1. Make a 1-2 paragraph(s) synopsis.

For the succeeding paragraph(s), criticize the main aim of the

film, historical analysis, its present and future usage & predictions. Cite some names/dates
for better perspective.
2. Indicate its applicability in the Philippine situation if the technology is already available in both
urban/rural commercial areas/ government institutions. Cite some advantages of the technology
or cite some hindrances for its usage in both urban and rural areas.
3. If possible, indicate the kind of industrialization principles needed by this technology(ies) for
advancement/ progress in the Philippine scenario.
4. For the challenges, have there been any efforts made by local scientists/ engineers/ politicians
for the availability of the technology(gies). Any best practices (=successful stories)
documented for the local situation.
5. Is there any law/ presidential decree or local ordinance promulgated for the regulation of the
technology? Cite some local anecdotes that are worth knowing significance made or
contributed by the technology to the local people.


































Polido, Rubyann Robelle L. Group 6
STS 1 Documentary/ Film Analysis


Ulan sa Tag-Araw (Rain in Summer) by Loren Legarda
For three decades now, raising the awareness of Filipinos regarding environmental issues has
been one of the primary advocacies of the broadcaster and senator, Loren Legarda. It was through her
affinity for sharing the wonders of nature (i.e. through her various television programs) that she was
actually able to lay eyes on the incessant destruction and exploitation of our natural resources.
Consequently, she remains steadfast on encouraging people, especially her fellow Filipinos, to conserve
natures unparalleled beauty. Selfishness and obliviousness of several generations has resulted to grim
outcomes that directly affect our lives today and will most likely persist in the future unless mitigated.
Phenomena such as myriad of garbage, air and water pollution, unmitigated traffic, industrialization,
booming human population, prevalence of squatter areas, merciless dynamite fishing and deforestation,
and poverty all of which are interrelated problems that we can clearly associate with global warming
and climate change. It was already more than half a century ago that people were warned by scientists of
the significant increase in the climates temperature of which our generation is to be blamed for.
However, people ignored it, consumed more fossil fuels which continued to emit CO
2
and other
greenhouse gases and thus warming our planet even more. Only when threatening storms and typhoons
have emerged did people heed the truth about climate change and global warming.

The docu-drama focused on the story of a typical Filipino family dreading the fate of their
farmlands since the erratic changes in climate have been greatly affecting their source of income, proving
that the words mentioned by experts were true: global warming has reached a level by which it became
the biggest threat to mankind. Extensive change on the planets temperature which has resulted to floods
and droughts has largely placed our agricultural systems (the main source of our food) and even mans
health on disarray. As the story unfolds, Ger and Rosy tell their children of promising tales of yesterday
until such time that people began to deliberately dump their garbage into bodies of water, rendering
aquatic areas to deteriorate and lose invaluable resources. They both acknowledged that people have
always been responsible for natures wrath. In February 2007, the three-year research accomplished by
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) confirmed that humans and their exploitative nature
is the root cause of climate change and the ones mainly burdened is the marginalized sector. The farmers
become poorer as farmlands, due to unpredictable weather, either become too arid or flooded. Because of
climate change, we experience changes in weather patterns that are not apparent before like the super
typhoons that hit the country every year. It would definitely worsen if we dont lessen the effects of
global warming. Sea level is expected to rise by 7 to 23 inches in the next century, mainly affecting
archipelagic countries such as our own. Damages that we are expected to incur from these changes are
more floods resulting to massive soil erosion, which then could lead to obliteration of roads, bridges,
livelihood and houses. People are then posed with difficulty to become resilient since they are actually
more preoccupied with thoughts of impending disasters rather than on how to make their livelihood
flourish. In the case of the Gers family, Rosy is forced to apply for a job in the factory even if it would
mean sacrificing her health. In the face of such ordeal with nature, it is about time that we take
responsibility in conserving the remaining resources and also reduce ones carbon emission. We can help
nature recover in various and simple ways: saving electricity, opting to use public transportation,
supporting alternative sources of energy of which our country is endowed with, planting more trees,
including mangroves, and many more. The film ended with the family being proactive and unified in
taking care of their future by planting more trees. With this in perspective, the parents have instilled in
their children the value of education and being in harmony with nature.

