FEATURE | Juanas: Green Thumb Queens

Rosea Ezra C. Acapuclo
Mar 15, 2022
3 min read

It was said that the Philippines is a powerhouse of beauty pageants, and there is no way the world will blink its eyes when a Filipina is already walking on stage. However, real queens are not only be seen on long runways, modeling, wearing crowns, and showcasing shimmering gowns like what one often perceived. Sometimes, they are also be found in the muddiest corners of the forests, hiking through the mountains wearing boots instead of high heels. Just like typical queens, they hold a complete package of wit and beauty that enthroned them to advocate and hand positive environmental change.

Gina Lopez

The late Gina Lopez was the first queen who became prominent in the country as an environmental activist and philanthropist who died at the early age of 65. Her gender being a woman did not halt and frightened her to fight for right and just. She fearlessly battled illegal personnel abusing nature and spearheaded the cracking down of giant mining companies that cost her job as a secretary in the Department of Environment and Natural Resources office under President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.

Though she was already gone, her legacies remain alive in this nation. She served justice for indigenous groups living in the mountains and provided free green businesses that could support their living. She likewise combatted rampant deforestation and massive quarrying that can cause harmful damages in the ecosystem that might also trigger pollution. Lopez vanished illegal fish pens that can be considered a violation of environmental laws. Moreover, she also introduced G Diaries, a TV show promoting eco-tourism and adaptation of friendly ecological practices in the Philippines.

Loren Legarda

A female senator was the second queen who dedicated her service to advocating green development and promoting viable and unbiased usage of natural resources. An author of laws in the senate that focused on environmental actions that somehow mend and lessen the wrath of climate change. She was a woman of her words for firmly implementing various acts that engraved her name as one of the admirable environmental advocates in the Philippines.

Legarda was the woman behind the famous ordinances Clean Air Act, Climate Change Act, Solid Waste Management Act, and many others. Furthermore, she also extended her green campaign through short films and children's animation movies to effectively educate and inform people about the environment. "Ulan sa Tag-Araw: Isang Dokyu-drama Ukol sa Pagbabago ng Klima," "Philippine Marine Biodiversity," and "Buhos" were examples of a film that woke up sleeping senses of those nature stewards who were not yet vigilant from the darkest nightmares occurring in the natural surroundings.

Girl Scouts of the Philippines

Country's known organization for girls aspiring to impart change and dreaming of making the most of their fullest potential to become a productive member of the society. This group holds the most queens since it is a national Girl Scouting association for all the women in the Philippines to aid ladies in realizing their roles, responsibilities, and duties for the betterment of the whole nation and even outside the country.

They are often perceived as young girls in green, serving as role models to their fellow youth by fostering empathy to the environment, like organizing tree plantings that contribute to constant ecological change and preventing unexpected landslides and massive flash floods. Coastal clean-up drives were likewise practiced to preserve the beauty and richness of lakes, seas, and oceans, homes for thousands of aquatic species. They upheld environmental awareness not only for the benefit of the residents but also for all the inhabitants.