Mandaue City THEN & NOW: An Ethnographic Study and Observation
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On a clear sunny day of March 25th, 2023 around 9AM to 10PM, I came to cross the place of Sapang Daan. Wandering on the streets of Mandaue brought me to realize of my instructor's task to interview locals in an urbanized city like Mandaue.
Then I saw "Nanay" Corazon Saladaga who was at that time busy repacking "uling". Nanay worked for her sibling and yes, she was a charcoal vendor and she displayed her charcoal packed in plastics alongside the streets of Sapang Daan. I asked her if I could interview her and explained about my purpose. At first she was hesitant, in my observations what she told me about her name wasn't even true. I ask her name, and told me she was Melchora, but the next time I asked her, she then said that she was Corazon. Along my interview with her, an anonymous girl approached her and called nanay her name, "Melchora" the girl said. Too much confusion came up in my mind that time, but anyway I understood that city people wouldn't that so easy to trust people whom they did not know and were seemed new to them.
So much for the talk, my interview with a local resident of Mandaue examined the impacts of industrialization and urbanization and how these factors contribute to environmental problems eventually affecting how the city become sustainable. According to Corazon Saladaga's statement, Mandaue was then a land of green pasture. She then reiterated that Sapang Daan was merely a forestland with sugarcane and banana plantations with large fishponds, and sumptuous green land. Moreover, she emphasized the role of the city government for the development of Mandaue that eventually lead to what it is now.
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More job opportunities arose along with the rise of commercial and industrial establishments; There are more potential customers for businesses, like of Nanay Corazon. Accordingly, way back then along the area of Sapang Daan road, it was constituted and composed of only six "barong-barongs" , and Mrs. Saladaga additionally reiterated that the land where the Pacific Mall stood was formerly there's. Furthermore, on the other hand of the story Mrs. Saladaga pointed out the huge difference on the Mandaue of now and before. She pointed specifically, the unbreathable air caused by smokes of vehicles, the cutting of trees to make roads and public works, and the conversion of agricultural land to commercial or industrial spaces. Accordingly, these has brought both good and bad to the public.
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Truly, with innovation comes consequences. In my own point of view and analysis, Mandaue City really has come so far in terms of industrialization. It generates more job opportunities for the people. Thus, the presence of industries made possible for economic growth and development. But we cannot hide the fact that environmental problems like solid waste, loss of green spaces, urban sprawl, air and noise pollution and traffic came along with the urbanization in the city. The city has a land area of 25.18 square kilometers or 9.72 square miles. Its population as determined by the 2020 Census was 364,116. This represented 4.51% of the total population of the Central Visayas region. Based on these figures, the population density is computed at 14,461 inhabitants per square kilometer or 37,460 inhabitants per square mile. The population was also the factor for these issues concerning the environment. Another significant observations I noticed was that if there were trees in Mandaue, it would be of color grey and could no longer be called green spaces but grey spaces. This only shows one of the several disadvantageous effects of places becoming cities, thus affecting its sustainability.
BREAK TIME!
Posting here some of our pictures together with my classmates inside the Pacific Mall after we concluded our interview.
I just hope she had a safe delivery!😅
Jhona finally found her long lost twin sister!😅
Her Majesty Elizabeth and her collection of bags!🤣
Phoeve posed a while with her favorite mannequin!
END OF BREAK!
Now, let us go back to business. Here I have proposed possible solutions for this pressing issue that every highly industrialized city experienced. Keep reading...
Moreover, there are several possible solutions to environmental problems that affect and are affecting how cities become sustainable. By promoting the use of clean and renewable energy sources, such as solar, wind and hydro power can reduce the reliance on fossil fuels thus causing a decrease in greenhouse gas emission; Encourage people to use public transportation, bike or even just walk and other non-motorized modes of transportation other than private vehicles, this will help to reduce traffic congestion, air pollution and carbon emissions. Cities can invest in infrastructure for public transportation, bike lanes, and pedestrian-friendly streets.
Overall, sustainable cities needs a holistic approach that considers several factors such as social, economic and environmental factors. By implementing these solutions, at least we could be able to lessen the negative impacts of cities to the environment without compromising the city development and the environment. Nature is our greatest treasure, it is the green gold of the world. Innovations were no bad, but let's always put environment over innovations. Together let us all support green and think green.
That's all for today Hive Fam, I hope you enjoyed reading my blog. See you in my next upload and have a nice day ahead!😊❤️✨