Whenever I think about volunteerism in the Philippines, the first concept that comes to mind is “bayanihan.” As Filipinos, it is in our blood to help our brothers and sisters who are in need. It is our natural tendency to help. It is in our culture. And I think this is what keeps us apart from other countries. One sad thing that I could notice about the concept volunteerism in the Philippines is that it differs depending on whether the place is urban or rural. Usually, the concept "bayanihan" as volunteerism is only apparent in the provinces. In the urban cities, volunteerism is usually signified by community immersions and donations to the less fortunate. There is nothing wrong with these two views. It is just that volunteerism in the concept of "bayanihan" is more natural and in a sense, promotes equality. Meaning, you do "bayanihan" because you wanted to help. Volunteerism as helping the less fortunate, on the other hand, simply spells out that you are helping because you have more, and others have less.

My point here is that I hope there will be equality in all the faces of the earth. So that when we volunteer, it is because some people need some kind of assistance, and not some kind of charity.

I believe that the true welfare of human life is reflected by the condition of its natural habitat. If the environment is scanty and desolate, then it is most likely that the lives of the people living in it are wasted as well due to the reason that they are deprived of the provisions that are necessary to their health.

Nature sustains our life. It is where we get our oxygen, food, water, shelter, clothing, and basically anything that is under the umbrella of our basic biological needs. If we were to wake up in an environment that cannot produce and supply our basic needs, then obviously, that is where our lives can end. In the modern day era, humans are so obsessed with "creating" artificial dupes that can possibly replace the "natural" ones. Humans are so fixated with exploring every part of the universe for a chance to find a place where humans can possibly survive. But let me tell you what I think: The earth cannot be replaced. It is one of a kind. And as rational beings, we should be responsible for it. Humans are so adamant with upgrading, but why can't we just take care of the original version of the earth that we are blessed with? For me, it is because it is our tendency to think that everything degrades. But honestly, we are the ones who did this to ourselves in the first place. We created cars that cause pollution just so we can experience some aspects of our lives better. We become so distracted by these things that we forget the only thing that keeps us alive is NATURE.

Again, as the only rational beings on this planet, nature is our responsibility. We are the only ones who can save or break it. Therefore, we have to take our actions now before it is too late. As a naturalist, it breaks my heart to see our environment degrading. But even if I am merely a student, I can do something about it already. I can bring my water bottle to school so that I would not need to buy water that are placed inside a disposable bottle. I could opt not to use a straw when I am in a restaurant. I could choose to just dine in my food rather than to take it out. I could bring a shopping bag when I shop for groceries so that I could avoid the exploitation of plastic bags. All of these simple things can help save nature. It might be inconvenient sometimes, yes. However, I believe that a simple inconvenience is better than a heavy dose of suffering in the future.