FERIA, André Lorenz B.

NSTP Common Module

2013-78284 DCPMA Music Education Mid-year 2016

A Reflection Paper for “Environment”

It is to no surprise that the matters on the environment is one the greatest issues that we are
facing nowadays. We are continuously hurdled with numerous disasters and challenges that concern
our everyday living that is greatly rooted with our environmental concerns. This greatly calls for the
need to educate people about our environment and its awareness thereof. We cannot do anything about
these problems if we are not aware ourselves. The solution always comes from being aware.
Of the many concerns that we are faced with, I would like to focus on the issues of urbanisation
that causes other problems. As someone who grew up in the province, I have always appreciated the
beauty of nature. I have always loved going out and exploring the vast spaces available for a growing
kid to play around. We had an open field, different trees, and a small farm. It was my “normal”
environment as a kid. Everything kind of changed when we moved from our rural family to the city.
There were no more trees to climb on, no ponds to play around, and no more safe fields to run around. I
was locked down in the four corners of our house since it wasn't safe to go outside.
It was definitely a change of lifestyle for me. It was also noticeable how it’s really different
living in the province and the city. There were definitely less trees thus air pollution is more apparent.
The houses are side by side almost only a single wall separating each house not unlike in the province
where houses have much space that you could even have your own garden in your lawn. The
differences were real and so were the problems that arise from these differences.
In my more than nine years of living in Manila, I have seen how many nearby rural places have
been changed to urban zones. In line with these changes are many trees that have been cut down for
housing projects or commercial areas. What’s more saddening is that even the remaining green areas in
the city are starting to be turned into developed areas mainly for commercial purposes. One good
concrete example for this is the cutting down of trees of SM Baguio for its expansion.
“Like a thief in the night” as some has dubbed, SM Baguio has cut at least sixty trees amidst the
visit of the pope January of last year. Baguio is known to be the summer capital of the Philippines
where it is home to many pine trees. This event has sparked the entire nation’s attention as the pope is
also an advocate for protecting the environment. It became a wake-up call for many to be more aware
of our country’s state in terms of our environment. We are faced with similar circumstances all around
our country that is not given proper attention and the best thing we could do is to be constantly aware
and spread awareness to other people.

Reference:
Rappler. 'Like a thief in the night,' SM Baguio uproots pine trees. Retrieved from: http://
www.rappler.com/nation/81139-sm-uproots-pine-trees-baguio.
FERIA, ALB 1!