So much has been said about how heavily polluted Metro Manila is. From above as the airplane starts to descend, one can easily compare how the sky outside the window changes from pure white cotton-like clouds to the dirty black fumes hovering above the metropolis. On the ground, trash piles up like a mini- volcano which most of the time emits stinky odor that somehow becomes the accepted natural smell of a locality. All sorts of trash have somehow made our bodies of water as their home. With clogged waterways perennial flooding occurs. Our streets are filled with jeepneys, buses and private vehicles that relentlessly exhaust thick black fumes, as if we need those to live and survive. Yes, Metro Manila is heavily polluted. One can simply tell by merely stepping one foot outside their homes.
But amidst all these, there are small pockets of green --- a much needed oasis --- fighting to survive in an area where highly profitable vertical cities are given much priority in land usage than balancing financial progress, human’s need for decent homes and environmental protection. These oases are not hard to find. Matter of fact, the biggest parks in the metro like Luneta and Quezon City Circle are easily accessible as buses, jeepneys and other public utility vehicles ply this route. It's just really about opening one’s perspective that such lush vegetation exists in the metro and finding time to visit and explore them. Come and join me as we search for Manila’s Oases.
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