Passion for trees

In a classic poem Joyce Kilmer said, "I think I shall never see, a poem as lovely as a tree." This Modern American poem talks of how beautiful the tree is and that it is only made by God.

True enough, trees are amazing living organism. They do not speak or walk but they grow beautifully as they age to fulfill its purpose. Some trees grow as tall as buildings while others are short as a kid. Yet however a tree may look, all of them possess green leaves which give off oxygen that we humans, breathe in. In return, they clobber up all our polluted air including carbon dioxide.

For my entire life, I have never climbed any tree mainly because there weren't any to climb as I grew.   There were only concrete jungles when you are used to an urban life. Contrary to my parents' generation where luscious trees and clear rivers were seen everywhere, none was spotted during my name. Sometimes I wonder what it feels to climb a tree and to see the vast land from the top.

Over the weekend, I met a man by the name as Tatay Ete at the Municipality of Valencia, Negros Oriental. He is 62 years old but looks 20 years younger. He has not finished any degree in Botany or Biology but he has memorized all the trees in Liptong Woodlands by heart - both in their common and scientific name.

He speaks so much vigor every time he touches a tree. The stories he recounts about the growing of his trees are so immense that one could just soak in his stories all day long. In his forest, every tree is different; not one is similar from the other. He explains every function of the tree with so much life that I am captivated by the wonders of the tree.

But what amazes me the most is Tatay Ete's passion for growing trees. You see, he grew up with his father growing a farm for them so he and his siblings could have a source of income. As he became of age, he worked as an assistant to several biology researchers in the different universities in Negros Oriental. All his experience and hard work drove him to create a small forest for the community.

He is trying to propagate our country's endangered and endemic species of trees noting that we have a lot to give back to nature especially on trees that we abuse. The woodland is not just for himself, he said but for the community of Valencia to enjoy. He is thinking of the next generation who needs to have fresh air to breathe in.

When he gave time for his visitors to ask questions, I asked if he felt any anger towards the logging companies and he said, "Pasagdaan na lang na nato sila, maghimo lang ta'g atoa." (Let's leave them alone, let's make our own). His response amazed me. Here is a man who worked hard his entire life to create something for his community with almost no government support but continues to do the job for others.

What makes this story sad is that despite the lack of our government support for his planting of endangered and endemic species, Tatay Ete gets his funds from a British organization who believes in his humble project. Not even our own kind can do that to a man who cares so much for the country's nature. He has won various awards for his environmental endeavor but he was never favored by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources for his small requests in planting more trees in DENR lots.

Everything will have its time and purpose, I say. But when we do not act now for our environment, then when? Tatay Ete was just doing his job as a good steward of the Earth knowing that trees in the long run will save a generation.