Last 2009, we experienced something that we never thought would happen. It was an eye opener for us. It was late September, a typical typhoon but a very traumatic one. I have written our experience here , first day of Ondoy flood and the longest night of our life. On the second day of the flood, it was the hungriest for us (read how we managed with a can of corn kernels and cheese here). The third day, the flood subsided but it’s was not the end. W’ere done with our emotions, it’s time to clean. After the house was a bit tidy (and most of our things in the garbage), we went to walk outside the village. We’ll be spending the night (or more nights) to my MIL. Vehicles cannot enter the subdivision yet as piles and piles of garbages are on the round. While walking, I saw garbage, garbage and mud.. it was then I realized that if I did not do something about it, Ondoy will happen again.. and we may not be as lucky as we are before.

That very moment, I pledge that I will try everything I can to save the planet. During the first year, it was really hard. I did it little by little, from reducing our carbon emissions to applying the 3 R( Reduce, Reuse and Recycle). The hardest thing to give up is the use of plastic bags. We always forget to bring our own bag whenever we do our grocery or shop at malls or buy our produce at the wet market. At supermarkets, we can just ask the bagger to put it in the box instead of plastics.. but at wet market, we have no choice but use plastic bags if we forget to bring our own bag.

In one of our palengke day, as I sort the foods out, I realized how much plastic was being used. For a kilo of meat, the butcher will put it into 2 clear plastic then put it in a plastic with handle.. Since we usually buy 7-10 kind of meat cuts, that’s 15-21 (only one plastic bag with handle is used) plastic bags for meats alone. That’s the time that I said to myself, if we are really serious with our pledge, we are going to stop using plastic. And after a month of trying really hard, it became a part of us. Manong wag mo na iplastic has been our favorite phrase since then.

But I did not stopped there. I knew I have to do something more.. I knew there is much more I can do to help save the planet. That’s when I started giving out eco bags to my fellow moms. Sati’s birthday was fast approaching and though most of the party details were already planned, I have nothing to give as souvenir or token for those who will attend. And in one of my conversation with my marce, the thought of giving out eco bag was mentioned. Since I never really liked giving items that are not usable (yeah like little figurines..no offense meant), I thought of something that will be of big use to our guests at the same time will make a big impact in their lives. The eco bag was a great idea, it was useful and at the same time it goes with my campaign of bringing your own bag. I even wrote an article on how much an eco bag will cost in the hopes that it will encourage people and my readers to do the same.. to give out eco bags as souvenirs and in the end help in reaching out more people to bring their own bag. I know that some of Sati’s visitors were influenced to use eco bag instead of plastic bag because of the giveaway.

The Sati Ecobag was the first bag I gave. The second was the PMC Ecobag. It was last week when the Pinay Mommy Community held it’s very first meet up. And as suggested by one of the members, why not bring a token? As soon as I learned about it, I knew immediately what will I give to my fellow PMC members. An ecobag what else? Knowing this moms are bloggers too, I knew that giving them an ecobag will bring more awareness and my campaign for using your own bag will reach wider audience.
Aside from giving out eco bags, I also write article about green living. There are times that I update weekly how much plastic we were able to say no to. I know that by doing it, my readers will be inspired to say no to plastics too. I also joined blog memes about green living, creating a blog post every week on how we can help save the planet and make it a greener place to stay.

Awareness is one of the first step to alter space, to make it a better and greener place to stay. We have to know what is our responsibility and how our actions are affecting our mother Earth. And with people spending more time on the internet and social networking sites, I am just glad that there are more and more people who uses this media to reach out and teach others about green living. One of the newest application in one of the most widely used social networking site is Alter Space. A game about happiness and carbon emmisions. Alter Space is the 1st Filipino environmental awareness game on Facebook. In playing this game, you will learn about carbon footprint and how your decision making affect your carbon foot print. The game teaches the player on how to be smarter to reduce his carbon foot prints. Learn more about Alter Space and start playing the game by visiting Alter Space Facebook site.

Of course aside from playing the game and bringing your own bag, there are other things you can do. Here are practical Tips on how to conserve energy or lower carbon emissions:

During summer months, the use of dryer can be reduced. You can opt not to use the dryer for smaller clothes and let it sun dry. For thicker clothes, reduce the dryer power by 75%. The sun rays will be enough to dry even the thickest clothes used during summer.

Car pooling is another solution to reduce carbon emissions. Think of it, if four people from your village will use their own car to come to their office, that would be 4 cars producing carbon dioxide, polluting the Earth. If they would carpool and only one car will travel that is 3 cars less in the street instantly.

Turn off the TV before sleeping, unplug appliances that are not in used, turn off the lights during sleep time and use only lights when needed. Reducing your electricity usage will not only help you lower your electricty bill but will also help in lowering carbon emission.

It was not easy being green. There were times that I question my decision specially when I shop and people would make funny remarks on our decision to go green. Sometimes, even at grocery, it was hard to deal with the cashier and the bagger who insist on putting our goods on their plastic bags. Often times we have to summon all the patience we have to deal with them.. but all the effort, it was all worth it. And I am encouraging all of you to make a difference and do your part.