Dumaguete Turns Its Back On Earth Hour

Saturday, March 23, 2013
Dumaguete City - What was once an hour of huge awareness and celebration for Earth has now become just another day for the City of Gentle People.

Scheduled to commence at exactly 8:30 o'clock in the evening and set to last for sixty (60) minutes, the Earth Hour is a global event aimed at giving back to Mother Earth by a mere act of switching lights off. Not to be underestimated, when done simultaneously worldwide, the movement poses as an effort to conserve energy. Interestingly, more than just that is the spread of awareness for the environment and the growing issue of climate change.

With high hopes for wide participation, One Big Turn took some time to drive around the city and document any interesting scenery relative to the event.



Among the very few that participated are schools namely Silliman University and Catherina Cittadini (St. Louis) School along with Shell Gasoline Stations and Robinsons Place Dumaguete. It is but heartbreaking that the advocacy for environmental awareness is slowly dying in the city despite widespread campaigns and advertising initiatives done prior to the event.

It can be recalled that last year's celebration was held primarily at the province's capitol area. This year, passing by that area and other known public areas that were dark during last year's Earth Hour observation (such as the Rizal Boulevard and the Manuel Quezon Park) would give one the impression that Earth Hour wasn't ongoing at all. It is deeply saddening that even the Local Government Unit has not been seen exerting any effort to give emphasis nor join other nations in celebration of the Earth Hour.



Despite the lack of participation from the local government and other private sectors, those companies and institutions that bothered to join the movement only show that there are still a few committed parties ready to take action in lessening the effects of global warming and spreading the initiative to let people be aware that we only have one Earth and without it, humanity wouldn't exist.

Over the past few years, Mother Nature has shown its wrath for humanity's abuse and negligence over it. Some may be attributed to climate change and others, simply, nature's answer to people's delinquency to take good care of what has been bestowed upon them. It's a given that whenever it becomes nature's turn for taking back, lives turn out to be, more often than not, at stake. The Earth Hour was never a very difficult advocacy to practice yet the majority of the people in the city opted to turn its back on it. If doing a simple act over a very short duration of time hardly becomes a success, it's hard to imagine what humanity can offer more than that in an effort to reverse the effects of climate change.

Upon heading back to headquarters, One Big Turn spotted a household "joining" the observance of the Earth Hour.
It turned out that they were only having electrical issues and that the local electric cooperative personnel were on it at the time of the documentation. False alarm, folks. False alarm...

Jaded Over Emotional Loneliness

Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Strong as a storm's wind, mighty as the ocean's current, this roller coaster ride has brought me to a new dimension. The thrill, the risk and the possibilities remain to be deciphered but one thing remains without question-I am in for the trouble I've long crafted.


Decisions, choices, they pave the path of fate in a person's life. Today's plot is a product of yesterday's events. Sadly enough, the undo option only exists in operating systems where mistakes apparently become part of the ordinary. Life gives you a transcript of the actual - no rewinds, everything headed forward. Dealing with the aftermath of the traces I've left has posed to be one turning point in my quest to see what's in store for me.

Over the past few months, I’ve been too hard on myself trying to get convinced with one thing – that I am happy. But am I, really? I can practice deceit anytime and pretend I’m en route to where I should be, but time gave me a painful slap on the face. I really can’t fool myself over and over again. It’s useless. Long have I wanted to settle undying issues that have been plaguing my mind but no, it really takes two to tango. I didn’t fight that battle alone; because it was “you” and me way back. It was “us,” nobody else. I stood and took a chance at ending assumptions and second thoughts regardless of aftermath, unmindful of possible disappointments. But I was left hanging; wondering if it was just me feeling that way.

I’m emotionally drained, miserably drenched. I did a lot to distract myself but not so long after, I unconsciously run back to base. Unfair, I said, but considering the wrong decisions I’ve made apparently turn tables. This is the price I pay for being childish, frail and unfaithful. Is there anything more morbid than emotional torment? I’d be happier to take physical distress than be consistently in such a state.

All this time, I’ve been in melancholy over the complications of what the old me had inflicted. People have been telling me to move on. Then I told them they’re absurd. Had it been that easy, I could have made my way out of this dragging situation. I’ve had more attempts than one could imagine in the light of escaping from this discomfort I’m trapped in. The question was never on whether I could move on or not but on how I could make it happen. Ironic as it could be but I’ve been giving advices to a countless number of people experiencing the same dilemma yet I can’t even figure something out for myself. They say rainbows don’t go ahead of storms when they come but sometimes I ask if they’ll ever come after this gloomy and stormy chapter of my life. Right now, all I know is that I’m vulnerable. Here’s hoping that the wind changes direction soon, bringing back my happiness to me like how it was before.

Just like fairy tales, I’m hoping that one day a happy ever after in my life could be in sight. I can wait… even forever. No, I won’t tire waiting if it’s the last thing I could do. At least it’s the only one that keeps me going; telling me that happiness is just around the corner waiting to be unveiled, revived, or miraculously recalled.


Now I’m taking the slightest chance that you could, one day, be able to read these words I’m about to say… I love you even if you love someone else, even if I’ll have someone else. You’ll always have a special place in this heart of mine. Meeting you was never a big accident, nor was it a mistake. It was my life’s defining moment. Without you, life will never be the same again. Without you, something will always be missing. Without you, I’ll only end up reminiscing…