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Wednesday, February 20, 2008
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The Fate of Philippine Old Growth Forests
The trees of the Lord are watered
abundantly,
the cedars of the country which he planted.
In them the birds build their nests;
the stork has her home in the fir trees.
I have lived with troubling vistas of a realm that once made me serene: a realm of trees, among them I considered the world's biggest and tallest and almost its oldest ... valleys and slopes and mountaintops of trees, the majestic view of Mount Mayon from afar, sheltering wildlife, nurturing lesser foliage, regulating watersheds of Mt. Isarog... mature giants of trees that once gave our continent the monarch forests of the world, but lately those forests have become so shrunken that creatures formerly thriving there are nominated for the endangered list.
Not long ago, I was one of the kids playing across the street every afternoon. Like ordinary kids, we would play hide and seek, karate-base, patentero, and a whole lot more. Witness to these youthful years was the huge acacia tree covering the entire playfield with his branches, protecting us from the rays of the sun. Our house was just adjacent to where the tree was. I have seen how tough he was to have endured strong typhoons, and to remain strong and firm after almost being burned because of lightning. More than just his being a witness to my childhood years, I was a witness to his struggles. That is why I felt so sorry that just a few months ago, the neighborhood decided to cut him down (for good), which until now, I don’t understand why. He does not cause disruption from the vehicles that were crossing. Neither does he give a threat to the kids that were playing under his strong and reliable branches. I kept on wondering, is putting at risk nature really the price of securing the human welfare?
The Philippines is marked by the abundance of natural resources. The country has a rich forest resources, mineral reserves, water reservoir, and energy resources. However, the country has always faced a problem on mismanagement. The regulations on the protection of the forests existed but not really implemented strictly. People make use of this as an opportunity to illegally provide themselves with extra income by making use nature which is the habitat to wildlife. Thus, this results to the nature’s destruction and the imbalance of the ecosystem, causing a lot of negative effects not just to forest animals, but to living organisms as a whole.
The Philippines is facing a lot of problems that the government has to address. But the government sees nothing but problems regarding to politics and nothing else. Government officials believe that it is the sole problem and if properly resolved, it would create a chain of outcomes, eliminating other ‘minor’ problems. I certainly disagree. For the past decades, a bulk of government’s attention focused on politics alone and nothing positive really transpired. Now, the country is still in a state of struggling to resolve problems on politics, particularly mismanagement and less control in the fiscal aspect leading to corruption. I think the Filipinos have had enough. It’s about time to think about what Vice President Al Gore said, saying that there is something out there that is far more important. And of that, he pertains to the global environmental catastrophes.
More than 7,000 islands make up the Philippines, but the bulk of its fast-growing population lives on just 11 of them. The Philippines has the highest birth rate in Asia, and forecasters say the population could double within three decades. Population problems lead to scarcity of natural resources to provide with each families. With a number of people residing in a certain locality, there is a lesser opportunity for each one to uplift their way of life. People end up hoping to grab each opportunity only to realize that they are not capable to work for it. Their insufficient literacy and lack of access to quality education makes their status stagnant, characterized by reliance on what they have and not aspiring for something more. They become hopeless and end up in the state of poverty long enough wishing someone would lift them up and save them.
The problem does not end there. People, to sustain their basic needs, resort to illegal acts like stealing. I believe we really couldn’t blame them because it is their response to provide themselves with something essential for living. Nevertheless, some would even resort to violation of laws on the environment like working for a company that utilizes illegally outsourced raw materials coming from Philippine forests. Some may even hunt animals, even those that are endangered and protected under government ordinance, just to sell to tourists and animal collectors. In the same way, fishermen would venture into illegal acts of fishing like the use of dynamite and cyanide to provide their families food at the end of the day.
There is a chain of outcome. One problem leads to the other. And the responsibility to act lies not to the government alone. The entire Filipino community must take part to eradicate the threat posed to the environment. Every Filipino, yes including you, has the responsibility to protect his motherland, to start a quest of transition of what the country used to be. The Filipinos must strive to go back to the era when the country still has more than 71% forest cover. After all, one may have earned much with the wrong way of utilization of the Philippine natural resources, but in the long run, it would backfire causing harm to the entire Filipino race. These harms were predominantly seen even as of today.
Much of the country is mountainous and prone to earthquakes and eruptions from around 20 active volcanoes. It is often buffeted by typhoons and other storms. These storms and earthquakes are far stronger than those we had in the past. Considering Typhoon Reming which brought great destruction in Bicol, there is no doubt that today, the country is vulnerable against these natural phenomena. Landslides, such as the one which has buried an entire community in the central Philippines, are often blamed on human-made acts particularly logging. What experts did agree on was the probable impact of heavy rain in the low-lying areas. The lives of hundreds of villagers would be at risk if a major landslide would occur in these places.
