"Mother Earth is sick, and there are many things that we can do, it's not too late yet, let us save and heal the ailing mother earth today, not tomorrow or in the coming days."

This was the appeal of the Fernando brothers of Sta. Maria, Bulacan on Wednesday afternoon, Jan.18, as they called on their classmates, friends, and parents to plant trees in an effort to save Mother Earth from pollution and other ill effects of climate change and global warming.

Neil Francisco Fernando, 17, a Grade-12 student of Parada National High School, encouraged all Bulakenyos to support the environmental project of the national and local government.

The Grade-12 student said that to conserve and protect the flora and fauna of the province of Bulacan from total devastation, the united support of everyone is badly needed. He said everybody should be alert because illegal logging is reportedly rampant in the mountainous part of Bulacan.

Neil said they learned the river banks in the mountain towns of Norzagaray, Angat, Dona Remedios Trinidad, and the City of San Jose Del Monte, particularly in the Balikiran mountains of Barangays Camachile and Kabayunan; Sitios Tanapan and Inagawan, of Barangay Sapang Bulak, and Sitio Bato -- which are part of the protected Angat Watershed area -- have been abused by several groups of illegal loggers.

He said tree planting is one of the significant contributions an individual can offer to resolve various environmental problems.

"If the trees, plants, and water deterioration could not be put to end, our struggle to save the dying environment will be useless," Neil said.

Nikko Fernando, 20, a 3rd-year BS Agriculture college student of Bulacan Agricultural State College, said garbage is still a major problem not only in the province of Bulacan but nationwide despite more penalties being imposed.

Various seminars were being conducted by the local government units in different barangays to solve the worsening solid waste problem. Several studies have also been made to create climate action plans in the province.

Nikko said taking care of the nation is everybody's responsibility and hoped that no more plastics and plastic debris gets off the river like what happened last year, the top wastes that were collected according to the report.

"When God created the world, it was indeed a perfect environment; every human being's need was never a burden. But today the greenhouse effect has been felt universally, that's why everyone should take part in the programs of the government to save the sick mother Earth," Nikko remarked.

"Let us unite to make our land safer and more resilient, life is so short and we don't have a second chance to live, let us show our love to God's creation, the environment, and natural resources, and secure the future of the kids, the next generation," he added.