tagabungtod

Confucius says:

“If you think in terms of a year, plant a seed; if in terms of ten years, plant trees; if in terms of 100 years, teach the people.”

Two or three kilometers before you reach Nabunturan poblacion, in the barangay of San Roque, you will inevitably notice nurseries lined up along the highway. Propagated here by residents are seedlings of different tree species: mahogany, falcata, acacia mangium, narra, molave, etc.

You will be surprised to know that the softwood variety, like falcata seedlings, sell only for P100/box of 100's or ONE PESO EACH. The hardwood species like narra, molave, mahogany sell only for TWO PESOS EACH!! Fruit seedlings are plentiful, too, at a higher price but, nonetheless, still cheap and inexpensive compared to nurseries outside of our town. As far as I can remember, these nurseries have been there since the '70s but people hardly noticed them. In those days, it was more convenient and financially lucrative to cut trees than to plant them. Now we are paying the price.

Nowadays Compostela Valley is on the headlines of national newspapers. They banner deaths in Masara caused by mudslides. Just like previous incidents of mudslides, government, as usual and as always expected, is again keeping itself busy finding faults and pointing fingers. Duh! Ana man nang gobyerno, dong/inday. Hangtud malimtan na lang sa mga dali ra pud makalimot nga mga pinoy. So 'til the next landslide na pud. The poor victims and the widows and orphans are relegated to the background and sadly become part of statistics.

So what do we do?

I say, let us not wait for government. Let us not wait for the next mudslide. In our simple way, let us plant trees. In one of your trips, allow yourself to be waylaid by these beds of nurseries. Buy tree seedlings from these San Roque residents who have made this a very praiseworthy livelihood project.

Where to plant?

Plant them in whatever space is available: your farm or its periphery, in your yard, along the road, sa mga bakilid where it would hold the soil and prevent erosion. Anywhere. Little do we realize that planting trees is more than preventing mudslides and saving lives. It gives ourselves clean air. It cools our surroundings. It beautifies. It is loved by children and trees love children. It holds and gives out water. It maintains the ecological balance. It fights global warming. It will save the earth for many generations to come. In our small, little way, let us contribute individually. It does not matter whether it is softwood, hardwood, fruit trees, rubber trees, etc. Just plant trees.

Look at this lovely sight of thick green foliage along the national road in barangay Sta. Maria. This is the farm of Victor Secuya, which his late father, Marcelo (Nong Eloy), devoted to planting trees. 'Nong Eloy loved planting trees so much that on his own he went to the extent of planting along the highways. If you happen to go to Mainit, you will see a long stretch of mahogany trees on both sides of the road after Manat. The sun is limited to only a peek at the concrete highway because of the fresh, cool tunnel of shade that the neatly lined trees have created. It looks like the rural version of the Mckinley Road at Forbes Park with its lined acacia trees. The tall mahogany trees near our parish church and along the road in front of the Secuya residence are also his handiwork.

'Nong Eloy was one farmer who had a profound understanding of the effects of trees to the environment. While he was still alive, joy and happiness were always visible on his face and in his character when talking about the narra, mahogany, falcata and the various species he has planted in his different farms. He incessantly talked about the importance and the economics of the trees he planted as if he would live forever.

Nong Eloy, did not even live to see the full realization and impact of his dreams. He died a few years ago. But there is one thing we can be certain of: the trees he lovingly planted and nurtured and the lessons about trees that we learned from him will make him live for the next one hundred years.