It is evident that the main aim of the film is to raise awareness on the existence of global warming
and climate change. Environmental enthusiasts such as Loren, educators, and scientists alike all desire for
Filipinos to help one another and act as one towards mitigating the effects of the intertwined phenomena
that people of our generation incited. Through watching this film, we are expected to be empowered to be
stewards of nature unlike the cynical neighbor of Rosy who always turns down every opportunity to take
care of nature. The role of the family is actually the driving force of the story as they present the problem
associated with the effects of climate change up to the time that they try to resolve it by giving back to
nature the care it deserves.

I must agree with what experts have been saying about global warming. It is now the biggest
threat to the safety of mankind because if mitigation of its effects is unsuccessful, more lives will be at
stake for the next century. I cannot imagine how much more nature can do to avenge peoples greed and
ignorance. I cannot help but think about the possibility of more super typhoons hitting our country or
worse disasters that are at par with Yolanda. This is where the stand of Dr. Rosa Perez should all the more
compel us to think. Instead of debating about ones belief in the existence of global warming or the lack
of it, people should focus on how to mitigate the effects of such disasters through extensive preparation so
that we may not experience the same fatal blow all over again. Moreover, as Dr. Juan Pulhin and Dr.
Rodel Lasco of IPCC emphasize, it is about time that we accept that the changes happening in our
environment such as increasing temperature, melting ice caps, and rising sea levels are brought about by
climate change and that the root cause of all these problems are mediated by man. We cannot blame it on
nature because in the first place it can sustain itself without us meddling with its natural course.

Since this is the case that we are dependent on natures provisions, it is only right that we take our
badges as stewards and begin finding solutions. We can start with being aware of the environmental laws
like the Republic Act 9003 or Ecological Solid Waste Management Act. While it is good to be aware that
such bill exists, it is way more important that we get the gist from these laws and initiate the change
within our own communities. One simple but very good way is to plant trees for the benefit of the future
generations. Another way is to implement zero-waste management. This collective effort is easy if people
are disciplined and more conscientious about their lifestyle. That is, if we choose to consume less or
consume only what we need, we lessen the garbage and in turn lessen our carbon emission. Other
initiatives that can help our nature recover is by simply saving electricity, opting to use public
transportation, supporting alternative sources of energy of which our country is endowed with, planting
more trees, including mangroves, and many more. I believe that there is no limit to what mankind can do
if we all choose to act together towards the same goal.

No technology was emphasized in the film; the practices shown to battle global warming are
traditional ones (e.g. planting trees, recycling, etc.) However, one important law mentioned in the film is
Senate Bill 1890 proposed by Loren Legarda. This bills primary objective is to organize the National
Commission on Climate Change, an agency that will formulate the guidelines and guide the local
government units toward the creation of genuine pro-environmental initiatives. Along with this is the
creation of climate adaptation fund which will be used to implement projects that will help mitigate global
warming. The bill aims to, first, to provide extensive education program which will equip people with
knowledge on the causes and effects of climate change; second is to encourage ways on how alleviate the
threats associated with changing climate and to be participative in worldwide effort on mitigation of
greenhouse gases such as Kyoto protocol.

Al Gores An Inconvenient Truth (2006)
An Inconvenient Truth is basically a lecture done by Albert Gore about global warming. He
began by saying that if our mentality about the earth us is that it is so huge we cannot possibly do a
lasting impact on it, trouble will definitely befall us. He then explained that the most vulnerable part of
the ecological system is the atmosphere because it is so thin that we can easily change its composition. He
then goes on with the radiation received by earth from the sun wherein some energy are radiated back in
the form of infrared waves; the problem lies when more CO
2
and greenhouse gases

are concentrated in the
atmosphere because this means more heat is trapped and thus warming our planet more. In college, he
was astounded by the data showing the relentless increase in CO
2
level every year which was first
measured by his professor Roger Revelle in 1958. Pictures of thinning glaciers around the world were
shown, the most alarming of which is the one sliver of glacier left in Mt. Kilimanjaro in 2006. Connecting
this phenomenon to global warming, he presented a graph and stressed that in the last 650,000 years, CO
2
level has never gone above 300 ppm; it was only in the last 30 years or so that todays CO
2
level has
significant increased. It is expected that unrestricted burning of fossil fuel in the next 50 years will send
CO
2
level sky rocketing.

