10 Ways Environmental and Child Welfare Advocate Gina Lopez Changed the Philippines Forever

Aug 21, 2025

On August 19, 2019, the Philippines lost one of its fiercest advocates for children and the environment: Gina Lopez. She was an environmentalist, a media innovator, a fearless public servant, and a mother-figure to countless Filipino children. Her story is one of courage, compassion, and lasting impact—a legacy and triumphant story for bequeathing to the next generation of Filipino Americans.

1) She created Bantay Bata 163 and touched the lives of over 140,000 children and families

In 1997, Gina founded Bantay Bata 163, a hotline that became the first of its kind in the Philippines, offering rescue, counseling, shelter, and medical care to children in crisis. By 2016, the program had served more than 140,000 children and their families through its integrated services.

2) She brought education to millions of students through television

Gina believed every child deserved access to quality education. She produced beloved educational shows like Sineskwela, Math Tinik, Bayani, Hiraya Manawari, and Epol/Apple, reaching over 10,000 public schools. In 1998, she became the first Southeast Asian recipient of the UNESCO Kalinga Prize in recognition of her science communication work.

3) She restored La Mesa Watershed and created Ecopark for all to enjoy

As chair of Bantay Kalikasan, Gina spearheaded the reforestation of the La Mesa Watershed—Metro Manila’s last major forest—and developed La Mesa Ecopark, turning it into a public space filled with greenery and fresh air.

4) She challenged the world to build an economy based on compassion

Gina took her advocacy to the global stage with her TED Talk, “What if we built an economy based on the heart?”, inviting the audience to imagine a world where empathy and sustainability matter more than profit.

5) She led a major revival of the Pasig River

As head of the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission, Gina launched Kapit Bisig Para sa Ilog Pasig, a public campaign that cleaned up the river and its tributaries, supported relocated communities, and reconnected citizens with their neglected waterways.

6) As Environment Secretary, she stood firm against destructive mining

Appointed DENR Secretary in 2016, Gina conducted nationwide audits, closed 23 destructive mines, canceled 75 mining contracts, and issued a ban on new open-pit mines—actions that stirred debate but elevated environmental accountability.

7) She defended small fisherfolk by dismantling illegal fish pens in Laguna de Bay

Gina took bold action to remove large fish pens in Laguna de Bay, restoring access and livelihoods to marginalized fisherfolk and helping rehabilitate one of the country’s largest lakes.

8) She rallied 10 million signatures to protect Palawan

Gina co-led the Save Palawan Movement, raising 10 million signatures to oppose destructive mining in the ecologically rich province—one of the most successful grassroots campaigns in Philippine environmental history.

9) She launched G Diaries to showcase community-driven change

After her government role, Gina created G Diaries, a documentary series highlighting eco-tourism, conservation, and livelihood projects across the archipelago—connecting grassroots efforts with partners and inspiring hope across the nation.

10) Her work continues to resonate through global recognition and lasting programs

Gina’s life was honored with the 2017 Seacology Prize for her environmental advocacy. Her legacy lives on through ongoing initiatives—Bantay Bata 163, Bantay Kalikasan, G Diaries, and others—carried forward by the ABS-CBN Foundation and the communities she championed.

For Filipino Americans, Gina Lopez’s life is more than just a list of accomplishments in the Philippines. Her story is a reminder of the values many of us were raised with—kapwa, malasakit, and bayanihan—brought to life on the national stage. She showed that leadership can be bold without being harsh, and visionary while still rooted in compassion.

Gina dared to fight powerful industries, push back against systems that harmed the poor, and champion voices that were often ignored. Yet she did all of it with love at the center. She proved that one woman, armed with conviction and care, could rally millions to protect children, clean rivers, replant forests, and reimagine what the Philippines could become.

For Filipino Americans who sometimes feel distant from the homeland, Gina’s legacy is an invitation back into the story of the Philippines. It is a call to remember that our contributions—whether through advocacy, volunteering, or giving—can ripple just as far. Her life reminds us that being Filipino is not just an identity, but a responsibility to care for people, culture, and the Earth itself.

Join us this month of August.

Each August 19, we remember Gina on the anniversary of her passing with our Day of Giving. It is a moment to contribute to the causes she championed: education, conservation, and child welfare.

Donate today at abs-cbncares.org to honor her memory and help keep her vision alive.

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