Fr. Edwin “Edu” Gariguez has long been on the frontlines of environmental struggles in Mindoro, the latest being community responses to the Mindoro oil spill last February 28.

Winner of the prestigious international Goldman Environmental Prize, Fr. Edu talks to Howie Severino about the dangers he’s faced, including being red-tagged and put on a hit list, and what he calls an ecological spirituality, a return to the belief long held by indigenous peoples that the environment is sacred.

While other priests limit themselves to the more traditional role of performing sacraments and saying Mass, Fr. Edu explains why some choose to engage with the larger world and even put their lives on the line.