Climate Change Hope

by Nick P. Silla

An ideal world to live from the swelling of the universe down to the plot of a traveler’s map, the earth is a place of bounty where every creation has a share on the harvest that it offers. Without much restriction and deprivation on the resources, where every living creature does not feel hungry. Yes, this is the ideal world everyone is dreaming of. The lush forests and valleys, the fauna that dwells and roams on the surroundings that is free from harm and exploitation. A picture of a world that everyone is dreaming about since the advent of technological and scientific advancement, from a fresh and healthy nature until it was turned into a toxic consign of a flowing polluted river to the vast ocean and to the exhaust fumes from factories. The earth we love and adore with the everlasting beauty of the morning dew to the sweet songs of the nightingale that is carried in the wind together with the soft seeds of the dandelions. The mist in the window panes that condenses with the air and dust that sheds away the sadness of a lonely heart on a silent night.
One day, we will wake up into the real world where illusions are supreme than reality turning all our dreams into vast imagination without even reaching the zenith of fulfillment. We tend to gather all achievements and satisfaction sacrificing our environment and exploiting what is beyond our needs. The earth is slowly dying and everyone is into the brink of surviving the wrath which is the price of what we did to her. Typhoons, landslides, tsunamis almost occur everywhere. The ozone layer is gradually depleting making the earth vulnerable to the sun’s ultra violet rays. This is now what we call the era of climate change. A phenomenon where the earth experiences new patterns in climate, weather and seasons. Because of our undaunted effort to get rich and become successful in every field, our nature is made into a sacrificial offering and the price is non-payable.
Strong and destructive typhoon now occurs everywhere, from the coast of the Atlantic that spurred hurricane Katrina to the Pacific that created Frank, Ondoy, Pepeng that killed and destroyed almost everything on its path. People from all walks of life suffer these calamities and no one is exempted from its devastation.
Now is the new era. The beginning of Climate Change era that claims the payback and that is changing the mood of the earth. We now live on a world where suffering is dominant than happiness. Destruction is an expected event to happen. More and more people die each year. We are now on a vulnerable state of calamities. Everywhere you could hear the wailings and cries of the victims. Dead bodies lie and can be found everywhere.
This is now the context of the present society, the verdant forest is now dead, and trees are cut and made into houses, rivers stopped flowing, streams and lakes dry up. Because of these more and more people die from hunger. Crimes are very high because of poverty. Big companies close due to losses brought by calamities. This is the picture of the new era.
We are hopeless, unless we will learn from the lessons of the events. We need to learn to be vigilant on the needs of our environment. We need to plant trees and stop polluting all bodies of water and land. Factories should be restricted from disposing their toxic by-product. Government should impose law governing environmental rules and policies. These may be minor actions but will greatly help in saving our nature from destruction and to stop the suffering of the human race brought by the climate change.
Unless we act now, there will be no time for us to act later. If we want to live in a society and era of climate change then we will continue to be harsh on nature. But if we want to live on a dreamland that is full of happiness then one must act to make this dream into reality.
Now try to picture out the climate change era and try to imagine yourself being a victim of ravaging water, horrible tsunamis, twister, flood and being drown alive. Or try to picture yourself peacefully sleeping on a dreamland where birds are freely humming songs, rivers are clean where thirst could be quenched, oceans full of fish in every color, shape and sizes. Try to imagine and select what is best for us. Now is the climate change era, tomorrow might be different.

