05/07/2021
A dedication to Bilar's Man-made forest:
By: Luke Edward Gallares, ILVP Contributor
Ever since I read a blog post saying that the Bilar Man made forest was a dead forest because of the fact that the trees that were used in planting were alien and invasive, (https://iamtravelinglight.com/2012/10/09/the-dark-side-of-bohols-bilar-manmade-forest-an-appeal-to-people-planting-trees/)
It felt as if the awe and wonder that I had always held for this wonderful swathe of forest land had been shattered. The post certainly made strong arguments based from the observations shared. It's strongest argument was that since the trees were alien, we have somehow made the forest a terrible place for the creatures endemic to Bohol, that no wild animal would ever try to thrive within the branches of these great trees because they were alien, and therefore, dangerous.
Yet, when I revisited the Man-made forest yesterday with Emmanuel C. Pilayre , proprietor of Gecko Tours and Travel(Geckotours Bohol), the forest was abuzz with crickets, chirping birds, hooting owls in the distance, and perhaps the howl of wild monkeys in the distance.
It was a beautiful symphony loud enough to be heard even within the cabin inside the car. We rolled down the windows and slowed down just to enjoy the cacophony of sounds and voices from the wild fauna of Bohol, a treat that we will probably never get to hear once tourism has been restored here in Bohol.
Perhaps the "non-native" trees were not the problem, perhaps the real problem was the endless streams of tourists, visitors, and vendors passing through Bilar. Maybe the loud and raucous laughter of irresponsible tourists, the calls of vendors selling their wares, and the loud engines and the huge amount of smoke produced by the cars carrying these people caused the local fauna of Bohol to hide in fear, avoiding the danger that they might face if they come face to face with an potentially irresponsible tourist.
I read somewhere that some army rangers can identify the presence of an enemy sniper or a potential ambush if an entire forest suddenly seems eerily quiet, because forest animals would see us as potential predators.
So I guess now would be the best time to appreciate what we truly have here in Bohol, the wonderful, near endless nature that we are blessed with. After all, it's not always beaches and sunshine here in the Province of Bohol, but rather a full collection of Island Life, Vibes, and Places
It was quiet, very quiet. All around me dark mahogany trees rose to the sky. I basked in the silence as I walked around and admired thick trunks and roots flowing like tiny rivers. The occasional …
