News Bit

BORACAY ISLAND, MALAY, AKLAN. Have you remembered the story of young lass who wrote about THE RIVER AND JUSTIN? The person in the story loves the river at the back of their house. He appreciates every beauty that nature gives, no matter how simple it may be. He was an artist and likes painting the river.

When I looked at the pictures of what I took in my recent visit to the island of Boracay, I can’t helped by sigh and get disappointed of what I saw in what they called the Jewel of Aklan. Indeed, as one of my fellow media practitioner said, “Reality bites.”

My recent visit to the island for the first two days was an amazing experience. I was invited to speak before the HRM students of Lourdes College, Caloocan, Manila about tourism and development and recent issues in Boracay on the 1st day and then I spoke about Kool Earth and other environmental issues before the smart kids of Boracay European International School on the 2nd day. On my 3rd day, the reality of being in the island woke me up at 4 AM. One Akelco post BLASTED with a big bang. Apparently, there was one cross arm that have already blasted earlier that caused brownout at 3 AM. I thought that was it. Another blast came off and this time, we have witnessed, it was a human intervention. As one lineman was doing its best to put the line right, and by the time his long stretch plastic pipe reached the wrong line, then it resulted to another big and loud blast.

Surprisingly, as I looked around, I was the only one who was panicking and in paranoia. My European friends told me while laughing that this is a normal situation for them. “It feels like new year everyday”, one said. That was really a surprised to me. Then I realized, I am a tourist in my own town, tsk..tsk. But I told them I can’t put up with this. Knowing that the post and the blast is coming from just besides our hotel room building, I thought, something has to be done. For everyone has social responsibility: to themselves, to their families, to the communities, to other taxpayers, to society.

On the other hand, talking to a lineman while watching one on top of the post swinging smoothly as if he was not aware how dangerous his job gave me an understanding of how carefree and complacent Akelco management can be. They really could not do their job right in the first place. "We are waiting for advise from the management to transfer that line to the other post to make it right, mam," said one lineman. Tsk..tsk....

Then here comes another reality. At the back beach where Romanians love to kite board, it was an eyesore sight that can’t be missed. The long stretch of beach line was full with dirty leaves, dried coconut husk, seaweeds, etc. What a wonderful sight to behold when I saw father and son naively walking barefooted on the seashore not minding the danger that the garbage will cause them. How irresponsible the LGU, residents and businessmen can be? How greedy of money/profit but not being socially responsible of giving back to Mother Earth.

I hope by building awareness in this column, we can encourage individuals and corporate people in this island, particularly in the part of Bolabog (back beach) to commit to social responsibility and do their bit for the island jewel – Boracay.

LITTLE THING MEANS SOMETHING.

(Note: Attention Fire Office of Boracay, will you check that hotel bldg if that fire exit is on its right place? Think about this, if the fire will come from this overloaded post beside it, and the guests will have to vacate the area if fire breaks down, isn't it like "exiting" to HELL?!!!! It happened once when the blast came up, there was a fire on the trees and nobody took notice, huh! So, what are you waiting men??!!!) - concerned citizens