Disaster-ready Philippines

The earthquake that struck Chile on Saturday, February 27, 2010, brought chills into my body as I remember the 7.1 magnitude earthquake I experienced in the 90s. 

Me and my classmates were off from school, walking along Taft avenue, under the light rail transit.  When the earth shook, we moved away from a huge building structure, embraced one another and said our prayers.  It was a foretaste of the end of the world (well, what do i know about it?!).  It was a moment where you think about your families, their whereabouts and the possibility of reuniting...  Was that a glimpse of Chile earthquake?  I dont think so.  Chile's earthquake was with far greater strength, unimaginable.  I would have not wanted to exchange my place that day to Chile.

Where was I?  I was part of a team that conducted a study tour in an organic farm.  I was surrounded by families (father/mother, young children) who made a decision to change their lives and believe that one step (at a time) will make a difference on earth. 

They are Catholic Filipino Academy, advocating for zero waste management.  While gradeschoolers get to know up-close the relationship of plants, soil, worms and how these work together in the farm to manage waste, the highschoolers did Organic Gardening 101, producing a plot of pre-germinated lettuce at the end of the activity.  The homework left for the whole family now is to bring what they learned in the farm to their own homes.

Meanwhile, the Philippines got a wake up call from Chile and sets the alarm for Disaster Preparedness.  How are we ready for a natural calamity? 

"This is another warning for us, if Ondoy and Pepeng were not enough, we ought to get our acts together and be prepared for the next time that mother nature decides to come down hard and pummel the Philippines again." said Senator Edgardo J. Angara who is calling for a focused drive to achieve a level of national disaster preparedness that would make the country better equipped to face natural calamities.

When do we start?

Know more about Sustainable Agriculture and how the principles of Care, Health, Ecology and Fairness are developed in this environment.  Join our Study Tour!  We Care for your Health, We Nurture the Earth!!!