Rediscovering our paradise in an ailing planet

The 3-inch or so brownish leaf-like moth was a sight to behold. As we stepped into the abode, it fluttered its large wings and was flying all over, landing on the table, then on the arms of a surprised Juday, where it lingered for a few seconds. Thinking it would fly away without notice, we raced to capture the fleeting moments with our cameras, for posterity.

But, surprise! It decided to stop right on my chest for a precious minute or so, as if it was hugging a long lost family member. Well, how many could claim being made a perch by our oh-so-elusive wild life forms? Time stood still for me that very instant.

Thankfully, my nephew, Patrick, was able to freeze one of my most exciting encounters with nature in recent memory, amid understandably thrilled shrieks from everyone. As my dear sister Nenen adroitly noted, the image shows the stunning moth looking like an artist’s handiwork on my grey cotton shirt, with the “chosen one” (ahem!) looking so flushed, not unlike a child given a most delectable prized treat or a teen in the throes of puppy love. And, that is not all.

Wonder of wonders, the lovely moth decided to keep us company for more than 24 hours, choosing to be stuck in its designated post! We were worried though it was starving. Then, in sharp contrast to its spirited entry into our lives, it disappeared quietly, to continue its own colorful journey in this world. Indeed, we can never fathom nature’s mysterious ways and miracles.

That extraordinary episode proved to be among several highlights of a rekindled up close and personal connection with Mother Nature and within the family the past days. It was a belated realization for us that our paradise on earth—Catmon, our father’s hometown—was just waiting to be rediscovered for its allure, and for us to bask in the serenity and the lessons that nature offers to all.

How can one ever measure the sheer joy of watching the silvery moonlight, shimmering seas, starry nights with even just a single firefly enough to let one’s spirit soar, and upon waking up, be immediately mesmerized by the glorious sunrise that created a kaleidoscopic vision in the sky, with the animated chatter and flight of the birds, as perfect backdrop of an idyllic retreat?

The trek down memory lane in the river in Pajo made us recall endless hours, as kids, having the time of our life, with our parents and embracing our natural heritage unconditionally, not minding the slips, bruises and gash. In slower and more cautious steps this time, we waded through still relatively pristine but less abundant waters, surrounded by gigantic trees, boulders, assorted birds and butterflies of various hues. Our enthusiasm though might have upset the frogs and the species in the river, including the young carabao eagerly extracting his mother’s milk.

On a sad note, human’s footprint is now visible even in the remotest of areas, with the empty sachets, plastic bottle caps and even a cassette tape making their ugly mark in the rustic scenery, which are then carried down into the already contaminated seas. Candy wrappers and plastic of various forms and sizes marred the trail leading to the river. These alerted us to the continuing lack of awareness of citizens of their responsibility not to impair ecosystems and the lives they support, including those of non-humans.

The same human disregard of our seas was apparent with the plastic discards littering our coasts. Snorkeling brought feelings of both despair and hope. The sea bed was a desolate sight, with yarns of plastic and other items here and there, and only few species of juvenile fish creeping into the crevices where sea grass and corals are thankfully starting to flourish.

More citizens and public officials need to be aware of the deleterious impacts of littering especially plastics and non-biodegradables, non-segregation of their trash, burning, air and noise pollution and unplanned coastal development.

Why can’t stakeholders join hands and have a massive education drive nationwide, initially focusing on a single law, RA 9003, the Ecological Solid Waste Management Law? Give officials and citizens one month or two for education campaign, then serious implementation should begin thereafter.

The perfunctory issuance of Cease and Desist Orders by the DENR on non-complying LGUs will never effect change unless the Office of the President, DILG and DENR start filing civil, criminal and administrative cases against local government officials who are violating the law or not implementing it. We are tired of statistics mouthed by our agencies on the degree of non-compliance of LGUs. Start the ball rolling, file cases and save our ailing planet.

The mindset of conservation and respect for the Law and human rights are a must if we are to save the fragile state of our ecosystems. Government has no choice but to exercise its police power to stop the continuing hemorrhage of our life support systems. We need the business community to mainstream sustainable production where the beginning and end-of-life phases of products should not bring harm to the environment. Families, government, universities, churches and business have the primordial duty of instilling in each inhabitant a deep love and respect for our natural world.

We are facing a crisis of unprecedented magnitude in in our seas, our water, our forests, and our climate and in everything that human hands have touched and destroyed. Pollution, climate change, overfishing and abuse of our natural resources are traceable to us, as the unrepentant culprit. Awareness plus action to protect our home planet are essential. Dr. James Hansen stated it best: “We are already in a deep hole – it is time to stop digging.”

American author-philosopher Henry David Thoreau sums it up, “What’s the use of a house if you haven’t got a tolerable planet to put it on?”