In the name of development and progress, we drown.

Children, sigh, we rear them, and when they grow old, they scold us. Sigh. Sigh. I receive the treatment, too, from my daughters, as if my protestations are too much. I think it's their way of endearment, though, so I let them reprimand me sometimes. And you are absolutely correct about the oil, I just cannot recall which country was affected badly. Yes, we have to take care of the environment in every little way we can. It starts with us, as individuals, as families, and then the whole nation, and the earth might still heal.

@eileenleyva I don´t let him tell me off no way Jose. That oil puts a lot of weight around the midriff as well as its not good for the system itself. So now they are making cakes and bisuits and bread without the said oil in it. I cannot remember that country right now but they did have a huge disaster there because of all the trees uprooted just for the sake of it being cheaper to use it. At least people here have got motivated enough to stop buying anything with that oil in it. Really sneaky devious ways they had of putting it in the ingredients and calling it something else till we all caught on to the trick.

@lovinangelsinstead21 Yup, we must always be mindful of the food we eat. The Chinese made cabbages and lettuces out of plastic, The muffins and cheesecakes,too. Sigh. I stick with olive oil, as advised by my endocrinologist. Real expensive though, so sometimes, I simply steam my vegetables. I am no pushover of a mother, really. I find an opportune time to hit back at my girls and utter my precious lines: "See, I told you so." "Of course, I am always right."

My country remains third world. Urban planning had been abused. Corrupt politicians had gotten away with plunder. Meantime, the masa and the workforce had been compromised.

@LindaOHio Talk about leaders of questionable intents and characters, we have one here. Alarmingly, China has been exploiting our seas and our islands, claiming our archipelago is its province. Our despot has allowed it. The dispute is on-going and USS fleets have issued warnings time and again reminding China of our sovereignty. Meanwhile, slum areas become part of the urban sprawls.. I am sorry I have to relate this to you but this is the sad state of my beloved country.

@eileenleyva I'm sorry to hear that.

Valerie, this is Metro Manila. I live at the outskirts, the foot of the Sierra Madre Mountain Ranges, the slopes of which has been turned into malls and villages.. Metro Manila holds the capital city and other highly urbanized cities. The thing is, planning was faulty. Unsightly sprawls. The other provinces are much better, like Bacolod in the Visayas. Planning there was conceptualized correctly, thus the city is very inviting. Perhaps you are imagining the Philippines as a paradise because of our coastlines. That is true. Our country is blessed with pristine beaches, Northern Philippines, with the Pacific waves, is best for surfing. The fish is abundant and the coconut trees can quench thirst and fill the stomach. The hot springs are healing, thus many elderly foreigners have opted to retire here. The tropical climate somehow, is conducive for aging bones. And the food is not expensive.

@just4him The Philippines is already a paradise. Our best natural resource is our people. We treat all visitors like royalty. This does not include the tyrants, the plunderers, and the traitors. Our shame. The genuine Filipinos are hospitable and kind.

@eileenleyva It sounds like a nice place to live.

Our two mountain ranges and ricefields and coconut fields have been compromised due to illegal logging, kaingin, establishment of malls and villages. and every other reason our greedy and corrupt politicians can come up with for their own selfish benefits. We were progressive during the Benigno S. Aquino III administration, our infrastructures were built and rehabilitated, our forests and mangroves have become greener. Now, only the sprawls multiplied exponentially, rendering our social and economic problems a hundred per cent more difficult. China has made a subtle invasion of our country.. They are everywhere.

@nela13 Yes, man has abused nature. We Filipinos are also complacent. My daughter's post has caught the attention of Filipino Environmental Planners. It's a wait and see now, whether action could be given this gargantuan problem. Thank you.

@eileenleyva I am so sorry this is happening, people don't realize they are destroying their country.