Below is a comic story with Danajon Reef, a double barrier reef in Bohol, the tenth largest island within the Philippines. Over the years, the province has faced countless complaints regarding fishing and cyanide fishing.
Although the practice is traditional and subsequently culturally significant, it is usually extremely destructive to coral reefs. He kills many fish because fishermen only take the fish they need, and leave the remaining to die. Practice is especially harmful, because Danajon’s double barrier reef is a really rare form of reef, the one of its kind within the Philippines and one among the one six on this planet.
As an answer to raging illegal fishing on this area, the federal government of Bien Unido, the commune of Bohol, built a 4-meter statue of the Virgin Mary, called “Mother of God Danajon” in coral waters. Near the statue of the mother is the statue of Santo Niño (“Holy Child”), through which Jesus comprises a baby.
The statues of Mary and Jesus were installed on September 8, 2010 and October 18, 2010, 60 feet below the ocean surface after they were blessed by priests.
Our Lady of Danajon caused a major reduction in illegal fishing indicators, since the local Rybaków didn’t need to hurt the image of the Virgin Mary. The statue also provides a sanctuary for fish and has turn into a well-liked place for Catholic divers.
On September 8, 2012 – the Nativity of the Virgin Mary within the Catholic Liturgical Calendar – over 100 divers even joined the primary underwater pilgrimage owned by the Bien Unido commune to make a virgin respect and pray together at the ocean.
Catholicism and Earth
What can we learn from the history of Our Lady of Danajon? It’s easy: Catholicism is a fantastic force in environmental protection.
The pioneering moment for Catholics in environmental protection was the International Conference in 1986 WWF (World Wildlife Fund) to commemorate the twenty fifth anniversary. It takes place in Assisi in Italy, the birthplace of St. Francis – the patron of ecology, known for his deep love for animals and nature – the event was distributed by the notice that religion and protection efforts can actually go together.
Catholicism puts great emphasis on the newborn of all creatures. He teaches that the world is a typical home for all living things and that environmental protection is a noble Christian duty to turn into a “land manager”.
This teaching was further emphasized by the deceased Pope Francis in his encyclical, Laudato yesof May 24, 2015, published on Latin, encyclical laments environmental degradation and calls everyone to higher take care of nature. The encyclical proposed “ecological penance”, paving the technique to “green” Catholic theology during environmental crises.
Filipino bishops: primary lawyers
In the Philippines, where over 80% of the population identifies as Roman Catholic, Vatican, religious officials and non -governmental organizations (NGOs) are obligatory forces within the environment of the environment. In this case, religious officials normally confer with bishops who’re actively in favor of more severe environmental protection regulations.
In 1988, Filipino bishops interrogated through the pastry letter “What is going on to our beautiful land?”. The letter stated that individuals had the duty of “creating creation” based on reading the Book of Genesis within the Old Testament, through which people were “created on the image of God” and ordered “to fill the earth and tame it.”
This pastry letter became the idea for environmental support for Filipino bishops, especially within the direction of such problems as mining and extinguishing. For example, in 1998, Filipino bishops repealed the mining law of 1995, stating that mining efforts on this country were contrary to Christian values, because they not only damaged the environment, but additionally threatened the lives of people that lived near mining places.
A more contemporary example took place in 2020, when the Filipino bishops opposed the development of the Kilawa dam, which was to be built inside the mountain range of Sierra Madre. The alliance of bishops reportedly stated that the dam can be satisfied with large firms and foreign investors, and called corporations to pay more attention to ecological CSR policy (social responsibility).
Through pastoral letters, bishops also can communicate with local municipalities and groups to create environmental campaigns. Coordination takes place mainly via CBCP (Catholic Bishops’ Conference within the Philippines), which is able to normally gather as a plenary assembly twice a yr.
In addition to spokes, many churches or parish also took part in additional specific efforts, equivalent to the usage of solar energy. The diocese of Maasin in Leyte installed solar panels in over 40 parishes, which makes it the primary diocese within the church that adopted renewable energy. These efforts brought the diocese a grateful paragraph from Vatican officials in a document published to commemorate the fifth anniversary Laudato yes.
Faith -based organizations: Cooperation within the common future
As shown within the stories of Danajon, non -governmental organizations, FBOS (faith -based organizations) and members of civil society (students, scientists, etc.) also put a number of effort into environmental protection. These communities are mainly inspired by Pope Francis Laudato yes In coping with problems brought on by climate change and environmental degradation.
The division of that is the Laudato SI movement. Founded within the Philippines, when Pope Francis arrived in Manila in 2015 Papal conclave 2025. Movement is now known everywhere in the world, combining over 900 Catholic FBO and over 10,000 environmental experts.
At the national level, Catholic groups often call for illegally obtaining wood, desertion, extraction and conversion of forests to agricultural areas which can be to be stopped. For example, within the aforementioned Sierra Madre Mountain Range case, quite a few Catholic groups emphasized the urgency of a 540 kilometers mountain range, which serves as a natural shield against typhoon.
Working with the Congregation of Bishops who criticized the development of the Kilwa Dam, these Catholic groups also opposed the plan, because this is applicable to over 1,500 households, including native inhabitants.
Another example is Macec (Marindque Council for Environmental Caress), established by the Diocese of Boac as a part of cooperation with CBCP. The community, based in Marindque, the island within the south of Metro Manila, focuses on burning allegations against mining firms and supporting fishermen, whose maintenance is threatened to extend mine waste dumps in rivers by mining corporations.
The unique aspect of those communities is that in addition they deal with evangelical missions. For example, Macec can be working on spreading the Gospel to rural chapters, while in favor of environmental protection.
Study Jeane C. Peracullo and Rosa Bella M. QuindozBoth researchers from Manila say that FBO operates in harmony with Philippine cultural values, mainly cooperation (Work), belief (Faith) i APPLICATION (solidarity). Through the approaches and efforts oriented to Catholic man, FBO not only protects the environment, but additionally constitute a positive impact on a society based on local Philippine wisdom and Christian teachings.
Drawn conclusions
The Philippines showed us a precious lesson: that religion and protection can actually go hand in hand. Thanks to the mixing of spiritual values, communities can protect the environment, open the chances of eco-touristics and appeal to residents.
Ultimately, environmental issues aren’t only the duties of the federal government and enormous corporations. An individual focused on man is obligatory, so solutions may be satisfied based on what people want and wish.
Reference
- Peracullo, Jeane C. and Rosa Bella M. Quindoz. “Environmental activism of the Filipino Catholic community: again imagining ecological take care of flowering everyone.” Religion 13, no. 56 (2022). https://doi.org/10.3390/rel13010056.
- Catholic diocese in Hong Kong. “Filipino Catholic groups call for the preservation of Sierra Madre.” Sunday examiner. Posted on October 7, 2022. Access on July 21, 2025 https://www.examiner.org.hk/2022/10/07/filipino-catholic-groups-for-Preserving-sierra-madre/news/.
- Bohol Philippines Travel Guide. “Diving place bien unido double reef barrier- underwater grotto sanctuary”. Bohol of the Philippines. Access July 21, 2025 https://www.bohol-philippines.com/underwater-grotto-shrine.html.
