Another year passes by as Leytenos remembers and pays tribute to the loved ones the loss during the onslaught of super typhoon Yolanda last November 8, 2013. Over the years, people who join the commemoration have noticeably been lesser. Although lesser participants don’t necessarily mean forgetting, it is just as though many have decided to simply move on with their lives.
On the other hand, as “Super Typhoon Yolanda commemoration season” is in the air, environmental advocacies, youth groups and even small village communities were reminded of the importance of environmental preservation and its impact in communities and the people. However, as quickly as they are reminded, as soon as celebrations are over, so is the care.
The advocacies of groups such as Greenpeace and other non-government organizations who are hellbent on promoting environmental protection for years are once again falling on deaf ears. They are ignored as if they are simply clowning around and wasting their time, their lives and resources on “trivial matters.”
“Pagpinaguol man hin rally rally. Mga kwartahan ito waray tun darag-an. Basta kablas pirmi la raog,” a passerby said as he was looking at walkers along the Tacloban City roads as they call for climate justice.
Maybe it's this kind of mentality that prevents many from taking actions despite atrocities happening right under their noses. Helplessness.
A perfect example is the continuous illegal logging and mining activities in Samar islands. Samar is a treasure trove of natural resources that are left to be exploited as even local government officials refuse to stand with their people. Instead, they give way to these giant corporations and proceed to point the finger on who should be blamed.
In the end, the care for the environment appears to simply be just fleeting feelings for ordinary people and a façade for people in position who would later bow to the whims of these companies out of helplessness or personal interest.
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