Real Sustainability

Last sunday, the family visited the base of Ministries without Borders in Gen. Trias, Cavite. This is a faith based NGO doing educational and health care work in areas of the Philippines. They have a child care program covering abandoned child care and child nutrition. They also have maternity care and work with indigenous communities in Mindoro and Mindanao.

What impressed me this this group was that while they are engaged in the social aspect of development, they are heavily environmental. The buildings in their facility had the proper orientation which allowed for daylighting without heat coming in. They had high ceilings which also alleviated heat. It was surprising to be cool in a building in the middle of rice fields without airconditioning.

Another thing that impressed me was that they segregate. They had big bins for recyclables (tins, bottles). I felt ashamed because I myself don't do it! I agree that this is the right thing to do but I never saw this done in simplicity and dedication as these folks do. They also mentioned that social benefit in that their local workers could get extra money when they sold the recyclables to junk shops.

I guess, there really is something when Christians take something to heart and do it. There is definitely something transformational when a cause is adapted into Christian work ethic which cannot be seen in secular organizations. More power to Ministries without Borders!

A lament for Boracay

My family recently went to Boracay for vacation. While Boracay certainly hasn't lost its charm, it is disheartening that its pristine state has been lost. When we went to this place in the '80s, it had the Gilligan's Island feel to it. There were no roads. You can buy a fisherman's catch of squid for PHP14. THERE WAS NO ELECTRICITY!

Today, a road runs through the middle of the island. Prices higher. There's even a mall! What grieves me is that progress on the island is irresponsible. We were making sand castles in Station 1 (high end area of the island) and found what a appeared to be sewage leachate. While the most station 1 resorts are responsible some just don't connect to the sewage system. In the middle of the island you also found "lakes" of stagnant run-off water. As stated in a movie my kids watch "take care of our island and it will take care of us". This appears to be an example of how not to do it.

On May 2006, Pres Arroyo declared Boracay as public land. Recently the Supreme Court upheld her right to do this. WOW! I guess when you are in power you can do what you want. Don't know what the implacation would be to titled properties on the island. The largest land holding was a sugar estate owned by Lola Soping Tirol. My grand father, Josefino Tirol, titled the land for her. It has since then been passed on to descendants, sold to relatives and other parties. This property wasn't of much value until the 80's when European backpackers discovered it. It would be quite frustrating that something that has been in your family for generations is suddenly taken away. But why should I complain, our goverment did the same thing to the Muslims. It has also done the same to rice lands in its ever failing land reform schemes.

I am quite warry of our government suddenly declaring lands alienable and disposable. If the government claims lands really for the redevelopment of pristine forests then I'm all for it.But if our properties are taken over by other private entities, then is another proof that we are in an Oligarchic society. Looking at 3rd Republic, the Marcos Era and the current Republic, no socialist venture of the government ever succeeded. The 3rd republic homestead project led to the Mindanao rebellion. Masagana 99, CARP and other incarnations of land reform led to the massive conversion of farms to residential land. In a true democracy, the Goverment's role is to regulate and provide incentives. If it wants to reforest Boracay, then it should provide the regulations and incentives for people to do so.

It is safe to say our country has never been free. We have always been either ruled by foreign powers or by the interests of specific parties. When will our society be founded on justice, fairness and equality. Our government probably the most un-Filipino institution of all. It denies our God given values of Damayan, Bayanihan and Palabra de Honor. At the end of the day, the poor remains poor and the rich become richer in the guise of helping the poor.

Boracay is threatened by those within who don't care about her health as an island and by external forces who wan't to take her away in the guise of being concerned for her health.

I'd like to end this blog with a very short story.

There once was a noble princess who lived in the south seas. She was descended from a noble line of malay datus. She belonged to the race that brought forth the civilization and rule of law in our islands. At the right age, she was wed to a noble king from Aklan. They had children and a wonderful kingdom. Their fame spread across the seas and nobles and princes from other lands came to visit them. The old king died and our queen, who was much younger, was left with her children. The children, however, lacked the nobility of their parents. The lived drunken lives. They allowed rough men into their domain. Many times did their mother get raped by these brutes. From afar, a cunning king saw what was happening. He wanted the beautiful kingdom now in distress. His plan was to propose a treaty of protection but in reality he wanted to exploit the kingdom and its queen all from himself. No one has heard of the kingdom since his proposal was accepted by the queen.

This will be Boracay's fate if we let it.