Nvcians Leading Responsible Actions

A very impressive and a promising performance was recently staged by the Northwestern Visayan Colleges Environmental Club. Three hundred and nine students from various departments including the Dpts. Of Natural Science, Health Science, Health Service, Ecology, Department Officers, the Artes Circle Club, the  High School Department, and the BSBA2. This club is under the firm supervision of Mrs. Lorna Sison, a  hardworking and dedicated advocate of the preservation of our environment.

          The objectives of this activity are to make the students aware of the provision of the Ecological Solid Waste  Management Code of Kalibo, as well as the provisions of the School Based Solid Waste Management program of NVC.  Also to inform the students of the correct procedures for waste segregation and disposal, and to identify the respective duties and responsibilities of each group of students involved in the implementation of the school-based solid waste management program.

           After an inspirational message from Dean Reinalda I. Magdaluyo, the orientation commenced. A discourse given by Ms. Adorada T. Reynaldo, Public Service II, Head of the Solid Waste Management Service LGU, on Ecological Solid Waste Management Code of Kalibo was much appreciated by students and teachers alike.

         The audience was given a short respite from this serious topic  with an intermission provided by Jomer Zonio and company.

          The School Based Solid Waste Management Program was presented by the President of the Club, Miss Vanessa Gervacio, who was assisted by Vice President Mr. Nino Shari Balontong. Whilst Vanessa was presenting their ideas, Ms. Reynaldo took the opportunity to test the knowledge of the students by introducing them to a fun game of knowing which garbage goes where, and of course the students had lots of fun. Three of the groups received prizes.

          This was followed with a brief talk on ‘Proper Composting’, which was  delivered by the author of this report.  An open forum[i] for questioning was presented to the students regarding what they had learned. There were three winners in the persons of  Tifany Nobleza, Mylah Depedro, and Abygail Romero. The four color coded garbage containers that the students presented were really amazing. They had demonstrated their understanding of the issues at hand. With this kind of awareness, the students will make NVC a promising institution such that others might be inspired to imitate their innovation. This awareness will help all of us in our day to day  existence, and hopefully will really slow down the destruction of planet Earth during our time. For young people ‘Ningas Kugon’ is not the answer to our current situation, but rather it is ‘more work and less talk’./CH

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ENCHANTING BALETE

 Another year, another challenge, another adventure not just for the children of the various Balete Elementary and secondary schools, but also for the judges who came to experience the enchantment of Balete.

          This 2^nd Eco Art and Recycle Art Contest is also my second time to judge children’s work in this town. It is definitely a challenge for me to judge the best work of those young people who joined the

competition,  and an adventure to be enchanted by the beautiful nature which surrounds the town of Balete.

          What is so enchanting about this place is that the community seems to work together from the young adults to the elders, and they always wear a winning smile. The children are polite, quiet, and   are most definitely extremely talented judging by their entries in this contest.

          They had creatively expressed their artwork in the theme of the 4R’s – which means Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and according to the organizer, Riveting. The children most certainly delivered their   best.  I even mistook the Balete tree for an enchanted castle, though I was politely informed that that was in fact a tree.

          The dedicated, hardworking organizer of this event is none other than the treasure of Balete, Honorable Patrick F. Lachica, together with Mrs. Ana Sandra N. Paunillo and Mrs. Nyl L. Gallardez. But first things first, before we were taken to the venue of the contest we were invited to the Basura Garden owned by the parents of Honorable Patrick Lachica. We were given a sumptuous lunch and I had the opportunity to once again investigate what kind of garbage Mr. Cip Lachica had added to his collection. I also managed to purchase some souvenirs from the shop run by the energetic Mrs. Lachica.

          During the two hours given to the children to finish and display their work, the judges were invited to their mini forest, and I was glad to participate in planting some trees. I was informed that we have planted approximately 55 trees in many parts of the landscaped areas. With the help of the PNP of Balete, the PTA officers, the DENR, the Dep Ed, and LGU’s officials and students, I managed to plant one Neem Tree.

          It was hard work, but judging the children’s entries was even harder, but in the end we managed to select the winners.

          On the secondary level, first prize went to John Noel Monreal and Ryan V. Bantigue from Jose F. Menez Memorial National High School. Their coach was Ms. Lee Ann G. Rodriguez. Second place went to Mariafe Bontogon and Janeth  Rentillo of Balete Academy, with coach Ms. Sheena Mae Cualing. The third prize was awarded to John David Gallardo and Dave Sean Pelayo of Jose B. Legaspi Memorial National High School, with coach Ms. Editha Apruebo.

       At elementary level the winners were as follows: First prize to Melanie Quillano and Jan Leoneth Relado of Arcangel Sur Elementary School, with coach Ms. Cecille Felipe. Second prize to Roshi Ivan Cuatriz and Adrian John Savedor of Morales Elementary School, with Ms. Roselyn Cuatriz as their coach. Third prize was awarded to Kimberly Santiga and Gabriel Santiga of Balete Elementary school, with coaches Ms Annaliza Villaruel and Ms. Marnivic Villaruel.

          The Eco Art Board of Judges included Architect Jose Dureza, who is also an artist known for his  water color paintings, together with Ms. Sumra dela Cruz-Rojo, another artist who is also the curator of the Kalibo Museum. Also on the panel of judges were Miss Jessie Y. Gerardo, Science Supervisor of Dep Ed, Mr. Roy Escalona, President of the Aklan Kamera Organization, Mr. Cip Lachica, a man known not just for his sculptures but also for the Basura Garden, and yours truly, Kool Earth President and Marine Environmental Protection Officer for Region 6.

        The Honorable Peter C. Recidoro, SB member of Balete, Mrs. Lucita P. Recidoro, District Supervisor, and Mr. Julio R. Gallardez Jnr, the headmaster of Balete Elementary School, were with us for the whole enchanting afternoon./CH

KE ACCREDITED BY SP AKLAN