My Quaint Life

La Mesa Nature Reserve: A Walk on the wild side of the city

Theresa — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 15:41:26 +0000

After a week of the intense drama for 182 trees, I welcomed a nature trip with my kids and family. We are far away from the city of pines, but we happily settled with a wider variety of trees in the city of Quezon.

At first we thought it was just something like La Mesa Ecopark a lot of trees but just a park. How amazing to find out that La Mesa Nature Reserve is actually a forest right smack in the middle of Quezon City, Bulacan, Marikina and Rizal complete with a lake!

Your trip starts with a climb up this tower. The view there takes your breath away (especially when you are as afraid of heights as I am). You even see Mt. Arayat from way up there, just be very careful with the last flight of steps, its very steep. But the kids love it!

Your walk officially begins with a briefing about the nature reserve, its history, and the Save La Mesa WaterShed project. The La Mesa Nature Reserve is a testament to what can be accomplished with partnership, will and stewardship. This little piece of paradise was once almost denuded from kaingin methods, just imagine, where would Metro Manila get its water if people of will did not step in to save it.

We shared the park with quite a few bikers, who I've heard really make the trip to these parts.

We would be hard put to cite any company that does business for the sheer goodwill of it. But seeing the immensity of this project, I am so happy that we have organizations that really make a difference! Maybe, the trick is to have more companies and organizations like ABS-CBN and Bantay Kalikasan etc., to see beyond cost-efficiency and integrate year-end bottomlines with long-term strategic planning and community/environmental development. I am not an insider so I can not vouch for what really goes on behind the scenes in boardrooms of these companies, but if the trees do have tongues, their whispers would have been enough.

A part of me was ashamed that it took our Belgian friend to tell us about this wonderful place. She said, this is a forest that reminded her of forests back home.

a preview of what is to come

I couldn't tell you how badly we wanted to jump in! I found out it was actually the hottest day in history! But no swimming allowed.

The view of the lake! This more than made up for the 4K walk, with very little water and sweltering heat.

I really had a hard time, I’m really bad with the heat and I’m prone to migraines, but the kids took it in stride! How I wished we just took the 3K trail, but the kids didn’t complain. They had fun with the little things they picked up along the way.

Can't go greener than this eco-umbrella

or how about a fan? for the super hot summer

a little bit of science and nature observation especially for the littlest of them

How I wished I had the energy of my little friend! She even ran the last few meters!

If we can finish the trail, I am sure you can too! It is a valuable lesson for the kids to be immersed in that kind of nature. The kind where there is nothing artificial just plain trees, plants and the breeze.

Never thought I would be so happy to see a red flag! I knew then why it's known to be a biker's trail.

But I have to admit it may not be for everyone. I’ve noticed that most of nature adventures we hear about requires a bit of high adrenaline pumping activities. Here, there’s nothing very extreme. It’s just you and the ground you walk on, and the only extreme here is the beauty and the heat.

I usually have mixed feelings about eco-tourism, because in most cases, it only hastens the demise of what it was promoting in the first place. But in the case of La Mesa Nature Reserve, if you find it interesting enough, chances are you are the type of tourist who would want to keep it that way.

Live a life worth leaving your children,

Theresa

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La Mesa Nature Reserve
(02)415-2227 / 924-4101 loc.4551
Fee: Php200
Directions:3Kms from SM Fairview right turn to Quirino Highway. Landmarks would be Iglesia Ni Kristo, Chowking, Our Lady of Innoviate, in front of Uno Fuel (left side)

Of Easter, Earthquakes and Earth-balling

Theresa — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 08:42:31 +0000

Happy Easter greetings still lingering before I went to bed, I woke up at 4:30am Tuesday morning with an uneasy feeling.

I’m more than a hundred miles away but I could feel the urgency of the call for support for a scraggly patch of trees up in Baguio.

Not surprisingly questions came. What can I do? When they started earth-balling trees, with backhoes, security of guards and some legal documents legitimizing each downed tree, what can anyone do?

For some, each FB post about the plight of some 182 trees sounds like some blah, blah, blah of some romantic treehuggers good only for children’s books.

Photo courtesy of Cleopatra Calaycay

For some, it’s literally a serious wake-up call signaled by an earthquake just before they started earth-balling at the dead of night, with near panic texts and FB messages for help flying around at 1am.

I saw how these 182 trees brought the best in people, becoming empowered by the purest and highest intentions. I personally saw the ugly side, much menacing and posturing to protect the status quo and one’s monthly paycheck. I heard about the confusion because there is so much more happening behind closed doors and with all the pride and ego coming in the way. I could smell the division when more could have been accomplished with unity, inclusion, and direction. I could feel the tension from the conflict that is dividing and tearing one of the country’s most beautiful places.

I’m neither a bible scholar nor pretend to be one but I did have scenes from the Holy Week flashing in neon lights on that one.

Forget for a moment that this may sound like a nonsensical devout Catholic seeing parallelisms in everything, but could it be that 182 trees are going to be sacrificed for a change of heart to happen? Just like one Easter day a very long time ago? I hope not, but isn’t it so uncannily familiar?

