The Hidden Beauty and Horrors of Mining

    With so many social issues arising we forget about our environment. For today's blog, I would like to be an environmental advocate, use my voice as a student, and talk about mining. So what is mining? As stated by Britannica, mining is the process of extracting valuable minerals from the surface of the Earth, including the seas. The minerals we get from mining are used in various ways, they are used to produce the materials for building roads and structures, and they are also essential components in the production of advanced electronics, future automobiles, and other everyday items.

  Mining offers both benefits and drawbacks. The mining sector is successful. The government as well as mining owners profit from this. Yes, the minerals we get from mining are very useful to us but the way these minerals are acquired makes it dangerous. Although mining has boosted the economy and create jobs, it has also harmed the environment. Its surroundings' environment was negatively affected. Both negative and positive effects were felt by the local communities. Mining can cause multiple environmental problems naming, including wildlife and fishery habitats, the water balance, local climates & the pattern of rainfall, sedimentation, the depletion of forests, and the disruption of the ecology. Mining significantly contributed to the development of our technologies. Despite the laws and policies created by our government, many are still not strictly implemented. Since we humans are the primary cause of these environmental issues, we should take responsibility and practice discipline. The Philippines is rich in natural resources, it is a megadiversity and we are benefiting from this but if we continue destroying we will suffer from its consequences.

    As a student, I can help by being an advocate and helping more people to understand mining as a whole, with its pros and cons. Speaking up about this issue can be a great help to our environment. Being knowledgeable about mining can help us, especially since here in Ilocos Sur we have various mining areas. Mining resources are finite. it has its limits. With rapid population growth, and the various technologies and material things around us, in a short span. These minerals can be depleted. Let us do our share in managing our resources, and the sustainable use of natural resources. Let's have a simple lifestyle, just have what we need, Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. Less waste, fewer resources needed.

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Mr. President, What Is Happening?

 

Dear Mr. President,

        Good day, Mr. President how are you doing? In this letter, I would like to express what I feel about your leadership here in our country. What have you been doing to our country, sir? Why am I disappointed in you? What is happening here in our country?  Why are there issues still unsolved, Mr. President?

        Firstly, I would like to tell you that I am disappointed with what happened to our country, sir. Day by day cases arise and by the looks of it by next year we might still be on quarantine. Many issues here in our country need your attention and yet you are focusing on other things, Mr. President. Our country is in chaos with the number of things that we are facing at once. I know being a president is hard, it was never easy, to begin with, with the people being disobedient and serious issues that kept on happening. I am just so disappointed that it seems like you are neglecting your responsibilities. Secondly, I am so confused about how you are handling this pandemic, sir. I know every leader around the world is new to this and we were all affected. But the thing is a lot of countries are slowly going back to normal and here we are still in quarantine and are still wearing face shields, Mr. President. 

       The Philippines during your term was such a roller coaster, sir. No leader is perfect. But I can not understand how you still sleep at night knowing how much people are suffering each day, sir. I do not understand how you ignore the people’s pleas on how much they have been suffering. Each day I understand the anger of people towards you, sir. We need your help and guidance for our country, sir. I am still thankful for the good things you have done for our country. Thank you for your hard work for the betterment of the country. Thank you, our president, Sir Rodrigo Roa Duterte. Have a good day Mr. President. 

 

                                                                                                                                Sincerely,

                                                                                                                Angel Rexanne Morales

References:

Picture retrieved from: https://tinyurl.com/president-duterte

You Know Me Right?

 

         Hi, I’m Angel Rexanne E. Morales and I’m 15 and I live in Santa Ilocos Sur if you didn’t know that. Others would describe me as a rugged person or in Filipino “masungit”. Some would say I’m unapproachable and scary because of my strong personality. But others said I’m nice especially if they were lucky that I was not on my usual poker face. Those impressions are just the outer image of me, they don’t define me completely. I would describe myself as a strong person, a fearless one. I have always been strong because I grew up with my parents teaching me that I should not be afraid of challenges in life and I have to be strong because I’m the eldest daughter in our family also add that I am the middle child with 2 older brothers and 2 younger sisters. I love dancing and singing at the same time I love reading and writing too and doing these hobbies are the times I'm at my happiest. 

 I always viewed myself as an extrovert but through the quarantine, I started to focus on myself and I learned I’m also an introvert. I talk a lot like a lot but I also listen well and some of my friends say I give good advice. Staying at home for months made me try new things, listen to other genres of music, and read other genres of books. I love trying out new things because I do not limit myself to different things and I love learning new things. Ever since I was a kid I was grade conscious so I always thrive to do my best in my studies, having a lot of siblings is one of the reasons. I once joined journalism in 6th grade and it was such a nice experience that it made me want to try it out in high school too. I have always dreamed of being successful but never really thought of the profession I will choose. I have always been torn between being a doctor and a lawyer at the same time my passion for music by being a composer. I love writing, writing songs, and writing stories. I almost forgot I am also a fangirl, I support a lot of groups both from K-Pop and Western groups. These groups especially Little Mix who I grew up listening to their songs influenced me in so many things and being confident is one of them another one is SEVENTEEN who was one of the reasons how I got through my darkest times and helped me continue on staying strong.  

To top it all of I am an ambivert, strong, confident, ambitious, and a person who loves trying out new things and gaining new knowledge. I love myself despite my flaws. I have always been scared of describing myself because I was scared of how people will judge me but growing up I realized what they think of me really is not a big deal because what matters is how I see myself, describing myself. I am so happy with how I’ve become and I’ll continue to be proud of who I am.