27, 28, 29...

the "para maiba naman" shot

I've let the chance to see Anawangin pass me by so many times. The time to see it finally came after the long wait.

our jump off point to Anawangin - thanks to Tatay Ed our bangkero and more

fishing as primary livelihood

welcoming Mr. Sun

we were all soaked after the boat ride

The view during the entire boatride took my breath away. The state of the mountain and hills is saddening. No trees to provide shade. However, that doesn't make Anawangin less beautiful. In fact, the state of the place is what makes it unique and second-third-fourth look worthy.

When we got there, we were welcomed by series of boats, fellow-vacation-seeker yuppies, families, people from all walks of life and a sari-sari store in a place that we originally pictured as an untouched haven. Thanks to the world wide web and blogging (like what I am doing), the untouched haven no longer exists. Kath exclaimed that it was like Puerto Galera. Yeah, minus the electricity. Don't take me wrong, the place is absolutely beautiful, really breath-taking. However, the amount of people and amount of NOISE sort of made the place a little less peaceful and serene as we hoped it to be. There were bonfire and campsites everywhere causing lasting impacts to land around the area. My friends and I were even fearing sudden pine forest-fire *knock on wood* (I forgot to mention the fact that there are actual pine trees there). I remember attending a seminar conducted by an MFPI member with the group of Maersk mountaineers a couple of years ago. There's this simple line that had a great impact on me: low impact climbing. This simple line isn't easily attained though. In my opinion, this does not and should not be applied on climbing alone. This should be applied wherever and whenever nature is concerned. Which is ALL the time. There was just so much disrepecting going on around the area and the sadness it caused us is immeasurable. Imagine all the lasting effect this would cause to the environment and the natural inhabitants of the place?

suking sari-sari store

I left Anawangin feeling anxious. Tourism need not be destructive. We need to educate people not only to read, to write or to do basic math. We also need to educate people about balance as well as ghe simple logic behind cause and effect. I always try to not be judgemental but I say this with so much disgust to people who complain and say nothing but bad things to our country. No one should dare complain about the current state of the Philippines because we ALL (whether your a Filipino or a foreigner) take part in taking this country to wherever it is going. My Anawangin experience along with all my other hiking and nature-related adventures are constant reminders on how much Philippines needs to wake up. Philippines is so beautiful! But so much is needed to be done as well. Effort should be exerted by everyone to keep it that way. Basic rule - pack it in, pack it out. Leave natural objects as you find them. As the quote goes: take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints. Pay respect not only to the natural inhabitants and locals in the area but to fellow visitors as well. Respect their experience of the place. So hush it!

We only have one Philippines, one Asia, one world. Don't you want your (future) sons, daughters, nephews, neices, grandkids to experience it?

sunset in Anawangin