How Gina Lopez’s breezy and joyful ways encouraged others to do more for the environment

Ex-DENR Chair Gina Lopez passed away on Monday, leaving a trail of loving tributes and obituaries from people and organizations that the staunch environmentalist has helped and supported.

Her love for earth was undeniable. She helped clean up the Pasig River, rehabilitated numerous esteros in Manila, and in her short time at DENR, shut down 75 mining companies.

On his Facebook account, journalist Howie Severino pulled a 2017 I-Witness documentary where Gina accompanied his team to Estero de Paco. 

“Gina Lopez was one of the most interesting and newsworthy early appointees of President Duterte, both exasperating and entertaining many with her odd ways, but also giving countless others hope,” Severino began his caption that accompanied a YouTube link to the video documentary.

“In her breezy and unself-conscious manner, the scion of one of the country’s wealthiest families accompanied us to one of the city’s poorest communities, a jarring juxtaposition that helped explain why she had become a darling of the media,” Severino continues.

At the site visit, Gina candidly quizzed the caretakers of the estero, her breezy and unassuming manner disarming them to pledge more and do more for the environment.

Check out the episode below. Head out to the 15:55 time stamp for the bits on Gina:

— LA, GMA News