My Precious Pearl
Dear Diary,
Far from view, I can clearly visualize the long white sand beaches of a tropical island from the east - an epitome of the best beaches of more popular destinations such as the Caribbean and the South Pacific. The heavenly colored beaches with the action-filled movements of swimmers, divers, surfers and snorkelers attracted my attention. `What a wonderful paradise island!´ , I exclaimed while enjoying my pearl shake drink and staring at the small white pearl I bought in a nearby souvenir shop.
I was wondering about the mystery of such a precious pearl when one of the tourists dropped an ice-cream wrapper in front where I was sitting around. I remembered suddenly the 2009 doomsday movie “2012”, considered as the mother of all flicks that thrilled the whole globe about the Mayan’s prediction of our Earth’s future because of the people’s negligence and lack of care for Mother Nature. It also reminded me of the play about the world´s current trials and problems which my classmates and I were asked to perform in our English Class. Before we began, we had to come up with an appropriate title for our play. One of my classmates suggested, “The Shattered Pieces of the Pearl” and most of them agreed to it. Definitely, I did not. I considered that title too negative in viewing the Earth. I know that our planet is not that shattered yet, although the deadly effects of global warming are now felt throughout the world, like the uncontrollable blazes of wildfire that had eaten up hundreds of square miles of rural Texas, this 10th day of April, the monster cyclone Yasi with a speed of 295 kilometres per hour that eyed Queensland, Australia and the torrential rainstorms that triggered the mudslides in the mountaintop towns near Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. I believe that there’s still sunshine behind those dark hopeless nights, if we will all work together to save Mother Nature. In view of these natural calamities and my optimism for a safer environment, I suggested, `You and I, Hand in Hand We Can Face It´. Only a few agreed with me, but I knew that we, the youth, have an important role to play in saving the Earth from shattering completely into pieces. As Chesterton said, “There is one thing which gives radiance to everything. It is the idea of something around the corner . . . . Hope.”
As a member of our Science Oriented Class in my school and as a Regional Youth for Environment and Schools Organization (YES-O) Officer, I do believe that even I am an ordinary student I can make a CHANGE. In my young age, my parents have been teaching me how to be a youth environmentalist by developing in me eco-friendly practices, like for example, the very common segregation of waste into biodegradable, non-biodegradable and recyclable materials. In doing so, I was able to develop the love and care for Mother Nature. As a response to the Clean Air Act of 1999, my family and I managed to make a compost pit in our backyard instead of burning biodegradable wastes.
As a teenager, I started to practice these environmental activities I learned at home in our community and school. Last summer, I started to coordinate with our Barangay officials in putting up the Gulayan ng Barangay in an open wide area in our place. We also conducted a tree planting program beside our vegetable nursery. The success of this project was made possible with the active support and assistance of our Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials, and the homeowners in our subdivision.
Aside from the tree planting program, I also participated in community services together with the teenage basketball players and SK officials in our Purok at Barangay Tagas. Our group together with the Barangay officials and youth volunteers of Barangay Basud conducted a Coastal Clean-up Drive along the riverbanks of Barangay Tagas and Barangay Basud. Another coastal clean-up was undertaken along the shoreline of San Lorenzo Beach as a supportive response to the Clean Water Act of 2004. After we implemented all our activities last summer, I realized and I was convinced that, the Barangay and SK officials and the young ones like the basketball players and youth volunteers were really actively supportive of such programs for Mother Earth.
The summer was about to end but I still took an active participation in our Brigada Eskwela 2010. Additionally, as one of the Year II representatives in the Supreme Student Government Organization (SSGO), I took part in the conduct of the Earthquake Drill in our school. With the other youth environmentalists, I also joined the Tree Planting Program and Coastal Clean-up Drive in the nearby beach during the Regional YES-O Camp held at Sto. Domingo National High School.
Before our class could enjoy the long Christmas vacation, three of our school organizations conducted outreach programs in different destinations. Our Computer Club visited the children of Barangay Comon and the SSGO went up to the long winding roads of Barangay Nagsipit, Tabaco City. Our Year II Class Council organized an outreach program for indigent second year students of our school. Such outreach programs included activities for the youth such as feeding and gift- giving ceremonies.
I’ve decided to continue this summer 2011, what I have started last summer instead of using my free time with useless matters. The Earth is much more in need of “healing” and “redeeming” these days because of global warming and the misuse and abuse of it. I spent my summer with some environment efforts and green projects. I conducted a series of environmental campaigns and lectures to the youth in our Barangay. My first group of young students belong to the Children International of Tagas. Since they were 12 years old and below, I made the lecture very simple and easy to understand. I also prepared a bunch of prizes for them as a motivation and a reward for paying attention and listening to me. I also shared with them my knowledge on waste segregation and recycling of junks to make them aware of the Republic Act No. 9003 and the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000. Our group launched a Feeding Program for malnourished youth of the Children International and distributed environmental campaign brochures and disaster preparedness hand-outs. I also had a chance to meet two teachers of the Alternative Learning System in Tagas Barangay Hall who gave me the opportunity to share my knowledge regarding Global Warming Awareness and Disaster Preparedness to their students in Tagas and Cobo. As the days passed by, I still continued my environmental campaign to the youth of Tagas and the street children I’ve visited in Barangay Basud, Tabaco City.
After undertaking all the activities with the different key persons in my community and school, I can happily and proudly say that this summer was indeed a very rewarding and productive one. In fact, it was the best summer I ever had. I thought I should be the one to help, but instead, the persons I encountered, young and old, were the ones who helped me a lot in terms of the rich experiences I gained and the support, friendliness and cooperation they extended to me. They have inspired me to continue what I have started, that is, to educate more children regarding disaster preparedness and encourage them to join environment-related activities to save Mother Nature and the whole human race.
After having had my memorable summer environment-related experiences, I was really convinced that the title I suggested, “You and I, Hand in Hand We Can Face It” was the more appropriate title for our play than the title “The Shattered Pieces of the Pearl” chosen by my classmates. I hope that my classmates would realize the full meaning and impact of the title they opted for. I believe, that the youth is indeed, the hope of our Motherland, specifically and Mother Nature, generally; that the youth have to know and learn for themselves and for others; to help and love others and to have faith in themselves that they CAN make a GREAT CHANGE. It is also a big challenge for me to inspire other young people like me to take active part in the joint efforts for the growth and development of our nation and for the fight and struggle against global warming.
After my beautiful summer reminiscence, now, I would only like to enjoy the tender touch of the cold air blowing against me and the scenic beauty of this paradise island. I gave again a closer look at my precious pearl and the piece of garbage dropped by the tourist in front of me. Many more would be doing that. That certainly gave stress pollution in the marine environment of Mother Nature. Pearls are the jewels of the sea. They can only thrive with their world-class quality in an abundance of warm and natural colors in an environment with a delicate balance between nature and creative human intervention. I wish that every one, including me, could respect the rhythm of Mother Nature, care for her, allow her to do wonders in her own time and she will reward us generously with so many things in varied ways.
My dear Diary, be my witness to this promise: that I will always keep and preserve my very precious pearl. . . . . that I shall continue doing something to the best of my ability and commitment to have a cleaner and healthier world.
Love,
Glanelle Ivy
