Did You See It Thursday Afternoon?

I think that everybodys (the ones that are thinking) frustration level is rising, is simply because we are so helpless in changing anything, as soon as sombody criticices something, it's taken negatively and the little will to do something about the problem is quickly extinguished.
Just buy a pair of pink glasses and order a Balikbayan Box full of "Vallium"...

 

Most of us were helpless to change anything where we came from... In California, I could not change having to pay state income tax where some states do not have state income tax, for example. I could not change the pollution or the illegal immigrant problem, so coming here the last thing I look for is to change anything or to think I could. It is what it is and if you have been to other 3rd world countries you may find it is not bad. Rise above the funk.

 

Same attitute here...

 

While you are right at least back home at the local level we could gain support or throw our hat in to change stuff in our neighborhoods, do at least little things. However here we have no power or control at all even on the local level. Can't stop your neighbors from throwing trash in the ocean, can't gain support to do more to clean up the boulavard, just little things in our communities we have no power for.

 

When one resides on a low-budget island thats somewhat off the beaten trail, one will sooner or later come to realize that if it's working you shouldn't fix it.

 

And here it is again from tonight when I was trying to get some fresh air on the boulevard:



And then this comes over the city for us and all our children to breath:

 

Actually we are not "helpless". Have you introduced yourself to any of the mayors in the Philippines or any other government official? Most will gladly listen to you ideas about "change", but if it takes money to proceed with the change they will kindly ask how to implement the "change".

 

It takes a generation to make people aware of the trash problem but not necessarily a lot of money, at least in the beginning. If every school had a graphic sign with teachers emphasizing not to liter starting at the elementary level and continuing through high school and college you would see a difference eventually. Make it a civic pride issue for every barangay to have the cleanest town and emphasize that these beautiful islands can be the envy of Asia and some change would occur. Until the locals care about the trash they will never care about air or water quality. It could then be a national issue, beyond laws and lip service, with signs posted telling people to keep the environment clean. Until then the locals simply don't relate to what the foreigners see as a significant problem..

 

Maybe so, but what it is now, is not necessarily right or fair to the next generations coming after us. If most people here, wish to live in a society, where the majority don't care/are uneducated about pollution and their personal, direct effect on the environment, how will they make a better place for our/their children and grandchildren to grow up in? (Or should our own children all emigrate abroad and leave the even poorer and less well educated behind, to clear up the entire mess....?)

 

Don't worry, I have a plan for the future. My boy Kennedy will graduate from Harvard Law School in 25 years and come back here and win the Philippines Presidency in 2038. He will implement fixes to Dumaguete's environment problems. One of his projects will be for the locals to bring bags of liter to McDo's, instead of tossing their trash anywhere, and a foreigner there will give them 10p for the trash. The trash will then be recycled into McDo's french fries oil. Another project will be to make Globe install phone booths with waterless urinals around town, as punishment for their lousy internet service, and for any locals who pees on the street to be caned. Other ideas for projects will be solicited from the Dgte foreigners.