THE PHILIPPINES, SEPTEMBER 7, 2012 – A tribute to Oscar M. Lopez, clan patriarch and chairman emeritus of the Lopez Group, was given a tribute for his life-long environmental advocacies by the First Philippines Holdings Corporation (FPH) and its associated companies, First Gen Corporation (First Gen) and Energy Development Corporation (EDC).
The event also marked the formal launch of three ground-breaking books on biodiversity conservation, providing a fitting highlight for the tribute to a man who is known for his love of nature and environmental advocacies.
EDC’s Rafflesia of the Philippines presents the latest taxonomic information on the ten Philippine species of Rafflesia, the largest single flower in the world. First Gen’s Generations, shows photographs of majestic mountains, natural rivers, streams, volcanoes, as well as the flora and fauna living in various power plant sites of First Gen across the country.
The book Philippine Native Trees 101 is a guidebook replete with photos and descriptions of native Philippine trees. The book, which is supported by EDC, aims to educate Filipinos about native trees and the benefits they provide. In it, environmentalists, landscape artists, students and other tree aficionados write about their encounters and experiences with native treasures like kamagong, bagtikan, batino, marang and mabolo.
During the tribute for Lopez, his son and current FPH chairman Federico Lopez described his father’s love for nature as "infectious," and that it has become "our own mission to inspire current and future generations of leaders at our companies and the communities we touch and to feel the same passion he has — and now we have — for nature and the environment."
This passion for the environment naturally overflows to the companies Lopez handles. For ABS-CBN, this can be done through the TV shows and current affairs. “We see our content as the most potent means of advocating the protection and preservation of our environment,” Cookie Bartolome, head of marketing at ABS-CBN, said. “News programming such as Matanglawin features interesting trivia and knowledge about the environment with a special focus on wildlife and strives to impart the importance of being stewards for the environment.
“It recognizes its crucial role in influencing the Filipino youth to become better stewards of the environment through milestone episodes such as Pasig River Earth Day Special, Global Warming and Palawan Earth Day Special,” she said.
But it doesn’t stop with the programs. The company adheres to green practices the company such as switching to LED lighting, waste water recycling for toilets and gardening, bins for disposal of used batteries, chargers and keyboards, she added.
