Philippine Environments – Of Forests, Senators, The Executive & Journalists

Environment is the richest word in Frank A Hilario's Dictionary today, Friday, 26 April 2019, and I thank a little Michael A Bengwayan for inspiring me, despite his intention! 

In his OpEd piece of Monday, 22 April 2019, "Philippine Environment Going The Way Of The Dodo, Hardly A Topic In Philippine Election – OpEd" (Eurasia Review, urasiareview.com), international Filipino scientist & journalist Mr Bengwayan laments about the physical environment in our country:

Its virgin forests are predicted to be gone in ten years, its seas are full of plastics, mining has degraded many mountains and polluted rivers and water sources, and deforestation is causing devastating floods. Yet, despite these threats, the state of the environment has not been a key issue with the Philippines heading to the polls on May 13.

In the "(Leader) I Want for Senator Forum" at the Ateneo de Manila University, none of the candidates spoke on how to solve the pressing environmental problems…

Ah, Mr Bengwayan, I as a science journalist in agriculture and forestry since 16 April 1975, or 44 years ago to the month, know that everyone has failed in the conservation of our forest resources:

President of the Philippines
Secretary of Natural Resources
Senators & Congressmen
UP Professors of Forestry
Science journalists like you and me!

On 10 August 2016, I wrote a Philippine official's prediction about our forests that I inserted in an unlikely topic, "Ted Turner, Media Man & Fabulous Farmer," 11 August 2016, Alternative Journalism, blogspot.com):

About the environment, I remember Agriculture Secretary Bong Tanco told us in the mid-1970s about the impending loss of the unique dipterocarp forests in the Philippines, saying "We have reached the point of irreversible decline."

We Filipinos have not learned in the last 44 years!

"We," Mr Bengwayan, like I said, includes you and me.

So, Mr Bengwayan, don't point fingers at the Senators in Waiting. I would blame more the journalists of the mass media like the Manila Times, Inquirer. Manila Bulletin, Philippine Star, ABS-CBN News, GMA News, and the local papers in Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao.

Instead, Mr Bengwayan, look into the mirror and smile!

First, you have to forgive yourself.

Next, you have to forgive President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, for keeping mum and/or knowing nothing about deforestation in Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao.

Then, you have to forgive all those Secretaries of Natural Resources for failed leadership.

Then, you have to forgive all those Senators and Congressmen for minding only their businesses and excluding the business of keeping our forest resources growing instead of deteriorating.

Then, you have to forgive the UP Professors of Forestry for failing to convince government officials to act in favor of the wise use of our natural resources, especially indigenous forest species.

Then, you have to forgive us journalists.
Most of all, us journalists! Why?

We have utterly failed to harness the power of media, especially now digital media, to convince a critical mass of educated people to contribute to forest conservation.

If the audience has not learned, the mediaman has not taught!517