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More Than An Adventure
by Ryan G. Palacol
Haring Ibon Issue 38 | April-June 2009

Engaging myself in adventurous travels such as trekking, riding a habal-habal in Mindanao, crawling in caves and seeking out forest trails turn out to be always memorable. I enjoyed every place I visited and I’m proud to say that our country has some of the world’s most amazing places.

I have visited Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro twice, to conduct a perception survey in Sablayan Prison and Penal Farm (SPPF) and Brgy. Malisbong. Mindoro holds a myriad of unique species, the Tamaraw being the most famous. Sablayan required about a ten-hour travel from Manila— a bus for three hours, a boat for two hours and a bus or van for another five hours. Upon arrival in Abra de Ilog, Occidental Mindoro, I had to ride on top of a bus, given that the inside was full and buses were infrequent. Admittedly, even if I knew it was dangerous, it was also exciting. Along that very long road, I appreciated the scenic view of the mountains amidst the farms as the sun was setting, and night time came.

All passengers on the roof, including myself, were praying and wishing that rain would not fall. But it was to no avail as I felt small droplets. I immediately pulled out my raincoat (kapote) and wrapped my bag in a large plastic bag. When the rain began to fall, the driver stopped the bus and told us to get inside even if it was already full.

When we reached Sta. Cruz, Occidental Mindoro, we saw a bunch of elementary school students who were waiting for a bus. They ran towards our bus and desperately climbed on top of the roof. I was shocked, because there were girls wearing skirts that effortlessly climbed on. The driver’s assistant warned them but a student answered, “Ok lang po sa bubong, basta makauwi lang kami!” ( We are alright up in the roof, as long as we can get home!) So, the only thing he could do was to watch over them. I reached Sablayan at 9:15 in the evening.

The next day, together with other Haribon techincal staff who arrived a few days earlier, we went to Barangay Malisbong’s barangay hall— where local residents who will participate in the survey awaited for our arrival.

The major objective of the projects* for which the survey was being done was to protect the Mindoro Bleeding-heart (Gallicolumba platenae) and its habitat— Siburan Forest including other forests of Sablayan– the largest tract of lowland forest known on Mindoro. This species is incredibly striking because unlike pigeons in Manila, they are purple and white in color and has a red mark in the middle of their chest, resembling an irregular heart shape. The Mindoro Bleeding-heart still remains threatened because the Siburan Forest is still under pressure largely from the unsustainable use of forest resources by poor communities throughout Mindoro Island.

The survey was about measuring the level of their awareness regarding the forest and its resources, its history, their livelihood, and the kind of communication and information exchange used in the community.

They were asked if they had already seen a Mindoro Bleeding-heart. Most of them have except for the youth. Based on the survey, the Mindoro Bleeding-heart continues to be hunted as pets for illegal trade.

Haribon activities from the previous projects in the site have helped increase their level of awareness over the years about biodiversity conservation. According to them, they were already adopting what they had learned from the previous seminars and activities conducted by Haribon. Some of these were on bio-intensive gardening (BIG) for their food security, and tree-planting and non-timber forest products (NTFP) for their livelihood.

Based on the survey, they said that forest denudation and wildlife loss occurred because of illegal logging, mining and livelihood activities such as charcoal making, kaingin and hunting.

Awareness-raising activities, planting native tree species and planning for forest management were the top three activities they wanted to join. Forest conservation they said would help protect people from disasters like flash floods and heavy rains, and sustain the supply of wood for their houses. Aside from people’s needs, they also recognized that they share the forest with other living things, such as plants and animals.

In retrospect, they knew they contributed to the degradation of their forest but more importantly along with this recognition, they are willing to participate to become part of the solution to conserve the source of their livelihood and ultimately ensure their survival. All of them were willing to help and participate in this project to conserve the remaining forests of Mindoro. This made me feel very happy knowing that they are partaking in creating the changes they want to see in their community.

The eagerness that I felt from the community to help conserve the forest was most likely the same as that I felt when the elementary school students desperately climbed on top of the bus just to get home. If you are motivated to do something, you will find a way to achieve it.


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* Enhancing Capabilities of Local Stakeholders to Conserve the Mindoro Bleeding-heart
Funder: Keidanren Nature Conservation Foundation (KNCF)

Mindoro Bleeding-heart (Gallicolumba platenae) Species Guardian
Funder: BirdLife International

Strengthening Conservation of Mindoro Bleeding-heart at Siburan Forest, Barangays Batong-buhay and Malisbong, Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro
Funder: Jensen Foundation.