Remember that we are His temple here on earth; we are to protect it and never be torn down through destructive practices in thoughts, words, or actions. Thus, we should disregard death-dealing activities like ill-judgments, discrimination, gossip, lies, greediness, and other forms of injustice against individuals. Respect for life is an obligation and a human reason that must be observed. We bear it in mind to always esteem our own life and the lives of others with fear and high regard. We should express how much we love and cherish the life God entrusted to every one of us, no matter how big or small, strong or weak, young or old a person is.
 
Respect for life is based on a credence accepted in every society. The inherent dignity of every life, whether among humans or even among every living creature, includes the environment. It is built within. For this reason, a person’s human dignity can never be rescinded nor withdrawn regardless of their race, nationality, citizenship, mental health, economic situation, race, intellectual ability, criminal record, or other conditions one’s society might use to marginalize and separate the deserving from the undeserving. Respecting life is a value that reminds us that we can never be excused from giving compassion, care, and honor to others. Respecting the dignity of life requires different proactive practices directed to end every form of violence and abuse that threatens human lives. We should never forget that everyone and everything we see reflects a certain degree of God’s glory that expresses The Life, The Truth, and The Way.
 
Remember, we respect life because we have received THE LIFE and are hidden in Him purposed to reflect the One who created us according to His image and likeness.There’s a buzz in our society through social media about AI-generated images of people. However, let us pause for a while and take a moment to look in the mirror and realize the beauty before us. The person we see in the mirror is the reflection of the invisible God who created us in His image and likeness. We are fearfully and wonderfully made - precious in the sight of God. Every time God brings a new life into the world, it tells us that He is glorious and loves us with everlasting love. Jesus Christ declared: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” He is our life, and apart from Him, we fail to exist in fullness and with meaning. Having these things in mind, we ought to respect life.
 
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These past weeks, our country has been bombarded by a severe tropical storm and strong typhoons – Kristine, Leon, and Marce. Not only that, Mt. Fuji of Japan remained snowless for the longest time in 130 years. Valencia, Spain had been experiencing severe flooding causing deaths of many and damaging both real and personal properties. The most surprising through is the first-ever snowfall in Saudi Arabian desert. These are just some of the effects the world is experiencing because of climate change – a consequence brought about by human actions without foreseeing the repercussions, and obviously a lack of value for the common good.

Although these effects can no longer be undone, it is not too late for us to act in small and big ways, and promote the common good. Our children are the extension of our lives, and so what we do today will be for them and for their future. In the case Oposa vs. Factoran which happened in the 1990s, minors represented by their parents pushed for the preservation of the country’s forest and prayed for the cancellation of all existing timber license agreements citing the “adverse and detrimental consequences of continued deforestation” which we are experiencing until today, in a yet higher level. The case is a clear manifestation of promotion of common good since the minors who filed the complaint assailed not only their right but also the whole of their generations and the generations yet unborn, emphasizing inter-generational responsibility. In promoting the common good, we must not be near-sighted, concerned only for those living in the present, but must also consider the common good of those after us - the future generations.

What can we do now for the present and future generations? There are many ways, but let us cite a few simple examples and influence others to do the same for greater impact. Preserve. Conserve. Restore.

Preserve or protect our forests, bodies of water, and natural resources from decay and decline. For many years, the mountain ranges in our country have been protecting us from many strong typhoons. They act as barriers, shielding us from the strong winds and rain brought about by the typhoons. Some are not preserved due to deforestation and mining that gradually alter the physical features of these ranges. Protect our bodies of water by keeping them clean and managing our wastes properly. Recycle to reduce waste.

Conserve or use properly the resources that we have. Avoid wastage of water and electricity in our own little ways. Save some of our resources for the future. A good example is Joseph, the Prince of Egypt. He managed the resources well, which saved Egypt and the neighboring countries from famine. He did not allow all the harvest to be consumed. We can follow his example by not fully consuming the resources we have now. Save some for the future. Make way for the multiplication of the flora and fauna and other resources so that the generations to come will have something to use.

Restore or rehabilitate what the previous generations or others have destroyed. Plant more trees and clean the waterways. Revive the values and virtues that promote the common good. Be an example for others to embrace the concern and promotion of the common good, not only for us in this generation but for our progeny.
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Amid climate change, we need men and women who genuinely care for our country and fellowmen, men and women who preserve, conserve, and restore; men and women who will promote the common good and change the current climate.

​The answers to these questions reflect our reverence and fear of God. To live with such reverence and fear of God means that our lives should demonstrate a deep sense of awe and honor for God that we cannot afford to live a life of wickedness. When we genuinely uphold this value, we will avoid misbehaving and turn away from every form of evil. Instead, we will strive to live our lives purposefully, place ourselves under His authority, and walk in His ways. Living in righteousness becomes our driving force at all cost.   
 
By consistently embracing reverence and fear of God, we can strive to create a peaceful community with less violence and fewer crimes. When everyone recognizes the authority of the One who is the Judge of All, people will endeavor to lead a holy life. This is one way we can demonstrate or put into practice one of our national mottos, which is being “Maka-Diyos” under Republic Act Number 8491. This, also, aligns with the preamble of our Constitution. In imploring the aid of the Almighty God signifies a recognition of His divine authority. While we are sovereign Filipinos, it is essential to acknowledge the importance of divine guidance in our lives.
 
While it is a cliché to say that life is short, it really is. It is then important to make it count by living a life that is pleasing and honorable before God, our fellow Filipinos, and for our nation.