Landslides, is one major effect of the destruction of our forest trees. As we all know, the most important ecological function of trees is protecting the land against erosion, the wearing away of topsoil due to wind and water. The trunks and branches of trees provide protection from the wind, and tree roots help solidify soil in times of heavy rain. In addition, trees and forests store water reserves that act as buffers for the ecosystem during periods of drought. In many areas the removal of forests has resulted in costly floods and subsequent droughts. Trees and forests also provide habitat, protection, and food for many plant and animal species. In addition, they play an important role in global climate and atmosphere regulation—the leaves of trees absorb carbon dioxide in the air and produce oxygen that is necessary for life.
More than just the ecological function of trees, it has many economic uses. Lumber from trees is the most widely used material in the building of homes and other structures. Many trees yield edible fruits and nuts such as guavas, mangoes, papayas, and whole lot more. Trees and their fruits are also the source of many commercial waxes and oils, including olive oil and coconut oil. Tree trunks are tapped for sap, which is used in making such products as maple syrup, rubber, and turpentine. The barks of certain trees are sources of cork and spices. Many trees yield important medicines, such as quinine. The bark of the yew tree is the source of the drug taxol, which in 1992 was approved for treating ovarian cancer.
Indeed, forests provide many social, economic, and environmental benefits. In addition to timber and paper products, forests provide wildlife habitat and recreational opportunities, prevent soil erosion and flooding, help provide clean air and water, and contain tremendous biodiversity. Forests are also an important defense against global climate change. Through the process of photosynthesis, forests produce life-giving oxygen and consume huge amounts of carbon dioxide, the atmospheric chemical most responsible for global warming. By decreasing the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, forests may reduce the effects of global warming.
Our forest gives us too much ease our lifestyle. Yet, a number of Filipinos abuse this benefit and end up destroying our forests. Hugh Speechly, a forestry consultant who lived in the Philippines for 12 years, said that in fact much of the logging in the country had already taken place. Is this our way of giving back to the environment what it has bestowed upon us?
The entire world is very much concerned about this environmental dilemma. In 2005 the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations issued a major report, titled “Global Forest Resources Assessment 2005,” on the status of the world’s forests. Based on a five-year study, the report found that forested areas throughout the world were continuing to decline at a rate of about 7.3 million hectares (18 million acres) per year, an area equivalent in size to Panama or Sierra Leone. However, the rate of decline had slowed in comparison with the period from 1990 to 2000, when the world lost about 8.9 million hectares (22 million acres) of forested area per year. Africa and South America continued to have the largest net loss of forests, while forest loss also continued in North and Central America and the Pacific Islands. Only Europe and Asia showed a net gain in forested areas due to forest planting, landscape restoration, and expansion of natural forests. China, in particular, reported a large-scale afforestation effort. In 2005 the world’s total forest area was just less than 4 billion hectares (10 billion acres).
In the United States and Canada, and even in the Philippines, forests are threatened by extensive logging, called clear-cutting, which destroys plant and animal habitat and leaves the landscape bare and unproductive if not properly reforested. Small pockets of ancient forests from 200 to 1,200 years old still exist but are threatened by logging interests.
Until the 1990s, the U.S. Forest Service was directed by Congress to maximize the harvest of timber in order to provide jobs. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, however, environmentalists sued the government for violating the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and heavy logging was deemed unsustainable. As a result, the timber harvest was reduced and foresters were directed to follow a more sustainable policy called ecosystem management. This policy required foresters to focus on conserving natural habitats rather than maximizing tree harvest. Despite this change, many ancient forests remain unprotected.
Can the Philippines do the same thing? President Gloria Arroyo actually has suspended logging and vowed punishment for law-breakers. Permits to fell trees across the nation will no longer be issued, pending a review of the environmental effect. And illegal loggers would be punished like "terrorists and kidnappers", Mrs Arroyo said, visiting badly hit areas. She also revoked existing licences in the worst-hit areas. However, there are still a number of Filipinos ‘silently violating’ this law. As Bob Ong says, there would always be a way for Filipinos to cheat the law and ironic it may seem, they would even to rejoice whenever they were able to do so. Sigh.
Legal and illegal logging is blamed for worsening the impact of the storms, which have left 1,000 dead or missing. It leaves animals to lose their natural habitat. It poses a threat to mankind who relies on the benefits they get from our forests. Isn’t these consequences enough?
I view Filipinos to find more voices calling for new approaches to the problem. I view them to get involved. It is true that the vision of sustained yield enlarges to embrace sustained ecological systems. But we work with an ever shrinking resource, with fading options. Are we already too late?
