Gone are the days of the green eco-bags SM used to have. They're not only good for shopping in SM but they're also very fashionable to bring anywhere!
Showing posts with label environment. Show all posts
Showing posts with label environment. Show all posts
Sunday, September 5
Monday, August 16
Going organic
I lived in the city all my life. I often get envious when my husband tells stories about him and his sisters climbing and harvesting fruit trees in the province. Being raised in the city, I was naturally fed mostly with goods bought from the market. More often than not, they are instant and preserved - instant noodles, canned goods, preserved meat, etc. I'm thinking that it could be one of the reasons of my not so good health.
Now, I try to buy anything organic be it food or beauty products. Organic produce is grown the old-fashioned way without the aid of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Washing fruits and vegetables cannot entirely remove these chemicals that's why there is danger in ingesting them.
Thankfully, in 2005, Executive Order No. 481 was passed which paved the way for the promotion and development of organic agriculture in the Philippines. Not soon after, organic farms in the Philippines started to increase which made the prices of organic products lower compared to the early years. I remember that I used to buy organic brown rice for 56 pesos a kilo years ago but now its down to 39 pesos per kilo.
Wanna go organic? Here are some places you can visit to get the freshest organic produce:
I hope you can support our country's organic farmers by buying organic products. In doing so, you are not only reaping its healthful benefits but you will also be helping create jobs for the local farmers and take care of the environment.
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Now, I try to buy anything organic be it food or beauty products. Organic produce is grown the old-fashioned way without the aid of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Washing fruits and vegetables cannot entirely remove these chemicals that's why there is danger in ingesting them.
Thankfully, in 2005, Executive Order No. 481 was passed which paved the way for the promotion and development of organic agriculture in the Philippines. Not soon after, organic farms in the Philippines started to increase which made the prices of organic products lower compared to the early years. I remember that I used to buy organic brown rice for 56 pesos a kilo years ago but now its down to 39 pesos per kilo.
Wanna go organic? Here are some places you can visit to get the freshest organic produce:
- Sidcor Organic Bazaar. Open from 6 am to 1 pm every Sunday at the Lung Center compound in Quezon City.
- Salcedo Market. Every Saturday from 7 am to 2 pm at Salcedo Village, Makati City.
- DGM Organic Foods. Food Village, Tiendesitas, Pasig City or at Fiesta Market! Market!, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig
- Bohol Bee Farm. Panglao Island, Bohol. Take a tour around the farm or stay in the resort to get served with yummy organic recipes all throughout your stay.
I hope you can support our country's organic farmers by buying organic products. In doing so, you are not only reaping its healthful benefits but you will also be helping create jobs for the local farmers and take care of the environment.
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Thursday, July 15
Wow, Basyang. That was one hell of a night!
Tuesday night turned out to be out of the ordinary. The howling winds and the strong rains brought about by Typhoon Basyang (international name: Conson) made me pray for the safety of our town again. It's almost ten months since Ondoy devastated Cainta that's why it's quite understandable why a lot of us here are still traumatized.
We felt the strongest winds around 11 pm that night. After a few minutes, the lights went out and it was only after 24 hours that our electricity was restored. I still wasn't able to work on the list of North Carolina health insurance companies I was compiling because my SmartBro antenna was also brought down by the strong winds that night. I will have to wait for the technicians to come over tomorrow before my internet connection is restored at home. Right now, I'm in a coffee shop competing with the others whom I assume have the same internet troubles as mine.
Then again, I still thank God that He kept us safe through the night. The country's dams needed the rains anyway. I hope you are all safe too. How did Basyang affect your place, by the way?
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We felt the strongest winds around 11 pm that night. After a few minutes, the lights went out and it was only after 24 hours that our electricity was restored. I still wasn't able to work on the list of North Carolina health insurance companies I was compiling because my SmartBro antenna was also brought down by the strong winds that night. I will have to wait for the technicians to come over tomorrow before my internet connection is restored at home. Right now, I'm in a coffee shop competing with the others whom I assume have the same internet troubles as mine.
Then again, I still thank God that He kept us safe through the night. The country's dams needed the rains anyway. I hope you are all safe too. How did Basyang affect your place, by the way?
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Friday, July 9
My Latest Kikay Favorite: Human Nature's Royal Jelly and Aloe Vera Night Moisturizer
This is what I have been putting on my face after washing and toning it at night. I noticed that my skin is more supple and smoother to the touch in the morning upon using it. I believe it's because of it's royal jelly and aloe vera content. Recently, I also discovered that I cannot only use it as a facial night cream but also a a special moisturizer for my feet! Yup, it does the same wonders just as putting petroleum jelly and wearing socks at night for smoother soles. I didn't even wear socks and my feet were smoother than usual the next day.
