Reminders for January-February

January of this new year 2023 is about to end in four days.

Still, there will be some days left for all to be reminded to catch up on certain important, interesting events scheduled for January and February.

First reminder is about January as Zero Waste Month.

It may be good to remind all Filipinos that it was President Noynoy Aquino, through Proclamation No. 760, dated May 5, 2014, who declared January of every year as Zero Waste Month “to guide people in changing their lifestyles and practices to emulate sustainable natural cycles where all discarded materials are designed to become resources for others.”

It’s not too late to do your share to celebrate Zero Waste Month from today ‘til January 31st!

GAIA (Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives) sponsored an International Zero Waste Cities Conference in Quezon City last January 26-27 with the theme: “Zero Waste for Zero Emissions.”

Among the precious, inspiring experiences of zero waste initiatives shared by participants all over the world was the simple reminder that if all actively segregated their household wastes and properly manage, especially kitchen/food wastes and compost these, everyone can help avert global warming, contribute to food supply and security, control flooding, and more!

Ecowaste Coalition prepared this roster of creative Zero Waste Month activities in Baguio with multi-sectoral partners, including Mayor Benjamin Magalong: “national and Baguio solid waste management situationer, storytelling on segregation and plastic (for children aged six to nine), composting with Eugene the African Night Crawler, earning from recyclables, games, composting with the Black Soldier Fly, managing biodegradables with the biodigester, ronda time, and with a zero waste concert to end the fun-filled, educational, meaningful Zero Waste celebration!”

Ecowaste also provided “Info materials on zero waste for viewing throughout the day including on-the-spot demonstration of recycling of paper and soda can lids.

Repair of shoes and umbrellas, book swap, donation of small e-wastes, recyclable materials and household/kitchen ware were also done the whole day!”

Here in Cebu, for its Zero Waste Month Celebration, the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) of DENR-7 invited “Sinulog participants residing in Central Visayas to join the Environmental Video para sa Kalikupan Contest” with the aim “to if not fully eradicate, at least lessen the trash haphazardly thrown in the street during the Sinulog Celebration.”

Entries were scheduled for posting on “EMB Region7 FB page last January 24 with like/hear/wow/care reactions for each entry (to comprise 10% of the total score) to be counted on January 31 at 9 a.m. Winners will be announced in the EMB FB Page in the afternoon of January 31 and will be given cash awards, ranging from ?1,000 to ?5,000.”

DENR-7 also supported “the 2nd year Search for Best Zero Waste Barangay initiated by the Provincial Government of Siquijor aimed at showcasing “the best efforts of barangay officials and their constituencies in working toward efficient reduction of plastic use in consonance with the “No Single-Use Plastic” Ordinance of the Province. This year, public elementary schools were also included in the search to emphasize the importance of molding pupils to be good stewards of the environment.”

Another important reminder; the 2023 Japanese Film Festival (Eigasai) started yesterday, January 27!

Don’t worry, you have until January 31 to enjoy the drama, thriller, animation that will be shown every 1 p.m., 4 p.m., 7 p.m., and 9 p.m. each day for ?100 per movie at SM Seaside, Cinema 6.

For details about the schedules and description of the ten movies, this reminder: please check https://m.facebook.com/Consulate-General-of-Japan-in-Cebu-100373328916351/.

Finally, the Japan Foundation Test for Basic Japanese (JFT-Basic) for foreign nationals desiring to work/reside in Japan, including those who want to obtain the “Specified Skilled Worker (i)” residency status is scheduled in Cebu from February 12-13. For inquiries, contact [email protected]