Why only now, why only the 182 trees, and why Dr. Mike?

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.

The largest 10 Commandments Edifice

Baguio City had just increased an attraction to its array of tourists' spots, making it for tourists worthwhile to visit the place.  A month ago, the city witnessed the inauguration of the Largest 10 Commandments edifice found at Dominican Hill, Baguio City, Philippines. 

It is about 5 miles away from Kennon road where I stay, or 15 minutes away by a car without the troublesome traffic caused by the road renovations, they are doing in the main road going out from the city.  

                  Fig. 1  The 10 commandments building

                                 

               Fig.  2  The 10 commandments

                Fig.  3  Olive tree of peace planted in front of the building

The edifice was inaugurated last October 25, 2011. It was donated by the Kingdom of Jerusalem Halleluyah Foundation International founded by Grace Galindez Gupana.

The Ten Commandments tablet has earned the Guinness Book of World  Records for its size of 1,645 square feet or 152.90 square meters.

The city will gain a lot from this gesture.   While the place is dedicated primarily to become the “Prayer Mountain” like Mt. Zion in Jerusalem Israel, the place could also attract more tourists to come to see the place and pray at the same time. 

A big plus factor is you will pass by the Lourdes Grotto which is also a tourists attraction for the city. It is only about 500 meters away and you’ll reach the place where the 10 commandments’ edifice. So, it is worth to plan ahead in order to make the best of your time on how you go about the visit.

Sagada: New Summer Capital of the Philippines

If, in case, Baguio City will lost its title as the summer capital of the Philippines, Sagada is very much ready to take-over!

We went home to Sagada last week to show our respect to a dead relative of my wife. I was so amazed by the cold weather temperature of the place. It was so cold that I call it the new summer capital of the Philippines.  If I guessed it right, it was on the 10 degrees centigrade to 12 degrees centigrade.

When I first arrived to Baguio in 1986, it was also cold, and you have to pray the sun comes out to warm up the air, but now, even with the sun is way beyond the dark clouds, you would feel like you’re inside a bakery.  Because Baguio city had lost a lot of its trees due to the establishment of new buildings, its title as the Summer Capital of the Philippines is also weakening. And anyone who have gone to Sagada will agree, that Sagada is now the best destination for people who wants to cool off.

As we were leaving Baguio City in our way to Sagada, it was so warm that you think you are in the lowlands.  The temperature was humid and the smell of the air is not fresh anymore because of so much smoke coming out from cars, and jitneys running on the road – add to it the slow traffic caused by road repairs being done by the DPWH(Department of Public Works and Highways)

I am not a resident of Sagada but it is the place, where my father was born; it was the place his ancestors’ were born and dead.   

Sagada was full of ghost stories and, according to my father, many were true.  This was due to the people's of the old times strong belief of "Anito" or spirit of the dead.  One story my father always told was a person could be carried out literally by ghosts and brought out of the dap-ay (it’s like a nipa hut where men sleeps during the night in the old days, and serves as the justice hall/barangay hall of the community to settle disputes) Aside from the ghost stories, there were also many stories of events that shaped the life of the people of Sagada.

Going there is very exciting.  You travel passing by the Mountain trail where most vegetables that supplies Manila are coming from, like, cabbages, carrots, lettuces, baguio beans, and more.  Aside from the gardens, you will see thick forests of Pine trees, and occasional waterfalls, and thick fogs, which make you think, “Am I in the first level of heaven?”

When you go to Sagada, be sure to bring with you thick jackets if your skin is too thin for the cold weather.  Traveling Mountain trail or now known as the Halsema highway could make you shiver to the bone with cold.  But, don’t you worry, if you came from the polluted parts of the country, be sure that the clean air will recharge you with pure energy, thus it is worth the adventure.

If you do not believe me, here is a story of one of the people I saw,  a cousin of my wife who told me his story when I wrongly assumed  he still resides in Baguio city.  He said, he had a bypass operation in 2002, and he had trouble breathing when he walks even for a short distance.  In fact, even when he is at home, he feels like being choked and his breathing becomes heavy.

One time, when there was a wedding in Sagada where they were invited, he went home to attend the wedding.  Once he was there, he already noticed a difference in his energy.  He said, he walked without the feeling of being out of breathe, and don’t have to stop to regain his strength.  Right on that moment he told his wife, “Sagada is my home, let us stay here” which his wife happily accepted.

Aside from the cold weather, most of their culture is still preserved which shows you are in a real vacation, especially when you want to forget about the hassles of life in the city. 

Places you can see in Sagada:  Sumaguing cave, hanging coffins, green mountains, old houses, and most of all you could learn firsthand their traditions and culture on how they conduct weddings, which is done after the couple already have a child or more.* How they attend to their dead, and many more unbelievable practices that makes your thinking travel back on the old days of Philippines history.

The people of Sagada are the most friendly, and peaceful people of the cordillera, even during the time of the uncivilized generation of head hunting.  It’s only the people who have fear of their god Kabunyan.  They are the only people who have the word “Inayan” which has no exact translation in English; however, it means, “it is not nice to do bad” especially against your fellow men.

The following images are just some of the views and things you will see and learn when you come to visit.  When you get here, you can ask for tourist guides who will be very much happy to take you around with a minimal fee.

Fig. 1 = This is one of the common scene you'll see as you go up the mountains on your way to Sagada.

Fig. 2 = The Highest Point

Fig. 3

Fig. 4 = The houses you can see at the entrance of Sagada

Fig. 5 = One of the forests of Sagada

Fig. 6 = The century hanging coffins(pointed by the arrows)

Fig. 7 = The traditional way we cook meat, we call it "anger"(a-nger like in apple) or boiled meat with only salt added

Fig. 8 = The "Apag" or serving of wine to those who wants drink to fight the cold weather; This was usually a rice wine(Tapey) in the old,old days.

Fig. 9 = A collection of urinary bladder of pigs butchered during the wake

Fig 10 = Meat being chopped to be cooked

Fig. 11 = It was raining, and Two kids taking advantage of a shade provided by the side of the mountain

Fig. 12 = A foreigner just arrived at the poblacion Sagada or Sagada main center where the police station, market, and business area

Fig. 13 = A man doing his job. Home based wood works is one of the source of income

Fig. 14 = A woman from visayas region selling sweet oranges on the side of the road.

Fig. 15 = Hotel is one of the thriving business in Sagada, so don't worry of a place where to stay

Fig. 16 = Bugang one of the barangays of Sagada

Fig. 17 = The rocks where the dead of the old days were brought up; either the folks hang the coffins with the dead, or make a hole on the side of the rocks and push in the coffin with the dead, or find a cave to put down the dead.

These and more are the excitements you can see when you visit Sagada - the new summer capital of the Philippines!