ENVIRONMENTAL CLIMBERS EMBARK ON A MAIDEN CLIMB OF SIERRA MADRE MOUNTAIN ON CHINESE NEW YEAR

Quezon City- On the positive outlook that the Black Water Dragon will bring luck to the country’s tourism and environment, the Noble Blue Falcons International Mountaineers, Meow Outdoor Group Specials, Green Philippines,  LGU-Villa Aurora, Phil Red Cross-Aurora, Yappak, United Trekkers, PDRRMO-Aurora, Aeta Indigenous People and San Diego e.-Quezon City Mountaineers trekked the jungles of Aurora on January 21-23, 2012. Of the combined climbers, 69 conquered Mt Maaling-aling (Mt Vincent) at 1,885 MASL via Maria Aurora, Aurora. The 3-day exploration is highlighted by 9-hour ascend and 7-hour descend into the summit.  The activities were a mixed of environmental climbs and get-together between NBFI members nationwide and guest climbers.

The participants were: Sindac, Richelle; Fernando, Rowellson; Rosario, Ronald; Cassanova, Leopoldo; Serencio, Aisa; Lacandazo,Vanessa; Reyes, Harold; De Vera, Gary; Somera, Joselito; Ayao, Marvin; Sornosa, Mark; Morillo,Jomari; Ramos,Ket; Pascual, Maricris; Fernandez,Weller; Almadin, Haidee; Borja, Harold; Buan,Edith; Somera, Joseph; Lova, Jerald; Garcia, Jovel; Barias, Winston; Bumbase, Nico; Arcillo, Maida Shiela; Aganad, Anthony; Salazar, Noriel; Estacio, Jaime; Quizon, Jeffrey; Anasan, Norman; Buencamino,Jean; Bagaoisan Antonio; Calugtong, Jovito; Lopez, May; Lorilla, Erwin; Capuz, Ferdinand; Somera, Romulo; Espana, Khaselyn; Natividad, Mark Angelo; Guzman, Jordan; Nocete, Arjun; De Guzman, Alvin; Porte, Vic; Rosales, Ruel; Marzo, Michelle Loiza; Bautista, Rommel; Angara, John Arvin; Loba, Gerald Jay; Aguillar,Cheryll; Dayson, Erickson; Tugade, Joel; Marzo, Niño; Kuizon,Jeffrey; Dela Torre, Rochelle Mae;  Quematon, Cherry; Dan, Zafra; Victorio,Venus; Bihasa ,Bong,Jr; Sison, Cynthia; Frojibido, Lito; Puno, Leverando; Sarmiento, Pepito; Sarmiento, Lorenzo; Mohanda, Genalyn; Norman; Lorenzo Sr; De Guzman;  Ador; Poyan, Edith; Sindac; Loba; Custodio,Cyrus; Villar, Ruel; Usita, Boboy and Go, Ronald.

Interviewed in Quezon City, Prof. Joseph Beatriz Usita, NBFI National Chairman and Father of Environmental Mountaineering in the Philippines said that “On top of the Chinese new year, the twin-climb is our 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, 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, lectures, 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. With God’s help, we were able to record the first documented conquest, reforestation, outreach and exploration of Mt. Maaling-aling (Mt Vincent) via Villa Aurora, Aurora, a much feared mountain in Aurora province because it is guarded by snakes, scorpions, tarantula (dangerous spiders), limatiks and wild poisonous plants. Through the climb, we hope to make Brgy. Villa Aurora, a prime mountaineering destination and allow it to recover economically.  ”

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. (Blue Falcons-Aurora)