As social scientists have emphatically and categorically stated, climate change is not just an environmental issue—it is a symptom of a distorted, imperialist worldview. This worldview assumes that humanity exists apart from nature and has the right to dominate it. Championed by both Christian doctrine and industrial capitalism, this belief justifies the continued exploitation of the Earth. It sustains a “business as usual” approach that has pushed us to the brink of environmental collapse.
As many environmentalists have warned, a distorted imperialist worldview—rooted in a misinterpretation of the biblical mandate to “dominate the earth”—has led to the subordination of environmental preservation to profit. A glaring example of this is the sale of Xavier University’s property to Cebu Landmasters Inc. (CLI). This transaction, amounting to approximately five billion pesos, involves 20 hectares of land—14 of which consist of a precious mini-forest in Manresa, home to around 40 species of birds. These lands will soon be cleared to make way for malls and condominiums. In the name of so-called “development,” an entire ecosystem, a sanctuary of biodiversity, is being erased—ironically fulfilling a twisted notion of “domination over the earth” by destroying it.
This act stands in direct contradiction to the appeal of His Holiness the late Pope Francis in his encyclical Laudato Si, where he urged humanity to listen to the cry of the earth—the cry of birds, of trees, and of nature itself. Yet here we are, silencing that cry for the sake of profit. The sale of Xavier University’s land does not just erase birds or trees—it erases our values, our history, and our soul.
An Oxfam study reinforces this tragedy, revealing that today, the profit motive has captured the mindset of virtually all governments, institutions, universities—even religious groups. The dominant development paradigm is one of “growth-at-all-costs,” aimed at maximizing consumer goods—not human values.
This trend runs counter to the cultural and moral legacy of the Jesuit pioneers who founded Xavier University. For decades, they nurtured generations of “men and women for others”—individuals committed to serving the marginalized and upholding the dignity of all life. Their mission was never about accumulating wealth or fame, but about maximizing human potential, compassion, and service.
Let us remember the wisdom of King Solomon in Ecclesiastes: “Fame, wealth, and power are meaningless—utterly meaningless.” And what indeed would it profit a person to gain the whole world but lose their soul?
What makes this betrayal even more painful is that in destroying the Manresa mini-forest—Cagayan de Oro’s last natural defense against devastating floods—we have desecrated sacred ground. This land includes the burial site of beloved Jesuit teachers, such as Fr. William Masterson, SJ, who gave their lives to form leaders rooted in values, not consumerism. It was Fr. Masterson’s own legacy that led to the establishment of SEARSOLIN (Southeast Asia Rural Social Leadership Institute), which empowered thousands of cooperative leaders across Southeast Asia.
Today, many of those leader express dismay at the erasure of this institution—at the vanishment of a mission. We must ask ourselves: In pursuing profit, what are we losing? In burying the forest, have we also buried our conscience?
The destruction of Mother Earth is a deep assault on spirituality, driven by a distorted imperialist worldview that follows the brutal “survival of the fittest” doctrine. This worldview sees strength as dominance—like a lion hunting a cornered prey—and has historically fueled religious wars: “Your faith is wrong, you are weak, I am strong, so I must conquer and kill you.” History shows this mindset as the core justification for imperial powers’ domination of Third World countries. In 1898, for example, the U.S. imperial government, under President McKinley, claimed divine sanction to conquer the Philippines. The result was the death of some 600,000 Filipinos, justified as “liberation” ordered by God.
Today, American imperialism persists in a new form through corporate globalization—new conquestadors exploiting the poor alongside local elites and oligarchs. Nature and people are sacrificed to greed and profit. As a neo-colony, the Philippines serves two imperial purposes: As a market, it supplies cheap raw materials through extractivism and receives dumped finished goods. As a target, it hosts military bases and nuclear missiles, making it a frontline in potential wars.
This explains why a country so rich in natural resources remains so poor. Who controls the wealth? Who decides? Who profits? It is not the Filipino people, but a small group of oligarchs allied with imperial powers. Amid moral decline and religious indifference, climate change is ravaging Mother Earth (Gaia). Even the Dalai Lama warns, “Saving the climate is our common duty.” Pacific Islands are vanishing, species are disappearing at alarming rates, and global water shortages worsen. Glaciologists predict sea levels could rise by up to seventy meters if Greenland’s ice melts completely—leaving only about 2,000 of the Philippines’ 7,100 islands above water.