Other than its huge moisturizing benefits, what urged me to buy this product (and other Human Nature products for that matter) is the advocacy behind it. All of the company's beauty products use all-natural ingredients grown by Filipino farmers and are later on packed by underprivileged residents of Gawad Kalinga sites. In doing so, I do not only keep myself pretty but I also help create jobs for fellow Filipinos.
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Thursday, June 24
Bermuda Grass: Friend Indeed or Just a Weed?
Anyone who has ever played golf south of the Mason-Dixon line has probably walked on Bermuda grass. This perennial grass thrives in tropical and sub-tropical climates. It is used extensively for golf courses, sports fields, parks, and lawns. It grows not only in the southern U.S. but in countries around the world with relatively warm year-round temperatures.
Bermuda grass originated in Africa and arrived in the Americas as early as the 1500s. It may have gotten its name from one of the first locations where it was planted in the northern hemisphere. It actually may have travelled to the New World as a stowaway, its seeds being mixed in with hay kept for explorers' horses. Its presence in the U.S. dates back at least to the early 1800s. It is also called devigrass or wiregrass.
Like the more cold-tolerant Zoysia grass, Bermuda grass is hearty but can be invasive. It is sometimes badmouthed as a "weed" for its tendency to overtake flowerbeds and neighboring yards. In fact, advice abounds on how to get rid of Bermuda grass. Its powerful, wire-like root system make this a challenge. Pulling it out does not get rid of it since it "creeps" to other areas. There are various chemical treatments on the market designed to eliminate it.
Proponents of the grass, on the other hand, tout its fast growth and tolerance to heavy traffic. It can also handle salty or sandy conditions, and maintenance is not terribly demanding. Some residents of the southern U.S. proudly describe Bermuda grass as an emblem of the South. The area from eastern Alabama to the Florida Panhandle is sometimes called the Wiregrass Region, for the ubiquitous plant.
The familiar form of Bermuda grass, Cynodon dactylon turns brown at the first drop in temperature below its tropical preference. Varieties have been developed to tolerate colder weather however.
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Bermuda grass originated in Africa and arrived in the Americas as early as the 1500s. It may have gotten its name from one of the first locations where it was planted in the northern hemisphere. It actually may have travelled to the New World as a stowaway, its seeds being mixed in with hay kept for explorers' horses. Its presence in the U.S. dates back at least to the early 1800s. It is also called devigrass or wiregrass.
Like the more cold-tolerant Zoysia grass, Bermuda grass is hearty but can be invasive. It is sometimes badmouthed as a "weed" for its tendency to overtake flowerbeds and neighboring yards. In fact, advice abounds on how to get rid of Bermuda grass. Its powerful, wire-like root system make this a challenge. Pulling it out does not get rid of it since it "creeps" to other areas. There are various chemical treatments on the market designed to eliminate it.
Proponents of the grass, on the other hand, tout its fast growth and tolerance to heavy traffic. It can also handle salty or sandy conditions, and maintenance is not terribly demanding. Some residents of the southern U.S. proudly describe Bermuda grass as an emblem of the South. The area from eastern Alabama to the Florida Panhandle is sometimes called the Wiregrass Region, for the ubiquitous plant.
The familiar form of Bermuda grass, Cynodon dactylon turns brown at the first drop in temperature below its tropical preference. Varieties have been developed to tolerate colder weather however.
Did you like my post? CLICK THIS to have my posts delivered straight to your email inbox.
Friday, March 19
Saving Our Rivers One Mile at a Time
Running is the new hit sport among Filipinos and the sight of joggers and runners out on the streets in the morning and evening is becoming all too common. Participation in running events has also increased, making them an effective avenue for gathering people to increase awareness and raise funds for various advocacies.
“Lifestyle change is almost always the key to improvement of life. The health benefits are obvious and we believe that it is also a key instrument in saving our planet,” says Rommel Juan, CEO and President of Binalot Fiesta Foods, one of the sponsors of the upcoming ‘The Green Miles: Run for an Eco-Smart Lifestyle’ – a project of Juan’s high school batch (UST High School’88).
