How to Create a Man-Made Lake
by Oliver Carlos
Caliraya Lake in Lumban, Laguna is a man-made lake. When I was a little boy, I heard that information. I imagined thousands of men digging a large ditch and then filling it up with water. It was only decades later, when I was an adult, that I learned that that’s not the way man-made lakes are constructed.
Man-made lakes are created by blocking the flow of water of a river using a dam. Because of the dam, the river’s water stops flowing, causing the water level to rise and flood its watershed. The watershed is the valley containing the river. The water will spill over the riverbanks and rise all the way up near the peak of the hills. Imagine that valley as a basin or palangana that was once empty, but now is full of water.
Such man-made lakes with an embankment dam are constructed for hydroelectric powerplants. With the dam, humans can now control the flow of water downstream. From the dam, water from the man-made lake would gush into gigantic pipes that lead to turbines or giant propellers. The constant turning of the turbines generate electricity, which is transported in the powerlines you see across fields and highways, and into our homes.
The Caliraya Lake project began as early as 1903, during the early years of the American colonial era. The Americans wanted electricity in the homes and establishments in their new colony. The lengthy and meticulous study and survey kicked off on that year. In 1939, the actual construction of the dam and the hydroelectric powerplant began. The built-up structures were damaged during World War 2, and it was only in 1948 when the rebuilding was completed. The powerplant became operational again beginning that year. We have been enjoying the benefits of the Caliraya hydroelectric powerplant for more than 7 decades now.
Actually, there’s another man-made lake beside Caliraya Lake. It was built to augment the water supply of Caliraya. The lake I’m referring to is Lumot Lake, in the town of Cavinti. The 2 lakes are connected by underground pipes, so in essence, we have one continuous body of water feeding the turbines of the powerplant.
It’s amazing to think that a simple thing like water can be the “raw material” or ingredient for making electricity, which is now a very basic human need. Without electricity, we can’t use our laptops, we won’t have internet connection, and so on. In this new normal, electricity and the internet are as basic as the air we breathe and the food we eat. Thank God for the wonders of hydroelectric power, we have a cheap, safe, renewable, and nature-friendly source of electricity!
The one who discovered electricity and the one who thought of hydroelectric powerplants must be geniuses. They can turn water into something valuable. But Jesus must be the coolest guy of them all. Two thousand years ago, he also turned water into something that is of great value. Jesus turned water into wine, with just his words, and this saved the day of the newly weds in the town of Cana in Galilee.
In ancient Jewish culture, the wedding feast would last for a week. Thus, there must be a constant supply of food and wine. In the story, the wine ran out, and thus, the newlyweds were in dire trouble of disappointing the guests. But Jesus knew the couple’s need and situation, and he acted to solve the problem in his own sweet and perfect time.
“His mother said to the servants, ‘Do what he tells you.’ …Jesus said to the servants, ‘Fill the waterpots with water.’ So they filled them to the top…Then the man in charge tasted it, but the water had become wine…This was the first of all the miraculous signs Jesus did… By this he showed his divine greatness, and his followers believed in him.” (John 2:5,7,9,11, ERV)
Friend, are your days running out of fun and excitement? Does your life feel so bland and ordinary? What kind of zest are you wishing to come along your way? What is your water that you want Jesus to turn into wine?
Just as how it happened in the story, just obey what Jesus says, and then believe in your heart that he is about to make the miracle that you badly needed.
