For The Love Of The Orient Pearl

Philippines is the center of Biodiversity in the World. It holds a diverse Ecosystem; a sanctuary for the endangered species; and a home to unknown living creatures. I was able to watch the latest documentary made by ABSCBN, entitled Sa Dagat At Bundok - The Philippine Biodiversity Expedition.  I was enticed to watch it as it unveils the natural resources and the magnificence of our country.

Scientists from different parts of the world come to study the country's biodiversity. These people emanate to discover new species, to identify the endangered, and give Filipinos a reason to be proud of its country aside from its people. Their excitement to discover new species hooked my eyes on the film. How I wish we, Filipinos, could be as thrilled as them in discovering more of what our native land can show. We have an array of different natural resources that boosts its own fauna and flora. It only takes passion to take care of the vast abundance of nature gifted to the land of The Orient Pearl.  

In the film, they showed one of the marine sanctuary found in Anilao, Batangas where I saw beautiful sea creatures who are nocturnal. They showed a well preserved dam, the Anggat dam watershed, where it hosts some of the new breed of frogs and an adept environment for the wild animals. Furthermore, the hosts mentioned that Tawilis, a kind of fish found only in the waters of Taal Lake, may soon be susceptible to vanish. Scientists climbing up to the mountains of Banahaw to find new plants that our country may vaunt about. If you should know (Yes you, the reader) there is a museum in California where it houses the Philippines most priced treasures including the pictures of the environmental Filipino advocates. Still, I wonder, why can’t we have that kind of museum here in our country? And Yes! During that expedition they found a new breed of Shark and more. :)

What the documentary film taught me is to protect and preserve our ecosystem. As much as we enjoy the blue lagoons, white sand beaches, the scenic mountain views, we have to learn to protect everything we have been blessed with. Yet, we are all culpable in committing a crime against Mother Nature. Like us, the animals and plants are inhabitants that need to be well taken care of. They need fresh air to breathe like humans. We need to keep a homeostatic environment because one way or another we benefit from each other. But when will we begin?

It is not a shame to be a part of a cause especially when it involves environmental issues. We all have voices to be heard and concerns to address. Yet some of those remain in Facebook statuses and Twitter tweets. If some are just so shy to go out and shout their love for the environment, they can just manifest their affection in their deeds. If I have to be one of those, I will start it by not using plastics and throwing garbage anywhere. With such movement I can influence friends, hoping that they too will pass it onwards. But I will not limit myself there because I know there is so much work to do in preserving my home. Hence, to answer the question when will we begin, we have to move NOW. There is no right time. Do not wait for tomorrow or friends. Move on your own. Others will surely follow. There is still hope that we can prevent everything that will hurt our ecosystem. Urge yourself to be a catalyst for change. It is not mediocrity to be an environmental advocate.

Here are pictures of some of the places that the hosts and team of scientists went to during the expedition:

 A View of Taal Lake

 Anggat Dam.

Dive in Anilao.

Thank you to the world wide web for providing the photos. :)

MOVE. CARE. SHARE. 

It's me,
Koi