Water short stories

Manila, water short stories
Manila has serious problems with its waters: pollution, contamination, sanitation, underdeveloped sewerage system, dramatic shortages in summer, floods during the rainy season, the city's uncollected garbage then often ends into the waterways. Fecal coliform bacteria levels in Manila Bay are very high. The situation is taken seriously by the Philippines authorities and population, but the fight is hard. The efforts and dedication of many people here to try to improve the situation are exceptional.

Studies have found that liquid water must have existed on earth as long ago as 4 billions years, very soon after the formation of the planet. And we have a lot of it, about 71 percent of the Earth's surface is water-covered, so we may assume that all will be fine, it should not be much of a concern. Or should it? Unsafe water kills more people than wars or any form of violence.
Water is life.
The Pasig River is the lifeline of Manila. It used to be a source of transportation, water, food and livelihood for Filipinos living in the city. Due to pollution, it was declared biologically dead in the 1990s, it could not sustain life anymore. A hard work has started to rehabilitate it.
Cleanup day at BASECO, a very sensitive area, there the Pasig River joins the Manila Bay. The compound is very poorly equipped, lacks proper sanitation and a decent garbage collection. This Sunday volunteers from the community cleaned their part of the bay.
The Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission was created in 1999 to rehabilitate the Pasig River to its pristine condition. The PRRC formed the "River Warriors" and "River Patrols" who are in-charge to clean the river and its tributaries, to dismantle the informal settlers houses, and to guard the waterways against polluters and squatters.
Estero de Magdalena. Poverty, severe malnutrition and disease are the realities of everyday life for the residents in slum areas. The impact on the environment is also disastrous.
Manila water crisis. After a long wait, these kids finally received some water from a rescue tanker. It's summer here, they seem to enjoy a fresh shower.
Commuter crossing the San Francisco River. The Pasig river and its tributaries are the lifeline of Manila.
Tondo - Happyland. Safe water is required to wash our clothes too. Getting it is a daily concern in Manila's impoverished areas.
Children playing in the polluted water of Manila Bay. The water is unfit for swimming. But it is hard to prevent children from playing there in the hot summer days. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources expressed concern over the high level of fecal coliform bacteria in Manila Bay.
"Wattah, wattah" festival. Because of the water crisis experienced by the metropolis, San Juan City will only use much less trucks of water during this year’s celebration.
Talayan, along the San Francisco River. After the flood. A very disturbing vision.
Tondo - Happyland. Getting drinkable water is expensive and a daily preoccupation for the residents of the poor areas of Manila.
Manila summer water shortages. The city has deployed tankers to provide water to the residents.
BASECO compound. It is one of Manila’s most vulnerable communities due to its proximity to the junction between the Pasig River and the Manila Bay. The area is very poorly equipped. This Sunday, these volunteers clean their part of the river and of the bay.
BASECO. Dreaming about a clean future?
Manila Bay water is unfit for bathing or swimming. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources expressed concern over the high level of fecal coliform bacteria in the Bay.
Manila summer water shortages. The city has deployed tankers to provide water to the residents. Bringing home all the water he could get.
All the hard work done to rehabilitate the Pasig River is paying off. Life is back in the river and its water quality has improved significantly.
San Juan River. The Pasig river and its tributaries are the lifeline of Manila.
Tondo - Happyland. Buy and stock up safe water is a daily preoccupation for the residents of the impoverished areas of Manila.
The BASECO compound is one of Manila’s poorest and most vulnerable communities. Here the Pasig River joins Manila Bay. A large part of the city's garbage ends here. This Sunday, hundreds of volunteers clean the riverbank and bay shore.
Manila Bay water is unfit for bathing or swimming. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources expressed concern over the high level of fecal coliform bacteria in the Bay.
Cleanup day at the BASECO compound. This Sunday volunteers from the area cleaned their part of the Manila bay.
"Wattah, wattah" festival in San Juan City.
Manila water crisis. When water becomes scarce, every drop counts.
The Navotas Fish Port Complex, the premier fish center of the Philippines and one of the largest in Asia. Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources director Asis Perez said there is no sufficient basis to say that eating seafood caught in Manila Bay could cause cancer and brain damage. This is contrary to the statements made by the environmental group Greenpeace and University of the Philippines toxicologist Dr. Romeo Quijano, who said their studies showed that seafood from Manila Bay could cause cancer due to the toxic chemicals present in the area.
The PRRC formed the "River Warriors" and "River Patrols" who are in-charge to clean the river and its tributaries, to dismantle the informal settlers' houses, and to guard the waterways against polluters and squatters. A River Warrior removing trash from the Estero de Magdalena.
BASECO clean-up. Volunteers. So touching to witness the dedication of these children to the cleanliness of their place as well as the solidarity of people there. These are tough kids.
BASECO beach
Baywalk, the comfort woman. After only four months since being erected, the bronze statue of a veiled, blindfolded woman in a Filipiniana attire, who served to commemorate their sacrifices during the war, was taken down to give way to a floodway control project.
Game Of Throne. Laguna de Bay. The resident of this dismantled place asked as a favor to be given time to sell his brand new toilet before the demolition team finishes the job. He just bought it. His request was accepted and the toilet found a new owner.
Cleaning the Pasig River and its tributaries is a daunting task. Every flood brings back the uncollected garbage from Manila into the waterways.
The Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission's River Warriors and River Patrol remove the trash from the Estero de Magdalena.
Estero de Magdalena. They came from the provinces in the hope to find a job and a better life in Manila. Life decided otherwise.
The Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission's River Warriors and River Patrol remove the trash from the Estero de Magdalena.
The Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission's River Warriors and River Patrol remove the trash from the Estero de Magdalena.
Cleaning the Pasig River and its tributaries is a daunting task. Every flood brings back the uncollected garbage from Manila into the waterways. This tributary has just been cleaned, but no illusions, the trash will come back. Manila must solve its garbage collection and sewerage infrastructure.
San Juan River. The Pasig river and its tributaries are the lifeline of Manila.
The floods may be a source of joy for some, but it is a disaster for most. A clean river and tributaries helps contain the floods. In rehabilitated areas, there is a neat improvement and the floodwaters are significantly lower than before.
BASECO compound cleanup day. Volunteers remove trash from the Manila Bay shore and Pasig River bank.
Manila Bay was once a very beautiful place.
"Wattah, wattah" festival in San Juan City.
Tondo - Happyland
Flood day in Navotas
Quiapo
Quiapo Market. Soon to be mineral water?
Paco market, Estero de Paco, scavenger collecting rubbish from the river
Manila Bay water is unfit for bathing or swimming. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources expressed concern over the high level of fecal coliform bacteria in the Bay. People come from all Manila to this beach in BASECO because it is free and unwatched.
Manila Bay.
Nazarene procession, it's hot, local people throw water to the procession attendees to refresh them
Manila Bay.
Sunset on Baywalk.
Raining on Manila LGBTQ pride. Water is joy.
My son, Juan, playing in his little swimming pool