Why is SM is so adamant at pursuing the project despite the raging unwavering protests onsite and online? Is SM really that arrogant not to listen to the community? Do they really believe they can bulldoze their way through the trees and the protests? Didn’t they feel a sliver of doubt as an ominous earthquake happened before they began. Or, do they have to?

I have a sinking feeling, in most likelihood, they ARE listening, SM may have the numbers (gasp). It may not necessarily support their move but in most likelihood will not oppose it either. With city officials decrying “council has no authority to stop SM..” even complete with an earthquake no less (Holy Week parallelisms doesn’t stop does it?), from a business perspective, they have nothing to worry about, it is all good and a GO.

Photo courtesy of Sarah Mae Sabado

Photo courtesy of Bench Aquino Horton

Psst… aren’t you facing the wrong way???

Is it blasphemous to say that SM is not the culprit, WE are. Our silence empowered them to believe earth-balling (a euphemism for cutting when barely have the expertise to do it right) is good, it is acceptable. What kind of businessman would alienate their customers? It’s just plain not good business sense. The Sys are not your ordinary run-off-the-mill businessmen, their success shows us they know what they are doing. If we can not care enough what happens right smack in our midst, then they are probably doing us a favor.

But something beautifully unheard of is happening in this country of smiling hospitality and apathy. SM for all intents and purposes is waking up a lot of people. Is this the tipping point? Is this the favor they are inadvertently giving Filipinos? Time and again, adversity can bring defeat, but it is also the breeding ground for heroes. Personalities and activists are expected, but what fuels the spirit are the faceless, nameless, ordinary folk that line the street, share FB statuses to lift the spirits and give voices to those who have no tongues*.

Brave souls… (Photo courtesy of William Magtibay)

patiently waiting to be heard (Photo courtesy of William Magtibay)

Maybe this is the Easter SM is giving our children’s future.

Photo courtesy of William Magtibay

I made a mistake in my last post when I said NO, it lacked direction. I didn’t clearly say anything about what I was saying YES to. This incident may see the death of some trees, but it can also pave (no pun intended) the way for real development and not some green-washed version that sacrifices more than it “develops”. Sad, but maybe that is the Easter of those trees.

I say YES to business. I say YES for more people to be in business because it drives the country, it provides employment and it can be a powerful tool for changing lives for the better.

I say YES to expansion and development that allows for REAL prosperity and abundance and not just a green-washed PR version of this “biggering, biggering and BIGGERING”*. What is simply called green businesses.

I would love to say YES again to shopping in SM. There was a time when my sister-in-law would jokingly say I probably know the schedules of all their 3-day sales (I probably did). I would gladly say YES to SM (as many others would) if only that huge power, resources and capacity were used for much good and development.

In this day and age, maybe the closest we can get to resurrection is a rebirth. The closest rebirth we have in history was more than 500 years ago. Ambition and power can also be good, the Medicis brought the Renaissance to Italy. Who knows maybe another sort of easter, another version of a rebirth, or our own Renaissance is in order. Who knows maybe SM’s Easter can come from all of this too.

Here’s a crazy idea, calling some ambitious young SM executive or one of the Sy grandchildren, maybe you save this PR nightmare of paving a forest.

Imagine… what if the Sys can be the Green Medicis of our lifetime??? (The Global Green Medicis, whoa!) Imagine… the Sy name synonymous with true Green development. Now, that IS a legacy!… not a parking lot, well at least in my paradise.

* From one of the best works of the great philosopher, Dr. Seuss:

“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”-The Lorax

Photo courtesy of charmstudio at etsy.com

Here is wishing a Happy Easter to our dear 182 trees.

Live a life worth leaving your children,

Theresa

On cloud nine at Mt. Cloud

Theresa — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 14:23:17 +0000

To add a library to a house is to give that house a soul. – Cicero

Given that line of thinking, that’s what a great bookstore probably does for a city.

Ten years ago, Barnes and Nobles was a a novel idea to me. I was so amazed how one can just read its books on the floor or on couches and no one hovering over you to buy it.

Luckily for us, the idea came around our part of the world and the likes of Fully Booked and Powerbooks have brought the joy of books to a whole new generation.

Then having watched You’ve Got Mail, and you would have another peg for a great bookstore. Well, it just so happens that THAT SHOP AROUND THE CORNER exists in Baguio!

Just like Kathleen in the movie, ask Padma about a book and she'll know where it is exactly, if they have it on stock and other tidbits about it.

My children just loves going through their children’s books selection, and they also have regular story-telling sessions for the kids.

A wonderful corner for kids

They even have hard to find books just waiting for you to get your hands on it. A friend went from store to store in Manila, then was surprised he didn’t have to leave Baguio to get his copy of the “Shadow of Doubt”!

But the experience doesn’t end there, they have regular art exhibits, even poetry reading and guest artists dropping by to give its regular patrons more to look forward to, and new ones to become eager converts.

even their wall art is a must-see

I felt so bad missing her performance, she's a Swiss-Ilocana and her music is so soft and unique because she infuses it with the native beats and instruments

They have new and preloved books, are even open to buying your old books. They practice conscious business policy of promoting recycled bags, and would give you the option to having your purchases wrapped or not.