Taking a Bolder Step

Philippines’ economy according to the government suggested a dramatic improvement this year. For a minimum wage earner this forecast fall short from what they really experience in the present situation. Better economy means better lives and better opportunities to all our kababayans. There will be no Filipino who will look for opportunities abroad because what they earn here in the Philippines is lesser compared to what they will earn while working outside the country.
Some of the reasons why we have to endure the impact in the crisis of our economy was due to corruption in our bureaucracy, relatively, part to be blamed are us the ordinary citizen because we tolerate them and are not vigilant enough on the wrongdoings of our government officials or we choose to be silent because we don’t want to get involved.
We all have responsibility for the growth of our country. If we are satisfied to be a mediocre to the rest of our lives then we will be, until we die. If we always think that we can’t do greater things then we will always be left behind. Yet, if we try and fail, why not try until we will succeed. Abraham Lincoln, one of the greatest presidents of the United States became the sixteenth president after several attempts to be elected in the local position. Well, it simply shows that if we are doing and aiming something good then the rest of the populace will benefit. If we believe in our capabilities and take extra miles we will surely reach the pinnacle of success. Our effort will be meaningful if we labored for it. Opportunity doesn’t come to those who wait but for those who hope, pray and work. Yes, we need to pray harder for Him to have pity on us. And it is a big help.
Change doesn’t occur overnight, it is a gradual process that we don’t notice that it already happened. We have to prove to everyone that we have the qualities of a positive person. An individual with a positive view towards his work, helping his community and contribute to the growth of his country.
Other nationalities prefer Filipino workers because according to them we are diligent towards our work and are very flexible. But, why is it that our country still cannot attain development? Maybe all of the diligent Filipinos went to work abroad and the ones that are left here are all lazy. It’s a big no, no for me because in my day by day routine going to the office I could see workers and students rushing for work and school.
President Arroyo has the biggest part to play for our progress. I am not a pro-Arroyo; I am just giving her the benefit of the doubt. She is a mother who gambled everything, her family’s’ private life, her time and effort just to take a bolder step for our nation to move forward. If only she be able to eradicate corruption in the government.
Students have a role to play by studying their lessons and practice the moral values being taught in school. Teachers should teach the students by being a role model and as motivated individuals. The school is the training ground of future leaders of this country, the values it nurtures will develop into responsible individuals. Our country needs all of these to attain development.
The farmers can contribute also by embracing new technologies and technicalities for the advancement of the agricultural sector. The vast Philippine archipelago is made up of rich soil suited for agricultural planting; unfortunately, these were not utilized accordingly that is why some of the agricultural products are imported from other countries.
The fishermen have a vital role to play by protecting the sanctuaries of our rich marine biodiversity. We are surrounded by great bodies of water that offer abundant food for all of us but many Filipino people are starving. Some of the sanctuaries are now depleting because of the illegal fishing using dynamite, cyanide and other illegal activities. Some families living near the sea do not have toilets and just throw their waste in the sea and even throw garbage that harm the body of water and the living things in it. If only this people realize the importance of our resources.
Workers and laborers should also contribute in building our country a stronger nation. Esteem and diligence are the attitudes that foreign employers are seeking and what this nation needs. Working prosperity hand in hand, our nation will surely attain global competence.
This nation is composed of brilliant and ideal individuals. Despite of the oddity of his surroundings these individuals manage to smile. They carry there life’s burden with heads-up and a hopeful heart. They always find room for growth and development and take chances in every opportunity that comes. They sometimes risk even their own lives just to obtain what they are aiming for. For them every morning is a wonderful time to grow, a time to face the sun and a bold step forward into a brighter future.

