EARLY this month, SanibLakas ng Taongbayan Foundation, a synergism-oriented non-government organization, came out with a poem titled, "Earth Synergy 2000: A Giant Leap for Humankind."   We offered this for individual contemplation, group discussion and chorused recitation for any and all who'd find it useful anywhere in the world, and we started seeking help for it to be translated into various languages.

     The poem begins by expressing what would hopefully be a collective sense of responsibility and humble regret, before the other citizens of the Earth, for the destruction that Humankind has wrought on the planet.  It moves on to articulate what would, also hopefully, be a collective sense of commitment to set things aright by Mother Earth. It called this "a giant leap for Humankind right back to the bosom of our home planet," a deliberate parody to the classic line spoken by the first astronaut to set foot on the moon three decades ago, but the leap this time is in the opposite direction. The poem ends with the word that evokes a firm sense of determination as well as a solemn sense of prayer-- "Amen."

     Shortly before that month ended, we received information that this coming Earth Day, April 22, 2000, would be falling on Black Saturday.  This means that the full week leading to Earth Day, envisioned to be -- like in the past -- a week-long festivity culminating on Earth Day, will actually coincide with Holy Week, a week of religious prayer, contemplation and general silence for the majority of Filipinos.
When we first received this information, it hit us as "bad news!"  How can we possibly convince a big number of Filipinos to celebrate Earth Day 2000 or anything at all on Holy Week?  On second thought, however, the "Celestine coincidence" or synchronicity of it all does not have to be bad news. In fact, it offers the challenge and opportunity for a profound festivity of deeper impact precisely because the process is to be blessed with a few days of solemnity.

     If we could lead the people to integrate their contrition on those days for sins committed the whole year with the collective sense of responsibility that we should all bear for environmental destruction we have all caused or allowed to happen, if we can make our compatriots contemplate the way we have been wasting, nay destroying, God's gifts in Nature, harming, nay killing, flora and fauna who are after all among "the least of (His) breathren," we may yet have the best environment campaign ever in this predominantly Catholic country. This can build within all of us the sense of the Good Samaritan in Christ's parable, instead of our present practice of looking the other way and going on undisturbed while not only our neighbor but our own Mother Earth lies bleeding on the roadside from the treacherous attack by robbers.

     This can naturally and logically move on to the glory of the Resurrection come Easter Sunday, April 23.   When Easter dawns in the Philippines, it would still be Saturday, Earth Day, in almost all other countries of the world.  That would be a very good time for Filipinos to manifest and celebrate a strong collective sense of commitment to bring forth a synergy of efforts for Life to conquer Death, for environment conservation and restoration to stop the mindless murder of our planet. And we can have our week-long celebration on Easter Week, with something really profound and substantial to celebrate: earth synergy to "rescue and heal, exalt and conserve our Mother Earth." Is this not consistent with the teachings of Christ Himself who preached human unity for the Glory of God?

     New calendars would soon be flooding our homes, offices, schools and shops, and they will tend to bring "bad news" to all organizations and entities making plans for the commemoration of Earth Day 2000.  We offer this framework in response to the challenge.  And we firmly believe that we can make this a very happy news. Come to think of it, it's all there in the Earth Synergy poem-prayer.  (Poem text)

Makati City,  October 29, 1999

(Sgd.) Ed Aurelio C. Reyes
Founder and President
SanibLakas ng Taongbayan Foundation
6173-C Gabaldon st., Makati,
1210 Philippines