Bulusan's Heritage Trees

Pili trees in Odikin rule the village landscape.

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

Agoho and Bulusan Volcano

"The mountain agoho (Casuarina rumphiana), which is known to have a very limited distribution in the Philippines and Southeast Asia, inhabits this protected area," reads part of the assessment report re BVNP of the team of Errol Gatumbato a noted environmentalist in the Philippines.  By protected area, this refers to  BVNP, Bulusan Volcano Natural Park located in the composite mountains of Bulusan Volcano (above and below photos). 
Some of these trees found its way in the lower areas of Bulusan comprising the residential areas. I have seen one big agoho at the churchyard and several at the cottage  grounds of Dancalan beach where this photo was taken.  The dangling leaves that fringe the upper  frame of the above photo are from an old agoho tree standing beside the open cottages in Dancalan beach. The electric wires along the road  run across the photo from this vantage point.

Bulusan Volcano (composite mountains) as it appears on a cloudless day, May 26, 2013.

Photos: Alma P. Gamil
Bulusan, Sorsogon, Philippines

Palogtoc Falls back to nature

The true 'green' mower for this expanse is the ever reliable Philippine carabao that keeps this coconut farm patch  always freshly trimmed and neat looking.

Thumbs up for the carabao - a perfect bio-grass mower. This local grass species that the carabao grazes on is called (what else?) - carabao grass.

Local villagers from the vicinity of  Palogtoc Falls enjoy free plunge and bath according to a local teen - at least for now. We however paid 25pesos each as entrance fee.

The overflowing waters from the big pool that catches the waterfalls is still as fresh and clear as the Falls itself. The  presence of several local villagers mostly kids enjoying a cool plunge and bath is not enough to dilute the water's quality because of the sheer volume of it.

The local villagers know exactly how to frolic with the waters of Palogtoc Falls.

A long and shaded journey of a gushing mountain stream manifests itself into a beauty here in Palogtoc falls.  The waters  still  carry the taste of subtle mineral waters.

My niece, Yapa (in red attire) and cousin An-ge enjoying the 'bunlawan'  (rinse area) that serves also as a kiddie pool. This is just beside the big pool where the Palogtoc Falls continuously refresh and replenish the waters with its rushing head stream.

Embracing the front and sides of Palogtoc Falls are brooks and rivulets which are captivating on their own.

The brook fronting the Palogtoc Falls sings a melodious water sound complementing the louder sound of the rushing voice of the water falls.

Palogtoc Falls was actually a third choice for a Sunday  picnic destination for three visiting nieces for the summer break. Fulo Resort and Masacrot Spring were overflowing with visitors so as to make us turn our gears to Palogtoc. The headtrail of Palogtoc that starts along the road needs a walk of around 500 meters, enough to discourage those that flocked to the other pools along the road.

We found out however, that the 500m walk to the lovely nature grotto that is Palogtoc is worth the extra walk not to mention the sights near the end of the trail - a green-always-freshly grazed carabao grass expanse under a coconut farm patch courtesy of a mainstay carabao mower. The trail has no signage as to where we are going.

The only sign that gave as the clue that we are nearing Palogtoc Falls is the sound of the rushing waters that becomes louder and louder as we are nearing the Falls and makes one imagine in advance what to expect - fresh and abundant flow of mountain spring that converge into a big stout water falls. Short water falls actually since the rest of it is hidden. The water falls that is visible at the big 'gorgeous' pool is in fact an end point of a low lying source of rushing hidden and shaded waters.

Palogtoc is so lovely alright (as described by Lonely Planet in its review) with the elemental nature feel to it. Like a fairy land, says my niece. She is referring of course to the abundant giant ferns, wild trees, and tropical flora forming an impressive array of a picturesque tropical mountain paradise!

The drawbacks however were articulated also by my nieces - where is the CR? where is the changing and wash room? where are we going to pee?
Me for one was puzzled too on what happened to Palogtoc.  It seems that its management has relegated to nature even the simple amenities mentioned by my nieces.

I just answered the girls with this: Go back to the  smaller pool (used as rinse pool or 'bunlawan') and take a pee there while on a dip, the flow of the waters will exit to  the side brook and will not affect the main pool of the Falls.

Back to nature. Back to the free water fun for the local villagers.

Note: Heard from the local grapevine that Palogtoc property is currently for sale. This needs verification though for those who are interested.

Palogtoc Falls, Bulusan, Philippines
Photos by Alma P. Gamil

Happy Earth Day!

A village boy enjoying a plunge on the natural pool of Palogtoc Falls in Bulusan.


Photo by Alma P. Gamil
Palogtoc Falls, San Roque, Bulusan
Philippines

Easy way to beat the heat in Bulusan

Bulusan river is just one of the several water spots in Bulusan. It is however the most accessible being located just a block away from the town plaza. In the photo is a local boy ready for a swim.

In Bulusan, beating the heat is easy with countless springs and rivers dotting its whole landscape. From water falls to gushing river to springs -  the choices are varied. The whole summer vacation is not even enough to  plunge and dip in all  of these known and unknown water spots. 

Photo by Alma P. Gamil
Bulusan, Sorsogon, Philippines

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

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 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.