While we pursue hopeful visions, our options shrink daily, and somewhere in what remains there stands a tree of no return. It is not a specific spruce or fir but a specific number in the sequence of cutting, beyond which the remaining old growth will have shrunk below what natural processes can repair. Then creatures and plants dependent on the ancient woodland's moist multilayered canopies and rich ground covers, on the shelter and nurture bequeathed by its fallen patriarchs, will limp toward extinction amid the once great forest's crazy-quilt vestiges.
So how much is enough? This question looms over all the old forests of the U. S. and Canada. “The truth is that there isn't that much left to protect,” said Brock Evans. He leads the National Audubon Society, a member of the Pacific Northwest's Ancient Forest Alliance of 80 environmental groups. They have fostered a bill in Congress that would stop all cutting of old-growth forests on federal lands.
Now is the time to take action. It is a challenge for us to act to resolve the logging problem once and for all. Let us unite and secure a better future for our next generation. After all, we wouldn’t want our children to blame us for not acting on this, would we? You see, since logging started here few decades ago wildlife has decreased. We have fewer tamaraws, fewer agilas, and fewer mayas. If the logging continues, none will be left for our children.
“We've been too generous, too gentle,” said Alex Short, speaking hesitatingly but with deep feeling. “We've been sleeping. Now all must help.”
Protect the environment. Plant more trees. Practice proper waste disposal. Make use of the 3Rs. Live an environment-friendly life. The fate of our forests is in our hands.
Sources:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/
Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2007. © 1993-2006 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
abundantly,
the cedars of the country which he planted.
In them the birds build their nests;
the stork has her home in the fir trees.
I have lived with troubling vistas of a realm that once made me serene: a realm of trees, among them I considered the world's biggest and tallest and almost its oldest ... valleys and slopes and mountaintops of trees, the majestic view of Mount Mayon from afar, sheltering wildlife, nurturing lesser foliage, regulating watersheds of Mt. Isarog... mature giants of trees that once gave our continent the monarch forests of the world, but lately those forests have become so shrunken that creatures formerly thriving there are nominated for the endangered list.
Not long ago, I was one of the kids playing across the street every afternoon. Like ordinary kids, we would play hide and seek, karate-base, patentero, and a whole lot more. Witness to these youthful years was the huge acacia tree covering the entire playfield with his branches, protecting us from the rays of the sun. Our house was just adjacent to where the tree was. I have seen how tough he was to have endured strong typhoons, and to remain strong and firm after almost being burned because of lightning. More than just his being a witness to my childhood years, I was a witness to his struggles. That is why I felt so sorry that just a few months ago, the neighborhood decided to cut him down (for good), which until now, I don’t understand why. He does not cause disruption from the vehicles that were crossing. Neither does he give a threat to the kids that were playing under his strong and reliable branches. I kept on wondering, is putting at risk nature really the price of securing the human welfare?
The Philippines is marked by the abundance of natural resources. The country has a rich forest resources, mineral reserves, water reservoir, and energy resources. However, the country has always faced a problem on mismanagement. The regulations on the protection of the forests existed but not really implemented strictly. People make use of this as an opportunity to illegally provide themselves with extra income by making use nature which is the habitat to wildlife. Thus, this results to the nature’s destruction and the imbalance of the ecosystem, causing a lot of negative effects not just to forest animals, but to living organisms as a whole.
The Philippines is facing a lot of problems that the government has to address. But the government sees nothing but problems regarding to politics and nothing else. Government officials believe that it is the sole problem and if properly resolved, it would create a chain of outcomes, eliminating other ‘minor’ problems. I certainly disagree. For the past decades, a bulk of government’s attention focused on politics alone and nothing positive really transpired. Now, the country is still in a state of struggling to resolve problems on politics, particularly mismanagement and less control in the fiscal aspect leading to corruption. I think the Filipinos have had enough. It’s about time to think about what Vice President Al Gore said, saying that there is something out there that is far more important. And of that, he pertains to the global environmental catastrophes.
More than 7,000 islands make up the Philippines, but the bulk of its fast-growing population lives on just 11 of them. The Philippines has the highest birth rate in Asia, and forecasters say the population could double within three decades. Population problems lead to scarcity of natural resources to provide with each families. With a number of people residing in a certain locality, there is a lesser opportunity for each one to uplift their way of life. People end up hoping to grab each opportunity only to realize that they are not capable to work for it. Their insufficient literacy and lack of access to quality education makes their status stagnant, characterized by reliance on what they have and not aspiring for something more. They become hopeless and end up in the state of poverty long enough wishing someone would lift them up and save them.
The problem does not end there. People, to sustain their basic needs, resort to illegal acts like stealing. I believe we really couldn’t blame them because it is their response to provide themselves with something essential for living. Nevertheless, some would even resort to violation of laws on the environment like working for a company that utilizes illegally outsourced raw materials coming from Philippine forests. Some may even hunt animals, even those that are endangered and protected under government ordinance, just to sell to tourists and animal collectors. In the same way, fishermen would venture into illegal acts of fishing like the use of dynamite and cyanide to provide their families food at the end of the day.
