Revisiting Malate Catholic School's Laudato Si Journey

Written by Brent Mitchel R. Calado
Layout by Seidy Anne Summer S. De Guzman
Posted on September 30, 2021 | 6:20 PM

“Laudato Si,” a phrase that most Catholics are familiar with. Written by the head of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis, this encyclical urges people from all over the world to respond to God’s call of caring for His creation. Since it was published in 2015, our school has taught and practiced its students and teachers to adopt and exercise the teachings covered by Laudato Si. After all, Malate Catholic School, for more than a century, has continued its mission of developing students to be religiously engaged. Hence, as we end this Season of Creation, we look back at our school’s Laudato Si Journey. Additionally, we have interviewed Ms. Consolacion Nadonga, one of MCS’s accomplished Christian Living teachers, to impart a more extensive view on the topic.

Laudato Si is Pope Francis' environmental encyclical, with the subtitle On Care for Our Common Home. The Pope issued this letter in May 2015, appealing to all to immerse in dialogue and take sincere and consistent actions to care for our common home due to the increase in environmental problems such as global warming and the deterioration of our ecosystems. When translated, the title means "Praise be to you," which is a reference to a religious song by St. Francis of Assisi that praises God for all of His creation, entitled The Canticle of the Creatures. According to Ms. Nadonga, the song reminds us that the earth, our shared home, “is like a sister with whom we share our life and a beautiful mother who opens her arms to embrace us.” It is a global wake-up call to help humanity understand the devastation that they are wreaking on the Earth’s natural resources and on one another.

As a Christian Living teacher with deep knowledge about the advocacy, Ms. Nadonga shared her personal connection with Laudato Si. She revealed that when the advocacy first began, teachers were tasked to only discuss the encyclical with their students during their respective classes. After those classes, she often asked herself, “What now? Is that all?” She felt the strong need to do more for the essence of the Laudato Si to be inculcated to all Malateans. This moved her to inform the Center for Christian Formation (CCF) head at that time that they should conduct recollection sessions for students, personnel, parents, and other school community members to learn more about Laudato Si.

Furthermore, Ms. Nadonga stated, "This Earth is not just a planet or a place to live, but our home, our common home." Before the Pope's encyclical, many people, either intentional or unintentional, were negligent or even clueless about the degrading state of the environment. Through Laudato Si, the Pope calls every one of us to realize this growing issue and finally tend to God's creation, which Ms. Nadonga wholeheartedly supports.

She knew that recollection sessions are not enough to cultivate Malatean students and teachers about the genuine concept of Laudato Si. She understood that other environmental practices and projects should be imposed for all Malateans to observe and adopt in their daily life. Thus, throughout the years, our school, through the leadership of Ms. Nadonga has implemented various Laudato Si activities that helped students and teachers become more environmental-friendly individuals.

School activities for Laudato Si, then and now

Before the present Online Distance Learning (ODL) of the school, different environmental activities were promoted by the school. One of the most well-known activities for Laudato Si is the "No Plastic Day" policy, which urges students and personnel to use reusable materials instead of plastic. Posters and Slogans about Laudato Si were also advertised on the school premises. Moreover, some activities were integrated as requirements for specific subjects. Teachers utilized environmental projects such as Urban Gardening, Awiting Pinoy sa Kalikasan, Essay & Poem Writing, and Digital Poster Making. Clubs and school personnel also took part in these activities. They facilitated Eco Brick Making, Vertical Gardening, the "Tapat Ko, Linis Ko" program, and the 5S Good Housekeeping in classrooms.

Movements and rallies also took place on our school grounds, which served as platforms for Malateans to voice out their environmental concerns. One such example is the 2019 Climate Change Strike of students and teachers at the Remedios Circle and Malate Catholic Church. Students carried posters that symbolized their opinions about the gradual change of our climate.

During Buwan ng Wika at Kasaysayan, there is one specific program that practices Laudato Si - the Lakan and Lakambini competition. In this program, the contestants' costumes are required to be made purely of recyclable and reused materials. Not only does this practice the students' creativity and resourcefulness, but it also tests their understanding of Laudato Si.

Although, because of the pandemic, these activities are put to a halt. This may raise some questions about the school's capability to advocate Laudato Si since, as of the moment, students and teachers are not in the traditional classrooms. However, for Ms. Nadonga, the school is currently doing enough for Laudato Si. Along with Ermita Catholic School and Sta. Clara Parish School, she expressed that, "Our collective effort to care for our common home is already a part of our system, of who we are. We are trying to keep our pledges to support all the activities of Cluster 8 in advocating Laudato Si. In this time of the pandemic from September 1 to October 4, the Cluster 8 schools dedicate this month to be one with the Catholic Church to celebrate the Season of Creation." She added that, during this period, classes begin their days with a prayer service dedicated for the Season of Creation. Then, teachers and personnel have also ensured to integrate the Laudato Si core values into different subjects.

Ms. Nadonga’s message to Malateans about Laudato Si

As we end this year's month-long celebration of the Season of Creation, we are reminded to pay much attention and care for our natural home. When Pope Francis wrote Laudato Si, he encouraged us to work together to find a sustainable way to preserve our natural resources -- to tirelessly seek and resolve the tragic effects of environmental degradation.

"I want this program [Laudato Si] to be a part of Malate Catholic School's system, to be a part of every person’s daily life in MCS and their own homes," Ms. Nadonga stated. Likewise, even during this pandemic, Ms. Nadonga advises every one of us that we can still do something in our own little ways to give time and effort to nurture and care for our planet in the safety of our homes. "The Earth is a gift of God for us, and as His stewards of creation, much is expected from us to treat it as our Home – a place that provides all of our needs," she added.

For six years, Ms. Nadonga has profoundly advocated the Pope's encyclical and will continue to do so for more years to come; she also invites us to do the same. Hence, as Malate Catholic School's Laudato Si Journey continues, may we persist in being environmentally engaged individuals who embody the Malatean Core Values of Faith, Excellence, and Service.