Signs

Signs? Climate change? I have been aware of all this quite some time ago before I watched the documentary “Signos”. In fact there were a few things I have notice myself regarding this issue called Global Warming. The most apparent of which is that the “ber” months are now hotter and rainier. Also, the sun’s heat is really prickly nowadays unlike when I usually play out in the afternoon sun as a kid. In scientific sense, I can say what I know is sufficient, like how human activities contribute to global warming, but watching signos—the signs still surprise me.

Rise in the water level, this was the main problem in Bauang, La Union. The said barangay is like being slowly eaten by the ocean, what remains of the 30 hectares land was only 10% or 3 hectares. Other places like Malabon becomes permanently submerge in water and if the water continues to rise places such as Manila, Pampanga, Bulacan, Cavite and other low lying lands will suffer the same fate. This is quite terrifying for me since I live in Bulacan. At present people from coast lines such as the Badjaos of Zamboanga are suffering terribly due to the waves becoming bigger and hazardous.

Catastrophes and disasters are becoming worst, in America it was probably the hurricane Katrina but in the Philippines there was the super-typhoons Milenyo and Reming. The first caused falling of billboards and post all over Manila and for such a short time interval it had caused great damage and UP was not spared. The latter being known as the world’s deadliest disaster of 2006 is said to have change the entire landscape of Albay.

Food shortage is said to be one of the indirect effects of global warming. If I remember correctly, last year the delayed coming of the rainy season caused quite a ruckus among farmers enough for the Catholic Church to ask the people to pray for rain. In Laguna, drought has caused the delay of the flowering of Lanzones and in Nueva Vizcaya production of agricultural products becomes lesser in quantity and poorer in quality. And in the recent ‘rice crisis’ I just don’t know how much was global warming contribution.

Epidemics and health threats will rise in numbers either directly or indirectly due to the rise in the environmental temperature. In 1998 which was recorded to be the hottest year in the Philippines was also recorded with the most number of dengue cases. In General Nakar, Quezon cases malaria and dengue was the worst. 2002 in Cagayan Valley, when the epidemic called Schistosomiasis or snail fever began to spread, this is because most bacteria thrive in hot environment.

Ecological balance is affected as well, the famous Amazon River is said to be drying up. Coral bleaching or death of corals is also caused by the rise in sea temperature. The Philippine Sea known for having the most diverse marine life was not spared from coral bleaching take for example El Nido. Also, sightings of Butanding or whale shark in Sorsogon—a major source of income for the people were becoming rare which was said due to the change in the habitat.

I know of the danger global warming could brought upon mankind, but I was not aware of the dangers such as those featured in the documentary. And to think that those were just symptoms of what was yet to come, it makes me don’t want to think about the future. But there is still hope. Reflecting on the results of my carbon footprint I saw hope. The result said that if everyone would live like I do we would only need 0.51 of the Earth but I will not be contented with that. The quiz was very generalized and very idealistic it is not like everybody could live as I. But I know I could do more as a student, as a future civil engineer, as a Filipino.

Climate change was inevitable and so was its end result which is Ice Age. That is not the problem; the problem is we are hastening it. Simple things like walking could help a lot. As for me I am not giving up the battle—the battle for humanity’s future.