This year’s Earth Day celebration, held last April 22, 2013 at the Quezon Memorial Circle, was graced by a number of guests from the Quezon City Government, headed by Mayor Herbert Bautista, Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte and other QC government officials, national government agencies, event partners and sponsors.

UNITED FOR MOTHER EARTH.

Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista and Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte join representatives of national government agencies, non-government organizations,
civil society and religious groups in a show of unity for environmental protection during the celebration of Earth Day that was hosted by Quezon City at the
Quezon Memorial Circle. In his speech, the mayor reiterated that Quezon City will continue to remain at the forefront of advancing environmental
consciousness while sharing some of the city's best practices in environmental management not only locally, but also internationally. (PAISO)

2013’s Earth Day event revolves around the theme “Ecogovernance”, which was extracted from the root words Ecology and Governance; with the intention of creating an impact on today’s societal judgment towards our ecosystem, and increasing environmental awareness throughout the Philippines.

Earth Day is an annual worldwide event that the Philippines takes part in, for the divine purpose of showing concern for the environment. Each year, a city is chosen to uphold the influential exposure Earth Day has to offer, in order to showcase the established change that has prospered throughout the elapsed year. Not only is it considered to be a huge honor to be selected as host for Earth Day this year, but it is also privileging for Quezon City to be highlighted as one of the most ecologically-governed cities in the Philippines.

In addition to the resoluteness of the main event were some booths and Communal Food Sharing, Hourly Religious Rituals/Chanting for the healing of the Earth, Cultural Shows, Advocacy and Musical Presentations, and many more. These were all taken into account as esteeming the appreciation and value we generally impart to the lessons we carry out, in honor of our Earth.

EARTH DAY DANCE
Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista displays his dancing prowess as he joins the "Sayaw ng Sambayanan" during the celebration of Earth Day at the Quezon Memorial Circle on Monday.  (PAISO)

Mayor Herbert Bautista expressed his gratitude to city residents and enumerated what our beloved city has accomplished, environmentally, and what there is to expect in the coming years, both with regards to the recognition as the city with the most number of enacted ordinances on solid waste management. And for also being the first city in Metro Manila to have a 10-year solid waste management plan, approved by the National Solid Waste Management Commission.

“Being endowed with the most extensive expanse of open spaces and greenery in Metro Manila, which takes up about 1/5 of the total land area of the city, we maintained our role as the greenland of the metropolis, as a co-equal complement of our economic development strategies. We are proud to say that we have embraced the very essence of sustainable development.”

A multitude of people have been informed about the elements and details of Earth Day and its corresponding entities. Exposure to this event gave them a sense of understanding to that of which not that many have the means of acquiring.

The DENR representative gave a speech about the contribution the Philippines has provided to our Mother Earth. He said that being a key player in helping out the environment, especially with our correlated oceans, it is important that people should know the best way to protect and conserve resource is to put value to it.

"Once people are more environmentally conscious, they become more environmentally responsible; leading to following local government ordinances" and "It is an overwhelming experience, both personally and as a government employee. It creates awareness throughout not only," as said by some Quezon City Hall employees.

Right after the Earth Day celebration, the inauguration of the Refuse Derived Fuel Facility Project was held at the Quezon City Sanitary Landfill in Payatas, and piloted by Mundo Verde Corporation, a joint venture of Lafarge Industrial Ecology International, Pennies & Pound Holdings, Inc. and Quezon City's Contractor on Solid Waste Disposal – IPM Environmental Services Inc.

The operation of the fuel-turning machine was demonstrated to the audience that attended the inauguration. There were also foreign representatives underlining the international partnership between the Philippines, USA, and France. With the symbollic ribbon-cutting ceremony, this project was thus launched as a newfangled sustenance to development.

Not only does the Refused Derived Fuel Facility Project terminate unnecessary pollution; but it also embarks in great and honorable courses of environmental initiatives.

Although we may have gone through some setbacks like the unpredictable weather brought about by climate change over the past years due to pollution, we still have the chance of regaining the unpolluted state we once had by simply reconditioning our daily conservational habits.

This celebration was to initiate the city's representation to help make the world a better place to live in. Step by step, little by little, each of us can make a change. Each small change can create a big leap towards a better and harmonious environment.

( IJJT ) 

                                                                                                                                                                                 photo from PDI, Joan Bondoc
What used to be an empty, rocky piece of land on this public school campus is now a haven for chirping birds during the day and the rarer fireflies at night. And don’t forget the stray cats.

Commonwealth High School in Quezon City has managed to build its own mini forest park, a remarkable feat of greening amid the concrete jungle.
A 500-square meter space within the 1.7-hectare campus was transformed into an urban oasis for the students, under a four-year-old project that recently earned recognition from the Department of Education.

“I find it therapeutic and calming to tend to the trees and plants. And the students also learn how to care for something and love it till it grows,” said Teresito Ogot Jr., an agriculture teacher who oversees the park’s maintenance.

Over 50 trees and assorted plants dot the park, which also features two nipa huts and a small pond where around 50 koi or Japanese carp complete the overall picture of serenity.

The canopy of trees include many varieties like bignay, golden flower, mango, santol, kamias, eucalyptus, olive and mahogany, which were grown from saplings courtesy of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

“It was when the trees grew and thrived that I began hearing birds (like the bato-bato) and seeing fireflies again, which are a rarity in the city. We used to have doves here too, but the cats ate them,” Ogot recalled with a chuckle in an interview on Saturday.

Ogot said the area used to be just a rocky lot with patches of grass until Sen. Loren Legarda launched a nationwide greening contest among schools and barangays in 2008. Of the 12 participating schools in Metro Manila, only Commonwealth High represented Quezon City.

Last week, the school emerged as one of 16 finalists in the contest, the only entry from the National Capital Region that made it.

“I think more schools will be encouraged to do the same because of what we did,” said Ogot, who designed the park and supervised the planting.
Students in his class also helped in tending the garden and keeping the park clean, their work serving as their laboratory and extracurricular activity.
Caring for plants could instill a sense of pride among the students as they nurture life and keep it safe from harm. “When I see them protecting a plant from damage, I know that they have learned the lesson well, that is to love and care for another living thing,” the teacher said.

article by Julie M. Aurelio
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Saturday, January 12th, 2013