Wake-up Call

                                                                                              

Title of the Book: Nag-iisang Daigdig

Author: Segundo D. Matias, Jr.

Year of Publication: 2011

Publisher: Lampara Publishing House, Inc.

Wake-up Call

By: Louissa de Castro * 

We all know that all things have limitations. All excessive things can have a negative effect, either to us or to others. Many people nowadays tend to forget that our Earth also have a limitation. We throw our trash anywhere, we don’t recycle things that are recyclable, and we don’t care what we do to Mother Nature. We push the Earth in giving us everything but in return, we still abuse it. The things that we do can be seen by children and we all know that they imitate things especially what their parents are doing.

"Nag-iisang Daigdig" is a book by Segundo D. Matias, Jr. He is a member of the Writers Studio Manila which is an organization for writers of television and films. The illustrations were made by Ghani Madueno, member of the Ang Ilutrsador ng Kabataan or ANG INK. This book is about God creating only one Earth for His beloved people. God entrusted us His beautiful creation for us to nurture and treasure. At first, humankind did what he is tasked but then, his knowledge about the different things around him increased. People invented things like the smoke, plastic, and pollution. These things destroyed not only the environment but also God's heart. God told man and woman that “every time you cause harm to each of its parts, you harm me as well, for I created everything.” The end of the story left a rhetorical question to all, “YOU, do you have something to contribute in order to save your dying, one and only earth?”

This book is an eye-opener to kids aged 7-12 years old that God created only one Earth for all living things because people are forgetting their real purpose on Earth, to be stewards of God’s creation. We do different things that would make us happy and not even thinking what would be its effect. I want a new phone, I want a new pair of shoes, and I want this and that. This book made me happy not because of the colorful drawings but because it teaches us a lesson and it helps us understand what is the problem we are facing. This will surely help children understand the real deal in protecting the only earth that we have. The illustrations of the book were very colorful and we know that color catches the attention of the children. Ghani Madueno, the illustrator, used a lot of colors but he balanced it in a way that children would immediately stop and stare at it. I would definitely recommend this book to be used in teaching the proper way to protect the environment and what is the real responsibility of humankind.

This book also upholds one of the core values of Miriam College which is integrity of creation. We already have a lot of reminders to change ourselves and our way in treating the environment right, like the 7 Ecological Principles of Nature. Yes, reminders should be followed but what do we do? We just ignore them. Maybe this book will not only enlighten children but also the adults. I would suggest parents and teachers to read this book with their children for them to learn at the same time.

*Louissa de Castro studied her primary and secondary education at St. Theresa’s College, Quezon City. She is currently at her first year studying BS Child Development and Education at Miriam College. She is also a member of Child Development and Education Circle (CDEC) and Institutional Networking for Social Action (INSA).