Gina Lopez Was Nuts

GINA Lopez was nuts.

She was an absolute nutcase. She pursued her crazy advocacies with an insane passion and insatiable drive. And she did so despite criticisms of the high and mighty who felt a raging discomfort over her actions.

GINA LOPEZ PHOTO BY LYN RILLON/INQUIRER — from Commission on Appointments confirmation hearing at the Senate on March 9, 2017.

I did not always agree with her views, or her ways and means of saying so and doing. After all, who can forget that kaldero episode, where in one environmental forum she challenged to quit the use of metals and other mining products and use more sustainable tools like the palayok.

Or how she confronted the captains of the mining industry with her condemnation of what she labeled as their wholesale destruction of the environment during an actual industry affair – a big dress-up to do of mining’s who’s who and what’s what.

And then there’s her first moves to shut down main players of the mining industry as soon as she was appointed Environment Secretary, a move so costly politically and economically (for some sectors) that certain characters moved heaven and earth to get the Commission on Appointments to reject her nomination.

To all that, she broke out into song: “I believe I can fly.”

Apparently, this was just one of the tracks of her musicale called the ABS-CBN Foundation which she led with all the years of insane passion for saving and nurturing children and the environment.

She joins other nutcases in this world like Schindler, who risked all to save Jews from Nazi persecution; Manuel L. Quezon, in granting safe haven to Jews despite political repercussions; Jose Rizal, who gave up the privileged high life to go up against the oppression of colonial masters.

Of course, there’s that biggest nutcase of all, who gave up a simple, quiet life of a carpenter and instead show the world of His love by being accused and found guilty of a crime he did not commit, suffering and dying a horrific death by being scourged and nailed to a cross.

And his followers – nutcases all – who died their own horrific deaths to spread the insane word that He is risen.

We need nutcases in our world – to put perspective, wisdom and truth in our own insane lives.

Gina Lopez was a nutcase.

Pity we don’t have enough nuts to go around.