Caring for Our Environment

On the evening of April 10, 2021 a Saturday, Davao City experienced heavy rains that resulted to street flooding not only in downtown areas but as well as to many parts of the city. Many are wondering why it happened considering that the city government has implemented various projects like improving sewerage system and made bigger canals to avoid floodings. In a recent interview with Mayor Inday Sara Duterte, she said that the city is looking into the matter and that ways and means will be taken to solve the flooding problem.

As the government is taking action, it will also be good if we examine ourselves as a resident of the City. Per observation, it can be said that we residents are also to be blamed of the incident. The canals are clogged with garbages like plastic bottles and cellophanes from food packagings, among others. If we want to avoid flooding, we should discipline ourselves and initiate in our own ways to clean the nearest canals in our residences and business areas. By doing so, we are not only helping our government but our environment as well. We are all part of our environment and it is our obligation to take care of it.

On another note, as we celebrate Earth Day 2021 on April 22 with its theme “Restore Our Earth” as announced by earthday.org, may we be reminded that we are God’s stewards in taking care of Mother Earth just like in the beginning of God’s creation where God put Adam in charge of Eden (“The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.” – Genesis 2:15). The Earth is suffering right now from severe climate change, natural and man-made calamities. And with that let us put more efforts in helping to restore it. Let us segregate our waste, clean our environment and plant trees which are just some of the ways to help Mother Earth restore its beauty to be enjoyed by us and by the future generations to come.

Below is a prayer on the importance of our environment taken from Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’:

All-powerful God, you are present in the whole universe and in the smallest of your creatures.
You embrace with your tenderness all that exists.
Pour out upon us the power of your love,
that we may protect life and beauty.
Fill us with peace, that we may live
as brothers and sisters, harming no one.
O God of the poor,
help us to rescue the abandoned and forgotten of this earth, so precious in your eyes.
Bring healing to our lives,
that we may protect the world and not prey on it,
that we may sow beauty, not pollution and destruction.
Touch the hearts
of those who look only for gain
at the expense of the poor and the earth.
Teach us to discover the worth of each thing,
to be filled with awe and contemplation,
to recognize that we are profoundly united
with every creature as we journey towards your infinite light.
We thank you for being with us each day.
Encourage us, we pray, in our struggle
for justice, love and peace.

When we see the world as a gift from God, we will do our best to take care of it and use it wisely, instead of poisoning or destroying it.” – Billy Graham