Filipinos pay tribute to ABS-CBN Foundation chairperson

Gina Lopez, the late chairperson of ABS-CBN Foundation, was finally laid to rest last Saturday (August 24), but the tributes continue to pour in with the first two airings of “Genuine Love,” a documentary on her life and advocacies, last Sunday (August 25) on ABS-CBN.

“Genuine Love” is now available on-demand on ABS-CBN’s popular streaming service iWant and will be shown again on television on ANC, the ABS-CBN News Channel, on Saturday (August 31) at 9:30 am and on Sunday (September 1) at 4 pm.

Produced by ABS-CBN DocuCentral, the documentary showed the different aspects of Gina’s life as told by her mother and siblings led by ABS-CBN chairman emeritus Eugenio “Gabby” Lopez III and Creative Programs Inc. president Ernie Lopez, and her past and present colleagues in the ABS-CBN Foundation like former Bantay Bata 163 head Tina Monzon-Palma and current Bantay Kalikasan program director Jen Santos.

It also featured photos from her youth and as a yoga missionary of Ananda Marga, and excerpts from her speeches and interviews as secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. “Genuine Love” also showed some parts of Gina’s last TV interview that aired in July, which showed her still full of life, hope, and love despite her health challenges.

After learning more about Gina’s love for children, people, our nation, and the environment, and her many achievements as a staunch advocate and crusader, Filipinos went to social media to express their admiration and gratitude for her.

Posting photos of educational programs initiated by Gina like “Sineskwela,” “Hiraya Maniwari,” and “Bayani,” Twitter user @djhamerabag called Gina “one of a kind” and praised her for leaving “the comforts of her home because of genuine service to humanity.”

Netizen @iamdinard also posted “Watching #GenuineLove, I couldn’t think of any other Filipino who has the same heart to serve as Gina Lopez. Gone too soon, Earth warrior!” Her words also ignited nationalism among the viewers.

Twitter user @champagnemiles also thanked her for “empowering the locals through their projects and promote eco-tourism” through her projects like ILove Foundation and “G Diaries,” while @NicaillTimbal and @reedtulio raved about her genuineness, passion, and selfless heart.

And like many others that watched the documentary, @stephanie_hazel was inspired to follow in Gina’s footsteps. She posted, “That passion, fire and selfless love. Not for money, not for fame. But, for the people, for the Filipinos, and especially, for God. GL, does not only stand for #GinaLopez but for #GenuineLove. I hope, someday, I’ll be closer to what she had been.”

Read more tributes and stories about Gina Lopez by searching the hashtags #GenuineLove and “MaramingSalamatGinaLopez.” Watch the ABS-CBN DocuCentral documentary on her life story “Genuine Love” on ANC, the ABS-CBN News Channel on Saturday (August 31) at 9:30 am, and on Sunday (September 1) at 4 pm. Watch online on iwant.ph and skyondemand.com.ph.

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