A Call from our Environment

          ¹A massive rock slide-debris avalanche occurred on 17 February 2006 in the Philippine province of Southern Leyte that caused widespread damage and loss of life. The deadly landslide followed a ten-day period of heavy rains and a minor earthquake (magnitude 2.6 on the Richter scale). The official death toll was 1,126. The whole Guinsaugon village in the town of Saint Bernard along with its residents were buried alive.

    September 26, 2009, typhoon Ondoy, with an International name of Ketsana, hit the Philippines with a force known to be the worst typhoon in Philippine history. Many families were unprepared with the flash floods that came with it. It was recorded that more than 300 people were dead and nearly P9 billion in total was incurred in damages to agriculture and infrastructure.

 

            Another massive typhoon in the name of Sendong, with an international name of Washi, surpassed the Ondoy typhoon when it made landfall on December 17, 2011. Calamitous flash floods, focusing mainly in the Mindanao area, resulted in at least 1,268 fatalities. It was cited that the flash floods were caused by illegal logging and collapsed dams.

              What have caused these tragedies that resulted not only in damage to agriculture and infrastructure, but to loss of lives even? Was it possible that these could have been prevented?

               Most causes were blamed to be the people’s wrongdoing to the environment. The most ubiquitous factors are improper waste disposal, deforestation caused by illegal logging, poor farming, and poor water management which results to collapsed dams. While it can be hard to control illegal loggers and make changes to water management and farming strategies, we can instill in each of us the proper waste management. Improper waste disposal to the streets clog the water drainage bringing on floods even with slight rainfall. Since we cannot watch over illegal loggers over time, we can commit to planting even a single tree to deforested places. Roots from trees hold soil during rains preventing erosion.

                Two thousand years ago, we were given by the Almighty with a perfect world. But with the advancement of technology and the increase in population, the environment suffered. It is high time that each of us should be mindful that everything has a limit. Floods and landslides are only minor consequences. If we don’t care for our environment, something even bigger and catastrophic can happen: global warming. Let us not think solely of ourselves but to future generations as well. What will be left for our grand children to enjoy if we have already destroyed it?

               Friends of Environment (www.foenv.com or blogs.foenv.com) are all those wonderful people who are making an effort to keep the planet 'world' clean in their day to day life. We can indeed make a difference by our small deeds in caring for and protecting our environment. Let us be one and act now!

1	http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006_Southern_Leyte_mudslide Images: Google Search

When Boredom Strikes

   This is a write up I have created out of the blue, while waiting for my end of shift. Nothing really romantic. I kinda lost my sweet bone that day. Haha! But I decided to post it here, perhaps hoping someone can reflect on it. I dunno, maybe with spending time wisely, or reminiscing the old days...

     Doodle... Doodle... Mr. Boredom pays a visit again. Sitting in front of the computer, resolving usual customers' issues, waiting for every tick-tock of the clock until it strikes 4:00 PM, and finally, end of shift. This is the usual scenario and gets kind of boring. I miss the good, old days - the chatting with classmates, the "Ma'am naman!" whenever a quiz came unannounced, the burning of midnight candle when exams come, and the never-fading line, "1/4 Ma'am?!" Hahaha. I miss being young and carefree. Whenever I see kids getting ready for school with their uniforms on, I taste schooldays in the air. I would go back reminiscing the things I've done, and those I didn't do. I would occasionally feel a lump in my throat remembering the people who were once a part of my life, wondering where they could be now.

     No matter how grown up I may seem, there's still that little part of immaturity and childishness. Yet, unlike when I was younger, I know better now. I know better enough to bear in mind that every action - whether good or a bad - will always have its share of consequence. I used to be an impulsive gal, most of the time acting on a rush. But things have changed. Time and experience made me contemplate things before doing or deciding something.

     Ah, how time flies so fast! Looking back, it was as if yesterday when I first got ready for school. I can still feel the excitement of using my first bag, paper, pencil and reading my first book. I remembered the very first people I learned to call "best friends". There are moments when I wish I could go back to being a kid again.

     But we can't always stay little. Like everything else, we need to grow and find out our purpose in this vast universe. We must face our responsibilities. It's just so funny that when I was still young, I wanted to grow up in just one night. When I was still studying, I wanted so bad to work. Now that I'm all grown up and working everyday, I miss my childhood and school days. But I think it wouldn't hurt if one of these ordinary days, we experience being carefree again. Play in the rain without worrying of acquiring flu. Eat all the candies and chocolates there are without thinking of toothaches. Giggling over cute boys during sleepovers. Running barefoot in the grasses, chasing butterflies. Just one day. And maybe, just maybe, this boredom in the real world would be gone. Time check: 4:00 PM. Clock out.