Insight from Wendell Berry

Composite mountains of  Bulusan Volcano

"I am speaking of the life of a man who knows that the world is not given by his fathers, but borrowed from his children; who has undertaken to cherish it and do it no damage, not because he is duty-bound, but because he loves the world and loves his children; whose work serves the earth he lives on and from and with, and is therefore pleasurable and meaningful and unending; whose rewards are not deferred until "retirement," but arrive daily and seasonally out of the details of the life of their place; whose goal is the continuance of the life of the world, which for a while animates and contains them, and which they know they can never compass with their understanding or desire."

Wendell Berry, The Unforeseen Wilderness : An Essay on Kentucky's Red River Gorge (1971), p. 33; what is likely a paraphrase of a portion of this has existed since at least 1997, and has sometimes become misattributed to John James Audubon: A true conservationist is a man who knows that the world is not given by his fathers, but borrowed from his children.

Lifted from WikiQuotes

Photo by Alma P. Gamil

Mt. Bulusan : 'A Special Place in Philippine Botany'

Palali (sometimes pronounced/spelled as Palale) is a pure white katmon relative that flourishes abundantly in the mountains of Bulusan. http://phytoimages.siu.edu/imgs/pelserpb/r/Dilleniaceae_Dillenia_reifferscheidia_75128.html

Receiving encouraging words from no less than a distinguished scientist was one of the  most rewarding experiences in my personal foray into flora photography in my hometown.

Dr James LaFrankie, author of the book  An Illustrated Guide on Asia's Tropical Trees posted the following in the FB page of the Co's Digital Flora of the Philippines :
"...you are getting a great collection of photographs of all sorts of interesting plants... Mt. Bulusan is a special place in Philippine botany so keep building your collection..."

Dr James LaFrankie attained his PhD in Biology from Harvard University. He is now a professor at the Institute of Biology, College of Science at the University of the Philippines Diliman.

I did not expect that my simple contributions of flora photos from Bulusan will be noticed. My only aim is to at least make some listings with photos of the flora that are found in Bulusan. This encouragement therefore is a signal for me to continue this plant listing activity one species at a time for as long as I can still hold a camera to photograph these immense biodiversity.

Furthermore, this marvelous information that Mt. Bulusan is "a special place in Philippine Botany" also underscores the importance of the preservation of its natural conditions. For me it means that Mt. Bulusan and its adjacent areas must first and foremost be NOT converted into an industrial field such as that of a Geothermal field zone that will alter irrevocably its surrounding ecosystem.

Photo: Alma P. Gamil
BVNP - Bulusan Volcano Natural Park
Bulusan, Sorsogon, Philippines

Kagawad Eddie G. Frando : Green Councilor of Bulusan

Kagawad Eddie G Frando's souvenir shot of the Bulusan EcoTrail Run 2013 as it appears in his FB account.

Ms. Earth beauties with outgoing Councilor Eddie Frando (extreme left in the photo) and  participants  of the recently concluded Bulusan EcoTrail Run Year Three event are shown here brimming with enthusiasm and excitement. The event is an LGU sponsored activity for its continuing green awareness campaign and to boost ecotourism in the municipality of Bulusan.

Kagawad Frando an outgoing Municipal Councilor co-authored with Councilor Cecil Frades the landmark Sangguniang Bayan Resolution banning Geothermal and other industrial development in Mt. Bulusan and thereby  preserving its pristine nature in perpetuity for the benefit of succeeding generations of Bulusanons.

Mt. Bulusan is an active volcano, one of the five intensely active volcanos (or volcanoes both are correct) in the Philippines (Taal, Mayon, Bulusan, Kanlaon and Hibok-hibok) whose location is close enough to large communities to be of major concern.The Philippines has a total of 405 volcanoes of which  23 are active,  27 potentially active and 355 inactive according to the released information from Phivolcs.

The SB resolution is often cited by environmental advocacy groups in the Philippines and those sectors opposing unwise choice of location for Geothermal Projects that negatively impact the communities near it.

I have however no knowledge of the stand of the visiting beauties regarding the Geothermal dilemma in Bulusan.

Further information on the landmark Resolution: http://bulusanruralvagabond.wordpress.com/2013/02/06/bulusan-lgu-shining-moment-for-ecology/

Photo credit: Kagawad Eddie Frando of LGU Bulusan 

Bulusan, Sorsogon, Philippines

Philip G. Bartilet: Bulusan's Modern Eco Warrior

"There's never been a true war that wasn't fought between two sets of people who were certain they were  in the right. The really dangerous people believe they are doing whatever they are doing solely and only because it is without question the right thing to do. And that is what makes them dangerous."

-Neil Gaiman, American Gods

Philip today as he appears in his FB profile. 

During the early PRESERVE years with a fellow forest steward.

