worldcitizenshe:

Totem Pole to be finished in 4 days.

This is Baguio’s oldest tree, dating as old as 224 years and is now being carved in the image of a mother by 8 Ifugaos to give it a new life. To serve as a reminder to the people what a tree can provide to our existence, to never forget that before we happened, she has been around serving the earth we live in, down from our ancestors to the future inhabitants that we are now until 2 years ago when it died.

Amidst all these environmental issues we are faced with in the Philippines, one currently getting a mass of attention is the cutting of 182 mature trees as part of SM Baguio’s plan to create a 7-storey parking space for 1,000 vehicles. This means that eventually, 42 fully grown pine trees will be earthballed along with 43 alnus trees and 97 pine tree saplings will be cut by the developer. And knowing the pine tree’s sensitivity to up-rooting, all this move to expand a mall will only kill the trees despite their planned “green architecture”.

As of now talks of legislative matters and public education are ongoing to fight against this and the concerned people of the city are banking on all the help they can get from anyone who supports the idea of preserving the existence of these trees and a city that is now being threatened of heavier pollution and eventual lack of protection against natural disasters.

Since last week, environmental advocates have gathered 3,000 signatures and need more to help counter-act this problem and has produced several protests, one tomorrow, Jan 20 on Session Road - including artists and students.

Hoping this post serves as an image of urgency to us all. We’re currently mobilizing a movement that could extend support not just to Baguio but to other patches of land in the Philippines that could be in danger in the wrong hands.