If we have to go over the main points of all the questions and arguments of people who are against the environmentalists fighting for the lives of the 182 trees at Luneta Hill whom SM wants to sacrifice in the name of development, we will arrive to the above title. Why only now when Baguio is already almost shaven to its last tree? Why save only the 182 trees when most pine trees are down to give way to homes that are coming up like mushrooms on top and sides of the mountains, and how about the kaingineros who are burning the forests of pine trees to give way for their farms?
I heard these questions one time when I happened to meet friends in a popular place for darters along session roads, and again read it at yahoo news today.
And here is my reply to those questions which are being used as excuse by people who do not want to be bothered, and for those who do not want to be blame of not doing something to protect the environment, and for those who are guilty.
Why only now?
I have one simple answer to that: Because no one was like Dr. Michael Bengwayan.
Why only the 182 trees?
I will say that Kabunyan has a hand on this.
He used the 182 trees as the spark to move a leader like Mr. Bengwayan. 182 trees because that is the number needed to help Mike make a case to it.
Why Mr. Bengwayan when there are more distinguished person out there?
Much to be said, but even Dr. Bengwayan did not ask for this. So, as I said, Kabunyan has something to do with it. He saw this simple man loves the trees more than anyone else does. He saw him ready to sacrifice to save them. Thus, Mike has no choice, but to say, “His will be done!”
For the benefit of us who cannot see through someone’s heart to know how much he loves trees, here is the proof. Dr. Mike went his way to learn about his beloved tree. He became an Expert about her. Every one of us can say we love trees, but no one of us did what he did. Uh, sorry, the environment secretary is an expert! Yah, but only an expert, and not love of the trees, that is why he readily gave up the trees’ rights to live.
Moreover, while every one of us can lead to fight SM, Kabunyan saw our love of the trees is not enough to do the job. We do not have the expertise as the doctor has.
Mr. Bengwayan has all the expertise needed that an ordinary nature loving people do not have – expertise that the possible leaders don’t have to argue with the detractors. If we have been following the case, we know this is one of the argument raised in court.
In my own opinion, the 182 trees is the voice of the environment that created and moved the spirit of Save 182 Group. I can say that it is a fact in the history of humanity that lives are always sacrificed before something is done, and this one shows it is also happening in the environment. We know, as a truth, there were so many disasters and events where the environment is asking us to take care of it, but no one seems to be doing something. Who can forget the typhoon undoy that caused flash floods at La Trinidad Benguet, besides the many lives lost to small slides that happened on the slopes of the city mountains?
The 182 trees may all die, but their spirits will live through the Save 182 Trees Group (which I believe will continue their fight for the rights of nature) because more than the heroes of humanity who died for their beloved country and compatriots, the 182 trees are dying not only for the sake of their fellow trees, but for the sake of the Environment and the whole world.
