We arrived at the meeting point on time at 6:00 a.m. but due to some transportation difficulties, the bus arrived only at around 8:00 a.m. According to the organizers, it was because MMDA pledge to lend two buses and just the night before, they suddenly changed it to only one bus.
After 4 hours, we arrived at the planting site or at least 3 kilometers near it. It was a long road trip so we all had to go for relief. To our surprise it was a long way.
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The small hut far away is the only rest room in town
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As soon as we arrived, everyone settled in it the large hut. Since we were the second out of three batches, we had to wait for the first batch to return.
Although we had packed sandwiches, the organizers offered us food. It was our first time to eat rice like that. It was tasty and fragrant. We also enjoyed the "adobong manok (chicken)"
There were nearby vendors were we bought fresh coconut and hard-boiled egg.
After lunch we were oriented by the DENR on how to plant and we were given our name tags that will be attached to the trees and flags. We were also asked to pick our plants.
When the first batch came back, we were asked to fall in line and we began our three-kilometer trek. We were asked advised to wear pants and rubber shoes so we had no idea we had to go through a stony creek.
We had to remove our shoes and pull up our pants as much as we could. Every step of it was painful. I felt my sole sore but I had to keep on going.
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| Locals' way of going up |
We had to cross three creeks in total. Some of them had greater pressure so it was difficult to cross. However, local kids were swimming there.
When we saw street signs, we were already near the area.
When we arrived, we were surprised that it was an uphill planting site. It was our first time to go tree planting more so an uphill tree planting. We had to go up, find a spot, dig and bury.
So I dug with my flag. Poking the ground until it turned into a hole, tore the plant plastic and placed my plant into the hole, burried it with my hand and stepped on the surrounding soil to make it harden. My plant stayed straight and stable. I attached my name tag on it and stuck the flag at the same location. Then, we had to leave before the third batch comes.
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| Trees planted by our batch |
Everyone was so tired that they stopped by a small sari-sari store hut.
On the way back, we encountered the third batch.
We passed by a lot of animals.
Although a little too late, we discovered a short-cut to avoid one creek...
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| Creek on the left dry shortcut on the right |
Overall, despite our foot sores, our pants all messy and my sister's shoe breaking down, we had a lot of fun! It was one of our best adventures ever and for a good cause too. Except for the slight delay, everything was great! Although in our next trips, we have confirmed that it is better to wear trekking sandals.=p
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| Kurt's pants |
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| Little Sister's Shoe |
Update: I was caught on camera and was even included in SPM news...
