Our collective actions will help reduce rising temperatures, strong typhoons, floods, food shortages, wildfires, and pandemics. It is not really the environment that needs saving, it’s us. I was hesitant to write about the environment. It felt hypocritical because I am an environmental offender in many ways. Among my offenses are running a neighborhood retail store and a small woodworking business.

The richest family in the Philippines is Chinese. Out of the ten richest in the Philippines in 2020 by Forbes, seven are Chinese or have Chinese descent; they are the Sy siblings, Lance Gokongwei and siblings, Andrew Tan, Lucio Tan, Ramon Ang, Tony Tan Caktiong, and the Co couple Lucio…

She pleaded with tears. But few cared to listen well. Now she is angry.

Cry. Pray. Ask for help.  Reach out. It is not hopeless.  Stay. Many love you.

Sustains life for all. Many walk miles for a pail.  Yet others waste drums.

Many solutions to our problems are simple but we refuse to do them because they’re not easy or convenient. So we wait for rocket science solutions until the problem is on our faces we have no choice but to move. Sharing, a wonderful act humanity practiced for many generations until…

Staring at a blank page.  I don’t want to write.  I look at my 24 drafts. I don’t want to finish any of it.

Let the girls be whatever they want to be, whatever you don’t want them to be. Let them explore and wander, to places you never allowed them to be. Let girls play roughly, and feel that scratches are painful but not fatal. …

I see you, in homes, schools, and workplaces. The first to sense toxicity and do something about it. I see your efforts, all the extra work you have to do because you are the first. I see the foundations you are laying, even if those standing on those foundations don’t. …