Going to the Farm

Some friends are asking to see the farm, it's on the western part of Barangay Laguit Padilla, Bugallon, Pangasinan. Here are some maps and directions.

From Manila, take NLEX, to Tarlac (via public road or SCTEX), to Camiling, Mangatarem, Aguilar, Bugallon.

From the highway in Bugallon, it's probably about 6.5 kilometers: 4 kms paved/cemented, 1 km unpaved/dirt road, less than half kilometer by foot as the barangay road is often destroyed by another creek which shifted course and moved to the road itself.

Another route is via Mt. Zion, uphill and winding, dirt road, nice view at the top, then go downhill to the farm. Problem is that the road downhill needs to be cleared of tall grasses.



The farm is generally upland, the trees there are always raided and cut by some locals for charcoal, firewood and lumber. We do not have resources and manpower to watch the areas upland, so we give up there. We maintain the midland, that's where the big mahogany trees are, my treehouse, the creek, the mango trees, some bananas and vegetable plots.

The uplands are up for sale by the Millora family, the owner of the farm. Some 70 hectares. See photos in articles below of the grassland.

Relaxing in the Creek

Among my short activities when I visit the farm in Pangasinan is to frolic in the creek near my treehouse, about 10 minutes bath. I took these photos last September 23, 2012. Since it was a regular rainy season then, water flow in the creek was rather good. The flash flood that occurs every time there are heavy rains remove whatever algae or slippery materials in the pebbles and river bed.

Another view of the creek, upstream side. The deepest part here was just about two feet. We did not make it deep enough, just enjoying the clear running water. There are no houses or animal farm upstream, so the water is relatively clean, and cold even during noontime.

The temporary water impounding stones and pebbles we made to raise the water level, below. These stones on the river or creek bed are not sharp, generally rounded, oblong, other shapes.

Behind the water impounding, the water drains to another pool, less than two feet deep. The stones act as water purifier, so the water below remains clean. A group of 20 people can comfortably frolic in these two pools.

If resources would allow, I would like to see the farm to be developed as an ecotourism resort. Silent, spacious lots of big trees, a two-storey treehouse, a creek, fresh vegetables to eat, fresh buko (young coconut). Exclusive use for the family or a group outing, they just bring their own food, or the locals can cook the food for them.

Security is no problem. There are no rebels or extortionists there. In the evening though, sometimes there are locals passing by, to hunt wild fish, bull frog in the creek, birds and other wild animals. Barangay Tanod or village security can be requested for additional peace of mind of guests, just give them a modest tip for an overnight watch work.


In late 2005, we (with our farm workers) also made this pool on the same spot, below. We used lots of river rocks, stones, pebbles and sand  to impound the water. The deepest part was more than five feet. It was really cool to swim here then.

Of course it was a temporary pool. When the rainy season returned, many of the stones were washed away and dragged down by the flash flood.

See also:
Creek, canal and irrigation, September 05, 2011

My swimming pool in the farm, 2005, June 10, 2011

From Forestland to Grassland

Public forest land in many parts of the country is actually grassland, with very little forest trees standing, as a result of frequent and regular raid of trees by many people, of their illegal logging, or deliberate burning of grasses and trees then use the area for vegetable plantation or terraces.

Photos below are the mountains in Bugallon, Labrador, other neighboring towns of Pangasinan. I took these photos last August 31, 2012.

The government likes to borrow a lot of money from the mUltilaterals and some bilateral bodies -- the WB, UN, OECF, JICA, USAID, ... -- for various reforestation programs since the 80s or perhaps since the 70s. The result is almost always the same for many areas nationwide -- after money has been collected, taking care of the newly planted seedlings does not seem to happen. These seedlings and young trees can be killed by weeds and vines, by grassfire and/or lack of water; or by competing trees that are naturally regenerating by themselves and hence, deprive the younger ones with sunlight.

In my observation of denuded mountains, if people and/or the government want to see a thickly forested land someday, among the first things they should do is NOT plant trees but rather. Instead, they should free up the naturally regenerating trees from competition by huge and tall grasses, vines that choke the trees' trunk and branches.  Assisted natural regeneration (ANR) is seldom or hardly applied as contractors, including NGOs and rural cooperatives that were engaged by the DENR, want bigger budget per hectare. ANR means lesser budget per hectare.

The private farm that I help manage in Bugallon, a big portion of it is claimed by the DENR regional office as being "public forest land", photos below. Individuals and rice farmers' cooperative members started planting here. Many of them use madre de cacao or "kakawate" as planting materials. They were told to plant at 4x5 meters spacing, sometimes 2x3 meters.

