Celebrating PRIDE month here in Europe, I am amazed with the timing of an email from Ilog’s councilor Mark Vargas with his strong advocacy on the LGBTQ’s community and the importance of climate change. On its second year, Quarantine Boys of Ilog for Nature proceeded with a different concept.
Last year, the natural tourism spots of Ilog were promoted.
For this year, as typhoon Odette hit us last mid-December, it has affected and damaged a lot in Ilog.
The central theme focused on photos of fallen old trees, nipa plantations whipped by strong winds, a dike at the Ilog River washed away, fishponds and oyster farms destroyed. These sites and even some native seafood restaurants were not spared and Negros Island’s first capital city was devastated.
Loving and taking care of Nature is what we should do now to save us from the wrought of typhoons like Odette.
Thus, Quarantine Boys of Ilog for Nature was conceptualized by Ilog Councilor Mark John Vargas. It aims to discover male talents from Ilog with an advocacy to love and take care of Nature.
They will be role models for the young people of Ilog and hopefully make them closer to Mother Earth. The models are Gio, Seth, Francis, Vhon, James Kenneth and Jherick who participated in activities related to taking care of Nature like tree planting in CPSU, Cleaning Ilog River programs, mangrove planting in Barangay Bocana which has always had a special place in Councilor Mark Vargas’ heart.
Clothes were provided by Steve Genzola, Ilog’s Pride in fashion design and professor in SOFA-School of Fashion and Arts. Photography by Vergil Genzola of S’ven Productions and grooming by Moting.
MY PRAYER
For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. Romans 8:14–15a, NIV*
