Bucket List 2022! 16th Climb Of Mt. Apo Before 2022 Elections

Before the start of the campaign for the May 2022 national elections, I would like to climb Mt. Apo for the 16th time if only to emphasize my commitment to protect the environment and the remaining forests of the country.

Ang huling akyat ko sa Mt. Apo was in April of 2018, Holy Week, along with my young son, Imman, and a team of local climbers and Manobo porters.

At 68, medyo challenging itong akyat na ito para sa akin pero tingin ko kakayanin ko pa and maybe four more climbs para personal record ko na 20 Climbs.

I am still deciding on where to make the ascent to the peak and my choices are via the Kapatagan, Digos City trail to see the extent of the encroachment into the Mt. Apo Natural Park by vegetable farms and resorts or the more protected Site G Trail passing through the Mindanao Geothermal Plant in Kidapawan City.

Maraming nagtatanong kung bakit ako, dating Secretary of Agriculture, ay masyadong involved sa advocacy to protect the remaining forests of the country.

Simple lang ang sagot: Good Mountain, Good Water, Good Life.

Sa kagubatan at kabundukan nanggagaling ang tubig na dumadaloy na ating iniinom at ginagamit sa ating pagsasaka.

Kapag nasira at nakalbo ang mga kabundukan, wala ng tubig na dadaloy sa ating mga ilog at magkakaroon tayo ng malaking trahedya ng pagkawala ng pagkain para sa mga Pilipino.

Ang pangangalaga sa naiwang 6% na kagubatan ng Mindanao ay dapat paigtingin at simulan na ang isang pambansang kampanya para sa pagtatanim uli ng mga kahoy, pati na mga kawayan at prutas, sa mga nakalbong kabundukan ng ating bansa.

If we fail to do this now, the next generation will suffer and we would have abandoned our responsibility of ensuring a better future for the next generation, kasama na dyan ang ating mga apo at kanilang mga anak.

#letsmakephilippinesgreenagain!

#goodmountaingoodwatergoodlife!

#letsprotectourmountains!

(These photos were taken in 2015 when I climbed Mt. Apo with my daughter, Dr. Josa Bernadette, and son, Bernhart, with their cousin, Jan Andre Piñol, and during the Holy Week of 2018 when we planted the endemic Tinikaran seedlings at the base camp of Mt. Apo.)