Faith and ecology on TALAB 2024

The activity entitled, "Islamic Perspective on Integral Ecology" for Talakayang Alay sa Bayan (TALAB) was both a privilege and a profound learning experience, especially as a member of a newly founded Islamic community on campus. Thanks to the guidance and support from the Office of Campus Ministry (OCM) and the Office of the Assistant Vice President for Ignatian Spirituality Formation (OAVP-ISF), we were able to navigate the challenge of integrating this year’s TALAB theme, “integral ecology” with Islamic teachings. 

We invited two inspiring speakers: Ustadh Homaidy Manalao, a youth advocate and global environmental volunteer, and Ms Kaka Sally, a life coach dedicated to youth empowerment. Their insights illuminated the often-overlooked link between faith and ecological responsibility. Ms Sally emphasized the importance of humility, contentment, moderation, mercy, and repentance as pathways to protecting the Earth. Ustadh Manalao, sharing his personal experiences in climate advocacy rooted in Islamic values, demonstrated how deeply faith could shape environmental stewardship. These discussions reminded me of our duty to care for the planet and others as a reflection of our shared humanity.

Reflecting on the event brought me back to the concept of “integral ecology” championed by Pope Francis in Laudato si’. This principle teaches that human beings are interconnected not only with one another, but also with Allah and all of His creation. The vocation to love calls us to build relationships grounded in compassion, humility, and care for all beings. From an Islamic perspective, as shared by our speakers, stewardship is a sacred responsibility, where we are entrusted by Allah to care for and preserve His creation. Embracing this principle, TALAB offered our community a unique platform to cultivate an ecological awareness grounded in faith, uniting us in our commitment to live with respect for the Earth and all life upon it. To care for our common home means to care for our neighbors who share the same planet Earth.