The Reflection

My wife used to live near the Pasig River. My in-laws are still living there and when we visit them, I always see the river and used to think and ask the big question "What happened?".

There is a famous song " Anak ng Pasig" (Child of Pasig) in the Philippines sang by Geneva Cruz. It is about a child who grew up living in the shanty along Pasig River. She express her experiences and frustrations on the outcome of progress on the said river.

Here is the translated lyrics of the song:

I grew up by the side of Pasig
Saw the river with its blackened waters
Raised side by side with smoking mountains
Breathed in the smell of rotting garbage

This is the life of a child of Pasig
Swimming carefree in the black of water
Your mountain of garbage is just my playground
Music to me is the sound of your cars and boats

You are all anak ng Pasig!
Litter right here, littering there
This sky of mine is covered with filth
My river has also been poisoned

I thought the world has always been like that
Until I have seen a picture of the past
I couldn't believe it was also Pasig I saw
Friend, what had happened here?
(What happened? What happened?)

You are all anak ng Pasig
Litter right here, littering there
This sky of mine is covered with filth
My river has also been poisoned

You are all anak ng Pasig
Throwing away here, throwing away there
Don't you know that what you're throwing
Is my future and the whole world's?

Is everything too late?
Are the rivers and seas all dead?
If Pasig is neglected
It's like turning your back on tomorrow

You are all anak ng Pasig!
Litter right here, littering there!
This sky of mine is covered with filth
My river has also been poisoned

You are all anak ng Pasig!
Throwing away here, throwing away there
Don't you know that what you're throwing
Is my future and the whole world's?

You are all children of Pasig
Our world still has a future

Pasig River was an important route of transport during Spanish times. It connects Laguna de Bay and Manila Bay. It made a focal point of development on the cities covering it; Pasig, Taguig, Makati, Mandaluyong and Manila. Industrial development, negligence of the local government and being irresponsible of the people living along riverside made it polluted and considered dead by ecologists because it is unable to sustain life. The government established the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission (PRRC) in 1999 under the Executive Order No. 54 to oversee rehabilitation efforts for the river.

The title REFLECTION reveals the after effects of progress to a developing country like Philippines. It's death is a reflection of our collective and continuous stupidity and neglect. Yet,we fervently hope that when the river is resurrected, the city and our souls will be similarly redeemed and cleansed. Blaming and finger pointing is now senseless. We must all act to prevent further damage and mutilation of the river. We should not rely on the actions of the government. We should all do our part in taking care of mother nature.

I am dreaming to see Pasig River comes back to life. We can catch fishes and children can play and swim on it. Families can have picnic on the riverside and a place that brings people together.

Thanks for reading this article and hope that it will become an eye opener to all of us too take care of the earth; the only place where we live. Cheers! All for HIS glory!

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