When his son almost died from a car accident, Al Gore had an epiphany and so dedicated his life
in probing into global warming and went to Antarctica, North Pole, South Pole along with many
scientists. He continued lecturing about the unnoticed effect of global warming which is more
precipitation is turned into one time big storm event. Based on the Swiss re sigma Catastrophe database,
there has been a significant and consistent increase in the number of storms and floods since 1980s. One
example is the 37 inches of rain in 24 hrs in Mumbai India (July 2005), the largest downpour an Indian
city has ever received. Paradoxically, more droughts are experienced by nations like Niger and Darfur
since global warming relocates the precipitation worldwide, resulting to lack of rainfall in other areas and
drying up of bodies of water such as Lake Chad. The momentous 40 percent decline in the amount, extent
and thickness of Arctic ice cap since 1970 was also shown; it was predicted that in the next 50 to 70 years
in summertime, it will be completely gone. Consequently, there will no longer be giant mirrors that will
deflect more than 90 percent of the incoming radiation. Moreover, ecological niches are affected by
changes in seasonal patterns and vectors for emerging infectious diseases are expanding their range.
Along with the prevalence of coral bleaching, species loss is now occurring at a rate 1000 times greater
than the natural rate. Larsen Ice Shelf started to form pools in 2002 which scientists did not foresee as an
irreversible event. Greenland seasonal ice melt has significantly increased for the last two decades and if
this melts entirely, rise in sea level will devour Florida, San Francisco, New York, Netherlands, Beijing
and Calcutta. All these are brought about by global warming. In essence, we are witnessing a collision
between our civilization and the earth, and the major factors causing this are population and scientific and
technological revolution. Booming population puts pressure on food and water demand and encourages
exploitation of natural resources while bad use of new technology has its own dramatic consequences.
Amidst the disturbing graphs, facts, and images of the earth falling apart, Al Gore assured his audience
that we already possess the solution in our hands, we only need to have the determination and will to do
the right thing. Each of us is the cause of global warming but each of us can make changes to rise again to
secure our future.

Al Gores approach and his credibility in the film is powerful. He has spent considerable years of
his life into building an in-depth knowledge on global warming. His words were inspiring as he mentions
a lifetime lesson he gained during the time that he almost lost his child. That is, we ought to protect the
things that are most precious to us because we can lose it anytime. If we truly want a promising future not
only for ourselves but most importantly for our children, it is only a must that we act less of an oblivious
frog and instead start putting into action the things that we have learned. I think we are in desperate need
of more Al Gore in the world. He said it himself, political will is a renewable source. We need the
genuine hearts of his kind who will willingly dedicate their whole lives into protecting the only home that
we have.

It is quite obvious that the main aim of the film is to educate people of the existence of global
warming and the dire consequences ahead of our planet if we dont choose to act now. The predictions
presented in the film may be just be mere numbers at the moment but evidently the things that we are
most afraid of are actually happening now and will continue to happen unless we do something about it.
Likewise, its aim is to direct us into the truth about global warming that it is mainly caused by
greenhouse gas pollution. At this generation where our survival and demise revolve around consumption
of fossil fuels, how can we afford to be misled by that small group of people who challenge to repost
global warming as theory rather than fact? Just as Al Gore said, it is about time that we open our eyes and
minds to reality. After all, the predictions he kept on stressing are happening now much like the
predictions written in the book of Revelations. It is of no doubt that our population is continuously
growing at a significant rate (our population is estimated to reach 9.1 B in 2050), glaciers are more or less
gone in the next 50 to 70 years, carbon emissions can go way higher given the unrestricted burning of
fossil fuels, more species are going extinct at an uncontrollable rate, and to sum it up, we all place
ourselves in more jeopardy if we choose to be oblivious to these facts. This all the more compels us to
pick up the will to change our ways today and spread the useful information regarding climate crisis.

There are various technologies in the film which are geared towards the mitigation of global
warming. The primary ones is the use of alternative or renewable energy sources including wind power,
hydro power, geothermal energy and solar energy. The Philippines, with 30 percent of its power
generation relying on renewable energy sector, could be placed as one of the world leaders in renewable
energy. In fact, our country was the first Southeast Asian nation to invest in large-scale solar and wind
technologies. Moreover, we are considered the worlds second largest generator of geothermal energy
(Maniego and Weischer, 2011). One major advantage of utilizing renewable energy comes from the term
itself, renewable meaning it is sustainable. Compared to energy derived from burning of fossil fuels,
renewable energy facilities generally require less maintenance since the fuel is derived natural and
available resources, and thus also reducing the costs for operation. Most importantly, it produces very
little or no waste products such as CO
2
and other chemical pollutants, and hence having impact on the
environment and contributing to the reduction of carbon emissions. However, there are also drawbacks.
One is the problem in generating large quantities of energy as those produced by traditional fossil fuel
generators. This requires a collective compromise from people. That is, if we want to make this kind of
arrangement work, we have to reduce the amount of energy we consume, perhaps build more energy
facilities, or just have a balance of using different power sources. Moreover, since this a new technology,
it would require large capital cost. Another drawback is the mere reliability on supply because renewable
energy depends on weather conditions to generate power. This would post a large problem given our
weather patterns today which are largely unpredictable and inconsistent (solarschools.net).

