Blogs
A Trip to CELL; A door to Progression.
CENTER FOR ECOZOIC LEARNING AND LIVING
The Center for Ecozoic Living and Learning was opened by the Columbian Missionaries on January 1999, this was inspired by their experience of solidarity of the poor. They came up with a realization that the neglectfulness of the poor is indeed the ignorance of the destruction of the earth therefore, through having an organization as such, builds up their advocacy which is to save our disastrous environment. CELL is a 1.2 hectare land located in Silang, Cavite that is a largely self-sufficient Ecozoic farm comprising of facilities such as home farm, working woodlands, productive gardens, and restful grounds (a chapel, rest house, etc.).
Picture 1 : The houses (huts) present CELL.
Picture 2 : The bridge going to the other side of the farm.
SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENT PRACTICES
Picture 3 : The Plants Picture 4 : With my science teachers
Picture 5 : With my friends and science teachers Picture 6 : The chili that I have gathered during our exposure
Before entering the Center of Ecozoic Living and Learning, I was very excited because as a teenage girl living in the city, I was not fully exposed to organizations as such which is firm in their vision of saving the environment. We were initially introduced to “Kuya” Benny who was joyful and accommodating while he presents their organization to our group. As I approached the entrance and saw the wondrous greens that appeared before my eyes, I was fully in awe…It was amazing, I wished that I could bring such ambiance to the city for my family and friends to experience…it was very special.
The first activity that we had was with “Kuya” Renato, we gathered into one hut where he taught us the technicalities of the CELL, the people who live and work there, and the background of the cell (how CELL came to be and how it was flourished). He introduced the permaculture zones that the CELL is comprised of. He stated information regarding the plants, trees, animals and people living in the area. After which, we were introduced to the Ecozoic way of life of the organization and what it is inspired of this was creatively expressed through the New Story of Creation which made us realized how valuable each element here on earth is (the fire, water, soil and wind). This opened our eyes on how relevant each are that is usually taken for granted in our society's current condition.
We then went around the farms as to where we were introduced by the two "kuyas" in the various permacultures. They demonstrated some methods of organic growing and the ways on how to live out an environmental responsible way of life. they has stated that it doesn't matter whether you nare located in urban or rural areas since all of us can grow their own food, reduce our dependence on non-renewable resources such as the fossil fuels which are very evident in the countries today by the practice of recycling in all kind of ways. With this, we could help one another in saving our Mother Earth, Yes, it may take time but i could infer from the talks that they have stated that everything that we would accomplish with the vision of saving the world would be worth it.
Lastly, CELL has taught us that everything that they do in their organization is according to their responsibility as God's disciples. They promote the importance of comprehending the potential of our world living in harmony and integrity for the whole of creation. With this, they also stated that everything here on earth is essential thus we should only enrich it and never become a hindrance to its well-being. We should be aware and be grateful of God's mighty presence in creation and continue to procreate it as stewards of His work.
SYNTHESIS
We are a generation of ignorant, careless, neglectful and ungrateful human beings. Since we were younger, we have been taught of the downfall of our environment caused by humans. With this knowledge, we are immersing in various projects and programs in saving the earth such as the SINOP program, fun run, newspaper drive and a lot more. Even though we have been engaging in such activities, at the end of the day we do not really imbibe in us our advocacy of saving the environment, examples of these acts are we still support products that are not environmental friendly such as plastic bottles, fossil fuels, too much consumption of paper, etc. Without any realization and guilt, we contribute to the continuous destruction of Mother Earth just for our worldly comfort. We are in a world full of evil: a world full of selfishness and self-centeredness. We are currently in a state where we always put our need first before others’ and that’s the main reason why we are deteriorating and could soon be extinct without us addressing to the problem that we have created – climate change.
We have to be more sensitive and conscious of the environment’s conservation. We have got to have that mindset that everything that we act upon has a corresponding impact on the environment and it is our decision whether this change is for the worse or for the better. Worldly comfort and the advancement of technology should never serve as means for us humans, to become neglectful of our responsibility as stewards of the environment.
What do we do now? It’s time to be independent. It’s time to start the change and leave our past selves behind with our old negative ways towards the environment. It’s time that we do not rely merely on the environmental organizations in saving the place that we live in. It’s time that we stand up on our own. It’s time to fight for what we have always wanted. It’s time to give the advocates crying inside of us to give it a shot. Give it a shot and become a responsible steward of God’s creation in action. Give it a shot. Give it a shot and become an asset. Be an advocate of the environment in action.
I am very grateful to my elective, The Advanced Environmental Education, and to my school, St. Theresa’s College of Quezon City for letting me experience a one of a kind connection with the green environment in the Center for Ecozoic Living and Learning. With this extraordinary experience, I became a different Katrin Hollero, I am now a firm and steadfast advocate of the environment who is willing to sacrifice her worldliness to respond to the endeavor that she has started. I am one with the poor, I am one with the earth.
