The University of Makati (UMak) community filled up the Auditorium for the celebration of Laudato Si’ Season of Creation through a Concert of Creation on October 9, held by the UMak Laudato Si’.
With the theme “Our Common Home, Our Sacred Fight,” the event turned sustainability into a creative twist by inviting students and employees to donate reusable utensils in exchange of concert tickets.
“Music is appealing so much to the students, and when we use the usual music, the students will be [affected] much and they will act on it,” explained Prof. Angelito Vargas, Presidential Assistant for Special Concern and Laudato Si’ Certified Environmental Trainer, on the talk about the choice of concert format to promote environmental awareness.
The advocacy of the event supports the newly implemented campus-wide transition toward a greener UMak, where the canteen will no longer provide single-use plastics, which has been effective since October 22.
“We could say that we could save the planet with every small bite,” said Sir Vargas, in an interview about the use of the collected reusable utensils after the concert.
The event featured heartfelt performances from the Center for Culture and Arts (CCA), which joined to celebrate faith and environmental action, University of Makati Chorale, Collective Arts of Students and Thespians (CAST), UMak Jammers (UJam), Every Nation, and Couples for Christ CC3B Music Ministry.
“It’s really fulfilling and very inspiring that the students understand and have energy the more they listen, so they have more attentiveness in the event itself,” shared Ma Allyza Nichole Arellano, a vocalist from UJam, expressing their feelings when performing for an event that has a purpose, especially about the sustainability inside the campus.
“We should make an action on our earth because we live here and we should take better care of it,” a statement from Dave Bornasal, a student in the audience, on their takeaway lesson that they noted from the performances and the purpose of the event.
This event is not only about entertaining the people with music but also with a purpose, a reminder that it is our mission to protect and care for our environment.
Written by Mica Ella Rivero
