
I was happy to be allowed entry by the very accommodating Ono. I was just appalled by the spaces used to be planted to trees which are now sites of either the living quarters or concrete walks. The old growth forest was being turned into a formal garden. Anyway, I met interesting people there -- Pio Andrada of the Inquirer, two freelance writers (whose name I will get the next time we meet), CPA by day and weekend artist Fermin Arceo (an uncle of my friend, Ross Capili) and Dan Pasia, a radio broadcaster and green advocate. Dan challenged me to get involved in the Green Network whose ambitious plans include photodocumenting the entire breadth of the Manila and Pasig rivers all the way to Laguna de Bay. It's a good cause, and one I'm interested in.
There's much to be done to somehow bring the park even to half its original state. Pio commented that there was kamagong tree cut down, perhaps sold for a steep price or turned into a priceless dining table by some VIP. Sad that what took generations to grow took only an hour to cut, and to serve what purpose? as a conversation piece of some bigwig. Anyway, let's just help out where we can in replanting the forest. The city needs more of green spaces if we don't want to drown and suffocate in the near future.