Through the documentary Genuine Love, people learned more about Gina Lopez’s love for children, people, our nation, and the environment, which she expressed through projects and campaigns.
She was the driving force behind iconic educational shows for the youth like Sineskwela, Hiraya Manawari, and Bayani, which inspired love for learning and love for country among a generation of Filipinos.
Gina, the former chairperson of ABS-CBN Foundation, founded the first rescue hotline for abused children in the country Bantay Batay 163, environment movements Bantay Kalikasan, Save the La Mesa Watershed, Kapit Bisig Para Sa Ilog Pasig, and No to Mining in Palawan.
Netizens can now watch Genuine Love, the documentary on the life of service of former environment secretary on ABS-CBN News YouTube channel and on-demand on streaming service iWant.
Filipinos went to social media to express their admiration and gratitude for her. Produced by ABS-CBN DocuCentral, Genuine Love shows the different aspects of Gina’s life as told by her mother Conchita 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 Inc. (AFI) like former Bantay Bata 163 head Tina Monzon-Palma and current Bantay Kalikasan program director Jen Santos.
The piece, which sparked tributes to Gina from Filipinos online, first aired on ABS-CBN last Aug. 25, six days after she passed away. It features photos from her youth and as a yoga missionary of Ananda Marga, news footage and excerpts from her speeches and interviews as an anti-mining advocate, and secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. It 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.
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 iwant.ph, the iWant App,skyondemand.com.ph, or on the ABS-CBN News YouTube channel.