There is a chain of outcome. One problem leads to the other. And the responsibility to act lies not to the government alone. The entire Filipino community must take part to eradicate the threat posed to the environment. Every Filipino, yes including you, has the responsibility to protect his motherland, to start a quest of transition of what the country used to be. The Filipinos must strive to go back to the era when the country still has more than 71% forest cover. After all, one may have earned much with the wrong way of utilization of the Philippine natural resources, but in the long run, it would backfire causing harm to the entire Filipino race. These harms were predominantly seen even as of today.
Much of the country is mountainous and prone to earthquakes and eruptions from around 20 active volcanoes. It is often buffeted by typhoons and other storms. These storms and earthquakes are far stronger than those we had in the past. Considering Typhoon Reming which brought great destruction in Bicol, there is no doubt that today, the country is vulnerable against these natural phenomena. Landslides, such as the one which has buried an entire community in the central Philippines, are often blamed on human-made acts particularly logging. What experts did agree on was the probable impact of heavy rain in the low-lying areas. The lives of hundreds of villagers would be at risk if a major landslide would occur in these places.
Landslides, is one major effect of the destruction of our forest trees. As we all know, the most important ecological function of trees is protecting the land against erosion, the wearing away of topsoil due to wind and water. The trunks and branches of trees provide protection from the wind, and tree roots help solidify soil in times of heavy rain. In addition, trees and forests store water reserves that act as buffers for the ecosystem during periods of drought. In many areas the removal of forests has resulted in costly floods and subsequent droughts. Trees and forests also provide habitat, protection, and food for many plant and animal species. In addition, they play an important role in global climate and atmosphere regulation—the leaves of trees absorb carbon dioxide in the air and produce oxygen that is necessary for life.
More than just the ecological function of trees, it has many economic uses. Lumber from trees is the most widely used material in the building of homes and other structures. Many trees yield edible fruits and nuts such as guavas, mangoes, papayas, and whole lot more. Trees and their fruits are also the source of many commercial waxes and oils, including olive oil and coconut oil. Tree trunks are tapped for sap, which is used in making such products as maple syrup, rubber, and turpentine. The barks of certain trees are sources of cork and spices. Many trees yield important medicines, such as quinine. The bark of the yew tree is the source of the drug taxol, which in 1992 was approved for treating ovarian cancer.
Indeed, forests provide many social, economic, and environmental benefits. In addition to timber and paper products, forests provide wildlife habitat and recreational opportunities, prevent soil erosion and flooding, help provide clean air and water, and contain tremendous biodiversity. Forests are also an important defense against global climate change. Through the process of photosynthesis, forests produce life-giving oxygen and consume huge amounts of carbon dioxide, the atmospheric chemical most responsible for global warming. By decreasing the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, forests may reduce the effects of global warming.
Our forest gives us too much ease our lifestyle. Yet, a number of Filipinos abuse this benefit and end up destroying our forests. Hugh Speechly, a forestry consultant who lived in the Philippines for 12 years, said that in fact much of the logging in the country had already taken place. Is this our way of giving back to the environment what it has bestowed upon us?
The entire world is very much concerned about this environmental dilemma. In 2005 the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations issued a major report, titled “Global Forest Resources Assessment 2005,” on the status of the world’s forests. Based on a five-year study, the report found that forested areas throughout the world were continuing to decline at a rate of about 7.3 million hectares (18 million acres) per year, an area equivalent in size to Panama or Sierra Leone. However, the rate of decline had slowed in comparison with the period from 1990 to 2000, when the world lost about 8.9 million hectares (22 million acres) of forested area per year. Africa and South America continued to have the largest net loss of forests, while forest loss also continued in North and Central America and the Pacific Islands. Only Europe and Asia showed a net gain in forested areas due to forest planting, landscape restoration, and expansion of natural forests. China, in particular, reported a large-scale afforestation effort. In 2005 the world’s total forest area was just less than 4 billion hectares (10 billion acres).
In the United States and Canada, and even in the Philippines, forests are threatened by extensive logging, called clear-cutting, which destroys plant and animal habitat and leaves the landscape bare and unproductive if not properly reforested. Small pockets of ancient forests from 200 to 1,200 years old still exist but are threatened by logging interests.
Until the 1990s, the U.S. Forest Service was directed by Congress to maximize the harvest of timber in order to provide jobs. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, however, environmentalists sued the government for violating the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and heavy logging was deemed unsustainable. As a result, the timber harvest was reduced and foresters were directed to follow a more sustainable policy called ecosystem management. This policy required foresters to focus on conserving natural habitats rather than maximizing tree harvest. Despite this change, many ancient forests remain unprotected.
