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Summer H.E.A.T. sizzled in Sablayan

Meet the strangers. Off-trike: Marius ; standing: Sunny; topload: Jeff and Dennis; inside: Anya and Gem; hiding: Kelly, Edwin and Emil. (Photo by Freddy Gemperle)

By Anya Santos

The Summer H.E.A.T. (Haribon Environmental Adventure Trip) headed for the Haribon project site in Sitio Palbong, Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro on the evening of April 28 at the Jam bus station on EDSA.

Eight virtual strangers were to go on a 9-hour journey, brought together by one cause - biodiversity conservation. After a 2-hour exhilarating bus ride from Manila to the Batangas Pier, we finally boarded the Ferry which would take us to Abra de Ilog in Occidental Mindoro. The crowded ferry allowed the members to get to know each other better as we huddled in a corner, watching each other’s things and taking turns sitting in the air-conditioned section.

After the 3-hour ferry ride was a 2.5-hour bumpy van ride that finally took us to the Feliz Del Mar resort in Sablayan. At 5am, we were finally able to check in and rest our weary bodies to get ready for a full day that would start at 10am!

The smell of food woke everyone up. After breakfast, we boarded a dump truck, lent to us by the local government unit, to head for Sitio Palbong. It was a fun and thrilling experience to be riding the back of a truck, trying to avoid getting hit by a tree branch. We were also able to see many birds, including a Purple Heron along the way. We met with the Vice-Chair of the Community-Based Forest Management Association (CBFMA) of Sitio Palbong in Barangay Batong-buhay, as well as the Haribon staff there, who shared with us the projects that had been implemented at that site. Notable was the healthy vegetable/fruit patch in the household gardens, which supplied the community’s nutritional needs. Apparently, the local staff trained the residents on bio-intensive gardening.

Haribon members crossing the powerful Mompong River. (Photo by Gem Subong)

From the sparsely-populated community, we trekked over to the nearby river, which was at the foot of Mt. Siburan, one of the 117 key conservation sites in the Philippines. There we rested and had lunch at the riverside with a healthy meal prepared by the local people.

The day didn’t end there, as we headed for the Sablayan Penal and Prison Farm (SPPF) just a few minutes away. Imagine a prison farm situated at the foot of Mt. Siburan! We were greeted by SPPF Superintendent Mario Trasmonte, along with some of the inmates or “colono” as they are locally called. There we went on a boat ride in Lake Libuao - one of the cleanest lakes in Mindoro. We were able to see many birds there like Osprey, Kingfisher and White-browed Crake!

The next day, it was snorkeling time in Pandan Island, a white-sand beach just a few minutes away from mainland Sablayan. The ferry we used was lent to us, thanks to the tourism office of the LGU. We weren’t fortunate enough to spot the pawikans, but the snorkeling with the giant moorish idols in sight and the white sand beach were more than enough!

L-R: A local boatman with Emil, Jeff and Dennis traversing Lake Libuao - one of the cleanest lakes in Mindoro. The lowland forest of Siburan completes the panoramic view of the lake.

The summer trip started with 8 strangers and ended with 8 good friends, all bound together by the Haribon mission of biodiversity conservation.

Anya Santos is Haribon’s Senior Strategic Membership Officer. Email her at act@haribon.org.ph