My spirit soars everytime I fly to different places… but not at this time.

My work provides me to go to places I have not been before… experience new things and be enriched with the experience of others.

My recent resource gathering trip for a story I deemed so important have brought me to places forever etched in my memory.  For one, the places I’ve been too are not the usual places one will go to and the manner I got into those places are far from being ideal.

Palawan

Dubbed as the last frontier.  Recipient of huge amount of grants and funds for environment protection. A province too well known for its pristine white beaches, “virgin” forests, rich and diverse flora and fauna, a melting pot of various cultures.

Mostly, people would go to Palawan to relax.  Who would miss the St. Paul Subterranean River in Sabang, the longest navigable underground river in the world, or dip into the cool blue water off the shore of the Snake Island in Honda Bay?  I wish those were among the itineraries of my visit.  But NO!!! Instead of having my self booked to the day tours to these landmarks, I went to San Jose market (the new market in Puerto) to reserve for a shuttle service seat going miles south from Puerto Princesa.  My destination… Brookes Point.

I left the lodging house in Puerto at 3am.  The shuttle service picked me up as well as the other passengers… yes, everybody that has reserved a seat is picked up one by one. The van has no notion of comfort.  I’m seated at the back of the driver… there’sa protruding box-like portion right behind the driver’s seat so I had to raise my feet and stay curled up all throughout the ride.  It may seem easy, but not for 5 long hours with bumpy road starting from Puerto all the way to Brookes.

I finally arrived at my lodging house at 8am, wary where to take breakfast.  After a short walk, I found a small canteen that offers “sinigang”… but to my disappointment, it didn’t taste sinigang.

My colleague finally picked me up at the lodging house and we proceeded to meet the community leaders that will assist me in my resource gathering… the focus of the trip? get as much info on mining. 

They have lined up a number of key persons to interview including a tribal leader, a former chariperson of the people’s organization we partner with, the manager of the water district, the vice mayor, and a child leader.  With that long list, we cannot afford to waste time.

Interviews were conducted with the tribal leader (it was very rich!). Then we proceeded to where the leader lives.  The tribal leader was among the recipients cum-lead-implementer of the reforestation project of my organization.  Next that was interviewed was the manger of the water district, then the vice-mayor and so on and so forth.  I have been baraged with tons of information!

At half past five in the afternoon, we called it a day. I’m back to the lodging house, dropped my things, and went out again to look for dinner. I have never given much attention to Vietnamese before… but at that time, I feel like they were angels sent from heaven! Thanks to the Chao Long canteens that mushroomed in various parts of Palawan, that I finally had a hearty meal of beef in Vietnamese noodles and french bread.

Finally, I had rest and slept the night well. I woke before 5am in time for my travel to the next municipality of Bataraza.

While Brookes Point is more or less considered to be in the preventive stage in terms of its environmental issues, Bataraza, in contrast, is considered in the curative stage due to decades-long mining operations in the municipality.

I arrived at Bataraza around 6am.  Together with our staff in the area, we had a simple breakfast of hot ‘pandesal’ dipped in hot coffee. At 7am, I was told to get ready for the ride of my life.  I was to ride a motorcyle all the way to the mining site, which is approximately 50 kilometers from the Bataraza town proper… not to mention the “very” rough and hilly road. I don’t know how to ride a motorcyle! I had no choice but to sit at the back of our staff while he carefully navigated the potholed path.  But it was actually fun! I had a very good view of the Mt. Mantalingahan on the backdrop of the ricefields.  I also had the chance to witness the ‘taboan’ or market day for the Palaw’on (tribal people). I was able to interview a number of locals in the upland and see first hand the mining site… the place where portion of the mountain used to be.

The ride took more than five hours all the way back to the town proper. Amid my painful ass, the experience was great! I’ve seen children walking more than 3 kilometers to reach the school barefoot just to accomplish some forms.  I’ve seen parents with eyes glimming with happiness learning that I’m part of the organization that helps them send their children to school.  What we give may not be enough to support their needs, but for them it was more than enough to be thankful.

After taking a short lunch, I’m off back to Puerto.I arrived at Puerto around 8pm.  The next day, I took my flight back to Manila.   With body so exhausted,I brought with me presents for my family, resources for my story and new lessons for my soul.

My next destination? Leyte and Cebu… =)