For Tomorrow
Antipolo, Philippines
2024, Junior, Performing Arts
(to the tune of Paraiso by Smokey Mountain)
I heard his voice crying and I wonder…
It must be our future on his mind…
I asked my mother, what’s the matter?
“Ha-i-yan, the wrath it brought back home…
Storm surge and extreme floods,
Swept those homes, dreams and lives.”
Then we met young climate refugees
Whose homes they had to leave and flee
A place where they build up their dreams
But then all has been gone…
Since then, I learned what we can do together
Though young, to protect our Mother Earth
Such as keeping our coasts and ocean healthy
Clean from waste, free from ocean acidity,
Better lifestyle choices such as solar energy.
Like the kids in my community, planting trees
Recycling, backyard gardening
Grow own food, learn about ocean literacy,
heeding to ‘Laudato Si.’
CHORUS:
For tomorrow….Let’s all work hand in hand
For tomorrow….For ocean and our land
For tomorrow…Give our world another chance
So that then those who will come after us…will still get to enjoy the nature we had.
What we need is just a small little sacrifice, FOR OUR WORLD…
Reflection
Reflection
Through the process of writing this song, I went back to my first vivid memory of seeing strong emotions of fear and worry when typhoon Haiyan hit our country, the Philippines. It made me think about the things that I can do even at this young age. When I looked at my community, I get inspired by the kids in our church who were committed to respond to the Laudato Si call of caring for our common home under the guidance of Father Dan. I felt more hopeful that together with our generation, we can work together and help fight climate change so through this song, I hope to show the world how small kids can commit to protect our nature and hopefully, they can inspire more groups to also organize themselves for a community action. Our collective action will give us a better tomorrow, and through my song, I hope that people will also find hope that things can be better and be inspired to do more. As an Ocean Ambassador of Manta Trust, I aim to raise awareness and continue the work that I do in promoting ocean literacy through arts or music because they are the language of the heart.