FERIA, André Lorenz B.

2013-78284 DCPMA Music Education

NSTP Common Module

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!