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

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) 

Lake Aguingay in my mind

Lake Aguingay during drier months. Photo credit: Philip G. Bartilet 

Lake Aguingay still showing the receding waters after the rains. Photo credit: Pinoymountaineer.com

Imagine a lake three times the area of Bulusan Lake, her sister lake from the same mountain.

Imagine it on top almost 200 feet higher than her famous sister. Imagine a vast plain when the water receded on drier months. 

Imagine a lake bed like a vast plain savannah. 

Imagine it  surrounded by rainforests. 

Imagine the flora and fauna dancing with the ebb and the tides of these landscapes constantly changing. 

Imagine a lake for all seasons!

Imagine. The marvelous beauty of Lake Aguingay!


Facts:

Lake Aguingay

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Lake Aguingay

Location               Luzon Island

Coordinates       12°44′57.55″N 124°04′23.04″ECoordinates: 12°44′57.55″N 124°04′23.04″E

Lake type            Seasonal Crater Lake

Basin countries Philippines

Surface area       76 hectares (190 acres)

Shore length1   3.6 kilometres (2.2 mi)

Surface elevation            410 metres (1,350 ft)

1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

Lake Aguingay is a vast plain at the center of Bulusan Volcano National Park located near Bulusan Lake at the Municipality of Bulusan, South central part of the Sorsogon Province, Southern Luzon, Bicol Region, Philippines. It is called The Lake because it is occasionally flooded during wet season and dries up during summer. When it is wet it resembles a big lake located right at the foot of Mt. Bulusan. The area is home to various endemic birds, reptiles and other mammals. It is surrounded by lush vegetation and a tropical rain forest. It is only accessible by foot from Bulusan Lake and from the villages of Kapangihan and San Roque

" Bulusan Lake, on the southeastern side of Bulusan Volcano, is 635 meters above sea level.  The lake occupies the depression between two lava flow lobes abutting a hill on the southeast slope of the volcano.  With a depth of 33 meters, the lake covers an area of 16.5 hectares and has a circumference of 2,000 meters.  The intermittent Lake Aguingay is situated at a higher elevation about 1,100 meters above sea level.  This lake appears and disappears depending on the weather condition and even expands to three times the area of Bulusan Lake during extreme rainfall depths."      

Source:The Bicol Regional Physical Framework Plan (RPFP) NEDA 5

Bulusan, Sorsogon, Philippines

Unusual mini iguana in Bulusan

This morning while I was having breakfast of pan de sal and brewed dark barako coffee, Loida, my sister-in-law, excitedly showed me an unusual ‘tabili’ (wild lizard) relative she rescued from their farm. The farm cat made it into a toy and the lizard was almost unconscious from the dragging and toying of the cat at play by the time she came into the rescue. 

At first she taught that it was just an ordinary tabili, she said. But upon closer look the creature reveals some unusual traits.  Very long tail. Green specks on its upper part. Serrated dorsal ridge. Limbs with long set of fingers and claws.

Knowing that I am into photography of the unusual flora and fauna, she wrapped the semi conscious ‘tabili’ relative with a gabi leaf and brought the poor little iguana-like creature for my scrutiny. 

I carefully took the unusual lizard to the top floor azotea to find a place for the fauna. I unwrapped the gabi leaves and lo and behold it was very much alive. It did not jump and run but instead looked at me with steady eyes. Lifting up its head I felt like I am the one being studied. The creature just stood their unmoving giving me the best opportune time to take these photographs.

I am not a lizard expert.  Anybody out there who could identify this lizard will be much appreciated.

After the photo session the unusual lizard jumped over to the kalunggay tree near the railings of our azotea. I whispered my thanks to the little iguana  as it hopped around to the tree branches with its long claws so perfectly adapted for clinging in tree tops while the long tail balances its every movement.

Photographs by Alma P. Gamil
Bulusan, Sorsogon, Philippines

Pili Diversity in One frame

Few meters away from the border of Bulusan Volcano Natural Park are diverse pili trees (three kinds of pili in this photo alone) noticeably all volunteer growths i.e. planted by wild animals. The photo above looks ordinary in these areas. Canopies of  Canarium ovatum (pili) could be sighted inside and around the BVNP borders corroborating the fact of what was  recorded in the definitive Pili monograph by Roberto E. Coronel, the eminent fruit scientist that Mount Bulusan is probably the center of genetic diversity of Pili.

