It’s been a month since the triple catastrophe hit Japan. In that span of time, the world saw admirable resilience, discipline and grace. We saw another face of a country, long known for its modernity and wealth. We saw a different kind of richness, one that cannot be cultivated through commerce alone.

The tragedy in our Asian neighbor also hit a local chord. Apart from Filipino travelers and workers in or close to the affected areas, uncertainty struck home. Can the Philippines, a small country of 7,000 plus islands, take something of similar proportion?

The Philippines is also a part of the ring of fire. Our location and geography have been both boon and bane. We boast of endless beaches and lush mountains. These too have been sites of neglect, taken for granted in the name of the tourism industry. The rampant construction of tourist playgrounds, many of which defy safety guidelines, risks lives. We depend on the remoteness of a “what if.” When that “what if” hit Japan, it seemed closer than ever.

Reactionaries came out with news and documentaries, “new” guidelines and reassessments – all conniving to scare the public. Where were these before March 11, 2011?

I think it’s healthy to fear nature. After all, love it or abuse it, live off it or take it for granted, it has remained beyond man’s control. It is misplaced pride to say we’ve conquered nature. One way or another, it will come back and bite hard. Respect, and then maybe it will grant us pity later on.

Maybe it is positive that there is some awareness seeping in. Many participated in the 2011 Earth Hour, right? There are action groups taking care of dolphins, birds, corals, marsh lands and such. Supermarkets have their “bring-your-own-bag” days. You see segregated trash cans around malls. But is this enough?

I talked with this Antique-native once, she facilitates my Ventosa sessions. She said in her city, the mayor was so protective of their natural resources that he dissuades tourism establishments from advertising to foreigners. Local travelers were welcome but others were frowned upon, perhaps out of fear of becoming another Boracay. Supposedly also, a homeowner is made to go through months of red tape before he can cut a tree in his backyard. Guidelines were so strict, my Ventosa lady declared proudly.

I remember that story because I think the Philippines needs something like it. The country is run by lawyers and politicians, after all, right? Effective change must also come from them. There’s only so much an ordinary citizen can do. If environmental and conservation standards are not embedded into law and strictly implemented, then we are sitting ducks, waiting for catastrophe to happen.

Roda Novenario is Yapak Travel's Aliping Sangigilid :)