I had a vacation with my friends at Aurora Province last November 13-15, 2004. Luckily, before the typhoon Winnie ravanged the place we arrived home in Santiago City, passing by Quirino Province.

Along the mountainous rough roads are the crops and trees and burned portions of the mountain left without any replacement for the trees being burned. There are logs scattered and many hidden portions of the mountains were denuded. The natives live just along the way.

My friends and I reached Dinadiawan, Dipaculao, Aurora Province with amazement having seen the cleanest lakes, water falls and beaches ever. My friend who have been to Palawan said "the place is even better." So can you imagine how beautiful the place is?

We stayed in a cottege surrounded by coconut trees, mango tress and many other fruit bearing trees. From the fun and adventure we had experiened in the place, it was like living in paradise for three days.

But fellow Filipinos, mind you, I was blinded by the beautiful view of the pacific ocean. I was blinded by the chorals and shells we picked in the shore. I was blinded by the adventures I had climbing the rocks and the mountains. For in reality, when I trully opened my eyes, the paradise is about to be destroyed.

We met a boy who I will call "Billy" who served as our tour guide during our island hopping who made me see the reality. He narrated that there are ships coming to the place taking hundreds of logs where nobody would even dare to stop. Then I remembered what I saw on our way. The almost naked (in a slightly hidden) part of the mountains. Adding also that many already discovered the place and started putting up their resorts. What do you think will happen to the waters of Pacific?

When the typhoon Winnie came to the country, Aurora Province was struck, and when typhoon Yoyong came, again, Aurora Province was ravanged. So, do we realize the message of what happened? Adding also the tragic things that happened to some parts of Asia with those gigantic tidal waves.

Hmmm... please allow me to say these, let us not concentrate on fighting for merely the human rights of us in the urban places. It's about time that we also fight for the rights of our environment and may i add the rights of the indigeneous people. I believe in few years, the paradise we regarded will soon be abused so much that it will turn a mess.

May I also take this opportunity to ask for the support of the concerned offices in preserving such precious gifts. There are a lot of treasures in that place. The Chorals, the see creatures, the fishes, the forests, the lakes, the rivers and the water falls and everything. The natives especially, are in need of our help. Like the preservation in some parts of Palawan, I hope the God-given beautiful treasures of Dipaculao, Aurora Province and the rest in the Philippines will be preserved for the future generation to enjoy.

Thank you for letting me voice out my thoughts.

I have been in Enfanta but no other places in Quezon. I tried to imagine as I read your post and it would really be helpful if you can share some pics.

It's really sad how the Angara clan and their associates who we see almost everyday from the time they join politics...looking like an angel and speaks like a holy man but has tail on his back covered by a long white cloth.

I can't believe such people exist...What kind of people are they?...They exchanged money from woods against the lives of their people...seeing people grieved for the death of their relatives, families, babies...their crops destroyed...their future shattered...How can they continue to live?

And yet, you see those politicians on TV as if they have done nothing wrong.

Grabe Talaga! Ang kakapal ng mukha niyo! Pero di bale, someday, magkikita rin kayo ng gumawa sa atin at dun matatamasa ang hustisya na di man lang naramdaman dito sa ating bansa.

Hmmmm...how's that? He He I'm thinking if I will edit this post but I guess I will just let it be for some time

Ang Batas sa Pilipinas ay Ginawa ng Mayayaman para Parusahan ang Mahihirap.

Nakakalungkot ang realidad na ito. Napakarami na ang namatay at nawalan ng mahahalagang ari-arian sa atin ngunit may nabalitaan na ba kayo na naipakulong na mga may-ari ng kompanya o opisyal ng pamahalaan na naging dahilan ng kasawiang ito? Hindi ba't kapuna-puna na ang mga naipapakulong ay mga pahinante at mahihirap na manggagawa lamang.

Puro imbestigasyon na biglang nahihinto upang magsimula na naman ng bagong imbestigasyon. Parang tsubibo di ba? Pero ang mga maysala ay patuloy sa kanilang pagkamal ng salapi!

Dito lamang sa Olongapo City, mula't sa katotohanan ang balana na ang bunganga ng Kalaklan River ay unti-unti nang nasasarhan dahil sa patuloy na pagtatambak o reklamasyon ng mga Gordon sa kanilang Gordon Park.

Ang Kalaklan River ay tanging lagusan ng tubig palabas ng lungsod patungo sa Subic Bay.

Taun-taon ay gumagastos ang pamahalaan ng P10 milyon para sa dredging ng ilog, ngunit ang nakakatawa ay mismong sa bunganga ng ilog itinatambak ang nahuhukay na buhangin. Bulag ang mga opisyal ng DENR dito, hindi rin sisitahin ng city hall dahil mga tauhan ng Gordon ang mga tao dito.

Hinihintay na lamang ng mga resuidente na maganap ang isang trahedya, upang sakali ay matawag pansin ang mga nasa pamahalaan at gumawa ng imbestigasyon. At least, kahit papaano ay mahihinto pansamantala ang kabulukan ng sistema sa pook na ito.

Magdasal na lamang tayo sa ating kaligtasan dahil hindi para sa iyo ang batas ng kaligtasan ng pamahalaan. Ang para sa atin ay iyong para tayo ay maparusahan dahil sa paglabag ng kahit isang sentimong kasalanan.

True enough. There are a lot of injustices experienced by every individual in this country. Especially those who belong to the poverty level.

My family is a victim of injustice of those in the high positions and sad to say, these people enjoys a lot of pleasure while many are suffering because of them.

I believe no paradise will ever keep them but (toootttt)! (groan)