Manny Pacquiao, Lea Salonga, tarsiers, islands,beaches perhaps...

We, Filipinos are thought of as "Western Asians". We speak an Austronesian language that sounds Malay, yet most of us are Catholic, fluent in English and generally "Western" in bearing and inclination. 

Brought about by a large amount of Filipinos abroad (almost 11 million currently, according to the Bureau of Overseas Filipinos, out of a population of a 100 million ) , many Filipinos have developed a colonial mentality. We love to shop everything imported, from chocolates to clothes. This has fueled a frenzy of consumption that has driven our economy to grow by more than 6-7% per annum, one of the highest in Asia.

A side effect of this consumption is 1.) DEVELOPMENT. If you look up to the Wikipedia page on the largest shopping malls in the world, you'll see that most of the "largest" malls in the world are Filipino brands like SM, Gaisano and Abreeza. 2.) AIR POLLUTION. As income continues to rise here in our country, more and more people buy vehicles as a way to further social mobility. Cars are everywhere and public transport systems such as the Light Rail Transit train system and the traditional jeepneys are fast becoming a thing of the past. Cars, as all of us know, contribute largely to greenhouse gas emissions and is a major cause of concern by people who want to combat pollution.

Recently, former VP of the USA, Al Gore, visited Tacloban City, Leyte. Tacloban was the site of the famous return of Gen. Douglas McArthur in the Philippines to liberate it from the Japanese and more recently, the Ground Zero of Typhoon Haiyan, one of the most destructive cyclones in the world. For perspective, Hurricane Katrina was thought of as a "weak cousin" of Haiyan. VP Gore called on Filipinos to lead the fight and champion the cause of environmentalism, as we, as a people, are one of the most affected countries by climate change.

With the arrival of major shopping malls in my city (Zamboanga) , I have also come to notice a spike in foot and car traffic in the city. Smog, usually confined to the days when the Indonesian haze blowing in from Sumatra during the early months of the year, are now normal in the city center. Recently, KCC Zamboanga , a 120,000 sq. m. behemoth mall complex, opened with 5 floors of shopping space anchored by many international brands. For many, it is a shining testament of the Philippines' economic headway. Yet, it comes with a cost. Power and water supplies are dwindling from the lack of rain, and air pollution is only exacerbated by the El Nino, as more and more Filipinos flock to shopping malls to avoid the crippling summer heat. We used to have one of the more famous stargazing sites around the country, but now smoke, coupled with light and air pollution, has reduced visibility and many stargazers hike to isolated mountain ranges now in order to see the stars.

With development and more money flowing in, it's easy to see that the Philippines is on the right path. Yet, it comes with a compromise with Mother Nature. We need to further intensify our efforts to plant more trees, and foster a culture not defined by money, but by a love for the environment. We need to promote sustainable development. 

Peace and love from the Philippines!
Till next time :)