the Earth-bound adventures of the Lost and Found

the greenie patch by Jeneen R. Garcia published July 2006     Great to see you here again, kids! Do you still remember the 3R’s all Earth-lovers must know by heart? Yup, it’s Reduce , Reuse , and Recycle . Last time, we talked about how we can Reduce our use of the Earth’s natural resources, and also Reduce the garbage that we throw into the landfill.   This time, let’s see how we can do the second Big R , Reuse.   “Reuse” simply means that whatever we have, we use again. Before throwing away a sheet of paper, see if you can still use the other side. If not for writing, then maybe to make paper boats or airplanes. Before asking for new pencils, check if the ones from last year just need some sharpening.   If you have toys, clothes or books you don’t want anymore, look around first, and you’re sure to find other kids who will want them. Giving old stuff away is reusing, too.   One good way to reuse is by buying reusable things like refillable pens and pencil...

the greenie patch by Jeneen R. Garcia published July 2006   Last month we started talking about the 3R’s we need to learn by heart. Nope, not Reading , ‘Riting and ‘Rithmetic, as your grandparents might tell you. For Earth-lovers like us, the Big 3 are Reduce , Reuse , and Recycle .   Today, let’s see what the first R , Reduce, is really about.   To “reduce” means to lessen or cut down on something. In Earth-friendly terms, this means using less of the Earth’s natural resources (anything we get from nature--metals, paper, fish, gasoline, etc.). Second, it means cutting down on the garbage we produce.   Why do we need to reduce? Because if we don’t, our seas might run out of fish, the earth might run out of gasoline, and our mountains might run out of trees! If we produce more and more garbage, soon we’ll run out of space to put our trash in! So it’s VERY important that we reduce.   Here are some ideas to get you started:   1)       ...

July 31, 2006. Considering that I was with my mother, ninang, and three 50+ and 60+ yr-old yayas, I guess this was a pretty good adventure. Short and sweet, and for only P300, we got to walk across a 154-m long bridge hanging over a 150-foot deep gorge, and then slide back to the starting point sitting only on a canvas harness. Going into the cave overlooking the Cagayan River, the site of the first Filipino victory against the Americans, was totally free. The best thing about this place is that it's just near the CDO airport. Could've rappeled down a tree to the entrance of a bigger cave, too, but by then we were so hungry, we totally forgot about it. Good reason to come back then, aside from the whitewater-rafting =D

In the spirit of the Kadayawan Festival (photos of which i'll post later on after i'm done with this backlog =P), some reasons this island is called the Land of Promise. Photos from my travels around Mindanao in the last month--Bukidnon, Cagayan de Oro, Misamis Oriental, Davao del Sur, and Kidapawan in North Cotabato. Also explains why I've been getting fat the past month. Unfortunately, can't find the pix of the gigantic apple-mangoes from Bukidnon, and the cute bananas growing in our backyard :-/ *everything taken as is. nothing rearranged to fit the picture. truth is beautiful ;-)

Or rather, waterproofing my things so I can live a more watery life. Recent acquisitions--mid-july to mid-August.

two shots i wasn't able to include in my Talikud and Malipano Islands album. two reasons my soul will always seek water. *both taken from underwater

August 9, 2006. It was a dark and stormy day.... But we got on a boat, anyway, and went diving at Mansud Wall. Wanted my brothers who were in town from the States to do their intro dives. I had a couple of firsts on that dive, too: 1) First time to dive in Davao again since I took my diving lessons 5 years ago. This time, none of the OC-ness of a newbie, and wearing my usual, stripped-down diving attire—BCD, regulator, tank, mask & snorkel, full-foot fins (no bulky booties), two weights (no cumbersome belt), shirt & shorts (no suffocating suit). 2) First time to dive alone (since the divemaster was with my brothers). Although I only went down to 25 ft by myself, since my main concern was taking good pictures, and visibility was only good till that depth. (I figured it was ok, anyway, since I can skin dive to around 30 ft, and nothing happens to me hehe. But kids, don’t do this at home.) 3) First time to go island-hopping in Davao with waves so big, the wharf got flooded! Also ...

August 5, 2006. Always prefer the real thing to the chlorine-drenched one, but I discovered that shooting in a swimming pool has its own aesthetic joys. With the kids: Vincent, Michelle, Yani and Mama at Men Seng.

July 22 and 29, 2006. Finally got the camera and underwater casing I ordered on the net! And so of course, the first two weekends found me at the beach. Still not time to dive, since I was only free in the afternoons, but this is what I got snorkeling/ skindiving in Samal Island, across Davao. As you can see it's just as good above as below =D can't wait to go diving and standing under a waterfall. Or rain! All the possibilities.... Here are my first shots, no post-shoot editing.