Can the Philippines do the same thing? President Gloria Arroyo actually has suspended logging and vowed punishment for law-breakers. Permits to fell trees across the nation will no longer be issued, pending a review of the environmental effect. And illegal loggers would be punished like "terrorists and kidnappers", Mrs Arroyo said, visiting badly hit areas. She also revoked existing licences in the worst-hit areas. However, there are still a number of Filipinos ‘silently violating’ this law. As Bob Ong says, there would always be a way for Filipinos to cheat the law and ironic it may seem, they would even to rejoice whenever they were able to do so. Sigh.
Legal and illegal logging is blamed for worsening the impact of the storms, which have left 1,000 dead or missing. It leaves animals to lose their natural habitat. It poses a threat to mankind who relies on the benefits they get from our forests. Isn’t these consequences enough?
I view Filipinos to find more voices calling for new approaches to the problem. I view them to get involved. It is true that the vision of sustained yield enlarges to embrace sustained ecological systems. But we work with an ever shrinking resource, with fading options. Are we already too late?
While we pursue hopeful visions, our options shrink daily, and somewhere in what remains there stands a tree of no return. It is not a specific spruce or fir but a specific number in the sequence of cutting, beyond which the remaining old growth will have shrunk below what natural processes can repair. Then creatures and plants dependent on the ancient woodland's moist multilayered canopies and rich ground covers, on the shelter and nurture bequeathed by its fallen patriarchs, will limp toward extinction amid the once great forest's crazy-quilt vestiges.
So how much is enough? This question looms over all the old forests of the U. S. and Canada. “The truth is that there isn't that much left to protect,” said Brock Evans. He leads the National Audubon Society, a member of the Pacific Northwest's Ancient Forest Alliance of 80 environmental groups. They have fostered a bill in Congress that would stop all cutting of old-growth forests on federal lands.
Now is the time to take action. It is a challenge for us to act to resolve the logging problem once and for all. Let us unite and secure a better future for our next generation. After all, we wouldn’t want our children to blame us for not acting on this, would we? You see, since logging started here few decades ago wildlife has decreased. We have fewer tamaraws, fewer agilas, and fewer mayas. If the logging continues, none will be left for our children.
“We've been too generous, too gentle,” said Alex Short, speaking hesitatingly but with deep feeling. “We've been sleeping. Now all must help.”
Protect the environment. Plant more trees. Practice proper waste disposal. Make use of the 3Rs. Live an environment-friendly life. The fate of our forests is in our hands.
Sources:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/
Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2007. © 1993-2006 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
Monday, February 18, 2008
Two Bees Flew Away Forever
They were free. Happier than ever. They were optimistic. They have fully conceived that to be in a state of genuine belongingness, they have to sacrifice something (or someone). They just did: a decision they would never regret.
Sunday, February 17, 2008
To My Favorite Teacher
DEED OF GRATITUDE
According to the school policy, all graduating students are obliged to send a letter to their most favorite teacher in the university. Whereas, the said letter shall be presented to the teacher as a form of gratitude for being the person with the greatest impact in the student’s development in his four years of stay in the university.
I, Michael Arevalo, a graduating student from the Business Management Honor’s Program and the maker of this some sort of instrument, address this letter to Ms. Ma Christina de Los Santos, my teacher in all of my law subjects. This is because of the latter’s amazing way of teaching, good attitude towards work and fairness in dealing with students. Also, Ms. Leck-Leck is able to bring out the potentials of her students by challenging them to utter law-based explanations in the “First and Second Round of Calling of Attendance”.
Sec. HP4. Maam Leck was chosen since she was the only teacher with the following unforgettable traits:
(a) That she arrives on time and is systematic, particularly in arranging chairs and cleaning up the rooms prior to class discussion;
(b) That she is able to maintain class discipline and attention;
(c) That she constructs fair and challenging exams;
(d) That she promotes honesty;
(e) That she is so dedicated towards her teaching even if she is suffering from severe recurrent, throbbing, very painful headache;
(f) That she is patient and self-controlled;
(g) That she blushes when the class laughs at her jokes;
(h) That she feels sorry if she gave you a 95;
(i) That she has three white board marker which often run out of ink;
(j) That she misses her ex-boyfriend, Hector S. De Leon;
(k) That she makes you her sole student when you’re late (you have to answer all her questions for the remaining time);
(l) That she lets you attend the Legal Management Scrimmage Debate as an audience but gives you the proposition in pronto and lets you join as a stand-in;
(m) That she lets you memorize “a negotiable instrument must be (1) In writing and signed by the maker or drawer; (2) containing an unconditional promise or order to pay a sum certain in money; (3) payable on demand or at a fixed or determinable future time; (4) payable to order or bearer; and uhmmm….what’s the last one??
