The Garbage Problem

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My stomach revolted, after seeing on the television news the tons of garbage that covered the Manila Bay Sunset View Park, caused by, the Pag-asa said, a monsoon surge. Specifically, that is the area where the Embassy of the United States and the Philippine Navy Club are located. And of course, just a walking distance to the monumental site, the Rizal (or Luneta) Park. I felt so ashamed, as a Filipino, because that is also the passage way of dignitaries from around the world, en route their work here in our country, and of course, a must see place for tourists. The cleaning up did not just take days, but weeks, and not just a few truckloads, but by the hundreds now. They are still cleaning, as of this writing, and that is like a month already. There are several questions that come to mind, not exactly who threw the garbage there, for we know we did it, but how do we manage our garbage problem. Surely, addressing that is a primary concern, because even the sea, or Manila Bay, couldn't take it anymore, that is why it tossed back to us our garbage. "Ang basurang itinapon mo ay babalik din sa iyo." Several towns and cities have issued ordinances banning the use of plastic. Well and good. Proposals like bringing with you your own "bayong at basket," or biodegradable and reusable, eco-friendly bags had actually brought out the creativity in the consumer. I see a number of "manang" sporting their own handsewn, personalized grocery bags, made of cloths, actually, and they do look fashionable. Now let's see, perhaps we must begin spotting just the right corner in our backyards where we can dispose our own peelings. Know what, I think it's really cool to have a compost heap, that's how our "Lolo at Lola" did it, and we must believe the "gawain ng ating mga magulang."