Sometime last month, we went to learn more about the local hideaways. We went to Pagudpud beach in the northern tip of Luzon and stayed in the most popular hotel called Polaris. It is popular to vacationers because it is inexpensive compared to the other hotel resorts despite its proximity to the sea and having a nice beach front. But for us, who were used to the cheaper guesthouses and youth hostels around the more touristic places in Southeast Asia, this place is still pricey, even in its discounted off-season price!
The three-storeyed concrete block hotel has air-conditioning, cable television (not working, thanks goddess) and an attached bathroom. We thought we didn't need the television and the air conditioning because we went there to breathe fresh ocean air and to enjoy the beach and nature and not to watch television. The sea breeze for sure was chilly and there was no need for cooled air from the machine. But since we cannot find a better, simpler and cheaper accommodation, we stayed there anyway.
What bothered me was that the air conditioning of the adjacent rooms, which were also occupied, were running 24 hours for several days even if the occupants were out the whole day. We didn't see any reason to use our cooling machine so we never did (except one time when it was hot in the evening and we didn't want to leave the windows open because of mosquitoes). The continuous buzzing sound of our neighbors' air-conditioners was disturbing in an otherwise very solemn and natural atmosphere.
This led me to ask a few questions: In their own homes, when they leave their houses for an extended period of time, do they normally leave the lights and air conditioning running? Or do they make sure that it is off knowing that it's wise to reduce electric bill payments? Is it because they are paying a fixed amount for the room that they do not care if so much electricity is being wasted? Don't they know a little about energy saving and global warming?
Which reminds me, about a couple of years ago, I worked in this big Company which employs a thousand workers. I observed in the female washrooms that people use tissue paper more than they really need. They mindlessly pull long lengths of tissue paper from the tissue holder, use some of it and throw it all to the trash bins, more than half part of the tissue paper clean and unused. Many times, the big toilet's floor was littered with tissue paper because the huge bins are already overflowing with it, this, despite the regular cleanings several times a day.
I was annoyed because I know that many of these extravagants cannot even afford to buy such high-quality pulp tissues for their home use. I shared my disgust to my roommate who also observed the same thing. My roommate and I concluded that this extravagant behavior is due to the lopsided logic that the stuff is "free anyway, being paid by the Company, doesn't cause me any dime." My roommate who knows the ins and outs of the "procurement of office supplies" said that those tissues are very expensive and more than half of the meager salaries of these extravagants goes to the buying of tissue papers that they are unknowingly wasting. So I thought, if they only know, that they are being paid (we were all being paid) very low, is partly because the Company has also have to pay for our other expenses.
The ideal solution would be, (if at all possible) practically making a deal with the Company, for us employees to economize in our small but many varied common expenses (including water, electricity, paper, soap, etc.) and the management to add more money for our daily toil. However, since that kind of deal seems to be too complicated to realize, why don't we take it upon ourselves to think beyond our larval selves? To think about the implications of our small but significant actions in the environment, and of our limited resources?
Which reminds me of Joey Ayala's classic song, calling out to us, the common people, to take action for our environment, and for our very own existence.
Ako po'y karaniwang tao lamang
Kayod-kabayo, 'yan ang alam
Karaniwang hanap-buhay
Karaniwan ang problema
Pagkain, damit at tirahan
'Di ko kabisado 'yang siyensiya
Ako'y nalilito sa maraming salita
Alam ko lang na itong planeta'y
Walang kapalit at dapat ingatan
Kapag nasira, sino ang kawawa
CHORUS
Karaniwang tao, saan ka tatakbo
Kapag nawasak iisang mundo
Karaniwang tao, anong magagawa
Upang bantayan ang kalikasan
Karaniwang bagay ay 'di pansin
Kapag naipon ay nagiging suliranin
Kaunting basura ngayo'y bundok
Kotseng sira ay umuusok
Sabong panlaba'y pumapatay sa ilog
May lason na galing sa industriya
Ibinubuga ng mga pabrika
Ngunit 'di lamang higante
Ang nagkakalat ng dumi
May kinalaman din ang tulad natin
Even now, after 12 years, the words of my Nat Sci 01 teacher keeps on ringing in my ears, almost like an admonition, "there is no free lunch, nature will have the last laugh, no matter what."