On location at Aguingay Lake serving as guide to trekkers.

Briefing student visitors at the park (BVNP, 2012).

Philip with the young Mayor, Myk Guysayko in the 2012 Mount Bulusan trek souvenir shot in Lake Aguingay. Shows that linkages and collaborative work are important in the success of any environmental project.

More than 10,000 photographs (in related web sites) documenting the activities of Philip G. Bartilet, AGAP and the LGU of Bulusan are enough to make me gaze in awe of this remarkable transformation of Bulusan town's ecotourism journey from a mere emerging tourist destination to Sorsogon's second top tourist generator. Bulusan now is experiencing a spike in tourist arrivals both local and foreign. Enough to silence the skeptics.

As if these were not enough, Philip is very much into his PRESERVE, the letters of which explain in capsule  its very mission of preserving the natural attributes of the ecologically blessed municipality specifically its remaining primary forest, the last rainforest in the province located in Mount Bulusan. Not to mention that AGAP, Philip's group is an awardee for  exemplary works in the field of environment conservation in Bulusan (2008). Environmental activities such as establishing of nurseries for native trees notably pili,  planting these tree seedlings and monitoring the status of the planted trees in various areas of Mt Bulusan, educating upland communities and residents of forest about the relationship and importance of forest to people were just few of his group's documented multifarious environmental tasks for the last several years.The trees planted probably number in the hundreds of thousands already. Got to asked him the stats next time.

Philip representing AGAP-Bulusan , 2008 award for commendable environmental works.

Definitely not a flash in the pan personality. All of these achievements were done (and still continuing) homegrown with Bulusanons. Philip is a permanent resident of Bulusan town, a father of five adorable kids and loving husband to Angel. In fact, Philip is my neighbor who lives just a block away from my own residence in  Poblacion Central. One and half years ago, being a newly returned Bulusan native, I was a regular customer at their internet shop whenever I work on my intermittent writing job.

Philip is locally based. He is not operating in an urban location doing the activities of his NGO from a plush office. Philip is a hands-on environmental advocate who lives his passion daily. His choice was to live in this town where other professionals have gone overseas for greener pastures. He remained. He treks Mount Bulusan almost daily and most probably he is most familiar with the features of the flora and fauna of  Mt. Bulusan more than anybody else. I once asked him about the local name of a cloud rat, a wildlife resident of Mt Bulusan that looks like a cuddly toy rather than a rat and he answered me with 'bugkon' with the right accent of o and e. Sounding like a schwa sound to me. I am sure I can ask him for more about the numerous fern varieties that thrive in the volcanic environs of Mt Bulusan. But I have to wait for I can see that he is very much occupied for the last several months from eco trail run to organizing the climbs in Mt Bulusan.

Organized Mount Bulusan climb of 2012 patronized even by locals. Photo of  badge shows Barangay Central's representative.

The thousands of photos only show the lighter side of Philip's job. The sweat and hardships in stewarding thousands of hectares of rainforest with patches of geographically unique ecosystem of BVNP were mostly not captured in photographs. The never ending tasks of an overseer doing also the backbreaking job of a forest ranger while doing the organizing and the administering of a locally based NGO are far from the seemingly exciting and glamorous job that the thousands of photos may show. The weather can be harsh sometimes, and he sure needs a lot of stamina for this kind of work. One of his photos however showed me a glimpse of the true nature of his work with the caption: "the road less traveled."

With GMA 7's Drew Arellano, celebrity visitor at the park (2012 BVNP).

With Pinoy mountaineer's celebrity mountain climber, Rica Peralejo (June 2012 Mt Bulusan trek).

Philip is not the hillbilly type. Far from that. The gorgeous photo will attest (which in person he really is). The extra savvy  is needed of course in this age of social media where projection is a plus. Visitors to the park (BVNP) where he is the resident Park Manager include celebrities (GMA 7s  Drew Arellano, Rica Peralejo were visitors last year) and several TV networks covering the recently upgraded Bulusan Lake features.

But the real battle that will put Philip in the arena is The Big Geothermal Question which we from Bulusan consider an utter abomination, if and when it will be pushed atop our mountain where we depend all our water needs from drinking to growing our crops.

My confidence will not waver though. I believe that  for as long as there are persons like Philip living in the midst of Bulusan, I can sleep soundly in my bohemian styled room with these thoughts: That the pure mountain spring drinking waters from our tap, filtered by the rainforest of Mount Bulusan will remain flowing, untainted in perpetuity. That I can bath with the freshest Mount Bulusan crystal waters. I can frolic in the gushing waters of Bayugin falls. I can float in the soda waters of Masacrot. I can coax the healing powers of Mapaso. I can endlessly visit the enchanted spring of Bugas. I can dance in the fairyland of Bulusan ferngullies and so much more.

