The Philippine Online Chronicles

Emergency powers, are these what we need? How much emergency power can change climate conditions? Can emergency powers alter drought and bring in rain? We don’t need powers more than the ordinary. There is power in each of us to transform, first of all, our response to any given situation. We can either panic or become completely subservient to and dependent on those with means and power in their hands. Just as there is rain that comes from clouds outside, there is rain within. Living waters flow and irrigates our mind, heart and spirit within. This is our power as individual persons. This is our collective power as a people.

There is drought not only in the Philippines but in many parts of the world because of unbridled consumption. Greedy nations consume fuel at unmitigated rates. Energy consumption has led to unprecedented release of gas emissions that has created the greenhouse effect. Because of the unmitigated release of gases into the atmosphere, infrared radiation rising from the earth’s sun-warmed surface remains trapped and bounces back to earth.

Consumption applies to everything. We consume food, water, fuel, and various forest products that are transformed into the luxury items that we have in our living rooms. We live in a consumption-profit-driven world. Big corporations in collaboration with politicians are quickly transforming nature’s bounty into consumer goods for profit.

Not only individuals but corporations and governments have to change. I come to Isabela with this simple prayer and wish. Isabela is suffering from drought which is a result of both global and individual patterns of consumption. We need rain badly for our crops. But we need “inner rain” badly to change our way of life. We need toReview, Alter, Innovate, and Negate.

We need to Review our consumption patterns. How excessively do we consume?

We need to Alter our consumption patterns by simplifying our lives. We should no longer treat water as a common commodity. Water, air, food, and etc. should no longer be taken for granted. The sacredness of all the goods provided us by God should be recognized. The alteration or change should take place on two planes: consciousness and behavior.

We need to Innovate. We have to find new and creative ways of productivity and consumption that is more nature-friendly. Water should be recycled and not thrown away. Waste water should be collected and reused to water plants, flush the toilet, poured into compost, and etc. Government should look into the use of water in private swimming pools, golf courses, andgardens. Motor-fuel driven vehicles should be used less and less, and our feet more and more. How about talking about the “carless day” again? Local productivity and urban farming should be explored, experimented on, and improved as we go along.More community action should be encouraged: to clean up waterways. litter, and uncollected garbage; do recycling and composting; etc.

We also need environmental militancy. We must Negate: protest and fight environmentally unfriendly and wasteful practices.

I run with a lowly “pingga” as an invitation to change and renew our lifestyles and as a warning that what is typical to poor and rural families may one day be typical of all. The time may come when all of us may need to fetch water which will no longer be easily available but rationed.

I run in the heat with the “pingga” also as prayer for both that inner and outer rain. May it rain within (Review; Alter; Innovate; Negate) and without, that human lives and nature may be renewed and once more be a reflection of reverence towards nature and gratitude to God Who constantly and lovingly provides for all our needs.

I run here in Isabela to honor Gov. Grace Padaca and all women who remind us of Nature who has always been a nurturing and nourishing Mother to us all.

Fr. Roberto P. Reyes

Kubol Pagasa

Ilagan, Isabela

March 8, 2010

International Women’s Day