The three-storeyed concrete block hotel has air-conditioning, cable television (not working, thanks goddess) and an attached bathroom. We thought we didn't need the television and the air conditioning because we went there to breathe fresh ocean air and to enjoy the beach and nature and not to watch television. The sea breeze for sure was chilly and there was no need for cooled air from the machine. But since we cannot find a better, simpler and cheaper accommodation, we stayed there anyway.
What bothered me was that the air conditioning of the adjacent rooms, which were also occupied, were running 24 hours for several days even if the occupants were out the whole day. We didn't see any reason to use our cooling machine so we never did (except one time when it was hot in the evening and we didn't want to leave the windows open because of mosquitoes). The continuous buzzing sound of our neighbors' air-conditioners was disturbing in an otherwise very solemn and natural atmosphere.
This led me to ask a few questions: In their own homes, when they leave their houses for an extended period of time, do they normally leave the lights and air conditioning running? Or do they make sure that it is off knowing that it's wise to reduce electric bill payments? Is it because they are paying a fixed amount for the room that they do not care if so much electricity is being wasted? Don't they know a little about energy saving and global warming?
Which reminds me, about a couple of years ago, I worked in this big Company which employs a thousand workers. I observed in the female washrooms that people use tissue paper more than they really need. They mindlessly pull long lengths of tissue paper from the tissue holder, use some of it and throw it all to the trash bins, more than half part of the tissue paper clean and unused. Many times, the big toilet's floor was littered with tissue paper because the huge bins are already overflowing with it, this, despite the regular cleanings several times a day.
I was annoyed because I know that many of these extravagants cannot even afford to buy such high-quality pulp tissues for their home use. I shared my disgust to my roommate who also observed the same thing. My roommate and I concluded that this extravagant behavior is due to the lopsided logic that the stuff is "free anyway, being paid by the Company, doesn't cause me any dime." My roommate who knows the ins and outs of the "procurement of office supplies" said that those tissues are very expensive and more than half of the meager salaries of these extravagants goes to the buying of tissue papers that they are unknowingly wasting. So I thought, if they only know, that they are being paid (we were all being paid) very low, is partly because the Company has also have to pay for our other expenses.
The ideal solution would be, (if at all possible) practically making a deal with the Company, for us employees to economize in our small but many varied common expenses (including water, electricity, paper, soap, etc.) and the management to add more money for our daily toil. However, since that kind of deal seems to be too complicated to realize, why don't we take it upon ourselves to think beyond our larval selves? To think about the implications of our small but significant actions in the environment, and of our limited resources?
Which reminds me of Joey Ayala's classic song, calling out to us, the common people, to take action for our environment, and for our very own existence.
Ako po'y karaniwang tao lamang
Kayod-kabayo, 'yan ang alam
Karaniwang hanap-buhay
Karaniwan ang problema
Pagkain, damit at tirahan
'Di ko kabisado 'yang siyensiya
Ako'y nalilito sa maraming salita
Alam ko lang na itong planeta'y
Walang kapalit at dapat ingatan
Kapag nasira, sino ang kawawa
CHORUS
Karaniwang tao, saan ka tatakbo
Kapag nawasak iisang mundo
Karaniwang tao, anong magagawa
Upang bantayan ang kalikasan
Karaniwang bagay ay 'di pansin
Kapag naipon ay nagiging suliranin
Kaunting basura ngayo'y bundok
Kotseng sira ay umuusok
Sabong panlaba'y pumapatay sa ilog
May lason na galing sa industriya
Ibinubuga ng mga pabrika
Ngunit 'di lamang higante
Ang nagkakalat ng dumi
May kinalaman din ang tulad natin
Even now, after 12 years, the words of my Nat Sci 01 teacher keeps on ringing in my ears, almost like an admonition, "there is no free lunch, nature will have the last laugh, no matter what."
2 comments:
Kayni said...
Sometimes, we really need to educate other people about the wise and proper use of resources. I am quite proud to say that my current company practices a lot of ways to save energy and other resources. All employees contribute to this practice by turning off lights if we're done at the conference room, we have recycling bins, we don't use toilet paper but use air to dry our hands etc. Every little thing counts.
artemis said...
yes, I hope more companies and other establishments include these simple reminders in their regular meetings until saving energy and resources becomes a habit.
I remember one 5 star international chain hotel in Makati had a friendly reminder for the guests to consider environmental pollution. For example, there was a notice to either put the towels back on the towel rack if they don't want them to be changed or drop them in the tub if they need it to be changed. And this is to reduce the use of water and detergent that flows to the rivers and seas since everyday, thousands of hotels around the world are washing millions of clothings and linens.