Global Warming: Muni-muni sa Kamalayan ng mga Makabagong Pilipino

Madalas nating marinig sa radyo o mapapanood sa telebisyon, o mabasa sa pedyodiko at mga pahayagan ang mga masasamang balita dulot ng global warming. Sa paglabas natin sa ating mga tahanan upang magtrabaho, pumunta sa paaralan o anumang gawaing nakaplano nang gawin, hindi natin maiiwasang mapuna na iba na talaga ang ating kapaligiran. Ang mga bundok ay nakalbo na, ang mga ilog hindi na dumadaloy, ang mga batis unti-unting umiitim ang kulay ng tubig at ang ibang bahagi ng baybayin hindi na raw mapapaliguan dahil sa taas ng cauliform content. Hay! Sadyang mahirap na ang buhay. Kapag naligo ka sa dagat, magkakagalis ka, kapag naglusaw ka sa baha maaring magkaleptospirosis ka at kung nasa bahay ka naman hindi ka ligtas dahil sa dengue. Ano na lang ang gagawin natin?
At heto raw ang pinakamalaking problema ng buong mundo ang global warming. Hindi pa tayo nakaraos sa problema sa dengue, ang sanhi ng pagkamatay ng marami. Hindi pa napupuksa ang mga daga na nagdadala ng leptospirosis kung saan ayun sa sorbey ng Social Weather Station, ang reysyu raw ng daga ay sampu kumpara sa bawat isang Pilipino. Matatabunan na tayo ng mga daga may global warming pa. Global warming na naging sanhi ng mga super typhoons, baha at iba pang catastrophy ayon sa siyensya.
Sa pang-araw-araw na gawain hindi natin lubos maisip kung ano ang mangyayari sa hinaharap. Hindi natin masasabi kung ano ang darating. Sa isang banda, naiisip natin na mawawala sa isang iglap ang bahay dahil sa super typhoon, matatabunan ng lupa ang isang lugar dahil sa landslide o magkakaroon bigla ng tidal wave. Wala talaga tayong magagawa sa anumang badya ng kalikasan.
Sa ating kamalayan, nangyayari ang mga penominang ito dahil sa kagagawan na rin ng mga tao. Matalino na ang mga Pilipino. Malawak na ang nararating ng teknolohiya. Tayo ang nagunguna sa pinakamaraming gumagamit ng teks o selpon sa buong mundo. Malayo na tayo noon kesa ngayon, marami na ang gumagamit ng laptap na kompyuter na kahit saan puwede nating magamit kung nakawifi tayo. Kahit sa selpon may mga telebisyon na rin na kahit saan puwede tayong makapanood ng mga paborito nating palabas mula balita, teleserye, entertainment o isport. Ibang-iba na talaga tayo, puro Western ang tatak ng mga bag, sapatos, lotion, de lata at marami pa. Iba na rin ang mga laro, meron tayong lego, playstation at internet games.
Sa ating kamalayan, ibang-iba na talaga tayong mga Pilipino meron tayong mga kababayang nakaaral sa Harvard, magagaling na tayo sa Math, English kahit Chinese, Niponggo at Korean ay kayang-kaya nating bigkasin. Malayung-malayo na tayo, hindi tayo napag-iiwanan kung ito ang iniisip ng ibang lahi kahit sa sorbey sa pinakacorrupt sa pamumuno hindi rin tayo pahuhuli. Alam na alam na natin ang global warming. Kung ano ang ibig sabihin ng ozone layer, carbon monoxide at hemisphere.
Ngunit sa pang-araw-araw na mga balita wala tayong solidong kasagutan sa suliranin natin sa global warming. Kung paano natin malulunasan o maiwasan man lang ang pagkasira ng ating sanlibutan.
Sa isang kumpulan ng mga trabahador napag-usapan ang tungkol dito, ayun sa isa para makatipid at makatulong sa pagpalaganap ng kalinisan dapat daw na pag may nakita kang papel sa kalsada pulutin mo at gawing panggatong. Di ba magandang ideya ‘yun? Kahit na di mo alam kung saan ito nanggaling, kesyo ginamit na pampunas sa puwet matapos mag-ebak, ginawang pampahid sa mesa o ginawang supot ng duraan dahil bawal raw ang dumura sa pampublikong lugar ay puwede nang gawing panggatong, nakatipid ka na nakatulong ka pa sa libo-libung kahoy na puputulin. O di kaya, puwede kang sumaing sa siga na ginawa mula sa tuyong dahon at basura ng kapitbahay mo. Di ba ang saya-saya? O di kaya makisaing ka sa mga nagtitinda ng inasal na adidas, bituka ng manok at batikulon. Seyb na seyb ka pa. Ayun pa kay Kris Aquino, may tama ka!
Ganito talaga ang buhay, marami na ang mga tao sa Pilipinas, maraming-marami na ang tao sa buong mundo ngunit wala tayong solidong solusyon sa mga problemang kinakaharap. Malayo na ang narating ng bansang Pilipinas ngunit hindi ito ligtas sa mga masasamang dulot ng global warming.
Saan ka mang sulok ngayon dinig na dinig mo ang usapan tungkol sa global warming na kinababahala ng lahat. “Sandali lang magpapayong ako napakainit. Teka mag-rereyn-kowt ako umaambon at mukhang uulan. Sandali naghangin ng malakas. Nakakalula na, ano na ba talaga ito global warming?”

"No matter how impossible the accomplishment of a goal may seem;
the man of intention never stops repeating conscious acts of determination to achieve it,as long as he lives."
- Paramahansa Yogahanda