I believe that ever since I was a kid, being an environmentalist was in my nature. I can’t stomach the thought of littering candy wrappers. When I ate candies and there were no garbage bins around, I kept the wrappers in my pocket. I didn’t casually throw them just anywhere. I also hated people who would eat in the jeepney and throw their trash outside the window, as if they had every right to do it. It was as if throwing trash outside the window and into the street was something normal, and I was the freak. Now that I’m older, the environmentalist in me encourages me to do something more . So, I’ve decided that I don’t have to wait for opportunities for me to plant trees or clean the beach; I just have to do little things each day that somehow help the environment.
1. Recycling Bottles
I only started recycling bottles a few months ago. I’m so glad that recycling has been made so easy for me. Our neighbor has a plastic bin outside his apartment where he collets all the recycled bottles. He told me that I could “hitch” our plastic bottles if I want to. Once the bin is full, he takes them to a bottle recycling center. He gets a few pesos, probably enough to buy merienda, in exchange for the bottles. I’m not entirely sure how much each bottle costs; I actually don’t get anything from it. I’m just so overjoyed with the fact that the plastic bottles we consume every week are being recycled instead of going to the trash. In our household, we consume about three to four 1 liter plastic bottles every week. So for one month, that would be 12 bottles! That’s approximately 624 bottles in a year!
2. Buying Recycled Products
Another promise I made to help the environment is to support recycled products. Recently, I discovered Treehugger. It’s a pen made out of recycled materials. I actually love how recycled materials are packaged. You would think that recycled products are not going to be an eye candy, but a lot of them are stylish and unique. For example, this Treehugger pen looks like any other pen. However, instead of plastic, it’s made of paper making it so organic. I also buy tissues that have recycled pulps or tissues that don’t have pulps. I’m still on the lookout for other recycled products. If you could recommend some of the things you use, that would be greatly appreciated. 
3. Putting the trash where they belong.
Until now, I still put candy wrappers in my pocket if there are no trash cans around. I find it very unsettling to deliberately throw trash on the floor. I know I may not be the neatest person in the world, but I know how to take care of my trash.
I wish to do more for the environment in the coming years. I want to actually plant trees in my own backyard and see them grow. Living in the city doesn’t give me enough space to plant trees. Luckily, I live in Alabang! Even though I can’t plant trees yet, I can do something else for the environment. This year the use of plastic bags has been banned in all establishments including sari-sari stores. When you go grocery shopping, your items will be placed in paper bags or boxes instead of plastic bags. I think every city in the Philippines should have the same rule regarding the use of plastic. Bringing your own shopping bag is actually pretty cool. Instead of identical plastic bags, each person has their own unique shopping bags. The days of accidentally picking up someone else’s grocery are over. (Not that it happened to me before, but I think it’s highly probable.)
Eventually, I actually want to join tree planting and beach clean up activities. For now, I’d like to start small and be consistent with it. I feel very good about myself if I do something, even just one tiny thing for the environment. The earth provides me with so much beauty and wonder, and I’d like to help in keeping it that way.