Prolific Pili tree at the background is the elite kind of pili found in Mount Bulusan.

Zoom in the framed photograph and you will see that the background pili tree (compared with the foreground pili tree) is filled with fruits still green and thus blends with the leaves unnoticed. This kind of prolific pili tree fruiter is the elite variety of pili prized by horticulturists.

I seized the opportunity to ask from the farm owner for a handful of ripe pili nuts (fruits are colored black when ripe) for my potted nursery.

Photo: Taken at the BVNP border by  Alma P. Gamil

Bulusan, Sorsogon, Philippines

Vignettes of Bulusan Rainforest

Leaves line each giant frond.

Tendril like young shoots of giant ferns in Bulusan  rainforest.

A furry bow to everyone who passes by.

 Giant fern leaves form patterns against the sky.

Feather like leaves of giant ferns in Bulusan Volcano Natural Park

Like seducing fingers the young tendrils of giant ferns swirl there and curl here on top of  feather like crown of leaves in different grades of fineness. It provide a soft contrast to the endless entangling of vines in trees and bushes that spread like an amazon wilderness in the vast greenery of Bulusan rainforest. Its edges frame the park's pathway like emerald vignettes.



Photographs by Alma P. Gamil
Bulusan Volcano Natural Park (BVNP), Bulusan, Sorsogon, Philippines

Acoustic Ecology: The Sound of the Forest

There is a space and time in the zone of the twilight when the last rays of the sun are slowly engulfed by the crawling darkness in the forest when the sound is most intense. It is as if you can feel the collective 'raging against the dying of the light'. It is the sound of the collective sounds of insects from cicada to crickets, bats and some birds species and maybe some nocturnal creatures welcoming the dark. This magical hour is familiar in the rainforest of Mount Bulusan. It is referred to as the 'dusk chorus' in acoustic ecology.

Acoustic ecology is a branch of study for this seemingly unknown aspect of the forest. It is an  area that deals with sound as it relates to the lives of the wildlife living on it:

One specific study is this: insects.oeb.harvard.edu/farrell_lab/undegrads/bseah/lit_review.pdf

It underscores the function of sound as stated at the start of the introduction:

Animals communicate by producing and receiving signals of various kinds, one of them
being sound. A wide variety of animals produce sounds – birds, mammals, amphibians,
arthropods, and even fish. These calls serve various functions, which are mostly
intraspecific: (1) advertisement calls – for males to attract females over long distances,
aids in localization, also involved sometimes in male-male aggression and competition,
(2) aggressive signals – specifically for aggression between competing advertisers, (3)
release calls – especially among anurans, produced by unresponsive individuals when
they are clasped by a male for mating, (4) courtship calls – sometimes also produced by

females, act over a shorter range, produced just prior to mating, (5) distress calls – also
called handling calls, when grasped by predators. (cf. Gerhardt and Huber p.12)


Animals produce acoustic signals for various purposes. Their calls are presumably subject to natural selection. Acoustic ecology is the study of the selective pressures that act upon the calls that animals make.

Thus, to my mind, to alter the acoustic ecology of a pristine area like Mount Bulusan rainforest with the planned introduction of industrial activities of a Geothermal power plant (with noise levels from their industrial operations reaching higher than the decibel range of urban noises) is tantamount to environmental invasion worse than introducing an invasive species of flora and fauna. Its impact to the wildlife residents of the forest is disastrous considering that almost all of these creatures are dependent on sounds for their survival from mating calls to the caring of their youngs.

Note:
For actual sounds of a South East Asian forest in the above mentioned study, this link:  insects.oeb.harvard.edu/farrell_lab/endergrads/bseah_aepf_sounds.html provides a sound gallery (in mp3 format) ranging from sounds of insects such as cicadas and mammals such as bats. The time of the sound recordings differs to get a feel of the actual sound settings. The dawn and dusk chorus for example when the intensity of the sound  of the forest is most pronounced is noted by the study.


