MANILA, Philippines—People light candles for many reasons—to celebrate, to mourn, to remember, to love, to inspire, to light the darkness.

In the case of hundreds of educators who gathered last week to light a special protective flame for the Pasig River, they lit a fire to signify support for the river and for the youth whose future will flow alongside its rescued waters.

More importantly, they lit a fire because they care for the river’s future.

When the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) and 400 owners and heads of universities and colleges from across Luzon launched “Taga-ilog,” in support of the Kapit Bisig para sa Ilog Pasig (KBPIP) river rehabilitation project last week, it was more than just the signing of a commitment. It was an action taken to support great change and concern for a natural treasure.

Aside from committing to include the Pasig River in their environmental, cultural-historical curriculum, all signatories agreed to implement solid waste management in their respective campuses, monitor and report incidents that pollute the river, and initiate and support all activities for the benefit of the river.

As part of the agreement, schools will include the Pasig River in their curriculum. Environmental science courses will touch on the importance of the river, its current state and possible solutions and how everyone can help revive it.

The aim of the Taga-ilog program is to revive the youth’s connection with the river so they will do their part to help clean it.

Areas of commitment

Aside from participating in the “Philippine International Marathon-A Run for the Pasig River” on Nov. 8 and in the “Piso para sa Pasig” project, there are many areas of commitment where students can get involved.

Those interested in preventative measures can help implement and launch advocacy campaigns for solid waste management programs in their school. Or they could help in the information, education and communication drives of Manila Water and Maynilad’s attempts to convince people to connect to the sewer lines.

Students looking for community development experience can help at “Bayanijuan sa Calauan,” the resettlement site of the KBPIP river rehabilitation project.

The 107-hectare property is managed by the ABS-CBN Foundation Inc. and the National Housing Authority. Already, some 300 families living beside the river have been relocated there and are building a new community.

Constructing and painting houses, planting trees, conducting children’s activities, livelihood training and developing health programs are only some of the areas that need assistance.

A shift in consciousness

Gina Lopez, managing director of the ABS-CBN Foundation, speaks passionately about the importance of Taga-ilog.

“From the onset, it was very clear to me that no matter how many zillions of pesos are spent on the river, unless there is a shift in consciousness, unless people begin to see the river as part of their life and not their toilet bowl or a garbage dump … unless we revive our connection with the river … that river is not going to stay clean. Involving the youth who saved La Mesa, [the youth] who hold the future, is a major strategic move,” she says.

“It’s like, if the people want it, government and businesses follow. If the youth are behind this, everything will be OK,” she adds.

CHEd Chair Emmanuel Angeles says the activities of KBPIP will be included in the credited community work of the National Service Training Program (NSTP), a curriculum mandated to instill civic consciousness among the youth.

“Part of their community work will be credited for [complying] with the NSTP law. We will design [a system] on how students, faculty and school administration can support the project,” Angeles says.

Problems and solutions

Last week’s launch began with a short presentation of the problems and possible solutions facing the Pasig River’s future, and the importance of creating a movement such as Taga-ilog.

Before the candle-lighting ceremony, a Taga-ilog manifesto was read aloud to the audience, outlining what students and universities have pledged to do.

There was also this reminder: Hundreds of years ago, our ancestors lived along the riverbanks and regarded the river as their life. The deep connection with the river, though estranged by time, still runs in our blood. Just as the islands of an archipelago are connected by the sea, water resonates within the country’s consciousness, identity, culture and history.

In the words of Larah Ortega, author of the Taga-ilog creed: “One drop of commitment will create ripples of change. Claiming our heritage and giving future generations the gift of limitless possibilities is the greatest reason for all of us to work together. In the future, we should not take our natural resources for granted; we should care for them.”

Get involved in Taga-ilog. Contact Larah Ortega at 415-2272 local 3747, 415-2227 or e-mail iamtagailog@gmail.com