Sinag Eco-Center brings light of hope to people's lives

MANILA, Philippines - A patch of land that once served as a jeepney terminal and a dumpsite behind UP campus is now a showcase of how people, through sheer will power and cooperation, can create paradise out of wasteland.  The Sinag Eco-Center at the corner of Ventura St. and Katipunan Ave. was recently inaugurated, attended and blessed by Ateneo de Manila University president Fr. Jose Ramon T. Villarin, SJ.  The inauguration was led by Cravings Group founder and president Susana “Annie” Pascual-Guerrero.

The SINAG Eco-Center was built through the support and determination of Annie and the co-founder of SINAG (Simulan Nating Gumawa) Foundation, Floy Aguenza.  Besides the building where the livelihood activities of Super Manangs and the Pansol Recycler’s Club Livelihood Projects (another initiative of Annie) members are held, a bright patch of green provides color to the place (the property is part of the MWSS compound).  There are vegetable plots that employ organic farming techniques, a composting site, reusable and recyclable materials area, and even a small apiary or bee farm that is slowly gaining visitors.

Annie recalled how she and the organizers of Sinag surpassed various obstacles as they moved to build the place. “It was an uphill battle for us, because some people do not care or choose to ignore what we are doing,” she said. “Still, we need to continue educating them, that acts that are good for our environment will translate to long-term benefits for us.” On her part, she helps the Eco-Center become sustainable by buying vegetables from the garden, which are used in the kitchens of her chain of restaurants, and handicrafts that were ordered by Cravings and its affiliates.  Women also make money for themselves and the center by creating accessories and decorations such as bags, bracelets, night lamps and other items made from reusable old materials such as paper, bottles, plastic and drinking bottles.

Lettuce grown from the plots

Slowly, Annie has turned a number of skeptics into believers through her Super Manangs, who now consider themselves productive members of society because they finally embraced her Go Green advocacy.  Melissa Ocate, a 39-year-old mother from Brgy. Pansol, earns additional income for her family by making paper crafts for three years now, and she is proud to say that aside from the environmental and financial benefits, she gets to bond with her children through her work. 

“Before, I would spend my afternoon watching television or doing nothing.  Now, I even get them to help me finish my crafts and they enjoy doing it with me,” she said.

For 29-year-old single parent Mary Anne Gallo, the trainings she got from the Super Manangs Livelihood Projects helped her move on to a new phase in her life after separating with her husband.  “At first, I have to admit that I was a bit skeptical.  I did not see good reason why we had to do this.  When I finally understood, I got involved very often,” she confessed.  Now, she tries to convince people like her to take the chance not only in getting an income from the activities, but also to instill a caring attitude from the environment.

Even FEU Psychology student and volunteer teacher Zerah Capili gets encouraged with what she has been doing for Sinag Eco Center.  “It’s much fun teaching the kids from the public schools because they are more interested and attentive, since it’s their first time to hear concepts like the 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle),” she elaborated.  She teaches them to make pendants out of bottle caps and encourages them to practice what they learn at home. She is also a young environmental entrepreneur, selling trinkets and accessories made from old materials such as wallets from old comic books and newspaper strips.

Urea from the urinal is used for fertilizer.

The Sinag Eco-Center is the latest among the other eco-centers initiated by Annie.  She is happy that some of the skeptics now see the positive side of this endeavor.  Annie is assisted by her colleagues at the Zero Waste Philippines who share their expertise as resource persons in solid waste management training at the center.

 “Before, some coconut vendors just dump the husks and shells in front of the garden as they don’t see the need for the waste to bring home.  We were just too happy to get it from them!  These coconut husks make good material for composting.  Then later on, the vendors put them in sacks and give it to our gardeners.  Even the tricycle drivers get fascinated with the growth happening in just two months.  Instead of urinating anywhere, the drivers use the urinal we installed, and the urine provides natural fertilizer for the plants,” she narrated.  

All it takes is to just follow the law (Republic Act 9003): The Ecological and Solid Waste Management Act of 2000. It has been 11 years since this law was passed, yet despite the simplicity and clarity of its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR), it still is waiting and wanting serious enforcement. “But if the law won’t pursue us, nature eventually will, and the penalty it will exact is more than what any man-made law can ever impose. I will continue pursuing this advocacy so more people can become eco-warrior,” said this passionate champion of the environment.

For more information and training, contact the Culinary Education Foundation at 426-4840 to 41 local 203. Or SMS and send e-mail to the following: rachelflorentino@ymail.com (0949-8209133), iriscapitulo@yahoo.com(0927-7333582), or cefmanila@yahoo.com.ph. 

Finished products from the Pansol Recyclers Club livelihood project