STA. CRUZ, Marinduque, February 2, 2012-As a prelude to “Independence Climb, Cave and Dive 2012” which aims to promote Marinduque to local and international tourism and record the first documented conquest, exploration and tree-planting of Mt. Balagbag (Mt Emil), Marinduque’s longest mountain, environmental mountaineers recently conducted the “Trek with tree-planting for tourism and nature” of Mt. Malindig (Mt. Morilla), Marinduques’ highest peak last January 28-29, 2012. Provincial tourism officer Joven Lilles representing Marinduque Gov. Carmencita Reyes and NBFI National Chairman and Father of Environmental Mountaineering in the Philippines, Prof. Joseph Beatriz Usita, led a contingent of 34 climbers in the climb and tree-planting of 1,157 MASL high mountain feared for its muddy slopes, poisonous plants and deadly ants but famous for its breath-taking view of Tres Reyes Islands, pristine beaches and the yet to be explored Mt. Balagbag. According to 10-year old Joko Usita (youngest member of the climbers to summit the peak), ”Tree planting in Mt. Malindig with a view of the beaches and neighboring mountains is a life-treasuring experience”. After the climb, the mountaineers were toured by the Governor’s staffs in the ff: spots: Isla Del Carmen wetlands, Maniwaya Island, Palad (sandbar), Mongpong island, White beach, Bathala cave, Malbog hot springs, Kawa-kawa falls, Ungab natural rock formation , other unexplored caves and the century-old Sta Cruz Catholic Church. The recently concluded activity is a joint project of Marinduque Provincial Tourism Office and Noble Blue Falcons –Marinduque under Bro. Ernesto Rioveros (Regional Adviser for MIMAROPA Affairs), Bro. Emilio Alvarez (Economic and Tourism consultant for Marinduque Affairs) and Bro. Rody Paradero (Chairman of NBFI Marinduque Chapter). The participants were: Veteran climbers from Provincial Tourism: Joven Lilles, Menan Peñafiel, Erwin Peñafiel, Marineth Peñafiel, Kevin Luarca; registered nurse Jennifer Desecada from Phil. Red Cross; Haide Almadin and Maricris Pascual of Yappak; Jhon Quigao, Jojet De Mesa, Julius Morilla, Emerson Garcia, Noel Larracas , Blu Usita, Joko Usita, Rody Paradero, Alex Fropugo, Randy Recaro, Luisito Rejano, Chris Palma, Edemar Rejano, Alfredo Perin, Henry Pedrigal, Michael Palma, Larry Paradero, Alvin De Guzman, BJ Paradero, Vitaliano Paradero Jr and Bryan Pilar of Noble Blue Falcons and LGU-Brgy Sihi, Buenavista, Marinduque Brgy. Captain Antero Fiegalan with Kgd.Emim Jamolin, Rolando Liante, Rogelio Parangalan and Rommel Vitto.
The activities were a mixed of environmental climbs and get-together between NBFI members nationwide and guest climbers. The climb is NBFI’s way of supporting environmental protection via eco-tourism. If we could make mountains popular to local and foreign trekking enthusiasts, local economy will be stronger and thus, the destructive forest-based livelihoods such as kaingin, wood charcoal –making, logging and mining could be avoided and thus prevent further environmental degradation. Mountaineering is not a competition and as such it should never be limited to the best of the best. Under this principle, is the doctrine of composite climb where different mountaineering clubs, DENR, Tourism group, rescue, paramedics and LGU’s are represented. Let us climb together so we can appreciate the mountain splendor together and not hide its beauty to others or find happiness in its exclusivity. Twin-climb, Tree-planting, Clean-up, Mountain exploration for tourism and nature, Medical mission, Gift-giving, Food-feeding and other outreach programs combined into one activity is a manifestation of Environmental mountaineering where we give back to Nature and our less fortunate fellows our individual blessings and thus climb for something higher than ourselves. As part of the Akyat Para Sa Turismo at Kalikasan Program of the Noble Blue Falcons Int’l ( Environmentalists, Peace Crusaders), people climb to protect the environment and not just to conquer heights.”
According to Bro. Cristopher “Boboy” Usita, National Executive Director of NBFI and Chairman of the host NBFI Aurora Province, “We are promoting environmental protection via eco-tourism and thus sway away people from destructive forest-based livelihoods prevalent in Philippine hinterlands. This is in the essence, the concept of Environmental Mountaineering popularized by the Noble Blue Falcons since 1996.The distinctive features of Environmental climbs are: trekking, tree-planting, clean-up, medical mission, exploration and outreach programs rolled in a single activity.”
Founded in March 19, 1996 in the Philippines, Noble Blue Falcons Environmentalists has now 444,000 members scattered nationwide with 8,000 Environmental mountaineers helping the provincial Government of Aurora (where it has a National Environmental Base) to protect the province’s fast diminishing forest cover thru LGU-NGO Partnership. It also pioneered mountain exploration in the province starting in Mt. Falcon where it was founded in 1996.
NBFI Environmental Mountaineers hold the Pinoy record of the most number of combined Filipino and Foreign climbers in a single ascent on a single mountain at 197 (American, French, South Korean and Filipino mountaineers) in the Philippine International Climb 2011 to Save Sierra Madre in the conquest of Mt Falcon (Danayag) in Ditumabo, San Luis, Aurora, Philippines last April 30-May 1, 2011. At the headcount of 444,000 membership (maximum cap), the Noble Blue Falcons International is the largest environmental group in the country today in terms of manpower strength. (Noble Blue Falcons-Aurora)
