pineda asked the body‟s definition of urban greening. What is

urban greening? Does it mean that for every measure of lot, a

certain portion should be allotted for trees or garden? He then

proposed that a round table discussion will be hosted and

organized by COCAP to discuss with experts who are COCAP‟s

allies and with the DENR. The result of the discussion will be used

as a working draft in improving the ECC.

3. Green

Convergence

A. Mr. Lorenz and Mr. Pineda attended the meeting with Green

Covergence. They relayed to the group that COCAP is asked to

give input on energy – renewable and nonrenewable.

B. The body also clarified that the participation of COCAP to Green

Covergence initiatives is due to the fact that its goals and priorities

are aligned with COCAP‟s, especially on sustainable development.

Through Green Coveregence, we are able to create alliances and

network with organizations of the same advocacy.

C. The Green Covergence serves as the platform so that all

environmental organizations will be able to synergize. For

example, when it comes to sustainable development, COCAP is

considered as the expert. Green Convergence as a wider

organization now relies on COCAP on how government wrongfully

drafts energy policy.

A. Mr. Lorenz and

Mr. Pineda are

point persons for

the renewable

energy and low

carbon.

B. Discussion points

on renewable

energy should be

ready by next

meeting (c/o Mr.

Pineda and Mr.

Lorenz).

POST MEETING ACTION ITEMS

Action Assigned To Deadline

1. Urban Greening – talking points

Mrs. Pacheco Next Meeting

2. Renewable Energy – talking points

Mr. Lorenz & Mr. Pineda Next Meeting