According to Juan, Binalot is known for being an environment-friendly fast food which is why it supports projects and campaigns that are geared towards environmental awareness. “Since we began operations, we have always valued environment-friendliness. Our environmental efforts do not end with our products and packaging; we also try to support as many environmental campaigns that we feel are suited to our advocacies.” he explains.
Binalot is supporting ‘The Green Miles’ by providing meals during the event. “Our products are perfect for environmental awareness events such as this. We use banana leaves instead of non-biodegradable packaging for our food,” Juan shares.
The event will benefit the Meycauayan-Marilao-Obando (MMO) River System, listed in 2007 as one of the 30 most polluted areas in the world by New York-based environmental watchdog Blacksmith Institute. “It’s both embarrassing and disheartening to know that one of our rivers is among the dirtiest in the world. We’d like to do what we can to help fix it,” says Juan.
But “fixing” it requires more than just throwing money at the problem. “The ultimate solution is a lifestyle change, hence the idea of promoting physical fitness and environmental awareness,” shares Juan adding that “lifestyle management” will help ease pressure on our planet.
The Green Miles: Run for an Eco-Smart Lifestyle will be held March 21, 2010 at SM Mall of Asia Grounds. For more information, visit www.thegreenmilesrun.ph.
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Thursday, October 15
Blog Action Day '09 Climate Change
Three days before Typhoon Ketsana (Ondoy) hit the country and devastated our beloved town of Cainta, my son spoke about protecting the environment in their school's Young Environmentalists program. I am glad that, for two successive years now, the school has been teaching environmental protection to the boys through this program. Let me share to you what he wrote and spoke about that day.
Every word in this 1-minute speech is true, don't you think? It's unfortunate that, although young children are becoming aware of our current environmental situation, some adults don't give much thought about it.
And as if Mother Earth wanted so much to remind us how pressing the matter is, she sends in Typhoon Ketsana to the Philippines three days after and Typhoon Parma that almost didn't want to leave. Not to mention that a week before that, I received news from friends in Australia about a dust storm. (Hail rained down from the sky a week after, by the way.) Then, simultaneous to our typhoons, Indonesia was hit by a strong earthquake and Samoa with a tsunami. "Is the world coming to an end?" I was thinking about this while listening to my transistor radio and lying down on my bed in our candle-lit bedroom during the post typhoon blackout.
Do we really need to be reminded this way? Do you want to suffer as much as we did? While there's no more time to point fingers on who's to blame, I think there's still time to reverse climate change. It can be as simple as waste management and supporting eco-friendly materials to as bold as lobbying for strong climate change legislation. Bloggers like me, on the other hand, take action by participating in today's Blog Action Day.
Protecting the Environment, Protecting Our Health
by: Ralph Alexander Flores, 3-Kindness
Protecting the environment does not only make our Earth healthy, it makes our bodies healthy as well.
As we know, everything we take in is provided by nature. We get our food from the various plants and animals that nature gives us. We get water from the reservoirs that are connected to the lakes and seas. We breathe precious oxygen from the air in our atmosphere. Everything we need, we get from the environment.
If our environment is unhealthy, everything we get from it becomes toxic and unhealthy, too. When farmers use pesticides and other harmful chemicals on plants, there may be a possibility that we will get sick from eating them. The abundance of processed foods has made our tummies weak.
When rivers and seas are polluted with garbage, the fishes tend to eat the garbage and we may end up eating them, too. Our drinking water also becomes polluted with all these garbage.
The air that we breathe becomes polluted with the smoke coming from factories and automobiles. This polluted air has made most of us asthmatic and less resistant to diseases.
Don't you notice how children living in city are more prone to sickness than children living in the provinces? Children living in healthier environments are luckier that they get to enjoy cleaner air and water and more organic food.
If you think that protecting the environment only means saving our Earth, think again. The truth is, by doing so, we are also saving ourselves.
Every word in this 1-minute speech is true, don't you think? It's unfortunate that, although young children are becoming aware of our current environmental situation, some adults don't give much thought about it.
And as if Mother Earth wanted so much to remind us how pressing the matter is, she sends in Typhoon Ketsana to the Philippines three days after and Typhoon Parma that almost didn't want to leave. Not to mention that a week before that, I received news from friends in Australia about a dust storm. (Hail rained down from the sky a week after, by the way.) Then, simultaneous to our typhoons, Indonesia was hit by a strong earthquake and Samoa with a tsunami. "Is the world coming to an end?" I was thinking about this while listening to my transistor radio and lying down on my bed in our candle-lit bedroom during the post typhoon blackout.
