LUCENA CITY, QUEZON — Sacred Heart College of Lucena City, Inc. (SHC) welcomed the delegation of Lakbay Panaghoy II – Kalikasan, Kapayapaan, Katarungan (Journey of Lament II – Environment, Peace, Justice), expressing solidarity with the group's call for environmental protection, social justice, and the defense of marginalized communities.

The visit formed part of the delegation's week-long march from Atimonan, Quezon, to Manila, bringing together clergy, environmental advocates, and community members to raise concerns about environmental destruction and its impact on vulnerable sectors. The march began on October 5, 2026, and was scheduled to continue beyond October 12. The initiative reflects continuing environmental advocacy in Quezon Province, where communities and Church leaders have raised concerns about mining, energy projects, climate change, and the protection of local livelihoods.

𝗔 𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗥𝗼𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆

During the gathering at Sacred Heart College, Sir Jun Cruzat warmly welcomed the delegation and expressed the institution’s solidarity with its advocacy.
“We are happy and one with the delegation of Lakbay Panaghoy in their walk,” Cruzat said, affirming the school’s support for the group’s journey. He also announced that a member of the SHC community, Mr. Jessie Magdalera, would join the delegation on its walk toward Sariaya, Quezon.
The gesture underscored the importance of translating concern into concrete expressions of solidarity with communities seeking to be heard.

“𝙆𝙖𝙥𝙖𝙜 𝙉𝙖𝙜𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙞𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙜 𝙆𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙖𝙨𝙖𝙣, 𝙉𝙖𝙜𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙞𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙜𝙖 𝘿𝙪𝙠𝙝𝙖”

Rev. Fr. Warren Puno, one of the leading voices of environmental advocacy, thanked Sacred Heart College for welcoming the group and providing a venue for dialogue on environmental and social concerns.
“Salamat kay Sacred Heart,” he expressed, acknowledging the school’s willingness to engage with issues affecting communities and the environment.

Fr. Warren emphasized that environmental destruction is not merely an ecological concern but also a social justice issue. When the environment suffers, he explained, the poor and marginalized often bear the heaviest consequences.
He raised concerns about mining and energy projects, including questions surrounding the conversion and classification of agricultural land for solar farm development. He called for responsible action, compliance with applicable laws, and proper scrutiny of development projects to help ensure that economic activities do not come at the expense of communities and the environment.

The walk, he explained, seeks to make these concerns heard. Through their physical journey, the participants hope to draw public attention to the experiences of affected communities and encourage meaningful responses from institutions and decision-makers.

Fr. Warren also reflected on the responsibility owed to future generations. He explained that the present generation has enjoyed the beauty and benefits of nature, yet it must ensure that those who will be born in the future can experience and benefit from the same natural heritage.
For him, the journey is sustained not simply by physical endurance but by a deeper sense of purpose and compassion for others.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗪𝗮𝗹𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗱

Fr. Warren highlighted the Church’s responsibility to stand alongside people whose livelihoods, homes, and communities are threatened by environmental degradation and other injustices
He stressed that accompanying the marginalized is not an extraordinary undertaking for priests but an essential part of their vocation. He expressed the conviction that Jesus Christ would likewise walk with those who suffer and struggle for justice.
“It’s not Fr. Warren, but the Church,” he emphasized, pointing beyond individual participation to the collective mission of the Church in serving the people, particularly those whose voices are often unheard.
Fr. Joven, one of the priest-participants, likewise underscored the unequal burden borne by vulnerable communities, noting that farmers make significant sacrifices to sustain their livelihoods, while families repeatedly affected by flooding endure their own hardships.
Their reflections highlighted the human consequences of environmental problems and the importance of listening directly to the communities affected by them.

𝗔 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗗𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘂𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆

A participant from Sariaya, Quezon, expressed gratitude to everyone who had supported the community’s concerns and joined the continuing effort to seek solutions.
A representative of an ecology center also emphasized that environmental advocacy is not necessarily opposition to government. Rather, the group seeks a balance among the different sectors of society, with the welfare of communities and the protection of the environment taken into account in development decisions.

The representative stressed the importance of institutional partners such as SHC in sustaining conversations, strengthening public awareness, and supporting efforts toward ecological protection and social justice.
The gathering provided an opportunity for the College community to hear firsthand accounts of the concerns being raised by environmental advocates and affected communities. It also highlighted the role of educational institutions in providing spaces where pressing social issues can be discussed openly and responsibly.

𝗦𝗮𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗵

Fr. Warren expressed his gratitude to Sacred Heart College for opening its doors to conversations about social justice and environmental concerns. He emphasized that creating opportunities for such dialogue is consistent with the mission of the Catholic Church.
For Sacred Heart College, welcoming the Lakbay Panaghoy delegation offered an opportunity to put its Catholic educational identity into practice by engaging with the realities faced by vulnerable communities.
The encounter also reinforced the understanding that education extends beyond the classroom. Catholic educational institutions can contribute to the common good by nurturing social awareness, encouraging responsible citizenship, and helping students and members of the school community understand the relationship between environmental sustainability, human dignity, and justice.
As a Vincentian educational institution, Sacred Heart College recognizes the importance of listening to people at the margins and responding to their needs with compassion and a commitment to the common good.

𝗔 𝗝𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗟𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁, 𝗙𝗮𝗶𝘁𝗵, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗛𝗼𝗽𝗲

The Lakbay Panaghoy delegation’s journey is a reminder that environmental protection and social justice are deeply interconnected. The concerns raised by the participants call for continued dialogue, responsible development, and meaningful attention to the experiences of communities affected by environmental challenges.
The gathering at SHC concluded with a shared recognition of the importance of solidarity and collective responsibility. The school’s welcome and the commitment of an SHC representative to join the walk with them expressed a willingness to accompany the delegation, even in a modest but meaningful way.
The journey also carried a spiritual resonance for the SHC community. The participants’ stated intention to proceed toward Our Lady of the Abandoned in Muntinlupa recalled the Marian devotion also cherished by the faithful. This connection offered a meaningful reminder of the Church’s call to accompany those who have been abandoned, neglected, or pushed to the margins of society.
Ultimately, Lakbay Panaghoy II calls communities and institutions to listen to the cries of the environment and the people who depend on it. For Sacred Heart College, the encounter affirmed that faith must find expression in compassion, solidarity, and a continuing commitment to the dignity of every person and the care of our common home.

✒️📸 | Nanad
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