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I write amidst the heavy rains pouring outside brought by Typhoon “Frank” with splinters of dead branches and ripe mango fruits occasionally falling in our roof. It is unthinkable that such an occasion, as the height of another natural phenomenon will compel me to write and reveal the thoughts running through my mind. As early as 3 AM, I lay fully awake as thoughts of our mango trees might not withstand the strength of ”Frank” and leave my household unprepared for the circumstance. Previously, there has been an increasing tempo of the gusty wind and the rains and I can only tell it is once again another stormy day. With the power out, and water temporarily unavailable, the options of how to spend a stormy Sunday are narrowed. I can just finish reading a book which I just did or begin another piece of article– something I have been unable to do quite lately. Now, there is no more excuse.

My official travel to attend to one of our cases in Cebu City last May gave me the opportunity to go home even for so short a time. As always, I have been fascinated by the sight and sounds of the Queen City of the South as nothing compared to other cities. But still I longed for home. I had only the weekend to spare and being with family—I can only count the most important activities I can manage. But never can it be missed out—those early Sunday morning walk or jog along the familiar streets of San Miguel, Solano, diversion Road, San Roque and finally the beaches of Sto. Niño.

This time I wanted to pass by the neighborhood of San Roque before reaching Bachelor because it has been a long time since I walked this path. I caught sight of the pre-existing structure of what is New Leyte Edible Oil and again quite reminisced that in my younger years, this has already been part of Tanauan and of its beaches beyond. I refer to it as “pre-existing” because as far as I can remember, it has already been there and if I’m not mistaken, even before I was born.

When I was in my teens, I do remember seeing a big structure—cemented piece of a ruin—that was slowly being eaten up by the waves and the sand. As years passed and to date, what remains is a relatively small portion of it on which the waves still pound and crash into. In a young mind back then, I do remember that this cemented structure appeared to be formidable and quite incapable of being submerged into the waters as we even walked through it in our leisurely pass to the other side of the beach—farther to and beyond the “pantalan”. Now nothing will seem formidable and indefatigable in nature—as in this case the force of the tide and of the waters will impose itself consistently on this structure like any other. Nature indeed.

What caught my sight and what will again put me into agitation is the unpleasant sight of the sewage that no longer discretely flow from the exhaust vents or holes of New Leyte Edible Oil. It was in open view or “plain view” of any passerby and the pool of putrid water with trash combined in an enclosed space leaving it stagnant is something that cannot just escape my eyes. I looked at the source and found it very clear that again this company has again deceived or cheated us, of its social responsibilities or to be precise– environmental responsibilities! For even if they are granted an environmental clearance, I do not believe that obtaining such and the responsibility that comes along with it ends and cease upon receipt of the certificate or whatever piece of document is issued by the regulatory agency. The essence of compliance or if indeed there is an honest attempt to comply in good faith to the requirements of compliance is best seen or confirmed in the daily actual operation of this business entity up to the detail of its sewage management and that early Sunday morn is one ordinary day in its normal business life where this attempt at compliance can be gauged. There I saw the lack of effort to comply! Read the rest of this entry »