For those who stood up for the trees and continue to do so...

I remember sitting down at a Cafe with some of my Baguio artist friends when suddenly a big news was relayed to us.

SM City Baguio is planning to do an expansion that will require the cutting of 182 century old trees in Luneta Hill near Governor Pack road.

They first heard this through an active environmentalist group A Tree A day and an invitation to help save the trees was created by Michael Bengwayan on Facebook.


Almost all of the pine trees in the city are being cut--to give way to Parking lots  and concrete structures and while we cannot prevent people from building their homes and setting up their businesses- the question of what will the future of Baguio be like started to bother me...

The role of Baguio artists was really crucial in helping me understand what is going on in the city.

 It was them who opened my eyes and made me realize that the way we are living right now could not possibly sustain us in the future. But there had been also a number of people who just made me realize this is something that truly concerns us all.

Like many others I felt overwhelmed with the news, and started reviewing the implications of the expansion, the cutting down of the trees and the potential problems this expansion will create.

This is just my story...and thousands of residents here in Baguio City have their own story to share--In fact, if given a chance in the future I would like to tell the story of a number of people here in Baguio who have dedicated their time to make sure that Baguio will still have trees in the future.

 Many have participated and contributed in their own little ways and while the battle is not yet finished--we have seen the power of social  media, we have seen how concern for the city of Baguio can go a long long way.


And we have seen that even in just a short period of time...we were able to get united.

 The people who would normally ignore each other on the streets--felt the need to meet each other over coffee--because they all wanted to know how they could help Baguio

One anonymous member who called himself William Kim  died this week, and while the rest of Baguio don't know who he really is, many who are active in the social media circle have heard of his name and have observed of how relentless he is in providing social media campaigns for environmental awareness and consciousness in Baguio.

He was one of those who started the campaign of Going Local or supporting the Local Baguio industry, he suggested that instead of supporting just one giant mall, why don't we Rediscover Baguio again- This made a big impact on a lot of people whether he knew them or not and I am one of those who started to Rediscover Baguio again.



While , we are definitely aware that SM City Baguio is not the only one who is planning to cut trees, this will also include JohnHay and Moldex Residences as well as other local companies- we still insisted on using the energy that was created from this group in order to spearhead activities that are related to the environment.

A year has already passed, and while you will no longer see Baguio residents openly protesting the cutting of the trees- a new lifestyle has emerged, thanks to people like William Kim.

Many of those who protested, have opted to change their lifestyle, many like me have chosen to go local.

To support local products and to join as many tree planting projects- and not just that we were able to get in touch with Baguio artists--in many ways the community was strengthened--and while most critics of the group did not see this...those who have felt it--understand what I mean.

Other places in the Philippines started to get concerned, even people from Pangasinan now understand why it was horrifying to see the trees being cut  just to give way for road widening projects..and while yes, we were not able to prevent the cutting--we have to understand that something is being ignited inside our minds that did not exist before..

We are slowly gaining the idea that trees are valuable, that trees have life- that Nature should be respected--we are slowly regaining our ability to listen to the voice of nature. 

His real name is Edmund Cosalan, I never really saw him in person but he often contacted me in order to provide tips and guidance on how to help people Rediscover Baguio again.

Like many others who love Baguio he was open to providing ways on how we can make our community stronger.

Despite being anonymous, he found ways to support the group.

 I remember  once that he sent a friend to provide us pen and paper so that we could collect enough signatures with regards to the cause of the trees

. He was the one who connected me with other concerned Baguio residents, we were able to create several environmental campaigns because of this connection.

People like him made me realize that there are still those who care for Baguio, despite the fact that a lot of environmental issues have been raised like the air quality of Baguio-- My hopes are still  high.

In fact, because of the protest for the 182 trees I have come to realize that Baguio residents are still genuinely concerned and will do what they can- if they are just given a chance.

The more than 100,000+ signatures we have collected in Baguio alone, the tenacity of the people, the need of the people to join is something positive.

And while we are not yet able to understand why it happened and why the universe connected most of us--it does not mean that the purpose is lost.

I saw the passion of several artists groups who did their own performances and info campaigns just so the people of Baguio can get informed.

This people have not been paid, they willingly volunteered their time--because they all felt something must be done.

I saw how the young and the old were able to connect--I saw something wonderful- something powerful..something crucial and could be used to change the problems of Baguio City.

 Although many of them have been accused, I know with all my heart that this people did all that they could because they really felt the need to do so and I know that each of them who have given their time and heart to do this...have learned a valuable lesson that only they can interpret.

Because of this protest, a lot of people were encouraged to plant trees in various areas including Badiwan, Tuba, Asin Forest Park and other adopted areas in La Trinidad and not only that..groups who have ignored each other before like the LGBT community and the Catholic Church were able to unite for one cause--the ENVIRONMENT.

To me this was something crucial, something important, something valuable. Something amazing happened here and we must not forget it.

There are still various groups who are continuously working on environmental projects like the Badiwan Saturday habit.

 Members of active Facebook groups like the S.M.I.L.E movement continue to plant trees, other groups in La Trinidad that have been headed by Dean Cuanso were also able to create environmental projects including one group that is headed by Michael Stalley.

In fact, most of this active Facebook groups like A Tree  a Day continue to create projects.

Each and everyone in the city of Baguio who have felt in their heart to do something--will always come out again if needed. I know that if one day corporations will threaten to cut the remaining trees again people will do something about it.

Residents of Baguio and concerned neighbors still want to do something, and they  continue to prove that time and time again there is something that we will be able to accomplish if we really want it.

After the protest for the 182 trees I have seen a lot of Facebook groups emerge like Save the Needy Now. While this Facebook groups have their own different vision and mission- most of the people who started this met each other because of the call out for the trees.

Save 182 has no official members- it is a movement, If you love the trees and you love Baguio  and you feel that trees should not be cut then you are instantly a part of it.

It was never registered, and  while there are some who are vocal like me...it does not mean that this movement has limited support. In fact, I can vouch that a lot of people follow this movement by heart.

..Save 182 is a symbolic stand that Baguio residents made--and while some will directly connect with the issue of SM--I was able to see the larger picture.

This is not about hatred for one corporation--it is so much more than just the fight for what SM stands for in the Philippines...it is just one step towards understanding what is happening in the entire world.

I saw thousands of Baguio residents hoping for change and not just hoping but working to achieve this..the ideas live on and I know that anytime Baguio will be threatened again...the same people will rise up...People like William Kim ( Edmund Cosalan).

People who will always love Baguio no matter what.

We might not see them directly working, they might not always be present in newspapers, you never see them in the news- but it does not mean that they are not there. It does not mean that the movement has stopped..it does not mean that this people are no longer willing to do something...

It has just taken another direction--an evolved direction...an evolved consciousness that is still waiting to happen.

A Brewing idea that will change not just Baguio but everyone who will care to understand what it means.