Earth Day, with the theme “Invest in Our Planet,” was aptly celebrated in Pandan, Antique, on April 22, 2022 through the UP Antique Extension Campus.
A series of activities were organized which was started by a coastal clean-up at Brgy. Baybay followed by a vegetable and fruit tree planting at Pandan Central School. These events were participated by UP alumni in Pandan, Local Government Unit officials and staff, residents, representatives from UP Visayas and various sectors and organizations in the province.
A forum was held at 9:00 am with messages from Dr. Generosa C. Condez - District Supervisor, DepEd Pandan District, and Hon. Plaridel Sanchez VI, Pandan Municipal Mayor. Chancellor Camposano emphasized that, “Earth Day is an opportunity for us to reflect on the environmental crisis we are now facing, and on the role that we all can play in addressing it. Earth Day is also a call to citizenship, for all of us to find the resolve and forge the collective will to act on the complex issues that threaten our very existence.” He also reminded us that, “to guarantee a healthy future for ourselves and those who will come after us, we need to transcend our narrow interests and confined views to make collaboration a defining feature of public life.”
A keynote Lecture on "Pagpabaskug kang Komunidad sa Pag-amlig kang Dunang Manggad" (Strengthening communities and caring for the natural environment) was given by Dr. Rebecca T. Barrios - Climate Reality Leader. "Tandaan, ang mga ginpanubli sa aton, may obligasyon kita nga amligan kag protektahan. Kaibahan karan ang mga dunang manggad nga ginapakigbatuan it mga nauna nga henersayon, para kita nga masunod kag ang masunod pa guid nga mga urihing tubo hay makatiraw sa hamungaya nga grasya it aton kalibutan. May ginapatihan, sa pagsamad it mga panublion, may gaba nga paraabuton. Kabay, di run naton pag hulaton. Ano ang aton ipanubli para sa urihing tubo? Gaba o grasya it dunang manggad?"
A Film Showing on Child-Centered Disaster Risk Reduction by the UP Visayas Community Outreach Program – BIDANI was also conducted which was followed by an open forum. The event was capped by a remarks from Prof. Josephine T. Firmase - Coordinator, CAS COP-BIDANI.
These activities were organized in partnership with PHILINCON, DepEd Pandan District, Naval Reservists - Pandan, LGU Pandan, Cultural Mapping of Antique (CMA), UP Pandananon, Asian Friendship Society (AFS), Tourism Studies on Island Based Opportunities for Growth (TSIBOG) and the UPV College of Arts and Sciences’ Center for West Visayan Studies, Language Program and COP-BIDANI. The focal persons for these activities were Mr. Sashah Dioso (CWVS), Prof. Josephine Firmase (COP-BIDANI), and Prof. Jessie Labiste (LP).
