Vlad Bunoan

This picture taken on February 22, 2017 shows Philippines' Department of Energy and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Regina Lopez gesturing during an interview at the DENR building in Manila.
After two decades as a yoga missionary, Philippine Environment Secretary Regina Lopez is unleashing her inner rage on the mining industry while aiming for Bhutan-style gross national happiness.  Noel Celis, AFP/ TO GO WITH Philippines-environment-mining-Lopez, INTERVIEW by Karl MALAKUNAS

Article (news)

Gina Lopez

Josh Mercado

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/176256779700220170223-gina-lopez-AFP-2.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="This picture taken on February 22, 2017 shows then-Department of Energy and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Regina Lopez gesturing during an interview at the DENR building in Manila. Noel Celis, AFP file photo"/>This picture taken on February 22, 2017 shows then-Department of Energy and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Regina Lopez gesturing during an interview at the DENR building in Manila. Noel Celis, AFP file photo</div>Despite being born into a comfortable environment, Gina Lopez, a member of the Lopez family that owns ABS-CBN, chose a lifestyle based on simplicity, compassion, and activism.Compassionate with or without cameras, she was celebrated as an environmental hero who stood up to the Philippines’ mining giants.During her tenure, Lopez ordered the closure of 26 mines, imposed a ban on open-pit mining, and pushed for the protection of rivers, watersheds, and forests after being appointed as environment secretary by then-President Rodrigo Duterte.She once said, “But you cannot kill the environment because if you kill the environment, you kill everything. One-third of the Filipino depends on our natural resources. Sinong nagdudusa ‘pag winawasak ‘yung kalikasan? Sino? ‘Yung mahihirap. That&#x27;s the fact. Who suffers if you kill the environment? It&#x27;s the poor.”“And whose duty is it to protect our people? It&#x27;s the government. And when you make decisions based on business interests, you have shirked your responsibility. You have lost the moral ascendancy to rule the government because to you, business and money is more important than the welfare of our people,” added the advocate who died of cancer.These exact words by Lopez are circulating again — after the catastrophic typhoon Tino ripped through Cebu, destroying homes, drowning highways, and killing people — but this time with more insight and clarity from netizens who have heard them regarding the environmental repercussions of mining.Who is sharing Lopez&#x27;s passionate protest against mining on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok? The majority of them are millennials and Generation Z, who hold strong, factual opinions on the country&#x27;s current political climate.IG user @raphael647779 wrote, “Grabe. Nanindig ang balahibo ko sa ginawa ni Gina Lopez. Sana mayroon pang kagaya niya na may pagmamahal sa ating kalikasan.”“She had the heart of a true patriot, serving her country with devotion. A gem lost too soon,” IG user @i_gatmaitan shared.Another social media user @nnoragenavia commented, “Siya ang tunay na nagmalasakit sa kalikasan at sa taong mahihirap.”In another viral Instagram video released by @jak73 featuring Lopez&#x27;s voice delivering her anti-mining protest, celebrities Anne Curtis, Vina Morales, Amy Perez, left heartbroken and crying emojis.Praising Lopez, IG user @yourhynaes, meanwhile, said, “The woman who really did all the work to save the environment. Sadly, she left too soon.”Other social media users urged government leaders to take climate change seriously, noting that many lives had already been lost.

Gina Lopez’s powerful protest against mining is trending again, as millennials and Gen Z Filipinos echo her timeless call to protect the environment from greed and destruction.

Gina Lopez’s powerful protest against mining is trending again, as millennials and Gen Z Filipinos echo her timeless call to protect the environment from greed and destruction.

Gina Lopez’s passionate anti-mining protest goes viral again

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

BINI

Sudoku

Word of the Day

Lotto

Horoscope

People, Culture, and Events

Gina Lopez’s passionate anti-mining protest goes viral again

Josh Mercado

Published November 08, 2025 10:18 AM PHT

Read More:

Gina Lopez

mining

environment

ABSnews

ABS-CBN Newsletter

Your go-to source for the latest news, entertainment highlights, exclusive interviews, and updates on your favorite Kapamilya stars.

ABS-CBN Newsletter

Your go-to source for the latest news, entertainment highlights, exclusive interviews, and updates on your favorite Kapamilya stars.

Sign Up

I have read and agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy.

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.