Faith in Action

During the orientation in the National Museum of Natural History, the tour guide introduced us to the cloud rats in the Philippines and that they are endemic species exclusive to the Philippines only. She talked about what makes them stand out from regular rats and why they are considered unique. Additionally, she also mentioned this species is now endangered and emphasized the need to protect them. And after seeing the cloud rat display, I was able to witness it in real time. The display portrayed their coats as thick, colorful, and soft, and I remember the tour guide mentioning their calm and gentle nature. Therefore, I aim to direct my focus on the preservation of endemic species and the promotion of Philippine biodiversity. We all live on Earth, and it’s no secret that everything is interconnected. This means that the issue of conservation failure and environmental neglect not only affects the endangered endemic species, but us as well. Nature is a domino effect. Cloud rats consume tough vegetation and play a crucial role in regenerating our forests. If they go extinct, the natural reseeding of the Sierra Madre and other mountain ranges will slow down and directly compromise the stability of watersheds that supply clean freshwater to lowland Filipino communities. In the context of other endemic species, endemic insect-eating species act as natural pest control agents. Without them, agricultural pests will thrive, forcing farmers to rely on toxic pesticides that could potentially degrade the soil and contaminate local food systems.

Now, for the question: Why are so many endemic species endangered? This is because of the lack of safe sanctuaries and proper care, and this is because of deforestation and hunting. There’s a high rate of deforestation and hunting because of the need to urbanize everything and the lack of laws that prohibit hunting.

Luke 4:16-21 is connected to the care for biodiversity because it declares the year of the Lord’s favor or the Jubilee year. The Jubilee year is involved in protecting habitats from over-exploitation. It connects to nature through land restoration and resource management. Multiple Church Teachings call us to protect biodiversity, but the specific ones I’ll be focusing on are Magnifica Humanitas by Pope Leo XIV and Laudato Si by Pope Francis. Although Magnifica Humanitas focuses on artificial intelligence, we can extract teachings there that can be connected to preserving the environment and biodiversity. The fifth severe warning of Magnifica Humanitas can be connected to this issue because it concerns creation itself. A quote in the encyclical says, “The pursuit of technological advancement can therefore collide with humanity’s responsibility to care for the natural world.” Because we want to modernize everything, humans tend to increase the rate of deforestation. As a result, this gravely harms the cloud rats and other endemic species in the Philippines. Our pursuit of urbanization directly collides with the task we were given: to protect the environment. Laudato Si also addresses biodiversity loss, asserting that every species has a unique value in itself, meaning humans have no right to cause the permanent extinction of thousands of endemic and exotic species through selfish human activity. Environmental destruction and biodiversity collapse also harm poor and marginalized communities who depend directly on local ecosystems for survival.

After reflecting and connecting this issue in a theological lens, I further learned the importance of biodiversity protection and how we must do what we can to safeguard endemic species at risk by reducing the rate of deforestation and promoting the need for biodiversity. In the short-term, a direct and fast approach to solving this problem would be to plant more trees indigenous to the species in that ecosystem and to call on others to do the same. For the long-term, I will propose a solution to my barangay which is an alternative solution instead of cutting down trees. In my barangay, tree roots are often cut down due to the cracks they form on concrete roads and sidewalks. In response to this, an alternative would be to remove the damaged concrete instead the damaged concrete, and replace it with flexible and permeable rubber paving or gravel grids around the base of the tree, which will allow the roots to absorb rainwater and expand without disrupting the pavement, and shows that it does not need to be cut down. Another main reason for deforestation is due to the fact that the tree itself is dead or dying; however, cutting this down would be a mistake because an endemic species called the Philippine Pygmy Woodpecker, seen in all parts of the Philippines, is heavily dependent on the branches of these dead trees as a means of carving out safe nesting cavities for shelter and food. To cut down these dead trees also entails that the Philippine Pygmy Woodpecker would have a harder time foraging and does not promote biodiversity protection. Therefore, my proposal includes the cease of cutting down dead trees and instead transporting all the dead trees in one part of the community for the endemic bird. Lastly, I urge my community to replace non-native garden flowers with Philippine native flowering plants such as the melendres, salingbobog, and tayabak, because these plants have the exact nectar and pollen that local insects need to feed. These solutions show how deforestation not only affects trees, but the animals that rely on these trees to live. I will also urge the government to create stricter laws that prohibit hunting, with more severe punishments towards those who hunt animals for their own gain.

My advocacy is to protect Philippine biodiversity by reducing the rate of deforestation and creating programs that create a safer environment for endemic species at risk. My action plan aligns with SDGs 11, 13, and 15. SDG No. 11, “Sustainable Cities and Communities”, focuses on inclusive and sustainable urban planning and management. My plan to replace concrete with rubber paving or gravel grids that surround the base of the tree contributes to this because it provides a more sustainable substitute instead of felling. This also directly aligns with SDG No.13, “Climate Action”, because it prevents deforestation and therefore helps protect life on land, which aligns with SDG No. 15. This also aligns with the Theresian markings of being critically aware of the environment, and the creative response to the cry for justice and fullness of life, because the rubber pavings and transfer of dead trees to secluded areas contribute to protecting the Philippine Pygmy Woodpecker. This also aligns with the vision and mission of STCQC, specifically the deep passion and integrity of oneness with creation, because through this action plan, we are protecting our country’s biodiversity and preserving the environment.

Through this immersion and throughout the journey, I was able to realize and develop a deeper sense of mission as a Theresian and as a student leader. I am grateful for this opportunity to recognize a deep issue in our country and create a structured action plan aligned with Jesus’ teachings through the Pastoral Cycle. I learned that true leadership is done through honest service driven by a deep compassion for others. As a Theresian and as a human being, it is therefore my responsibility given to me by God to continue advocating not only for the environment, but also for its inhabitants.