28/09/2025
๐๐น๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ: ๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ ๐ณ๐ฟ๐ผ๐บ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฆ๐ต๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฒ
๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ฆ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ | "Seriously, Maria? Up at 4 AM?! Where are we off to now?"
My twin, Reusable, groaned as we felt our owner, Maria, unlock her dorm gate and walk fast, as if she was late for something important. We were baffled because it was Saturday, and the sky was kind of gloomy, but she still got up and left so early.
"I know, right? Didn't she just wash us after gardening? What's her task this time?" I muttered as Maria continued to walk briskly. Oh, and by the way, I'm Gloves! I'm sure you've already met my twin. Together, we are Reusable and Gloves. That's what people call us, anyway.
Every September, thousands around the globe bend down to pick up the trash that does not belong on the sand. Here in VSU, it is no different. But today, let us not hear the story from a student or a bystander. Instead, listen to the voices of a pair of glovesโฆ witnesses to both the waste that chokes our seas and the hope that refuses to die.
We're twins, a pair of white and orange hand coverings made from thick, rubber-coated cotton. And yesterday was our day โ International Coastal Cleanup Day โ and together, we witnessed scenes that will forever be etched into ourโฆ well, let's just say, our shared experience.
The day started with a chilly breeze, and the sky looked gray. Maria wore us, one on each hand, and her eyes showed unwavering determination, eager to conquer challenges as the day unfolded. We fit perfectly on her hands, and just like her, we were ready to finish the tasks awaiting us.
VSU beach, from afar, looked like a peaceful place where Viscans like to relax and watch the sunset after class. But when we got closer, we were struck by a sad reality. There was trash everywhere! Plastics such as water bottles, food wrappers and straws were there, even pieces of clothing, cans, metal wires, and containers of alcoholic beverages were present. It was like a messy collection of junk that people left behind.
The air reeked of rot, sewage, and wasteโฆ an unforgettable stench.
Maria, with Reusable on her right hand and me, Gloves, on her left, started cleaning. Reusable first found a shattered glass bottle stuck in the rich-black sand, its label torn and faded. This bottle, which used to hold a drink, was now a reminder of how easily we throw things away.
We kept going and found even more trash. There were so many tiny invaders like pieces of plastic, almost too small to see, slowly poisoning VSU Beach and the waters of Pangasugan. We could feel Maria's frustration as she tried to pick them up.
She then decided to remove us for a moment and washed her hands as she grabbed a quick snack. The aromatic smell of hot Arrozcaldo filled the air, making my twin and me drool over the food inside of those paper cups on the table. As Maria savored her food, we also scanned our surroundings. Staff and students looked tired from collecting trash but were still smiling and laughing genuinely, a group of student leaders were busy auditing the accumulated garbage, and even those who were sitting silently in corners carried unwavering determination to save our seas. These were the people who carry the passion to make our sea better, eager to give back the same care and service it provides.
After hours of auditing, Maria watched the garbage truck drive away, seeing the numerous sacks containing the different type of wastes. As she faced the beach, it was much cleaner, but she also knew that the fight wasn't over. The ocean would bring more debris as the waves splashed the shore.
Maria lightly washed us using clean tap water, removing the dirt from all the collecting. Her gaze fell on us briefly, her eyes smiling with a faint hint of a silent but genuine "Thank you."
But as we rested in the cool breeze of fresh air while the giving of certificates to all the hardworking organizations was happening in the background, we wondered: Will we ever do enough? Will we ever stop using so much plastic? Will the next generation have a clean ocean, or just a large body of water without life?
โGloves, do you think doing this is enough?โ
My twin, Reusable, asked.
โThis may just be a tiny portion compared to the scale of our problem but, it will surely inspire individuals across the globe to take part and continue the legacy. Itโll be enough to ignite passionate hearts burning with the desire to take responsibility for the consequences of their actions,โ I paused then continued, โBesides, weโll always be there, right? Ready to provide service to those who need us. We may just be gloves, destined to be tossed aside once our work is done. But in every cleanup, in every hand we serve, we carry more than trash. We carry the belief that change is possible and most importantly we carry the future of our tomorrow.
And maybe, that is the story the ocean needs us to keep telling.โ
๐ช๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ | ๐๐น๐๐๐ผ๐ป ๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐ผ๐ป๐ผ๐ฟ & ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ป๐ฒ ๐๐ป๐๐ต๐ผ๐ป๐ฒ๐๐๐ฒ ๐๐น๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฎ
๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฝ๐ต๐ถ๐ฐ๐ | ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐บ ๐๐๐ฐ๐ผ