While millions worldwide protest climate change, many Filipinos remain apathetic—trapped in illusions fostered by false teachings and hopelessness. During my visits to coastal communities, fisherfolk report rising seas destroying their homes and livelihoods. Vital fish spawning grounds—mangroves and coral reefs—have disappeared, leaving coastal communities among the poorest, struggling with hunger and extreme poverty.
Despite the widespread oppression caused by massive land-grabbing of the ancestral domains of Indigenous Peoples by imperialist industrialists working hand-in-hand with those in power—who have already killed over 101 Indigenous leaders in Mindanao alone over the past nine years—these grave issues continue to be ignored. In this context, we must learn from the life of the late Archbishop Oscar Romero of El Salvador, who was canonized by the late Pope Francis as a Saint in 2018. The Philippines urgently needs figures like Archbishop Romero, who bravely fought against repression and social injustice. His remarkable life of service should be known and serve as a powerful model for bishops and priests in our country.
Archbishop Romero was assassinated while celebrating Mass because of his fearless stance against injustice. The day before he was killed, he delivered a now-famous Sunday homily, commanding soldiers to stop killing their own people: “It is time to regain your conscience in the name of God and in the name of the suffering people. I implore you, I beg you, I order you: stop the repression!” Romero was a bold critic of the government, military, and right-wing forces, speaking out against the ongoing oppression and exploitation of the poor, the marginalized, and Indigenous Peoples. His life exemplified the three Ps of Christianity: Prayer, Presence, and Prophecy—tools to liberate the oppressed rather than dominate the earth.
Why does the Philippines need to follow the example of St. Oscar Romero now? Because falsehood, injustice, and division are spreading rapidly. Let us pause and reflect on what is happening today in Mindanao—the massive land grabbing of Indigenous ancestral domains. When Indigenous communities stand up to resist, their leaders are silenced by violence.
Take, for example, the Manobo-Pulingiyon tribe in Butong, Quezon, where about 1,000 families have lived in shattered tents along the highway for eight years. They survive on just one meal a day, while their children suffer from sickness and malnutrition. Their 1,111-hectare ancestral domain has been seized by a powerful corporation that has converted their land into vast plantations. Although the tribe has been officially certified as the rightful owners of this land—where their ancestors are buried—they face violent resistance. When they tried to reclaim their territory, private armed guards of the corporation fired on them, wounding five women and children.
This tragedy is not isolated. Across Mindanao, Indigenous Peoples face similar violations. The oligarchs and corporations grow richer, while Indigenous communities endure poverty and displacement. For years, this injustice and disregard for the rule of law have persisted without end. What is happening now in Amai Manabilang, Lanao del Sur is a grave injustice. Thousands of Ilocano farmers, who have already secured prior rights to their land, are being forcibly evicted by the Southern Philippines Development Authority (SPDA) to make way for wealthy and powerful foreign investor-corporations. Since last year, around 400 hectares of farmland have been destroyed through continuous tractor operations, wiping out the farmers’ livelihoods and their right to food. Even their water supply is being tampered with.
If SPDA truly has legal ownership of these farmlands, as a government agency under the Office of the President, it should easily secure a court order to settle the matter legally. So why resort to forced and coercive evictions, carried out in the presence of AFP and PNP officers, to favor the entry of foreign corporations—the new conquerors?
The Ilocano settlers, now plunged into extreme poverty and hunger, have traveled to Manila to appeal for social justice, respect for their human rights, and the rule of law. They are human beings with dignity, not disposable objects. They urgently call for help and intervention to correct this blatant and terrible social injustice committed by the rich and powerful. Their hunger is real, and their children can no longer go to school. This heartbreaking reality clearly shows why we need heroes like the late St. Archbishop Oscar Romero of El Salvador.
As His Holiness the Dalai Lama once said, “Religion should not be just limited to praying; ethical action is more important than prayers.” St. Archbishop Oscar Romero lived this truth—he stood up for the poor and oppressed and was martyred for it. Fear of death silences many, leaving them apathetic and lacking the love needed to fight for justice and liberation. But no less than Jesus Christ was crucified to save humanity. Those who stand for what is right, true, and just—to free the poor and protect God’s endangered creation, as St. Romero did—have nothing to fear. When we die, we will find peace in God’s loving embrace.
This is the Christian calling: to be Christ-like, living and fighting for God’s greater glory.
