Ours is the Earth and Everything in It: June is Philippine Environment Month

It is high time for us to step up in our personal and collective efforts to promote sustainable and ecological programs that will contribute to nature conservation and regeneration.

The month of June is celebrated in the country as Philippine Environment Month. Yesterday, June 5, we commemorated World Environment Day, joining all the nations of the world in spreading awareness about what our planet Earth needs so badly --- our commitment to care for her in many more ways than one. According to the website write-up on the environment month, this year's theme is, "Green Economy: Does It Include You?" which emphasizes the need of the communities to shift into more environment-friendly, low-carbon and resource-efficient approach such as using biodegradable products and avoiding the use of harmful chemicals.

Coastal clean-ups organized by different communities

We could recall that when we were still studying, perhaps our respective schools would think of different ways to celebrate and promote environment consciousness. Newspaper drives, recycling items such as water bottles, tin cans, plastic straws, yellow and white pages transformed into useful baskets, colored paper magazines turned into bags and creative accessories, not to mention eco-practices like using tumblers or glasses when we brush our teeth to conserve water. Or being alert about refraining from using

Corals at Verde Island, Philippines

 electric lights when natural light can well brighten the place where we are staying. Or joining coastal clean-ups, mangrove and tree-planting, being disciplined as not to throw non-biodegradable trash in the sea or in forests whenever we go out to swim or hike respectively.

There are also several foundations that have been put up to specifically address the need to protect the environment: Haribon Foundation, Mother Earth Foundation, or online clubs such as Eco-Club and Sustainable Tourism.

We can think of so many more examples of helping in the promotion of protecting the environment. What we just need to work on now is to persevere in our resolve to think and preserve the environment at any cost. Since we know that it will do us and our surroundings a lot of good, then it is but logical to support this advocacy as long as we are cared for by the Earth. Much like when you are presented with so many advocacies to root for, the cause of environment protection is worth backing up as we see its relevance in upholding the common good of all mankind. It promises to preserve our bodily health, and our spiritual health at the same time.

The Banaue Rice Terraces at Ifugao, Mt. Province

We enjoin everyone to think of ways on how we can personally celebrate Philippine Environment Month in the schools, work institutions, and communities where we live. After all, we are the first recipients of the wonderful good which environment conservation can do not just for the country but for the whole world.