Sec. HP4A. The maker, Michael Arevalo and the addressee, Ms. Ma. Cristina Delos Santos has no capacity to indorse this Deed of Gratitude because the latter is unique and her recognition is duly taken for her alone;
Sec. HP4B. That the addressee will not be compelled to pay any amount to the maker because of the latter’s positive statements seen on Sec. HP4. Although, if the addressee insists, payment shall be accepted;
Sec. HP4C. The maker wishes the addressee good health and happy love life. The delay of the addressee’s prince charming is caused by a fortuitous event. The maker, however, believes that the guy is on his way.
Sec. HP4D. Under no circumstance, the addressee shall not and will not dispose of this deed of gratitude. Violation of such would mean a year of terrible migraine;
Sec. HP4E. The maker will never forget the addressee not unless the former will have an Alzheimer’s disease. Violation of such would mean no snacks for one day;
Sec. HP4F. That the addressee will keep in touch with the maker through his mobile number: 09164389365 and/or email: charlie_marvel@yahoo.com.
Sec. HP4G. The maker says THANK YOU MA’AM LECK and that comes from the bottom of his heart.
Signed this 16th day of February, 2008 at Arevalo’s Residence, Concepcion Pequeña, Naga City.
_____________________
Michael B. Arevalo
Bmhp Batch 4, Class of 2008
WITNESSES:
Karu Ming-Ming
Maker’s Pet Dog Maker’s Pet Cat
According to the school policy, all graduating students are obliged to send a letter to their most favorite teacher in the university. Whereas, the said letter shall be presented to the teacher as a form of gratitude for being the person with the greatest impact in the student’s development in his four years of stay in the university.
I, Michael Arevalo, a graduating student from the Business Management Honor’s Program and the maker of this some sort of instrument, address this letter to Ms. Ma Christina de Los Santos, my teacher in all of my law subjects. This is because of the latter’s amazing way of teaching, good attitude towards work and fairness in dealing with students. Also, Ms. Leck-Leck is able to bring out the potentials of her students by challenging them to utter law-based explanations in the “First and Second Round of Calling of Attendance”.
Sec. HP4. Maam Leck was chosen since she was the only teacher with the following unforgettable traits:
(a) That she arrives on time and is systematic, particularly in arranging chairs and cleaning up the rooms prior to class discussion;
(b) That she is able to maintain class discipline and attention;
(c) That she constructs fair and challenging exams;
(d) That she promotes honesty;
(e) That she is so dedicated towards her teaching even if she is suffering from severe recurrent, throbbing, very painful headache;
(f) That she is patient and self-controlled;
(g) That she blushes when the class laughs at her jokes;
(h) That she feels sorry if she gave you a 95;
(i) That she has three white board marker which often run out of ink;
(j) That she misses her ex-boyfriend, Hector S. De Leon;
(k) That she makes you her sole student when you’re late (you have to answer all her questions for the remaining time);
(l) That she lets you attend the Legal Management Scrimmage Debate as an audience but gives you the proposition in pronto and lets you join as a stand-in;
(m) That she lets you memorize “a negotiable instrument must be (1) In writing and signed by the maker or drawer; (2) containing an unconditional promise or order to pay a sum certain in money; (3) payable on demand or at a fixed or determinable future time; (4) payable to order or bearer; and uhmmm….what’s the last one??
Sec. HP4A. The maker, Michael Arevalo and the addressee, Ms. Ma. Cristina Delos Santos has no capacity to indorse this Deed of Gratitude because the latter is unique and her recognition is duly taken for her alone;
Sec. HP4B. That the addressee will not be compelled to pay any amount to the maker because of the latter’s positive statements seen on Sec. HP4. Although, if the addressee insists, payment shall be accepted;
Sec. HP4C. The maker wishes the addressee good health and happy love life. The delay of the addressee’s prince charming is caused by a fortuitous event. The maker, however, believes that the guy is on his way.
Sec. HP4D. Under no circumstance, the addressee shall not and will not dispose of this deed of gratitude. Violation of such would mean a year of terrible migraine;
Sec. HP4E. The maker will never forget the addressee not unless the former will have an Alzheimer’s disease. Violation of such would mean no snacks for one day;
Sec. HP4F. That the addressee will keep in touch with the maker through his mobile number: 09164389365 and/or email: charlie_marvel@yahoo.com.
Sec. HP4G. The maker says THANK YOU MA’AM LECK and that comes from the bottom of his heart.
Signed this 16th day of February, 2008 at Arevalo’s Residence, Concepcion Pequeña, Naga City.
_____________________
Michael B. Arevalo
Bmhp Batch 4, Class of 2008
WITNESSES:
Karu Ming-Ming
Maker’s Pet Dog Maker’s Pet Cat
Me and My Conscience
I can’t help but share one phrase I read from a book of quotations about what conscience is. According to the book, conscience is the voice that screams within a person every time he skips his diet. When I read that exact definition, I can’t help but laugh. I thought that it was too shallow, in fact does not even embody the true meaning of the word conscience.