Photographs by Alma P. Gamil
Bulusan Volcano Natural Park (BVNP), Bulusan, Sorsogon, Philippines

Bulusan: A place blessed with water

Bugas natural spring in Bulusan, Sorsogon

The world's water supply

If all earth's water fit in a gallon jug, available fresh water would equal just over a tablespoon--less than half of one percent of the total. About 97 percent of the planet's water is seawater; another 2 percent is locked in icecaps and glaciers. Vast reserves of fresh water underlie earth's surface, but much of it is too deep to economically tap.
                                                        Source: National Geographic Special Edition on Water

Bayugin Falls gushing mountain stream in Bulusan, Sorsogon

The above data clearly show that fresh water is one of the most precious, and limited, resources in the world. It is a reminder for places like Bulusan that is lucky enough to have a seemingly endless and abundant supply of fresh clean water not  to be complacent in the stewardship of this precious resource. And most importantly to be vigilant for any 'development' that will threaten the integrity of the very source of this resource.

The wait and see game is quite long. The Philippine Energy Plan runs until 2030.

The whole area of Mount Bulusan and its surroundings is a watershed.

Related post: https://bulusanruralvagabond.wordpress.com/2013/08/08/watershed-101/

Photographs from http://pamughaton.wordpress.com/

Bulusan, Sorsogon, Philippines

Optical Phenomena in Magical Mount Bulusan

Photo: realrica.com

Spectacular solar optic effects at the gaping mouth of Bulusan Volcano! Marvelous nature show.

A fog bow, solar glory, Brocken Spectre 3-in-1 phenomena caught in this one of a kind photograph by the team of Pinoy mountaineers with celebrity climber Ms Rica Peralejo last June 24 of this year.

These are actually three distinct phenomena : The fog bow appears here as a 360 degree white rainbow. The solar glory is a band of colored rings at the inner rim surrounding the shadowy  figure technically known as the Brocken Spectre at the center.

This seemingly supernatural optical phenomenon is rare. One must be at the right location at the right time with the right conditions to produce this atmospheric optical effects. The mountaineers were a lucky bunch to be present on the right spot at the right moment when the crater center was at the perfect moment for this nature spectacle to happen.

The mist of fog or cloud is needed to be at the center of the crater first and foremost. This will serve as the ‘screen’  (as in a movie) for the shadow of the observer standing near the rim of the crater. The sun must be at the back  just like a projector to the observer in whose shadow will be then projected at the thick fog located exactly at the mouth of the volcano.

The effect is optical magic. A marvelous  nature show. Colored rings known as solar glory appears around the head of the Brocken Spectre not unlike colored band of halos. It surely looks like a spiritual apparition for those not familiar with this rare nature phenomenon.

Adding up to the magic is the white rainbow commonly referred to as the fog bow forming the larger circumference--a  giant circular host-like apparition. It is as if the volcano’s crater is about to swallow a gigantic host from heaven.

Solar glories are formed by diffraction where light waves are scattered into a ring-like pattern as differentiated to a regular rainbow that usually appears as a colored arc in the sky which is formed by refraction and reflection. In this photo the glory forms inside the inner rings just above the head of the Brocken  Spectre. 

Do not be alarmed. The Brocken Specter is not a dark ghostly apparition. It is merely an elongated shadow casts into the clouds--the shadow of the observer and most of the time --the photographer/climber. The clouds and fog sort of distort the human shadow as it moves.

The anti-solar point is the exact spot where the solar glory and the Brocken Spectre appear. It is directly opposite the sun from the observer’s perspective.

This atmospheric spectacle is the first time ever recorded inside the crater of  Bulusan Volcano—probably  the only one of its kind in the world.

Written by: Alma P. Gamil
Bulusan, Sorsogon, Philippines

Magical Mount Bulusan: Ms Rica and the white rainbow

Magical Mount Bulusan. This is not a cliche. This is real.

I saw the magic unravel in the photos of Rica Peralejo-Bonifacio and her fellow trekkers.

They might not know it but they have stumbled upon a very rare phenomenon known as a fog bow during their recent trek to Mount Bulusan.