If you happen to be in Baguio, this is one stop you’d want to take.

Visit Mt. Cloud at Casa Vallejo, Upper Session Road, Baguio City

Thank you Mt. Cloud for supporting local authors! This personal mastery planner is the dream project of my friend Andy. He has poured so much energy into this that it is so encouraging to have you support him.

Live a life worth leaving your children,

Theresa

What if… In Baguio, it IS more fun outside of SM

Theresa — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 21:53:06 +0000

Much has already been said and much will still be said regarding the cutting of 182 trees in SM City Baguio, now called Project Save 182. Sadly, some see this as a done deal and environmentalists and concerned citizens can shout themselves hoarse and nothing will come out of it, at least that is what SM and City Officials would probably want everyone to believe.

Amusing? Funny? or something to really think about?

Maybe so… but then again maybe not. But it IS by keeping quiet that you make sure that those 182 trees do not have a chance, the city does not have a chance.

I am 40, I have never joined a rally all my life, not a very unusual thing, but for an alumni of UP Diliman that is unusual, (I cringe to admit) it speaks volumes of my apathy and indifference.

But last January 20, in an adopted city I found my voice and for the first time joined a rally. And what a rally that was!

From students

citizens

to nuns

colorful brothers and sisters around

all want to save our trees.

With MISSION, a group imagining a different world

together with artists creating a culture that supports it

It has been difficult to write for in the past months, I have hesitated and just forgot about writing, I just didn’t have the motivation to do so. But that rally gave me the reason to write again. I first heard about it through Dr. Bengwayan of A Tree A Day, the main proponent of the movement. A brave man who inspired more than 5,000 people to walk.

Because of him and his inspiration, I realized that it is by finding my voice and way back to writing again, I also give the chance for another to find his own voice and way.

Even at 40, its never too late to have your voice heard.

But doing so earlier doesn't hurt either

I have always thought SM City Baguio was the most beautiful SM, hands down. Why? Simply because of the pine trees. Nothing beats dining in SM with its view of the pine trees and the mountains. At night, dining al fresco even at Mang Inasal has its charm.

Now SM would want us to believe that a skygarden can replace a forest, that it IS the tourist destination of the City of Pines (without the pine trees).

That is NOT fun, that is funNY (if it weren’t so sad).

I have also thought SM City Baguio was one of the most ecologically progressive among all SM malls, with limited airconditioning, recycled water flushing system and even supporting our Climate Change Presentation of Shiela Castillo, one of the Philippine’s top experts in Climate change.

But recent developments is changing that perception. Can SM’s green advocacy merely just a marketing ploy to give them a little competitive edge? uhhmmm… Personally, I’m no expert here, but if that IS merely a positioning, it is a very dangerous one in a world that is waking up. Eco or green has very definite parameters that are very transparent, evident and obvious when you are NOT it.

Now that is NOT fun nor funny.

I would suggest you read more credible discussions on the issue so you can have your own opinion, you can read it in the Green Pen and Rappler via JP Alipio.

But what can we do about it? I am just a mother, a teacher, what can I do? Do we stand a chance against a corporate giant with billions in their pocket? Maybe if we start to rethink where we spend the pesos in our wallets, then they will start to understand and we will start to understand.

Here is our most highly respected Tatay Kidlat Tahimik (with the camera), showing us we can do something even at any age.

Not to promote activism for activism’s sake nor protest just to protest. I am imagining what would make this more fun?

Incense at a protest, only in Baguio, why not???! When its about the environment, what better way to show the spirit of conservation than doing it peacefully.

With fun and spontaniety!

hmm… what if we are to imagine another way of making our voices heard? what if we imagine another way of enjoying Baguio?

What if… In Baguio, it is actually more Fun outside SM.

Here’s just partial list why…

Bookstore: Mt. Cloud, National Bookstore in Abanao Square, CID stores

Grocery: Sunshine, Victoria’s, Tiongsan

Clothes: Tiongsan, Ukay-ukay

Furniture: Tiongsan Harrison and Mabini

Dining: OMG, Eve’s Garden, Cafe by the Ruins, Oh My Khan (mmmm…this is getting exciting!)

Cinema: Cinemateque

Family and Kiddie Fun activities: Camp John Hay’s Butterfly Farm, Eco Trail, Tree Top Adventure

The more I think about it, the more exciting it gets!

In the next few posts, I will be sharing with you the other side of Baguio. And maybe, people would really see why IT IS FUN IN BAGUIO.

Gabrielle Nieman, a German Waldorf teacher said, “You lose the right to complain when you don’t say NO”.

This is my way of saying NO to earthballing, saying NO to the parking lot. Saying YES to Baguio.

Live a life worth leaving to your children,

Theresa

“We did not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrowed it from our children”-anon

How about you? What are you saying YES to? Sign the petition here.

There will be a public hearing on January 30, 2012 at the Baguio City Hall. Let us all who can and who wants, join so that more would also find their voices again.