Steward of the Lake and its surroundings. (Bulusan Lake, undated photo).

At Bayugin Falls, one of the many natural water wonders of  Mount Bulusan.

Philip G. Bartilet embodies the face of Bulusan's fight for Saving Mount Bulusan. Modern. Organized. Consistent.Vigilant. Intelligent. Surely, any business company will have difficulty in mounting their Geothermal dreams in Bulusan.

I, for one is following Philip--our very own eco warrior. One of Bulusan town's coolest dudes in My List.

Philip in one of his endless treks to the mountain of  Bulusan. The  road of an eco warrior is a road less traveled.

Photographs borrowed from AGAP and Philip G. Bartilet
text by Alma P. Gamil
Bulusan, Sorsogon Philippines.

Abbreviations
BVNP-Bulusan Volcano Natural Park
AGAP-Bulusan,  Aggrupation of Advocates for Environmental Protection
LGU-Bulusan, Local Government Unit
P – Participative community based organizing, linkaging, and mainstreaming;

R – Restoration, protection, and maintenance of identified and targeted conservation sites;

E – Eco-friendly ventures and livelihood promotion;

S – Support for additional provisions for poverty alleviation mechanisms;

E – Education and Information Campaigns; and

R – Research and databanking of relevant ecological and socio-economic data; to

V – Vitalize our

E –Ecosystems of Bulusan Volcano Natural Park (BVNP) 

To Mount Bulusan: Geothermal Lessons from Mount Kanlaon

"The Save Mount Kanlaon Coalition and some Negros environmentalists share the same sentiment as the Bulusan people and local government‟s. The geothermal project of the National

Negros Geothermal Power Plant (NNGPP) is accounted for the cutting down of thousands of trees, direction drilling underground, and displacement of the wild flora and fauna with the contamination of the waterways." (source: www. academia.edu paper by Cris Sarmiento)

Avatar-like rainforest of Mount Bulusan.

A reference to this point is the Statement jointly released by Save Mount Kanlaon Coalition and the New Environment Watch, July 22, 2011 that reads:

"Despite its numerous claims and reassurances, supposedly backed up by extensive scientific studies and technical findings through the last 17 years, the geothermal project has dismally failed to produce EDC’s original target of 80 MW. This was drastically reduced to 49 MW in 2007, and was even further reduced to 40 MW when the EDC insisted to enter the primary forest, which was successfully mislabeled and renamed as the “buffer zone” with the passing of the Mt. Kanlaon Law.

The EDC project has only succeeded to degrade a wide swath of Mt. Kanlaon, alter its boundaries, cut down thousands of old forest trees, destroy critical wildlife habitat, defy environmental laws, and eventually, wasted billions of pesos worth of public funds. Worse, EDC’s encroachment into the 169 hectare “buffer zone” of Mt. Kanlaon is patently illegal as the project’s 1995 ECC (Environmental Compliance Certificate) is not for the 169 hectares of primary forest but for areas described in the 1995 Environmental Impact Statement as 50% grassland and open areas, 32% cropland, and 18% secondary forest. (Note: Under Presidential Decree (PD) No. 1586 establishing the Environmental Impact Statement System and Presidential Proclamation No. 2146 defining the scope of the system, Environmentally critical projects (ECPs) located in environmentally critical areas (ECAs) like a primary forest require an Environmental Impact Assessment to give said areas the highest protection especially from resource extractive activities.)

EDC has made a name for itself and for the Lopezes, both nationally and internationally, for its Green Energy projects and its partnership with the World Wildlife Fund and the Department of the Environment and Natural Resources, but contrary to this repution, EDC ‘s maintaining of its geothermal wells inside a “buffer zone” that is actually 169 hectares of primary forest with high biodiversity only perpetuates the continued rape of Mt. Kanlaon and of democracy itself.

In view of all these, we demand that EDC remove all of its civil works from the “buffer zone,” rehabilitate the area, and account or pay for the destruction perpetrated in Mt. Kanlaon and its environs. EDC should also turn-over the 169 hectare “buffer zone” to the MKNP PAMB, in compliance with Section 5, RA 9154, which states: “…areas within the buffer zone which shall not be used directly for the development and utilization of geothermal energy shall remain under the control and jurisdiction of the PAMB.”

We further call on our governor and the members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan to terminate the 2008 Memorandum of Agreement with EDC and to require EDC to immediately discontinue its operations in the “buffer zone.” We also call on our Congressmen with the strong support of our governor and Provincial Sanggunian, to amend RA 9154 so that the 169 hectare “buffer zone” is re-established as part of the protected area of the Mt. Kanlaon Natural Park, a correct buffer zone established outside of its perimeter, and the EDC is removed as a permanent member of the MKNP PAMB and PAMB Executive Committee."

Mount Bulusan rainforest.

Bulusan, Sorsogon, Philippines