Do we really need to be reminded this way? Do you want to suffer as much as we did? While there's no more time to point fingers on who's to blame, I think there's still time to reverse climate change. It can be as simple as waste management and supporting eco-friendly materials to as bold as lobbying for strong climate change legislation. Bloggers like me, on the other hand, take action by participating in today's Blog Action Day.
Wednesday, October 7
Why Choose An Eco Green Mattress
When I did my groceries last weekend, I noticed that there were a lot of people buying mattresses. They have probably thrown out their wet mattresses and replaced them with new ones. Most of them have bought cheap foam mattresses. I understand that the cheapest one will be the best choice at the moment. If I have extra money to spare, I would have bought an eco green mattress.
An eco green mattress is one that is made of organic and eco-friendly material. It is not only good for our health but it is also beneficial to the environment as well.
Here are some of the reasons why I wish to buy an eco green mattress:
An eco green mattress is one that is made of organic and eco-friendly material. It is not only good for our health but it is also beneficial to the environment as well.
Here are some of the reasons why I wish to buy an eco green mattress:
- It is hypoallergenic. Best to use if you are highly sensitive to chemicals. The materials used in this mattress is free from pesticides and other chemicals.
- It is environmental friendly. No pesticides mean healthier soil and healthier resources for people living near the area where organic cotton farming is done.
- It is stronger than non-organic mattresses. Chemical residues alter the quality of the materials used in mattresses.
- It generates jobs for cotton farmers. Organic cotton farming mostly requires manual labor rather than using machines to do the job.
Eco green mattresses may be a more expensive choice but the benefits outweigh the monetary value here. I am saving up for an eco green mattress. I hope you consider saving up for one, too.
Sunday, June 21
"Ice Worlds" at The NIDO FORTIFIED SCIENCE DISCOVERY CENTER
What is ice for you? Is ice just something that you put in your glass of iced tea to refresh you on a hot day? Or is it part of the snow that you dream of experiencing? For creatures of the Arctic and Antarctic regions of the Earth, ice is everything. It should be important for us, too.
We are more dependent on ice than we realize. Ice is the principal amplifier of temperature shifts in the Earth. Its existence affects climate change. All of these facts are showcased in the documentary film, "Ice Worlds" that had an advanced screening at the Nido Fortified Science Discovery Center, SM Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City yesterday. It was presented by SMART and sponsored by NIDO Fortified, Coca-Cola, and BDO. The event was also supported by the WWFF, Mrs Field's Cookie Cafe, Digipost, A-Z Direct Marketing, and Timelife. The event's online media partner was Yehey.com. Ralph and I were fortunate to be invited to be part of the event.
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Aside from discussing how ice in our world's polar caps affect climate, the film also explained how the creatures in the Arctic and Antarctic regions depend on ice for survival. It also showed the existence of ice in the other planets like Saturn and Neptune and their respective moons. The film was narrated by British actress Emily Watson, star of "The Water Horse: Legend of The Deep". It was produced in cooperation with the University of New Hampshire, the Houston Museum of Natural Science, with the support of the National Science Foundation.
Before the screening began, the participants were first held in the conference room where Mr. Jose Ma. Lorenzo Tan, CEO and Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees of WWF Philippines spoke about responses to climate change. Ralph got scared about some scenarios that Lory shared to us. He said that we should be visiting Palawan now before its airports get covered in water. More lands are disappearing because of global warming!
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A raffle was held after the screening. Ralph and I were both lucky to win cool jackets from SMART. Other winners received gym bags and SMART phone kits.
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"Ice Worlds" regular screening begins on June 23. Get a chance to win awesome prizes by answering the questions that they will be asking after the show. For ticket inquiries, contact 556-0331.
We are more dependent on ice than we realize. Ice is the principal amplifier of temperature shifts in the Earth. Its existence affects climate change. All of these facts are showcased in the documentary film, "Ice Worlds" that had an advanced screening at the Nido Fortified Science Discovery Center, SM Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City yesterday. It was presented by SMART and sponsored by NIDO Fortified, Coca-Cola, and BDO. The event was also supported by the WWFF, Mrs Field's Cookie Cafe, Digipost, A-Z Direct Marketing, and Timelife. The event's online media partner was Yehey.com. Ralph and I were fortunate to be invited to be part of the event.
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Aside from discussing how ice in our world's polar caps affect climate, the film also explained how the creatures in the Arctic and Antarctic regions depend on ice for survival. It also showed the existence of ice in the other planets like Saturn and Neptune and their respective moons. The film was narrated by British actress Emily Watson, star of "The Water Horse: Legend of The Deep". It was produced in cooperation with the University of New Hampshire, the Houston Museum of Natural Science, with the support of the National Science Foundation.
