I CANNOT help but smile about a very good lesson brought out by the movie “Ice Age.”

It is an animated movie wherein the characters are animals that can talk. Manfred, a mammoth; Sed, a sloth; and Diego, a saber-toothed tiger. They became a herd because they helped an abandoned baby boy return to his family. Diego, however, had a different agenda. He was there to pretend as a guide, but if he had the chance, he would kidnap the baby and take him to his leader tiger who was dying to eat the baby.

While on their way, Diego had an accident, and Manfred almost died saving Diego. “Why did you do it? You could have died!” Diego asked after they regained composure. “That’s what we do in a herd. We look out for each other,” Manfred said noncommittally. Diego became silent. His conscience hurt. Although he had an evil plan and pretended to be good, Manfred had no qualms risking his life to save Diego. Manfred was bent on protecting his herd even if it could cost his life.

Diego had decided not to pursue his evil plan. He was now bent on really helping the herd catch up with the family of the baby. I was really touched by the movie. Why don’t we consider all of us in this world, a herd? We are all earth people. We should look after each other’s welfare. Instead of finding ways to destroy each other. (By Chito Germino, Paknaan, Mandaue City)