Just recently, I realized that the quote was indeed right. Not that I went into a strict diet, but it just seemed to hit me when I found myself listening to other people’s problems. I realized that when a person is caught in the middle and is bound to make an important decision, there is some sort of battle between his conscience, and his personal desire especially if such is not in accordance with what is morally upright. Conscience is the voice that screams within a person to remind him that what he is doing is no longer within the realm of universally accepted norms and standards. Dieting may not be a universally valued norm, but the fact that the person was driven to achieve the goal of having a perfect figure; it already becomes a personal value which is subjected to the standards of the conscience. Conscience is not the voice that cries every time a person made something wrong but rather, it is the voice that scolds and screams at him to remind him that he has failed the call of his conscience. It repeatedly tells him that his acts are no longer in the light of what is true and just. As such, these are the reasons why I have fully accepted the definition of conscience as a voice that screams every time a person skips his diet.
I usually play devil’s advocate every time someone would share his sentiments to me, but the truth is, it’s just my defense mechanism to lighten up the situation. I am a person who would rather keep to myself the problems I experience and deal with them on my own. That is exactly the reason why I feel so unfair every time I’m on hot seat and I suddenly divert the topic to something else just to escape being intrigued and questioned.
The reason why I usually am alone is because I have a strong trust with my conscience. I need not consult my problems with other people because, usually if I do, I end up being confused and resorting to wrong alternatives. In my life, I’ve made quite a number of decisions, but I cannot remember one which I ever regretted. My parents are very supportive of me; in fact, they trust me so much that they even let me decide on my own about what courses of actions to take. I was the one who decided what school to enroll to when I finished elementary education, and it was also I who decided to choose Ateneo over other schools and other scholarship offerings.
They say I’m a loner but I know I’m not. It may seem be true that it’s okay with me if you can lock me up my room for a year and ban me from seeing my friends, but I like to believe that it is just my way of securing to myself the importance of contemplating. I really like being alone in silence because it actually clears my mind and think of a better perspective. I am not outspoken but I know how much I value the people around me.
My silence is best justified by the ideas I have formulated. I am creative and very innovative. If there’s a way I can get through a problem without sacrificing the welfare of others as a consequence, I would, even if t would me getting into a longer process. I am very idealistic and I can see the possible problems before it occurs. I am result-oriented and goal-driven, but less of a sociable person. You can even count the number of my friends using your fingers.
I enjoy my life even if I only have few people to share it with. I am very choosy with my friends. I tag along with people with the same values as mine. It is hard to win my trust but a lot easier to lose it. I truly recognize the importance of other people in someone’s life especially since they give security and genuine feeling of belongingness. However, oftentimes, people tend to get influenced by the wrong doings of their so-called friends. I don’t want to end up like them who neglected their right to reason just to for their friends to like them. For my 20 years of existence, I am proud that I have never taken any illegal drugs, smoked a stick of cigarette, nor finished a bottle of beer. I am clean and I’m proud of it.
Another thing about getting solo is the fact that once you do, you are able to get a dialogue with the conscience. It clears the mind and deletes external delusions. It helps you contemplate and realize the importance of the promotion of values more than anything.
Conscience is the sense of what is right and wrong that governs somebody's thoughts and actions, urging him or her to do right rather than wrong. It, however, does not necessitate personal separation from worldly things. Neither, it is solely about genuine involvement in the recollection. In our everyday living, we make dialogue with our conscience even if we do not do it. Our conscience verifies our action to be true and justifiable based from our self-enumerated interests. Inconsideration of the dictate of the conscience make a person less of a man to stand for what he’s values are. Not unless, environmental factors push him to decide and ignore the dictate of his conscience. He may escape the situation at large, but never his conscience. It will continue to haunt him for as long as he has not forgiven himself.
I am a conscientious person (at least I believe I am). My conscience and I are best buddies. I consider ‘him’ in every decision I make. I recognize his voice in my daily life. Thus, I am afraid of him to get mad at me and to start nagging at me like my mum usually does every morning. I wanted us to remain friends and be good partners as I make all sorts of decisions in the attainment of my goals.
I am off to a good start. My decisions were great. And it gave a nice result. That is why I promise I will still follow the voice of my conscience everyday. I trust my conscience more than any other entity here on earth. And I will continue to believe in it, uhmm… like forever. I believe that if I will continue to, my decisions will always be directed towards what is right. It will ultimately give me a label of being a moral person.