Before the screening began, the participants were first held in the conference room where Mr. Jose Ma. Lorenzo Tan, CEO and Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees of WWF Philippines spoke about responses to climate change. Ralph got scared about some scenarios that Lory shared to us. He said that we should be visiting Palawan now before its airports get covered in water. More lands are disappearing because of global warming!
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A raffle was held after the screening. Ralph and I were both lucky to win cool jackets from SMART. Other winners received gym bags and SMART phone kits.
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"Ice Worlds" regular screening begins on June 23. Get a chance to win awesome prizes by answering the questions that they will be asking after the show. For ticket inquiries, contact 556-0331.
Sunday, January 4
I'm Getting Cold Feet!
Literally.
I have noticed how the days got colder just last Friday. Rap and I were over at my parents' place for an impromptu gathering with some of my relatives. It was a sunny day, yet, I was shivering to the cold breeze that just kept blowing in and out of my parent' driveway. I had to borrow a jacket from my younger brother and opted to hangout in the kitchen where the burning stove is.
Today, temperature in Manila is expected to be between 18 to 27 degrees Celsius according to PAGASA's forecast. Baguio's coldest temperature is at 10 degrees Celsius while Tagaytay's is at 17 degrees Celsius. The presence of Tropical Depression Auring that is inside the country is adding to the cold temperature.
Don't get me wrong. I actually love the cool weather we have right now. It just makes me a little scared on how the climate gets too cold during this season and too hot in the summer. This could be just one of the effects of what we humans have done to Mother Earth. I hope it's not yet too soon to treat our environmental problems.
I have noticed how the days got colder just last Friday. Rap and I were over at my parents' place for an impromptu gathering with some of my relatives. It was a sunny day, yet, I was shivering to the cold breeze that just kept blowing in and out of my parent' driveway. I had to borrow a jacket from my younger brother and opted to hangout in the kitchen where the burning stove is.
Today, temperature in Manila is expected to be between 18 to 27 degrees Celsius according to PAGASA's forecast. Baguio's coldest temperature is at 10 degrees Celsius while Tagaytay's is at 17 degrees Celsius. The presence of Tropical Depression Auring that is inside the country is adding to the cold temperature.
Don't get me wrong. I actually love the cool weather we have right now. It just makes me a little scared on how the climate gets too cold during this season and too hot in the summer. This could be just one of the effects of what we humans have done to Mother Earth. I hope it's not yet too soon to treat our environmental problems.
Tuesday, November 25
What's With The Weather?
The sun was shining brightly this morning then all of a sudden everything became gloomy. Five minutes before I exit my front door for work, heavy rains fall. I get myself all geared up and ready for the wet and cold ride to Pasig. Then after a few minutes, the sun decides to shine brightly again. I reach my place of work and started to teach by one o' clock. Around 2:30 p.m., the rains start falling again couple with thunderstorm and lightning. My student and I watch by the window to see people without umbrellas running for shelter. Some even went inside my place to take cover. The rains probably took them by surprise. A few minutes went past before the sun came out shining again. I was so puzzled with the weather yesterday. My body was a little out of sync, too. I suffered a migraine and had the initial sensations of nausea but I popped a pill in my mouth as soon as I recognized the symptoms.
As I ended up my workday, I called home and was notified that Rap was feverish. My helper told me that my boy was not feeling well and even vomited on the ride home. I think the weather also made him feel that way. I can just imagine how he went out of his airconditioned classroom to the sunny parking lot where his school service is waiting and the rains poured. Even the weather dimy son was not spared from feeling well yesterday.
It got me thinking a lot. What's with the weather? Is the weather telling us something? Is it starting to knock our heads to make us realize the huge mistakes that we have done with the environment? It gives me the shivers thinking about it. What about you?
As I ended up my workday, I called home and was notified that Rap was feverish. My helper told me that my boy was not feeling well and even vomited on the ride home. I think the weather also made him feel that way. I can just imagine how he went out of his airconditioned classroom to the sunny parking lot where his school service is waiting and the rains poured. Even the weather dimy son was not spared from feeling well yesterday.
It got me thinking a lot. What's with the weather? Is the weather telling us something? Is it starting to knock our heads to make us realize the huge mistakes that we have done with the environment? It gives me the shivers thinking about it. What about you?
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