Divided Philippines: January 2012

The times are crazy. It’s out of control. People keep on making decisions without taking time to realize the consequences of their actions. Selfishness and worldly gains are all they care for.

Political fiasco, social dilemmas, economical meltdowns, judicial uncertainties, security perils, and the most immediate concern, environmental devastation.

An ordered chaos.

Palawan is the paradise of our dear fatherland. It was considered as the Last Ecological Frontier of the Philippines. It is the home to most of our surviving mangroves, coral reefs and of the 2 UNESCO World Heritage sites. Here dwell the key areas of biodiversity. This is where life breathes, sustaining our environment.

According to Republic Act No. 7611, or the Strategic Environmental Plan of Palawan, the forests and all dwelling places of the exotic animals must be protected against human abuses at all times.

But sad to say, this paradise is about to perish.

Mining activities intensified in the area. Mining applications heightened, making Palawan vulnerable to collapse: trees were cut down, water pollution, ancestral lands of the natives were pilfered and the voice of the community became useless and ignored.

Mining is not a solution to poverty. It is a hazard to the environment and all that breathes. Nature is the real treasure.

With all these tragedies, I know it’s not yet too late to salvage Mother Nature.

10 million signatures we need to voice out our concerns!

STOP MINING!

SAVE PALAWAN!

SAVE MOTHER EARTH!

AN ANSWER TO A CALL

Save Palawan Movement put up a 10 Million Signature campaign to encourage the Filipino people and build a hope of putting an end to destructive mining operations in Palawan. This is to deliver a strong message to our government and make them realize the danger of such exploit and protect the last paradise that it will not become another lost treasure.

As a response to this call, for this is not just the concern of the citizens of Palawan but of all of us, we, the Sta. Teresita del Niño Jesus Parish Youth Ministry here in Iloilo City, with the support of our Parish Priest Rev. Fr. Evaresto “Borong” Ablona and Resident Priest and Jaro Archdiocesan Youth Commission (JAYC) Director Fr. Raphael Louis Clavel, together with the Parish Social Action Ministry (PSAM) representatives, Miss Janet Aguilar Napacia (also the Barangay Apostolic Council Chairman) and Mrs. Menchie Oribe, initiates the campaign in our Parish by putting tables and personnel to the church’s entrances before the 4:30 pm Youth Mass on Sunday, January 15, 2012, and ask for the signatures to both parishioners and common goers, explaining the concerns of the action.

We work for 3 straight hours, with the Youth Ministry labored without cease, until the end of the 7pm Mass and gathered more or less 300 signatures. We know it’s not enough and our hearts desire for more. One step at a time, we know, things will be okay. God motivates us.

This is a continuing engagement to our fellow youth, to Mother Nature and the battle for decent life. A journey to something beautiful. To something relevant and meaningful. We will not quiver. There will be no surrender. We will do our best, pushing ourselves to the limit, to restore Mother Nature. To preserve what was left. For us to leave something for the next generation and all generations to follow.

Young as we are, we stand firm in the faith that this campaign will sure be heard. That our government and all our fellow men and women of this beloved nation will stand together and speak up for what is right and important.

Vox populi, vox Dei.

Nature is a sanctuary. We must not destroy it. If She will perish, we will have nothing left. She is life. She is us. She is the solace of our children. We must care for Her.

This is the time to turn around and realize… to think again of what lies ahead. Let us not be possessed by the worldly fulfillments but by the grace of our Almighty Father that He has given us – Mother Nature.

We give thanks and recognitions to the following organizations and individuals for making this endeavor possible and moving: