BYOB

Muntinlupa City has this "Bring Your Own Bayong/Bag" (BYOB) policy where the local government encourages people to bring their own shopping bags. No establishment is to issue plastic bags or styrofoam packaging to its customers. In lieu of the plastic bags, paper bags are given. So, Muntinlupa citizens carry with them paper bags. They remind me of American grocers minus the french bread protruding. It has been going on for two months now.

On my way to school, a man's paper bag tore, revealing the fruits he had bought. All fruits found their way to the jeepney's floor.

" 'Yan ang mahirap sa papel," the lady passenger beside the guy said.

The lady passenger then scavenged her bag for any plastic bag while the man picked the fruits from the floor. "Ay, wala pala akong plastic," the lady exclaimed.

As if it was the most natural thing, another lady seated near the guy offered her plastic bag.

The man was hesitant to accept although he was touched by the kind gesture of the woman.

"Sige na. Gamitin mo na, " kind woman said. 

This time, the man  graciously obliged.


Read related post here.

"May nag-text!"

Driving without a helmet.Tsk tsk tsk.

Go Green!

The sight of passengers carrying paper bags instead of plastic bags inside the jeep in a Muntinlupa jeepney terminal reminded me of the wonderful city ordinance that the city was implementing effective 2011. I would not have noticed the change had it not been for the three passengers sitting close to each other who held their goods inside big paper bags. Brown paperbags were not a common sight in Muntinlupa months back. Now, it's everywhere, and it's surely a welcoming change. This bold move in the part of the local government is truly laudable. "No to plastic! No to styro!" has been their battlecry. I wish other local governments can follow suit; it's best if the entire country does the same. I wonder, though, how it is for meat and fish. I have not gone to the market to check it out myself. Consumers probably bring their own bags or bayong, which is a lot better than the paper bags.

My favorite fastfood chain is  one with the city. Jollibee stores, at least the ones in Muntinlupa, now use plastic containers instead of the styro packaging for their takeout orders. Jollibee is also seen smiling in its logo displayed in all their paper bags used for takeout. This will certainly make mother earth jolly, too. The common folks who patronize these establishments, on the other hand,  will probably begin to wonder and ask questions. The answers they will get, I hope,  will undoubtly make them  think about the situation. I have a feeling the paper bags will cause wide awareness, and awareness will open a myriad of reflection and actions.

Soon, I hope, every city or district will be implementing something similar. To be honest, it brings me joy seeing the paper bags. There is a comforting feeling seeing that something is being done for the environment. I want this feeling. I hope it becomes yours, too. :-)

Mcdonald's does the same.

Donation

My monthly obligation with 'LOVE' (PAG-IBIG) requires me to travel to Makati Atrium. The stretch of Makati Avenue is not very friendly to non-car owners. The stretch is not frequented by jeeps; cabs,  as you know,  are costly. So when a small green conveyance that looked like a jeepney stopped in front of me, I took notice. On its windshield was a marker of its route, and it said "Landmark." No Makati visit is ever complete without dropping by Glorietta. I hopped on it immediately only to be greeted with one more surprise! The ride was free! Hooray!

Glorieta

I was on one E-jeepney, an electric-powered vehicle,  plying a circular route around the Makati Business District. Its body is painted green and that particular jeep could accomodate 15 passengers. The ride was a thrill. You would probably never understand the excitement of a provinciano passing through all those skyscrapers. I did not mind being slightly late for my 10 am appointment at Glorietta. All throughout the trip, though, I kept my eyes alert for the 'Landmark' as most of the streets and buildings were foreign to me, being a 'southern' citizen and all.  The ride, I'd say, is not for anyone who is in a hurry for it takes its sweet time to go by all those streets.

One interesting observation I made was the passengers' attitude towards that  free ride. The driver was not demanding any fare; behind the driver's seat, there was a donation box whose opening was large enough for an unfolded bill. The box was placed conspicuously for a reason. I was so happy about it, and I supported it that I donated 10 pesos! That's three pesos more than a minimun fare! My donation will surely go a long way for the environment. Some dropped a few coins into box, too; others, I supposed, gave their donations in forms of silent prayers. There was one whom I  heard saying "Thank you" before going down.

The free ride worked like any ordinary jeep. The driver would ask if anyone was getting off at a particular street. The passenger would respond, and they would even inform the driver of their destination.

I got interested in this transportation and googled it up to find out that it had been around since 2007! I also learned that the E-jeepney was a result of the concerted effort of various environmental groups including Greenpeace. Reading about this, I was thrilled and saddened at the same time. I was elated to know we had technology for this, but was sorry to discover that Makati seemed to be the only place enjoying this.

I hope I'll not forget to drop an additional peso in my next use of the e-jeepney.

More on e-jeepney by clicking on this link and this.

Carpool

We sat for more than an hour listening to an environmental talk. The bottom line was "Help Save the Environment!" Talks like that are good but are sometimes boring and add little to what we already know. Netizens and schooled individuals would be aware of these issues, and I'd like to believe that these people are doing their share in the solution. What irked me though was that speaker was talking to the wrong crowd when he presented some solutions. He talked at length about carpooling, and he was talking to middle income employees who would take the first chance at carpooling if they have someone to carpool with. Many from the audience, who were mostly teachers and staff, do not have those smoke-producing conveyances that the speaker was talking about.  The few co-workers with cars generously offer a ride home; my school principal does that.

To whom should the speaker be talking then? The people with cars, of course! But carpool appears to be a foreign idea even to the rich, the ones I know. In my six years teaching the rich, I was asked to ride in their car only once, and for that simple gesture, I will forever remember that student of mine:  Natasha. In most instances when I walk to the jeepney stop, which is fifty meters away from the school gate, my students would just wave at me and, worst, ignore me. Since then, I have stopped wishing for a ride. They are not really required to give me a ride. Their cars are theirs, and they have spent a great deal of money for something they want to enjoy for themselves. Like them, I'd like to have my almond chocolate bar all by myself, too.

All I am saying here is that a message should be delivered to the person concerned. That will be my concern when I get a car. For now, I am thankful I have friends like My-Secateur and Cardriver whose simple gesture of giving me a ride not only helps the environment but also helps me! Hehe! ( Read related post.)

I have had a good education where love for environment is greatly instilled. I'll do whatever I can in my own capacity to help, with or without a car.