A green lifestyle

MANILA, Philippines - Screams are heard in the dark as water covers the small bit of earth you call home. Earthquakes, flash floods, barrios buried by landslides and all these natural catastrophes are somewhat stuff of legend. Stories we see and hear when we watch the daily news until you become the target. In those few moments as you struggle for dear life, hoping to save the ones you love; you remember that it was your ignorance that led to such a catastrophe. It was your lack of knowledge, not heeding the warnings that is the ultimate cause of your undoing.

I learned from this mistake, living in America. I was a constant witness to nature’s fury as hurricanes left a trail of destruction from coast to coast. Tornadoes ravaged the once lush, green countryside. The aftermath was always a severe flooding that left people tired, hungry and powerless.

I consider myself a naturalist since I find great comfort in nature. I remember driving at five in the morning to watch the sunrise from the different state parks in the US I remember vacations spent swimming with manatees and dolphins, exploring underwater caves and springs. I found the crashing of the waves, the song of the birds and the gentle rustling of the leaves an invisible fortress of solace, a place where one can reflect and enjoy God’s gift.

Ondoy was indeed a wake-up call, I just came home from the States when the onslaught of Ondoy echoed through the Philippines. A nearby subdivision destroyed the wall keeping the waters away from our residence thus creating a torrential wave of water that caused a flash flood to appear in the heart of Quezon City. I remember the shrill scream of my mother as this flood devastated our home. The only thing we could do was pray as we tried to salvage whatever belongings we can save as the waters rushed in like a thrashing beast. Material possessions down the drain, the recording studio equipment; our main source of livelihood was in total disarray. The wave of destruction reduced years of investment to mere ruins.

That was the moment when I realized it was high time for all of us to make drastic lifestyle changes. Empty idealism would take us nowhere. Going green focuses on the action, what we can do to preserve God’s gift and the measures we need to take to ensure our children would not be the ones to pay the price for our mistakes. Complacency in regards to garbage disposal and recycling; reclaiming bodies of water to further fan the flames of industry would lead to a future of environmental devastation and decay. Short-lived “Plant a tree” campaigns should not just be a fancy trend, it should be a lifestyle and a legacy. Going green would save the birds as it would save man. Let us be good stewards of God’s blessing. Going green is about making a difference through God’s grace.

(Be a part of the advocacy by watching ETZ: Eco Travel Zone, hosted by the author and Maria Mustonen with segment hosts Nyco Arca, Ashley Arca, Mherie Caibal and Gab. ETZ: Eco Travel Zone is aired on Studio 23, Saturdays at 9:30 a.m.)