Opinion

August 31, 2019

By Princess Jade A. Flores

 

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Photo credits to Kelyn Pinto

Way back in 2016, we’ve been preparing for the ‘Big One’. I’ve seen the preparations and how it improved from three years ago. We’ve preparing not only for the big one but for all of the calamities that might affect our country and fellowmen.

 

On 2012, we thought that our world would be dissolve in a blink of an eye. Fortunately, we are still breathing and facing the hardships of life. If ever that a catastrophe will hit us, aren’t we truly ready?

 

We may be safe for now, but who knows until when? It’s not that I’m scaring you but the fact that we are not the ones who control our live leaves an uncertain feeling of being safe and secured. Does anyone here know when will be our end?

 

I thank the ‘Big One’ for giving me a break to win in one of my most important stage of my life. It gave me the opportunity to showcase my best and also to raise awareness in my winning piece, “Never Unprepared”. But rewriting it again, not using the same words, but still the same thought that made me feel my purpose as a future journalist.

 

Hurricanes, cyclones, earthquake, super typhoons, dengue outbreak, and the latest, the forest fire in Amazon Rainforest (which I think a controlled happening) are drastically and continuously occur even in the most unexpected days. And that’s the result of the climate change.

 

 

The official figures show more than 87,000 forest fires were recorded in Brazil in the first eight months of the year - the highest number since 2010. That compares with 49,000 in the same period in 2018.

 

Nasa, which provides Inpe with its active fire data, confirmed recordings from its satellite sensors also indicated 2019 had been the most active year for almost a decade. G7 countries offered $20 million to combat fires in the Amazon. But it’s nowhere near enough to stop the deforestation.

 

Ineng, meanwhile, in the Philippines has left some P589 million worth of agricultural damage in Ilocos Norte, where it swamped farmlands and drowned cattle last week, said local officials. Albay provincial health officer Antonio Ludovice Jr. reported to the provincial board that from January 1 to August 7, 2019, 3, 055 dengue cases and 12 deaths due were recorded in the province due to the mosquito-borne disease.

 

We could’ve prevented it but because of us, humans, we can’t avoid it anymore. It has been more and more problematic as the days go by. Environmental campaigns cannot curb nor lessen it any way they know. Not only humans but also animals are affected, not only living things actually.

 

It’s hard to fight knowing that catastrophes aren’t the only ones we’re fighting with. If also our government is allowing investors and foreign mining and logging companies to abuse whatever is remaining here, then surely nature will say “humans, it’s payback time”.

 

It’s also our fault. We are all accountable with what God has entrusted to us. Animals and the environment can’t care themselves on their own. We know that we could have done better way before everything turned into this. 

 

And now that nature is charging us of everything because of our greediness and ill-motives are we truly ready to face whatever nature will bring to us? What if our days are already numbered? Can we still fight for our lives?

 

Don’t you think it’s too late to take back every harmful and abusive action we did to earth?

 

No one knows what might happen to us in the near future. What we can do for ourselves is to be cautious with our actions and to be prepared at all times. We will survive; if, and only if God will allow it. Everything depends on Him. Only He knows what lies beyond every silver lining.

 

If today is your last day, I hope you are never unprepared with what is ahead of you. I hope that you are always and will be ready when your ‘BIG ONE’ comes.