The Future of The Pasig River

Biyaheng Timog Silangan was an interesting backpacking trilogy of Sandra Aguinaldo in GMA’s most awarded documentary program, i-Witness. Sandra travelled Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam with a shoestring $100 budget or Php4,600 for each country. One interesting highlight is Thailand’s Loy Kratong - The Festival of Lights.

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New 7 Wonders of Nature

The last time I checked Puerto Princesa Subterranean River was no. 11 in ranking. We can put it on top or at the bottom.  

Your vote matters.

To those who are interested to vote click here.

Photo grabbed @ travelphilippinesnow.com

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Change of Habit

After my usual afternoon habit, I went outside and was greeted by two things: (1) my pet dog wagging his tail and (2) a horrible sight –disgusting green grass and dead leaves scattered everywhere. It didn’t take me too long to realize that our front yard has turned into a mini forest. I’m sure it has been there for quite a long time but I was constantly ignoring it. Admittedly, I put more weight on household tasks rather than keeping the outside scenery pleasing. But this afternoon without much thinking, I sheared and uproot the grass using my bare hands and swept the dead leaves and other waste. All of a sudden, I’ve realized that the outside of our house is as important as the inside. Since my mom isn’t always here to do the job, I must take charge. After all I don’t want our entire plants to die because of negligence. A seminar speaker once said “If you’re planning to work in this country (_ _ _ _ _ _), you should start making friends with plants and trees.” Practicing at home is a good start, don’t you think?

Photo grabbed @ dobbin.com

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Magandang Umaga

Magandang umaga.

Bagyo. Kalamidad. Trahedya….

Magandang umaga. Good morning.

Mga kapatid, maganda nga ba ang umaga?

Were the opening statements of Rev. Fr. Alex Balatbat in one of his homilies.

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NDCC reported that the number of fatalities rose to 246; number of missing persons had increased to 38; and damage reaches almost P5B. Videos, photos and testimonials of Ondoy’s victims are certainly heartbreaking. In these times of crisis, can we still greet each morning with “Magandang umaga?”

Yesterday, I had a post entitled “State of Calamity.” It was followed by a short message: Both heart and mind. (sad face). I didn’t have a great morning. Worse, the bad feeling didn’t end there. The whole day, my spirit was so down and restless. When I became aware of Ondoy’s cruelty to some areas, I felt I have no reason to whine. I should be very thankful that even though we also experienced flood, the damage is so little compare to those living in other parts of the metro and nearby provinces. The fact that my family and I are fine and safe is enough reason to be grateful. But the bad feeling yesterday was uncontrollable. “Magandang umaga” were difficult words to say. I guess, Ondoy’s victims would agree.

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I’m sure a lot of us have heard stories about foreigners who get so amazed by us, Filipino people, because even in the midst of tragedy we can still strike a smile. While in very prosperous countries, there are news about multi-millionaires who committed suicide because of anxieties; problems they couldn’t contain. I can imagine these foreign people screaming “Something’s wrong with Filipino people!”

Pilipinos are known for being happy people. In devastating moments like this, a smile does not only signigfies joy, it is also a symbol of hope. A hope rooted in our Christian faith. For the Bible says:

I will never leave you nor forsake you. - Hebrews 13:5

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. – Romans 12:12

Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD. - Psalms 31:24

There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off. - Proverbs 23:18

When calamity comes, the wicked are brought down, but even in death
the righteous have a refuge. – Proverbs 14:32

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. – John 3:16

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Is there a joy in suffering? God did not come to take away suffering. He came to feel the suffering. That' why even in suffering Jesus is with us. When you embrace suffering, you embrace Christ. Even in suffering I find joy; I experience God. - Rev. Fr. Alex Balatbat

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There maybe times that our mornings would appear so dim; that even though the sun is so high we cannot see the light because our eyes are blinded with problems and difficulties; our mind is constantly wandering; and our heart is deeply wounded. We should all remember that there is God who will forever be truthful to his promise. He is the reason why we should greet each morning with “Magandang Umaga.”

Let me end this post with a video of the song I See You Lord by Aiza Seguerra.

Mga Kapatid, Magandang Umaga! :)

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Photo courtesy of Flickr (melaniemorgyn) and video from mindslife

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Death (Edited)

Death is the word that I dreaded the most. Actually I'm not really afraid of dying (Because there is such a thing as heaven and hell) but on the manner of dying. One of the foremost reasons why I sometimes avoid watching news programs is the fact that reports about murder, salvage, massacre, fatal accidents etc. are all synonymous to killing.

I keep on asking myself “Why do some people have to die in a brutal manner?” Worst, some people leave the world because of the evil thoughts of men.

When I was in grade school, I dreamt of becoming a doctor. But as I grew up I am convinced that a medical profession is not my calling. Just a thought of dealing with a dying patient who has been stab with a knife frightens me. In addition to that, I am also a minor hematophobic.

Ok, let’s have some U-turn from human being to natural environment.

Death isn’t just applicable to people. Plants, trees, animals, insects and their natural habitat also experience death.

In Jose Rizal's novel Noli Me Tangere (Touch Me Not), our national hero described Ilog Pasig (Pasig River) as a river that serves many purposes - from transportation to bathing to laundry washing. It is so sad that the clean water of Ilog Pasig can only be seen in old photographs and stories of historians and first generation ancestors.

If we go to high-land places in some Northern and Southern part of Luzon, the ground which tall trees and shrubs used to stand are now occupied by private subdivisions and resorts. The residents in those mountains or the bakasyonistas are very lucky to have nice over-looking sceneries with cooler breeze. But hey, the fate of the old trees is not so lucky.

We have probably heard news about Global Warming a hundred times already. Global warming is an increase in the average temperature of the earth's atmosphere, especially a sustained increase sufficient to cause climatic change. The main cause of global warming is the attitude of mankind to nature. (source: answers.com and timeforchange.org).

Have we realized the message of every story related to global warming?

For me the message is clear “There is something wrong with our natural environment.” Or should I say ‘There is something wrong with human nature?” And if we keep on ignoring the point of every story, global warming might also stand for DEATH (death of our mother earth and men) – a death all rooted to human negligence.

At once, let’s think about the welfare of our neighbors and the planet that we live in before it’s too late.

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Posted 9/16/09 1:16AM

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