Painting the Town 'Green'

I went to Los Banos, Laguna today for my enrolment. I enrolled in a post-graduate distance education course in UP Open University and although payment for the course fees can be done in any PNB branch nationwide, I opted to drive 2 hours to Los Banos (where the main office of UPOU is) to once again visit a place very close to my heart. After all, I spent 6 years of my life in this place having spent my college years and two of my professional years there.

Nothing much has changed although I noticed the traffic jam was a lot worse but, good thing, traffic officers were a lot more visible and the drivers are more disciplined. For instance, traffic officers help keep the pedestrian lanes open during traffic jams. The enrolment only took 20 minutes, you must say it's a waste of my time (and fuel!) since I spent a total of 4 hours driving to and from Los Banos. Maybe, but I'm just glad I made the visit.

My 14-yr-old niece accompanied me in this trip. We stopped by South supermarket for an 'emergency purchase' before going home. To my delight, our purchase was placed in a recyclable brown paper bag better known locally as 'supot'! This wasn't actually a total surprise since about two years ago when I accompanied my husband to visit an old friend in UP Los Banos (UPLB), I was also surprised that the snacks I bought from 'MiniStop' were placed in the same brown paper bag. I asked the cashier and he told me that it's in fact a town ordinance -- the business community in Los Banos is using recyclable paper bag to which I loudly applaud!

All along, I thought the use of the brown recyclable paper bag was just within the immediate vicinity of UPLB which is really known for its environmental conservation efforts being the 'caretaker' of Mt. Makiling -- not knowing that the practice goes beyond Bgy. Maahas and as far as in Bay (pronounced as Ba-e) where South Supermarket is. I am also glad that even big establishments such as South Supermarket and Mini Stop which have their own branded plastic bags participate in this 'green' effort!

A trip to Los Banos is not complete without buying its famous 'buko pie' (coconut pie) and shing-a-ling (I'm not sure how to describe it and what's it made of but it's just crunchy and yummy!). Of course, I had to bring one for my family. Again, to my pleasant surprise, the shing-a-ling was placed in a recyclable brown paper bag!

The townspeople of Los Banos isn't just showing their concern for the environment through the use of recyclable paper bag. It is deeply rooted in their hearts! A local tourist who just bought some buko pie threw some trash out of the window of his car before driving off and without hesitation, one of the hawkers selling 'meringue' reminded the tourist 'Boss, please 'wag po kayong magtapon dyan!" ('Boss, please don't throw your trash there'). To his embarrassment, the tourist opened the door of his car and picked up the trash he threw and drove off.

For this reason alone, Los Banos makes it to my list of ideal places to live in for somebody like me who takes 'green' efforts seriously. If Los Banos can do this, why can't other towns follow? I am not asking for a total shift to recyclable paper bag and banning plastic mineral water bottles in an instant but we very well know that small steps can lead to bigger accomplishments!

Go green!