The Effect of Climate Change and Resiliency of Filipinos

Climate change is a tough reality for many Filipinos, and it's not just a distant problem, it's happening frequently. The country's location makes it a natural target for environmental disasters. It sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, making it prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. It's also in the typhoon belt, which means it gets hit by about 20 storms every year. Lately, these threats have become much more dangerous. The planet's changing climate has made typhoons stronger and more frequent, bringing devastating floods and landslides. These storms don't just damage homes and roads, they wipe out entire communities and destroy the crops that many families depend on. This puts their food and livelihoods at risk. On top of the storms, the seas are rising faster around the Philippines than in many other parts of the world. This is a huge problem for coastal towns, where many people live. Rising sea levels could eventually swallow homes and land, forcing people to move. The saltwater is also contaminating the freshwater they need to drink and the soil they use to farm. It's a domino effect, and it’s a constant struggle to keep up with these changes.

One of the most significant impacts is the increased intensity and frequency of extreme weather events, particularly typhoons and heavy rainfall. While the Philippines is accustomed to an average of 20 typhoons annually, climate change has led to stronger, more destructive storms, causing widespread flooding and landslides.  These events devastate coastal communities and agricultural lands, destroying homes, infrastructure, and livelihoods. The progressive changes in rainfall patterns also contribute to both drought and excessive rainfall in different parts of the country, crippling the agriculture sector which many Filipinos depend on for their living. The resulting crop failures and livestock losses lead to food insecurity and economic hardship for millions, especially those in rural areas.

Another critical factor is the accelerated sea level rise, which disproportionately affects the Philippines due to its vast coastline and high population density in coastal areas. Sea levels around the country are rising at a rate significantly higher than the global average. This progressive change threatens to submerge low-lying communities, leading to the displacement of millions of people and causing saltwater intrusion that contaminates freshwater sources and agricultural lands. The warming oceans also lead to coral bleaching, endangering the country's rich marine biodiversity, which is vital for the fishing industry and the livelihoods of countless fisherfolk. The disruption of these fragile marine ecosystems poses a direct threat to the country's food security and economy.

References

Climate Change Commission, Philippines. (n.d.). Climate Change in the Philippines. https://climate.gov.ph/files/CC_Executive-Brief_V32.compressed.pdf

The World Bank. (2022). Country Climate and Development Report: Philippines. https://thedocs.worldbank.org/en/doc/4ec3282919652f7545bc25c49c1811e4-0070012022/original/PHCCDR-FINAL-formatted.pdf

 

Unite, Compete, and Triumph: That's the Intrams Spirit!

Unite, Compete, and Triumph: That's the Intrams Spirit!

September 4 to the 6th, was 3 whole days of constant thrill. It was days of experiencing different kinds of sports. It was a time when the entire school transformed into a vibrant arena of sportsmanship, with each department proudly representing its colors. Every place i went was an atmosphere of electricity, filled with the loud cheers of supporters and the spirited energy of the athletes and supporters. Beyond the thrill of the win or the sting of a loss, what stood out most was the sense of unity.

At the first day of intramurals, me and my friends went to see a match in Sepak. Interesting fact about Sepak or Sipa is that it is considered to be one of the hardest sports in the Philippines. That's why when watching i thought of how incredible this players are in competing in this kind of sport since it is a very hard sport.

                                                         

Next, we went to watch basketball. The gym was filled with athletes, so we didn't really went inside at that time, but based on my observations, basketball was one of the most hype sports of all time. In the afternoon, we went to watch out colleagues at the dance sport competition. It was very fun despite staying in the gym for 3 hours doing nothing but it was thrilling, since i got to witnessed smooth dancers like kuya John Paul and the others. But the main reason we went there was to support our colleagues, Aleina & Emman. Unfortunately, they didn't won any awards but they did try their best.

September 5, 2025. Second day of Intramurals. In this day, i went to see alot of sports, since teachers at the time didn't come to see us but advice us to support our athletes. At morning, we went to watch another basketball game since Johvan insisted on going because his brother was gonna play. 

                                                             

By Afternoon, 2:30 PM, we went to watch the boxing match of our seniors. This is the one that made me excited the most since it was the sport for physical and intellectual ability. Every match was fierced, exchanging blows after blows. Unfortunately, the majority of the matches lasted only 2 or 3 rounds minimum. After the boxing matches, we went to alot more places but unfortunately i wasn't able to take pictures.

At the 3rd day, September 6. It was recognition day so i didn't really get to watch any sports. But i think mostly it was the results of the games so it's okay. I really enjoyed this past 3 days of Intramurals since it mademe feel free from exhaustion from school works, it enlightened my core for sports and more importantly, it refreshed my mind.