The multi-platinum singer was chosen as one of the distinguished awardees of the recently held Green Gala Awards, held last November 8 at the Fiesta Pavilion, Manila Hotel.
The Green Gala Awards, organized by the Climate Change Commission in partnership with the Rotary Club of Makati Business District, served as one of the culminating festivities capping Climate Change Week (November 4-8) —a fitting prelude to the month-long celebration of climate change awareness.
Geneva’s citation is a well-deserved reward for her decades of championing environmental awareness. Even during her younger years, as a member of the seminal quartet Smokey Mountain, Geneva and her cohorts were already invoking environmental awareness through their green-themed songs including “Paraiso,” “Earth Song,” “Better World,” and even her solo single, “Anak ng Pasig.”
In more recent years, Geneva had also taken part in other environmental advocacies, such as tree-planting projects in Cavite earlier this year with her fellow Philippine Air Force reservists, as well as beach clean-ups around the country.
She says, “I am humbled and grateful for the recognition of my efforts to make a difference in preserving the planet, and I look forward to continuing to represent the philosophy and spirit of other earth warriors to make the world a greener and more sustainable place.”
Looking back at some of her green-themed songs, she reminisces, “Singing those songs at an early age made us aware enough to make a stand for the environment.”
As a musical artist, Geneva believes that her talent, along with her massive social media influence, is more than enough to create a ripple of awareness for climate change and its harsh realities.
She remarks, “I can only help spread awareness by constantly reading and learning about it, and maybe singing about it because music has a way of communicating with people beyond language, but on a deeper level. And of course, by being a walking, living, breathing example of somebody who cares about the planet.”
Her dreams, however humble, should also inspire like-minded eco warriors like her to mount their own eco initiatives.
She discloses, “My dream is to keep planting trees beginning next year. People don’t know that trees are important because they give us fresh air to breathe, food to eat, and shelter/shade from sunlight and rainfall. Aside from these, many medicines on the market are made from tree extracts. Forests also provide jobs to millions of people. I also plan to grow my own vegetables.”
“I have saved enough money from doing teleseryes and live shows and bought my dream land facing a small river in Tanay, where I will be planting trees before I build a sustainable and eco-friendly rest house. My 9-year old daughter is over the moon and loves the environment as much as me.”
In keeping with the event’s ‘green theme,’ for the awards night, Geneva flaunted a recycled outfit made of plastic starts and plastic sando bags, meticulously crafted by the inmates of the Correctional Institution for Women as their show of support for the environment as well.
Geneva also extends her gratitude to the organizers and reaffirms her support to all their future endeavors.
She exclaims, “My sincerest thanks to Ms. Marichelle Torres-Ackerman, Chairperson of Climate Change Commission Week and Chairperson/Founder of the Green Gala Awards, as well as Mr. Albert dela Cruz, Sr., Commissioner, PH Climate Change Commission.
Noble causes like these should be celebrated not just as an annual event, but as often as possible. With the so many emerging media platforms nowadays, so much can be done to promote and inspire environmental awareness, especially for our youth.”
Among the other Green Gala Awards recipients were her fellow Smokey Mountain co-member Jeffrey Hidalgo, National Artist/sculptor Ramon Orlina, Gov. Tony Leviste, Ernie Lopez, Joyce Hufton and San Miguel Corporation.