A fog bow is a 'white rainbow'. White because the colors are so faint it appear whitish. Almost ghostly. But yes the colors are there. And to add to the magic: the white rainbow appeared in a 360 degree form-- meaning a circle. The gaping crater of  Bulusan Volcano appears like in the act of swallowing a  giant Holy host from heaven.

They always say that there is a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. But this one is not the end of the rainbow (as the photo shows). This one is right at the HEART of a rainbow with the faintest colors of pink, yellow and blue.

More than a pot of gold I am sure is in there-- though not literally.

Whereas a rainbow is the result of the optical effects caused by  droplets of rain meeting the rays of the sun at a specific angle (42 degrees according to scientific journals), the fog bow on the other hand is caused by a mist of fog smaller than rain droplets not strong enough to reflect and refract colors vivid enough to the eyes. Thus a whitish arc or in this case a circle is formed instead.

The sight is truly magical and almost spiritual. It looks like an apparition of nature.

I have checked the web for similar photos of a crater with a white rainbow but none so far yielded to my virtual search. Arctic white rainbow. Yes, sighted by an expedition team. Golden Gate Bridge white rainbow. Yes, as captured by a photographer. But not this kind of a gaping mouth of a volcano with a giant 'host', the Eucharistic bread from heaven in a suspended  freeze frame waiting to be swallowed by the magnificent Bulusan Volcano from the hands of the  holy sky.

To the trekkers and to the beautiful Ms. Rica Peralejo-Bonifacio:

All I can say is: wish I was there!         (Photos: realrica.com)

For the complete set of photos from Ms Rica Peralejo Bonifacio with the white rainbow: realrica.com

Bulusan's Bamban

Bamban plant in Bulusan

Bambam stems are excellent materials for fish trap weaving.

Beginning weave of a fish trap - in Bulusan.

The ASEAN Tropical Plant Database is very specific in its description of the Philippine bamban (Scientific name: Donax cannaeformis (G. Forst.) K Schum.

Fish traps locally called 'bobo' are made from bamban strips from the split stems of this species sustainably harvested by local  fishermen weavers from the nearby farm patches and second growth forests. These bamban (photo) are lushly growing in the hilly part of Barangay Dancalan, Bulusan.

Photographs by Alma P. Gamil
Bulusan, Sorsogon, Philippines

Bulusan Lake unknown fact

Bulusan Lake though the toast of the recent eco-tourism promotions of the province, second only to Donsol is virtually unstudied according to a Rapid Assessment Report conducted by an NGO. The flora and fauna around it are also understudied the report added. The endemism of the place is high though at more than 40% as cited in the report.

The report by Errol Gatumbato in his personal blog reads:

Together with four other hired specialists of the Resources, Environment and Economics Center for Studies, we conducted a rapid site assessment to this protected area commissioned by the Foundation for the Philippine Environment. The assessment involved the physical, biological, social, cultural, economics, and governance conditions of the BVNP.

The remaining forest of the BVNP is hosting to numerous species of flora and fauna while the freshwater ecosystem is hardly studied*

Our study showed that the forest in this protected area is an important habitat of numerous endemic species of plants, such as the Forestia philippinensis, Pinanga insignis, Areca camarinensis, Mussaenda phillipica and two newly discovered species, Schefflina bulusanicum and Pronephrium bulusanicum.  Rare and threatened species can also be found in BVNP, such as the Jade vine (Strongylodon macrobotrys), the ground orchid (Phojus tankervillea), and Tindalo (Afzelia rhomboidea).  The mountain agoho (Casuarina rumphiana), which is known to have a very limited distribution in the Philippines and Southeast Asia, inhabits this protected area.
Similarly, the fauna features of the BVNP are showing high species endemism, estimated at 43% of all the species surveyed during the RSA.  Four of these species are known as high conservation priorities because they are already classified as threatened species, like the Golden-crowned flying fox (Acerodon jubatos), the Southern Luzon giant cloud rat (Phloeomys cumingii), the Philippine warty pig (Sus philippensis) and the Luzon Tarictic hornbill (Penelopides manillae).

Errol's complete story:

Bulusan Park, the “little Switzerland” of Bicol « Errol Abada Gatumbato

errolgatumbato.wordpress.com/.../bulusan-park-the-little-switz.