Just recently, I realized that the quote was indeed right. Not that I went into a strict diet, but it just seemed to hit me when I found myself listening to other people’s problems. I realized that when a person is caught in the middle and is bound to make an important decision, there is some sort of battle between his conscience, and his personal desire especially if such is not in accordance with what is morally upright. Conscience is the voice that screams within a person to remind him that what he is doing is no longer within the realm of universally accepted norms and standards. Dieting may not be a universally valued norm, but the fact that the person was driven to achieve the goal of having a perfect figure; it already becomes a personal value which is subjected to the standards of the conscience. Conscience is not the voice that cries every time a person made something wrong but rather, it is the voice that scolds and screams at him to remind him that he has failed the call of his conscience. It repeatedly tells him that his acts are no longer in the light of what is true and just. As such, these are the reasons why I have fully accepted the definition of conscience as a voice that screams every time a person skips his diet.
I usually play devil’s advocate every time someone would share his sentiments to me, but the truth is, it’s just my defense mechanism to lighten up the situation. I am a person who would rather keep to myself the problems I experience and deal with them on my own. That is exactly the reason why I feel so unfair every time I’m on hot seat and I suddenly divert the topic to something else just to escape being intrigued and questioned.
The reason why I usually am alone is because I have a strong trust with my conscience. I need not consult my problems with other people because, usually if I do, I end up being confused and resorting to wrong alternatives. In my life, I’ve made quite a number of decisions, but I cannot remember one which I ever regretted. My parents are very supportive of me; in fact, they trust me so much that they even let me decide on my own about what courses of actions to take. I was the one who decided what school to enroll to when I finished elementary education, and it was also I who decided to choose Ateneo over other schools and other scholarship offerings.
They say I’m a loner but I know I’m not. It may seem be true that it’s okay with me if you can lock me up my room for a year and ban me from seeing my friends, but I like to believe that it is just my way of securing to myself the importance of contemplating. I really like being alone in silence because it actually clears my mind and think of a better perspective. I am not outspoken but I know how much I value the people around me.
My silence is best justified by the ideas I have formulated. I am creative and very innovative. If there’s a way I can get through a problem without sacrificing the welfare of others as a consequence, I would, even if t would me getting into a longer process. I am very idealistic and I can see the possible problems before it occurs. I am result-oriented and goal-driven, but less of a sociable person. You can even count the number of my friends using your fingers.
I enjoy my life even if I only have few people to share it with. I am very choosy with my friends. I tag along with people with the same values as mine. It is hard to win my trust but a lot easier to lose it. I truly recognize the importance of other people in someone’s life especially since they give security and genuine feeling of belongingness. However, oftentimes, people tend to get influenced by the wrong doings of their so-called friends. I don’t want to end up like them who neglected their right to reason just to for their friends to like them. For my 20 years of existence, I am proud that I have never taken any illegal drugs, smoked a stick of cigarette, nor finished a bottle of beer. I am clean and I’m proud of it.
Another thing about getting solo is the fact that once you do, you are able to get a dialogue with the conscience. It clears the mind and deletes external delusions. It helps you contemplate and realize the importance of the promotion of values more than anything.
Conscience is the sense of what is right and wrong that governs somebody's thoughts and actions, urging him or her to do right rather than wrong. It, however, does not necessitate personal separation from worldly things. Neither, it is solely about genuine involvement in the recollection. In our everyday living, we make dialogue with our conscience even if we do not do it. Our conscience verifies our action to be true and justifiable based from our self-enumerated interests. Inconsideration of the dictate of the conscience make a person less of a man to stand for what he’s values are. Not unless, environmental factors push him to decide and ignore the dictate of his conscience. He may escape the situation at large, but never his conscience. It will continue to haunt him for as long as he has not forgiven himself.
I am a conscientious person (at least I believe I am). My conscience and I are best buddies. I consider ‘him’ in every decision I make. I recognize his voice in my daily life. Thus, I am afraid of him to get mad at me and to start nagging at me like my mum usually does every morning. I wanted us to remain friends and be good partners as I make all sorts of decisions in the attainment of my goals.
I am off to a good start. My decisions were great. And it gave a nice result. That is why I promise I will still follow the voice of my conscience everyday. I trust my conscience more than any other entity here on earth. And I will continue to believe in it, uhmm… like forever. I believe that if I will continue to, my decisions will always be directed towards what is right. It will ultimately give me a label of being a moral person.
Pictures
JCCI Marketing Seminar. Richie Fernando Hall.
International Coastal Clean-Up, Balogo, Pasacao, Cam Sur
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E Mall Trade Fair, December 2007
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Batibot, Beside Xavier Hall, Ateneo de Naga University
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O'Brien University Library.
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Department Of Trade and Industry, Cam. Sur Regional Office
Cattlemen's. Seniors' Roast, 2007
Yale Appartelle, Somewhere in Manila.
Youth United. Ateneo de Manila, Feb2006
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Business Week Campus Trade Fair, AdNU
Burn's Hall. Ateneo de Naga University
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