Former DENR Secretary Gina Lopez. GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE / Philippine Daily Inquirer
MANILA, Philippines — Showbiz celebrities poured accolades for the late former environment and natural resources secretary Gina Lopez who passed away Monday morning at age 65.
READ: Ex-DENR chief Gina Lopez passes away
Among those who mourned her passing and extended their sympathies to the Lopez family via social media was television host Kim Atienza.
“I love you dear friend. You will be missed,” Atienza captioned a previous article of Lopez singing R. Kelly’s song “I Believe I Can Fly.”
I love you dear friend. You will be missed.
https://t.co/k0Mro8Uy8B— kim atienza (@kuyakim_atienza) August 18, 2019
Singer Ogie Alcasid also took to social media to thank Lopez for her contributions in helping Filipinos and the environment.
“Maraming salamat po Mam Gina sa lahat ng inyong nagawa para mga kababayan nating nangangalian ng tulong at kalinga at sa inyong walang patid na pagpapahalaga sa kalikasan. Pagpalain kayo ng ating Panginoon,” Alcasid wrote in an Instagram post.
Vlogger and restaurateur Erwan Heussaff, on the other hand, reminisced a recent trip to Tawi-Tawi with Lopez.
“I spent just 4 days with her in Tawi Tawi and in that small amount of time, we had already spoken about grand plans, to a point where I was left confused by where to start,” Heussaff captioned a photo of him with Lopez.
“She woke up earlier than everyone else and met with community leaders, later than the rest of us,” he recalled. “She taught us that it’s all about moving forward, knowing that the race will never truly end, content with the impact we leave along the way.”
Heussaff hopes Lopez’s legacy would become an inspiration for people to help improve the lives of the people.
“Mother Nature personified, Gina leaves behind a legacy that we should all be inspired by, urging us to become better and help out, in whatever little ways we can, to improve the lives of everyone in our country,” he said.
Television host Gretchen Ho paid tribute to Lopez by sharing an article about her life and advocacy, saying: What an inspiring life she led.
Must-read.
Read this years ago when I got curious about @iamGinaLopez's life. Her missionary years proved crucial to her formation. What an inspiring life she led. https://t.co/jPi5k9MmWK
— Gretchen Ho (@gretchenho) August 18, 2019
Aside from serving as Department of Environment and Natural Resources secretary, Lopez was also the founder of ABS-CBN Foundation Inc. /gsg