NUJP conquers Mt. Pulag

4 MIN READ

BAGUIO CITY (Apr. 18) — Members of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) Baguio-Benguet chapter recently climbed the second highest peak of the Philippines, Mt. Pulag, through Bokod, Benguet, in an environmental exposure climb that also served to foster camaraderie among journalists.

ASSAULT OF MT. PULAG. Summit at the background. Photo courtesy of Khristof Okubo

“We organized this activity for NUJP to serve as an exposure climb and as journalists, to see the present condition of the Mt. Pulag National Park and how it is being protected as a natural heritage and at the same time to serve as a recreational activity,” said Kathleen Okubo, the Vice-chairperson of NUJP-BB.

With the assistance of the Globe Telecom Company and the National Commission of Indigenous Peoples office of the chairman, the over-all activity has achieved more than what was expected.

The group of press workers were joined by health volunteers of the Community Health Education, Services and Training in the Cordillera Region (Chestcore) and friends.

The climbers left Baguio City in the wee hours of the morning of April 6 and arrived at the Ranger’s Station in Babadac, Kabayan mid-afternoon. Unlike the usual climbing itinerary to Mt. Pulag, the group opted to pitch camp at the Ranger’s Station about eight kilometers from the summit rather than go straight to campsites nearer the peak.

“This way, it would be an easy and more relaxing climb especially that in the group are novice climbers and swivel chair office workers like me. We just had to leave much earlier the next day for the summit to catch the sunrise.” said Okubo.

The group started hiking for the summit as early as 2:00 in the morning. The more able hikers and first aid team beat the sunrise at the peak by almost thirty minutes while the others debated to follow or just settle for, “they saw and they were conquered by the peak” as artist-cartoonist Tito Sanqui fell back as the only casualty when he stretched an arm tendon that was so painful because of the sudden dip in temperature.

Better than the Swiss Alps

With the group was freelance photo-journalist Sabine Rock from Zurich, Switzerland, who could not help compare Mt. Pulag with her home, the Swiss Alps.

‘It is better here because Mt. Pulag’s ecosystem is so diverse unlike the Swiss Alps located in a temperate region where one can only see snow and boulders,” according to Rock, adding that her favorite part of the climb is the mossy forest.

Rising 2,922 meters above sea level, Pulag has a sub-temperate micro-climate uphill to the summit. At the top is grassland where miniature bamboos grow less than a foot long along with some grass and the white Edelweis. Below the grassland is the mossy forest, which is at this time of the year was covered by a variety bright colored foliaged dwarf trees, giant ferns and wild orchids, among others.

Just below the 2000-meter elevation is the pine forest, where primary growth is still evident. At the base and foot of the peak is a mixed forest. This is where indigenous peoples built their homes and established communities.

The Pulag National Park is home to the cloud rat buwet which belongs to the rodent family, indigenous species to the park. There is also a thousand and one species of plants and animals, believed to be sources for many potential medicinal and industrial elements.

Encroached by vegetable gardens

Although Mt. Pulag was declared a protected area through Proclamation No. 75, issued on February 19, 1987 during the time of President Corazon Aquino, human threat was grossly apparent all over the park.

Different parts of the mossy forest were already cleared through the slash-and-burn method to give way to the expanding vegetable gardens of the local residents who are mostly from the ethnic groups Karao, Ibaloi and Kalanguya.

“Anya ngay ti pangalaan mi ti pagbiag ti pamilyami, no saan a ti garden?” (Where else will we get sustenance for our family if not from the gardens?), said farmer-ranger-guide Larry, who also said that vegetable farming is their main source of livelihood.

One park personnel revealed that almost all residents within the Pulag National Park live on gardening temperate vegetables.

Local residents mostly plant sweet peas, cabbage, carrot and potatoes, which are mostly brought to Baguio City for sale.

The pine forest too was not spared from encroachment. It was actually bothering for some participants to see just along the road pine trees that are being slowly killed by cutting-out a ring of bark around the lower part of the tree, exposing it to infection that would eventually kill it and therefore making it easier to justify its felling.

Alternative livelihood

The potential of Mt. Pulag National Park as a tourist destination opens a lot of doors especially for the local communities. Some of the residents are now organized and working as park rangers, local guides and porters for the climbers and visitors.

“But this alternative livelihood for the residents is not enough for them. It is still a question of food security as against the protection of the natural environment,” according to Emerita Tamiray, the park officer of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

“Pulag is home to these tribes. To deprive them of the use of the land is to displace them from their ancestral land,” Roy Tello, a park ranger shared.

“Pulag climbers need to advance the advocacy for the preservation of the different ecosystems and the park’s biodiversity, without forgetting the people who live inside the national park,” Okubo said, adding another Pulag climb is as enticing as the first. # Cye Reyes for NORDIS