December 29, 2007 The overcast skies produced a mere drizzle, and yet the rainfall came steadily, relentlessly. I’ve long since learned that this was the kind of rain that lasted a long time – for days and weeks even, especially during December here in my hometown. It was not a good sign for our org’s tree planting activity. But we went on anyway. Past sitios, rice fields and wooded hills, we raced towards our destination – the city’s watershed. We got off at what was called Sitio “Bedrock,” which was virtually in the middle of nowhere, and from there, we had to walk and hike the rest of the way, enjoying the spectacular views of the city and the seas beyond as we went up. When we finally arrived at the watershed, we were greeted by a wooden watch tower erected on the small hill by the gate and the year-old saplings – now standing around my shoulder level – that we had planted in the burned-out area last year. But for this year, we were to go deeper into the area. We went on hiking all the way to the nursery, through the forest trail that winded through the undergrowth, cool streams, steep slopes, muddy paths and slippery, loose rocks. All in all, we hiked for close to an hour before we reached the nursery. The trip had left us wet and winded, even with the slow pace and frequent stopovers, so we decided to have an early lunch before we dirtied our hands and got down to work.
After eating, we walked a short distance through beautiful ferns and thickets graced by occasional wildflowers to the tree planting site. There were lanes that had been cut through the grass and shrubbery, and there were already holes that had been dug in the ground, beside which was a small sapling and a long stick of wood that served as a marker. All we had to do was take off the plastic and plant the sapling in the ground. But it wasn’t as easy as it seemed. We had to climb to the top of the small hill and make our way to our respective lanes, planting the saplings along the way, through the steep, slippery slopes and the thickets that cut and tore at your skin if you weren’t careful. Over 200 trees were to be planted that day, a mean feat for so few of us, but the workers from the water district helped us out all the way. It was not easy to be sure, but the scenery and the beauty of the place more than made up for it. And while we were at it, the fog silently and suddenly descended on us. Before long, we were shrouded in the cool mountain mist amidst the dripping ferns and thick undergrowth – the silence broken only by the sound of the crystal clear waters of a nearby spring. It was truly a magical place that took your breath away, in more ways than one. After planting our own share or trees, we returned to the nursery to wash up and get our things. Next stop was the dam, the small reservoir that supplied water to Surigao City. It was my second time there, but we took a different route this time. We went over a hill, and thankfully, there were concrete steps for our worn and weary feet to step on. At the peak, we felt like we were on top of the world and just had to sing. The mist spread out before us amongst the treetops in wisps of white vapor. And all around us was a splendid view of the nearby tree-covered hills and peaks. We didn’t have time to linger so we moved on. And if the climb up was steep, the path downhill was even steeper. Along the way, when all we saw were the men below us clearing the path through the forest we had to call out and ask if there were still steps below, otherwise we would have had to turn back. The way down was so steep, we dared not risk going down if we weren’t sure of footholds. But we finally made it, and we emerged into the camp site along the dam. It was a small river that cut through the forest from the mountains, strewn with boulders and rocks that formed rapids gushing with white water.  The dam was quite small and the water wasn’t very deep. After all, Surigao is just a small city. But the waters were crystal clear and ice-cold. And we just couldn’t pass up the opportunity to take a dip, and even a swim. Not to mention wash off all the mud and dirt that we’d picked up along the way. Nah, don't worry. We didn't pollute the city's water system. They filter and treat the water anyway. Last year, there was this dead giant millipede at the bottom. But nobody complains about that stuff. At least, not that we know of. *winks*
On the way back, we had to take yet another route. We were supposed to walk along the big pipes that led away from the dam, but we decided not to risk it. Even when we went there last year, walking along the pipes on wobbly knees with nothing to grasp but flimsy vines was not an experience that I was excited to relive. Especially not when it was raining and the pipes were wet and slippery. Down below were huge rocks and boulders. There was no room for accidents in a wilderness area like this. So we had to make our way along the river. The water wasn’t really deep but the current was swift and strong in some places, and the rocks were slippery and treacherous. One slip could plunge you into swift running water or dash your head on the rocks. Some of us, myself included, had to take off our footwear to gain a better footing. Thank God it was just a short way until we clambered up into the forest trail again. Later, we joked that we’d just experienced white water rafting – but without the raft. But that was just the start of the trek back. We had to hike through the forest again for about half an hour or more back to Sitio
Bedrock. We were exhausted, our feet were sore, we had our share of cuts and scratches, and we were wet and splotched with mud all over. But it was all worth it. Way worth it. 
And through all those, I was just wearing slippers. No wonder the people at the water district gave me disdainful smirks and made me the butt of jokes. But we made it, didn’t we? And if I had worn shoes, mom would have killed me for sure anyway. Labels: rantings |
