Catholic priest calls on Filipinos: Protect, take care of Sierra Madre

The great flood brought by Ondoy due to deforestation of Sierra Madre will happen again if mankind will not contemplate on the need to protect Sierra Madre, Catholic priest warned Filipinos.

Fr. Pete Montallana, chairman of Save Sierra Madre Network Alliance Inc. (SSMNAI), urged in his homily in a concelebrated Mass in line with the advanced celebration of “Save Sierra Madre Day” at Our Lady of Remedies Parish last Sept. 24.

“September 26, 2009, Ondoy, hinagupit tayo ng matinding baha galing sa Sierra Madre,” he said. “And it will come again kung hindi natin aalagaan ang Sierra Madre.”

Montallana said mankind must bring back the respect to nature and remove the mindset that human beings are the only important creation of God.

“We lost respect for the mountains, seas, and rivers. Nagkaroon tayo ng pag-iisip na ang tao lang ang mahalaga,” he said.

Montallana warned people of the possible rise of temperature nine years after the destruction of Super Typhoon Ondoy.

He emphasized that global warming is no joke and more disasters will possibly happen.

“Because of global warming, we are in danger, [...] ito’y hindi biro at marami [pang] disasters ang darating,” he said in an interview with The Spiral Journal.

“Tayo ay lilipas [din] dito sa daigdig. If we can prevent disaster, start working now,” he added.

Montallana urged everyone to be involved with creation and advocacies concerning to the betterment of the environment.

“Ipagtanggol ang kalikasan, ipagtanggol ang Sierra Madre!” he said.

Former president Benigno Aquino III declared in his Proclamation No. 413 Sept. 26 as the “Save Sierra Madre Day” to raise awareness and seek Filipinos' participation for the rehabilitation, reforestration, protection, and conservation of Sierra Madre Mountains.