Considerable efforts are being done to attain a cleaner energy future. In 2012, the Energy
Regulatory Commission (ERC) approved feed-in tariffs (FIT) which are guaranteed fixed prices for
renewable energy (RE) applicable for 20 years that assure the RE developers that they will earn and
recover their expenses. Aside from this, a roadmap is being initiated by the Climate Change Commission
towards sustainable energy for the country. Specifically, this aims to boost the current fuel system to 100-
percent renewable capacity possibly in 10 years. (Galvez, 2013). In Palawan, a hydropower project
located in municipality of Aborlan is proposed. Once this is established, it is estimated that 750 million
can be saved in fuel costs and more importantly avoid 26,000 tonnes of yearly carbon emissions.
Determined to be freed from the clutches of Independent power provider (IPPS), Palawaeos also plan to
get Malampaya funds and build their own renewable energy facilities. They find this imperative since
electricity in Palawan is twice as expensive in Metro Manila, given that they are severed from the national
grid. In December 3, the Department of Energy approved various renewable energy developers to
generate 633.5 MW of electricity. Most of the approved project are wind (339.5 MW) and solar (80 MW),
energy types which are almost non-existent in the countrys current power supply. Only the Bangui Bay
Wind Power Project in Ilocos Norte (33MW) and the CEPALCO Solar Power Plant in Cagayan de Oro (1
MW) supply wind and solar energy in the country (Ranada, 2013).

In line with the promotion and support of renewable energy in the country, the Renewable Energy
Act of 2008 was passed. The main thrust of this law is to create a feed-in tariff (FIT) rates and a
renewable portfolio standard. By 2030, our country aims to triple its renewable energy supply (Reuters,
2011). So far our country has become one the successful nations in harnessing geothermal energy, making
us the second-largest geothermal energy producer, after the US. The countrys top six geothermal fields
are located in the islands of Luzon, Leyte, Negros and Mindanao. Because of this success, we actually
save 17 million barrels of fuel-oil-equivalent, and thus decreasing carbon emissions. Being competitive,
our country hopes to surpass US through stepping up its currently installed capacity from 1,848 MW to
3293 MW by 2030 (Haluzan, 2013).

The Bering Sea: An Ecosystem in Crisis (2008)
In this documentary, George Pletnikoff, a Greenpeace Oceans Campaigner, introduces his home
which is Pribolof Islands. These islands, located in the Bering Sea, are very small but very prolific in
biological species. When he was a child, there was every chance to develop a close relationship with the
environment because there was little means to communicate with the outside world. He enjoyed seeing
the seasonal arrivals of millions of different kinds of seabirds and fur seals. His life, along with other
natives of Bering Sea, was centered on what nature provides. Moreover, Howard Amos, a Mekoryuk
resident, enjoyed a close relationship with his ancestors who lived along the Bering Sea for more than
2000 years. They relished on natures abundance but ensured the health of the ecosystem. Not until such
time that fishing industries took over and exploited the sea.

Georges aim, together with his comrades from Greenpeace, was to o visit communities on the
Bering Sea that all have similar ties to the resources and ask what changes they have observed. John
Hocevar, a Greenpeace Specialist, said that the problem with the fishing industry is that their nets get
dragged along the bottom, destroying sponges and corals. Furthermore, the problem lies with the massive
amount of fishes being taken out of the sea (on a good year, millions tons of pollock are harvested from
Alaska), causing a ripple effect on the food chain. The fish which is overharvested is the pollock, an
important food for the fur seals, seabirds, stellar sea lions. Since they are meager now, these creatures are
starting to starve. Another startling activity of the industry that they obtain pregnant females before they
release their eggs (i.e. pollock caviar). Due to this, pollock has dropped about 20 percent a year since
2003 and based on the 2008 hydroacoustics survey, there was a 50 percent drop in their number. In an
attempt then to show that Zhemchug Canyon and Pribolof Canyon are worthy of protection, the crew
conducted 31 dives into these canyons. They saw corals, sponges, and many life forms and even en
discovered a new species of sponge, Aaptos kanuux. According to Michelle Ridgway, a marine ecologist,
these canyons are the epicenter for productivity. However, huge areas are already heavily disturbed due to
human activities. Consequently, there will be more significant decline in the commercially harvested
species if these areas remain unprotected. As a solution, they thought of marine cultural heritage zones
which are marine reserves. The communities that participate in the development of these zones may
communicate with the federal government to determine the seasons and the amount of fish that could be
caught in the zones, as well as the kind of fishing gear that does as little harm to the habitats as possible.
In December 2009, the North Pacific Fishery Management Council has decided the total allowable catch
of Pollock in the Bering Sea for 2010.

