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One with Nature
Text by Vida Mae O. Tirol
Photos by: Paul Joseph J. Vistal
Morning has come. The cool dew covered my flimsy dome tent as I woke up to some cooing or chirping, or some howling of different forest creatures. I woke up to some sounds I vaguely recognized. Sounds the city does not wake up to.
The sun was up now. But as it was slowly peeping through the thick mist amidst the rows of trees. I gathered my self into a tight curl hoping that time would pass me by. Sleep has somehow failed me as the cold night gave me shivers and frozen toes much to my dismay of not meeting Morpheus in the night. But waking up to the songs of the birds gave me more shivers. Shivers of thrill. Shivers of excitement. As I am among trees. As I am among animals. Among birds. I shiver in awe as I become one with nature.
Waking up in the midst of the Bilar wilderness is indeed exciting. Adding to the thrill, my overly dramatic self quickly opened my eyes to check if some wild cat has shared my territory just as it has visited some girls' tent the night before. Albeit, if it has my life would have been more exciting. And perhaps, such a story would have gone down to generations as a good "lola-by." But somehow to my strange relief, I was safe. To my consolation, the day is just starting and the adventures are yet to come.
It was the third day of the Bibo Bohol Heritage Camp. The participants were set to face their second day of challenges. Half of the group was set to explore the ecological treasures of the Rajah Sikatuna Protected Landscape (RSPL) while half were set to race through the cultural heritage adventure from Bilar to Alburquerque. The day before had the same sets of adventures but this time the groups had exchanged tasks.
Unfortunately, I have gone to neither sets. The first day just had me sitting and talking among the camp facilitators watching the eco-race go on. I have passed up the cave adventures as I lent my flashlight and headgear to some camper who failed to bring his own. The second day had me riding home to Tagbilaran with some tasks to do.
As if the gods and goddesses heard my frustrations, the monkeys came down from the mountains and cheer my morning. The long-tailed hairy creatures hang form one tree to another and even came down to receive some gifts from their human friends. Just before breakfast, a pair of flying lemurs was kind enough to show their gliding powers much to my delight while dragonflies, butterflies and bees hover above the flowers and plants around the camp. Atop the trees, a big red and green parrot echoed its song. Soon, it flew in closer to us to peck on the banana and rice which the campers had left for the animals to eat. When the colorful winged creature flew away, the biggest monkey came and ate the fruit.
The forest with a countless species of plants and trees is a home to hundreds of birds, bats and other animal species. On my first day at the camp, a large hawk flapped its large wings and hovered above us. And right before that day's end, three big snakes which were rescued from its captors were sent home to the wilderness. I haven't totally missed the adventures after all.
The four-day camp had more to share. Who would forget the music concerts, the art workshops, the talent showcases? Who wouldn't miss the songs, the cheers, the challenges, the fun? Who would let go of the friends and acquaintances? What about the tears, and the dramatic encounters among the clashing minds? The camp shared a lot of lessons and stories to tell. Mine is just among the many.
Indeed, there are a lot to write about. But my words can fail you. The thrill of actually experiencing it all is beyond the adjectives I spell, beyond the descriptions I tell you now. The gracefull presence of the animals and birds alike, the thick green rows of trees that almost covered the blue skies, the mystical white fog that blurred the morning sun, and the stars that shone bright in the dark amidst the eerie sounds of the creatures at night were indeed poetry coming to life. As the songs, cheers, laughter and the hush of excitement during the camp fade out, let the lessons of protecting and preserving the beauty of this poetry echo on among the generations to come.
Lifestyle Bohol, Bohol Chronicle, May 28, 2006
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