The Takeoff

I wasn’t much of a conservationist before I went to the Philippines but after coming back home to Canada I came to understand how wasteful and complex my life really is. Today is Earth Day. Now I think Earth day should instead be a lifestyle where people have an expectation towards recycling, water conservation, and be more socially and environmentally responsible. This lifestyle was made so clear to me when I was in the Philippines this past Christmas. I fell in love with the long and narrow island of Palawan. Without trying to sound romantic or sentimental, this island is absolute paradise. The volcanic rocks and white marble stone faced mountains beautifully and naturally tear through the landscapes as they have the most elegant relationship that rocks, flora and fauna can possibly have. The water is crystal blue full of the most colourful and diverse animals I've ever seen. Essentially, Palawan is a green traveler's dream. While there my family and I met up with friends from church. Glenda and Donald are quintessential Filipinos – they take you in as family. They told us of their dreams and what they want for their baby daughter Liana. These dreams aren’t glitzy nor extravagant but are of creating an all-natural farm buying up some land outside the city and preserving it as nature intended. Their descriptions of what I thought dirty farm life was were poetic, full of potential, and absolutely captivating. I could tell that while staying with them that this is what being a Filipino is about; living slowly and peacefully appreciating what’s around us. It was sad however as there was a heavy sense of urgency when we were talking about Puerto Princessa and El Nido. Glenda’s passion was clear as she talked about how more needs to be done to protect the land and the culture. I traveled half way across the world to learn more about my own family and tradition and I found I still have a lot left to discover about my people and how I can help keep them timeless.