Environment :)

Yay! I think I’ll be getting more and more overwhelmed, involved and concerned with what’s happening in our environment this year. After our thesis research part 1, actually after reading almost 20 articles and journals about climate change, disaster management and anything about environmental degradation, I can say that there are a lot of harmful human activities that we do and in order to change it, people should be aware of it. I read one article that says fishermen are more prone in facing disaster risks such as tsunami. The more they sail to fish, the more they are vulnerable to it and of course, who can stop themselves from fishing if it brings them the food they eat.

We cannot prevent calamities to happen but it is undeniable to say that everything we do affects our environment. To further understand how climate change is happening, I wanted to have my on-the-job training in Greenpeace International. It is an NGO fighting against climate change, deforestation and emission of toxic wastes through promoting sustainable agriculture and energy efficiency. The good thing about this organization is that they INNOVATE. Yes, they introduce new technology such as the solar generation. As what I see, this is very effective because it provides electricity coming from the sunlight. Cool, huh? It will be cooler if you discover how it works. 

OJT

THANK YOU LORD :)

Last Monday, April 2, 2012, nakaschedule akong mamasyal sa QC. Oo, mamamasyal ako dahil kailangan kong mag Job hunting for my internship this summer. Sa kasamaang palad, hindi ako nakasama sa aking mga kaklaseng sina Jojo, Patty, Jessy, Kim and Gregs DAHIL, masama ang pakiramdam ko at galing ako sa biglaang lakad papuntang Laguna at Cavite. Nakakainis din minsan diba kapag hindi umaayon sa plano mo lahat diba? Ganito kasi yun, nakaset na mamamsyal kami noong Linggo ni mommy after the sunday service. Pero dahil hindi siya nakapagsimba at kailangan niyang samahan sa tita sa bahay sa Laguna, pinapunta niya ako doon.

Ayun, pumunta ko. At napag-usapan namin na pupunta muna kami sa Cavite bago umuwi sa Valenzuela dahil sa naiwan niyang charger. Haaaaaay. Define hassle. Gabi na nang makarating kami sa Cavite so we decided na doon na matulog. At ako naman inisip ko na kinaumagahan bukas ay pupunta ako ng QC.

Ayun, di ko kinaya e. Hindi natuloy yung plano ko. So yung iba kong kasabayan, nakapag-pass na ng application sa gusto kong NGO. I was really worried and almost gave up in applying to that environmental NGO.

Wednesday na ko nakapag-pass ng application ko doon. Nagpunta ako alone. Nag-try na din ako nagbasakaling tumatanggap pa ng interns, wala pa naman akong ibang gustong pasukan kung hindi ito lang.

I was informed na iu-update na lang daw nila ko once holy week is over. So after holy week wala pa ring update. Nagschedule na lang ako ng panibagong job hunting noong April 10, 2012 with a classmate. On my way to QC, yung classmate ko na natanggap na doon biglang nagtext sa akin.

"Friend, kung gusto mo pa rin daw i-pursue yung application mo dito, pumunta ka na ngayon."

Eh di nawindang ako. Nung una nalito pa ko kasi may iba na kong plan e. Pero still, God had given me the chance to work there. After all na halos nawalan na ko ng pag-asa doon. It was really a blessing talaga and I was so happy. I thought God has a plan that is different from mine but maybe it was just a test if I will put my faith unto Him.

THAT IN ALL THINGS, GOD MAY BE GLORIFIED!

FPE Conference

Regional Consultative Meeting (Foundation for the Philippine Environment)

The Regional Consultative Meeting by the Foundation for the Philippine Environment was held last April 12, 2012 7:00am to 9pm. 
We arrived at the Pearl Hall, Innotech Commonwealth, Quezon City around 11am. Upon registration, we were given an envelope containing copies of the presentations, booklets on environment, FPE, agriculture, etc. FPE or the Foundation for the Philippine Environment is the first grant-making institution for the environment in the Philippines. It has partnerships with 334 NGOs (non-government organizations and POs (people's organizations) and 24 academic institutions. 

The conference started on presenting the FPE's "evaluation" of the funds released and the accomplished projects. Student organizations as well as the LGUs can also request for funds they are just asked to have a partnership with an NGO. FPE's funds come from the United States Agency for for International Development (USAID) and Bank of Tokyo in sustaining environmental projects here in the Philippines. Specifically, funds go to Project Development Grant (PDG), Forest Restoration, Research Grants (Capacity Building Advocacy Research Mobilization), etc. 


Every presentation is followed by an open forum. During the open forum, topics like the problems on food safety in Visayas and Mindanao, funds for Green Economy Development are discussed. 


The areas addressed were also presented. Logging, Mining and Climate change are few problems that are currently threatening our country and I have learned that before making any action, areas should be assessed first (Resource and Social Economic Assessment). 


There was a question raised that really made me think. Should FPE shoulder other expenses of the NGOs such as the salaries of the staff, insurances, etc? 

FPE said that every proposal should be packaged completely including every small detail an NGO needs. Also, every proposal should aim to address the problems in Biodiversity and Sustainable Development. FPE's stand in logging and mining are also discussed including the role of lawyers in environmental NGOs. The National Greening Program (NGP) was also discussed. It is a reforestation farming system that will answer our environmental problems.

I am amazed on how these people take environment matters seriously. They think of every possible ways on how they can reduce the causes of climate change and other environmental problems. They are very passionate in looking at everything when it comes to environment and they are ready to voice out all their concerns for them to do achieve their goals. It is good when you talk with people who are advocates of the environment, surely you will learn a lot of things that will motivate you to be a better person. 

Philippines, in its geographical state, is indeed vulnerable to calamities that are brought by climate change and other harmful human activities. However, nothing is impossible in saving the earth given the resources, manpower, planning and teamwork. 


Collaboration with different organizations will mean more possibilities, more chance that we protect the environment and introduce innovations. 

Youth Camp

SARILAYA SUMMER YOUTH CAMP- Jabez Campsite, Pala-Pala Dasmarinas, Cavite April 10-11, 2012

SARILAYA or Kasarian Kalayaan Inc. organized a camp for young people coming from different communities in Cavite. There are exciting activities conducted for the teens. The camping started on April 10 ’12 Tuesday. We arrived there lunchtime to accompany our boss/dude/kuya Albert in talking about Energy Efficiency.

They welcomed us warmly. These people are very hospitable to us. The moment we arrived in the campsite, they immediately prepared lunch for us four.

We met Miss Monina who is the head of the SARILAYA Organization. She is the one who invited us and facilitated the whole camp.

There was cooking contest wherein they are asked to buy ingredients from the market given a P50 budget every person. They are grouped into four and asked to cook any viand that is healthy. I only saw 2 cooked viands, the Ginataang Tilapia and fried fish. 


There are also sessions on healthy living and energy efficiency.

Talking about our very own Sir Albert’s presentation on energy efficiency, I’m happy that these young people are actively listening. After the presentation they asked questions on hydropower plants, Energy Efficiency, solar energy, climate change, etc.

I believe the next generation can still revive our environment.  This country needs people who will devote their lives in making a change specifically in fighting against climate change. I know it is not yet too late to change our bad attitudes and act against the consequences of our own mistakes.