The DENR and local government units (LGUs) are often so concerned with "tree planting, tree planting,... They often do not put enough resources and manpower at watching and protecting the naturally-regenerating  trees from being cut and stolen. Lower right photo, a man carrying an illegally cut or stolen tree from the public forest land. 

Will continue later...

Trees in the Farm, part 2

I visited the farm last week, August 31, 2012. I think the "representative" photo of the farm will be this -- a treehouse perched on a big and live mahogany tree, is itself surrounded by many big trees, and a small rice field in the front.

This is part of the "public road" passing by our farm. That road going up is generally abused with deforestation and various forms of illegal logging by the local folks themselves who live in the barrio. Only the portion in our farm that the trees are allowed to grow tall and big. The thieves respect the "private property" aspect, so long as there are people watching the property regularly.

Another view of my treehouse, the rice field, and many trees around it.

The trees viewed from a hill near our "dikit-dikit na manggahan". If our caretakers do not visit the farm daily, plus our dogs who accompany them and stay in my treehouse at night, thieves and illegal loggers will simply chop these trees for their own interests.

Several panoramic view of the trees. 

This part is near the border with the "public forest land" with very little forest trees. 

Another side of the farm, not far from my treehouse. The young trees, they multiply like grasses once the mature and bigger ones have started bearing seeds. The seeds are spread anywhere the wind will blow them.  

More, more trees...

Farm Photos, June 2012

These photos I took in my last visit to the farm, June 28, 2012. It was cloudy that day, later heavy rains fell.

The rice plots in front of my treehouse on fallow. This area is surrounded by many trees, and a creek on one side.

These cows are not mine, they are owned by our caretaker Nong Endring. Upper photos are pictures of a one day old (!) baby cow with his mother. I think I took these photos last May. Below photos, one month old baby cow. These cows are Nong Endring's savings. In case of emergencies, he sells one, the mature ones. He used to have 5 or 6 cows, now he says he's old, he can only manage3 or 4 heads.

Among the trees surrounding the rice plots near my treehouse. See more photos of the trees in earlier blog post below. Also photos of my treehouse.

Stone terraces we built in this part were strong enough to withstand strong flash flood.

Nong Endring planted stringbeans or "sitaw", at the other side of the farm. Not wide, just enough for their consumption and some extra to sell, just to keep the area from being invaded by the grass. This area will be planted with rice soon. Stringbeans last only for a few weeks, at most two months I think.

A few banana plants not far from the stringbeans. We also have banana plants in other parts of the farm but our main problem are the bats and birds, they attack and eat the fruits even before the bananas would mature. We harvest very little there.

My Treehouse, May 2012

Some updated photos of my treehouse which we built sometime in late 2004 and finished in early 2005.

Here, 2005 (upper photo) vs. 2012. The structure is generally the same except for two differences, (a) now iron sheet roof, and (b) now bigger trees surrounding the treehouse.

The original, cogon roof vs. iron sheet. What damaged the cogon roof were first, rain water penetrating the lower layer since the trunk of the tree at the top gets bigger, allowing rainwater to seep in. And second, termites who climb up each day and each night. We remove them today, they're back tomorrow if not tonight.

See these fresh sprouting leaves right inside my treehouse. Since the tree is alive, small branches would sprout up especially during the rainy season.

Trusses (?) damaged as the tree's trunk gets bigger and taller.

The lower trunk is not rising much, more of getting bigger or fatter and wider,

Various poses over the past few years :-)

Rice Farms

Among the things that attract me to visit our farm in Pangasinan, which is generally far from Manila, is the sight seeing of many rice farms on the road. The rice plots below are not from our farm, but in the same barrio or village.

Newly uprooted young rice to be planted in well-spaced plots.

Rice field, a backyard piggery surrounded by rice plots, people planting rice.

A farmer showing the newly uprooted, bundled young rice. These will then be replanted in well-spaced plots.  Lower photo, threshing newly-harvested rice.

Trees in the Farm, Pangasinan

We started planting in the farm sometime in 1992, wow that was 20 years ago. Then we stopped planting after about six or seven years, I think. The older trees have been spreading their seeds that the young trees, tens of thousands of them, have grown like grasses. We have to pull or cut them out, otherwise our area would become so dark with so many trees, inviting plenty of mosquitoes and other pests.

Below, the trees near my treehouse, sometime in early 2009. These are mostly mahogany trees.

Trees as of December 2010, just a few meters from my treehouse.

As of February 2011. These are near our irrigation canal and water impounding structure.

Also as of February 2011. The road going to the public (no longer forested) land.

As of April 2011. In the above photos, taken from my old camera phone. Lower photos below taken from our digicam.

More photos from the digicam, also in April 2011.

Below, as of April 2012.