Kingfisher

Beyond its proud elevation, Mt. Banahaw stands in danger of thieves stealing its treasures. For decades, President of Tapat Kalikasan and Head of Forest Guides Prudencio Obispo has walked the mountain’s trails, documenting wildlife and overseeing its lush landscape since 2007.

Among the creatures he has encountered is the elusive cloud rat, the towering lawaan and tuai trees, and the thriving rattan vines, extending across the mountain’s seemingly unspoiled purity. Each of these is a gem nestled within the luscious greens of Banahaw.

To top it all up, there is a stream of liquid gold in the form of a vast waterstock supplying life to several towns in the provinces of Laguna and Quezon.

“Napakahalaga nitong (Banahaw) sa amin dahil hindi na (namin) kinakailangang [magbayad] ng napakalaki para lang makagamit (kami ng tubig),” he emphasized.

Where riches emerge, risks soon follow, as certain capitalist individuals appear willing to trade this utopia in the name of progress through proposed windmill projects.

But a greater question bugged Prudencio, “Isang windmill, isang ektarya pero bakit 5,000 hectares ang ia-apply nila (para sa 38 windmills)?”

Each turbine is 128 meters tall with steel blades stretching 170 meters, a towering obstacle in the flight paths of birds, bats, and potentially the Philippine Eagle, as conservationists evaluate the area for future release. Not long ago, Banahaw was scarred from quarrying. While the windmill projects in Sariaya and Tayabas were halted through the efforts of residents and advocates, the mountain remains susceptible to greed. In the end, a proud mountain’s fate lies in the hands of its caretakers—whether they preserve the riches or trade it in pursuit of progress.

// written by Samantha Kate Zoleta

// photos by Jahn Chloe Garcia and Bea Menguito

// layout by Alizza Mabulay

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