07/24/2025
"The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago. The second best time is now." -Chinese proverb
THE MAN WHO PLANTED TREES
It was only seven in the morning when we gathered at Dabdab Beach for a tree planting activity. With me were friends from Puerto Princesa, a German lady volunteer and an American documentarist. From Sitio Sabang where there is a wharf with many boats that tourists flock to going to and coming back from the Underground River, I rode at the back of a motorcycle while enjoying the fresh air and admiring the beauty of the forest going to Sitio Manturon, Barangay Cabayugan where there is a "forest corridor" on the side of the provincial highway of Palawan.
When we got to the nursery and ornamental garden, I was introduced by our guide Anne to Mr. Vicente Murillo or more popularly known as Tatay Itek. He looked very simple but he had a very strong presence. He wore a bullcap, a sleeveless shirt with the name "MARINES" printed on it, gray shorts and flipflops. At age 67, he is probably the oldest forest ranger but I think he is also the most industrious and persistent vanguard of the forest not only in Puerto Princesa but the whole Philippines.
When we arrived, he was digging the soil using a spear in preparation of the planting of 44 almaciga trees (Agathis philippinensis) which are also called "dayungon" or "malabagtik" in the local dialect. This was in commemoration of the 44 years since the opening of the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park (PPSRNP) as well as celebration of "Araw ng Taraw". "Taraw" is Cuyonon (a Palawan language) word for limestone karst that can be found on the island.
"One man army!", Tatay Itek smilingly said while showing an almost toothless mouth and a pair of eyes which is slightly crossed. He pointed to the surroundings, the trees which he planted almost 40 years as a caretaker. Everybody was all ears. He is eloquent with a powerful voice and he spoke in English (probably because he saw there were foreigners among our group). He was a teacher who taught us the scientific and local names of the plants and trees. He regaled us with stories and many useful information about the forest.
Afterwards, he got a recycled tarpaulin where he painstakingly wrote the truth- the knowledge everyone should know. He let me read what he wrote and I forcefully enunciated each word as he looked at me while smiling:
OUR ENVIRONMENT TODAY AND TOMORROW
Today's youth inhabit the rapid changing world where daily news headlines warns of devastating effect of environmental degradation in every corner of the world. Peoples are exploiting nature for profit and this activity is disrupting the natural environment at the rate unprecedented in history. Peoples are clearing forest and cutting timbers, depleting the soil, quarrying gravel, extracting minerals and energy supplies, endangering plants and animal species, dumping domestic waste and destroying marine resources, squatting and conversion of timberland.
The future of this struggling planet remains in the hands of today's youth. Now more than ever it is imperative that all Filipino youth empower themselves with knowledge and commitment. To address pressing environmental issues for they are the next generation of leaders and decision makers. The youth must be aware of the world today they will inherit so they can learn from the shortsightedness of the past generation in hopes of building the most prosperous future for their children's children.
Educating the youth builds dreams for the future. Teaching the children to respect and preserve the earth, planting trees now will ensure that this dream comes true.
"Teach the legal right of trees, nobility of hills. Respect the beauty of singularity, the value of solitude."
"The most important task if we are to save the earth is to educate."
"If we can't work together, we can't make it work."
Scriptural Passage: "Hurt not the earth, neither the seas nor the trees." Revelation 7:3
COUNTER ACTION AGAINST FOREST LAND CONVERSION IS RESTORATION.
OUR COUNTERPART IS TO RESTORE, TO RECREATE WILDERNESS FOR THE NEXT GENERATION.
Puerto Princesa, Palawan, Philippines
2015
