Guidelines:

1. Choose two (2) from the five topics with the method of development about
"Identifying plastic as a source of pollution".
a. How plastic was developed (narration)
e. Alternative solutions offered (argumentation/comparison)

THE LEARNING OUTCOME AND ITS EFFECT TO OUR SORROUNDINGS

Humans have been using plastic for over a hundred years now. It was first devised as a
means of ensuring the continued availability of natural resources on the planet. We also harness
its capability to use it in almost every sector, from packaging, in building and construction, in
textiles, consumer products, transportation, electrical and electronics and industrial machinery.

Plastic is essential on a daily basis. We are using it to store our foods, in groceries, to
kitchen wares and utensils. One day while walking on our local Barangay I started seeing these
posters and tarpaulins sticking and hanging in every corner of the road informing the mass that
effective on Monday the local government won’t allow the use of single-use plastics. Then I said,
how about the Sari sari stores, what are they going to do if plastic is the most efficient and readily
available packaging on the market. On the following day, my Mom ordered me to buy hotdogs for
our breakfast. After paying, the storekeeper said that I should hold it with my bare hands because
they are prohibited to use plastic bags anymore, and if they don’t comply and get caught, they will
be charged 2,500 pesos plus two weeks of suspension. They said that they can’t afford that, so
they will just follow the rules. However, a week after the ban was implemented, I noticed that
people were using plastic again. It appears to be the perpetrator of this undesirable act is our
Barangay Leader. He owns the biggest Sari sari store, and yet, instead of being a role model, he
chooses to be a bad example to his people. After analyzing our situation, I have realized that
although our Barangay Captain conducts misbehavior, we people should also be responsible for
our actions.

Our behavior is a mirror of our culture; a culture that has been passed down from
generation to generation. If we can just adopt the behavior of our neighboring country like Japan.
The Japanese obsession with cleanliness is rooted in their religion. Shintoism teaches that Evil is
associated with dirtiness, Good with cleanliness. Since they were young, they were thought that
cleaning is also part of students' daily routine; this develops an awareness of their surroundings.
While in our country, students are starting to lean backward. Not like the old times where students
were instructed to clean their rooms and gardens as a culminating exercise for them. It seems
like students nowadays were not taught to be responsible, even from cleaning their rooms that
act as their studying area. Another Japanese cleaning culture is the “Kegare”. Kegare is another
key concept of Shinto, it means (impurity or dirt), the opposite of purity. Kegare can refer to
anything unpleasant, including death and disease. “If an individual is affected with kegare, it can
harm society as a whole". As a result, maintaining cleanliness is critical. This cleanses the people
and helps avoid bringing calamities to society. This depicts that the Japanese care for their
environment and people. With this in mind, we Filipinos should also have our own cleaning
culture. A culture where we prioritize our majestic environment while utilizing the 3R’s; Reduce,
Reuse, and Recycle. Incorporating the 3R’s in our culture will lessen our waste and will aid to
reduced human casualty when there is a calamity. Filipino resiliency is true, but “Prevention is
better than Cure” is indeed greater.

Above all the differences of Filipino and Japanese , I believe that we Filipinos has
indestructible and nationalistic heart. Our love for our nation will drive us to take initiative and
achieve a better and sustainable country.