The main aim of the film is to make people aware of the current condition of the Bering Sea and
how people can participate in solving the environmental problem. Geoff Pletnikoff in particular wishes
that people may learn how to develop a close relationship with nature without compromising and
challenging its limit. That is, living in harmony with nature by getting only what is needed. However,
with fishing industry being a lucrative business, I doubt if they will easily comply with regulating their
catch. Based on the film, there is already a 50 percent drop in the population of pollock. If this selfish act
persists, it would not be a surprise if years from now they will no longer thrive in the Bering Sea. I think
this kind of dilemma is also prevalent in our country. The eventual extinction of many fish commodities
has become a common phenomenon. Take for instance the extinction of 18 endemic cyprinids in Lake
Lanao. Although one factor is the introduction of invasive alien species Hypseleotris agilis and
Glossogobius giurus, overfishing could have been a major factor which displaced this species (Ismail et
al., 2013).
The technology seen in the film is commercial fishing, wherein fishermen use tools such as nets,
trawls, lines and traps. The main advantage of this is that it satiates the worlds demand for seafood by
providing a steady supply of this commodity and thus largely contribute to world GDP. In terms of health
benefits, the fishing industry offers more options for omega fatty acid intake. Apparently, the emergence
of commercial fishing and new fishing techniques enormously changed the ecology of our oceans.
Specifically, overfishing and bycatch significantly reduced our global fish stocks. More than 70 percent of
the worlds fish species are already depleted or fully exploited according to UN FAO (Fore, no year). In
the Philippines, some fishing grounds contain a sheer 10% of the fish stock available just 50 years ago
and less than five percent of the coral reef ecosystems are in pristine condition (rare.org)
As one of the world leaders in conserving marine ecosystems, our country has opted to establish
no-take zones (NTZs), or marine areas wherein strictly no fishing is allowed, coral reefs are preserved,
and they also serve as buffer coastal areas or as shields from the adverse effects of climate change. Given
that people comply with this rule, these areas yield greater stocks enough for food security. Although
majority of the worlds 4700+ documented are located in our country, many exist merely on paper
(rare.org). To protect, conserve, and sustain management of the countrys fishery and aquatic resources,
the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998 was implemented.

References
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http://www.ehow.com/about_5112430_pros-cons-commercial-fishing.html
Galvez, J.K. (2013, June 23). 100% renewable energy eyed in 10 years. Manila Times. Retrieved
January 2, 2014, from http://manilatimes.net/100-renewable-energy-eyed-in-10-years/12319/
Haluzan, N. (2013, November 8). Philippines a geothermal energy success story. Earths Heat.
Retrieved January 2, 2014, from http://earthsheat.blogspot.com/2013/11/philippines-geothermal-
energy-success.html
Ismail, G.B., Sampson, D.B., & Noakes, D. (2013). The status of Lake Lanao endemic cyprinids (Puntius
species) and their conservation. Environ Biol Fish.
Maniego, P, & Weischer, L. (2011). The Right Mix: The Philippines Achieving its Renewable Energy
Goals. Manila Bulletin. Retrieved January 2, 2014, from http://www.wri.org/blog/right-mix-
philippines-achieving-its-renewable-energy-goals
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http://www.solarschools.net/resources/stuff/advantages_and_disadvantages.aspx
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http://www.rare.org/program-sustainable-fishing-philippines
Ranada, P. (2013, December 3). DOE to add more renewable energy in grid by 2014. Rappler. Retrieved
January 2, 2014, from http://www.rappler.com/nation/45159-doe-renewable-energy-fit
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January 2, 2014, from http://www.rappler.com/business/industries/173-power-and-energy/41998-
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renewable-energy-target