Party planting

MANILA, Philippines - A month ago, my friend Drea told me about an arts and music festival in Puerto Galera called Malasimbo. She said it was going to be held Feb. 18 to 19 and that we should double date with our boyfriends for a perfect Valentine’s celebration. I had never been to Puerto Galera and it sounded really tempting. I did a little research and when I saw photos of the festival grounds, I instantly wanted to lie down at the foot of Mt. Malasimbo. I wanted to be sandwiched between the beautiful grass and the shade of the giant trees.

Arty party: The festival featured Filipino artists and their installations that literally became one with nature.

I told our other friend, Val, about it and from a double date it became a 12-person trip for her birthday weekend. A ticket to the two-day festival cost P1,500 and each ticket sold was equivalent to one tree planted. Apparently, 2011 is the international year of forests and the festival’s goal was to raise enough money to fund a reforestation in the area. Beautiful sights bring in tourists, tourists bring in money, and money helps sustain the Mangyans and their homes.

Money grows under trees: The Mangyans sold their handicrafts underneath a treehouse.

What amazed me about the Malasimbo Festival was the fact that it was organized by Frenchman Hubert d’Aboville (the other French guys called him “Ooh-behr”). The idea of a foreigner promoting tourism in a country that is not his own is inspiring. It reminds me that our country is naturally beautiful and Puerto Galera’s eco-cultural heritage is an example of how we can choose to use natural resources to prevent further damage that our modern habits have caused.

Bibim-bop: The full moon at Mt. Malasimbo had the people either sprawled on the grass grooving to the music or wildly dancing right in front of the stage. I especially enjoyed the Korean performers, Gongmyoung. No, they weren’t a boy band, they were four amazing drummers and they only knew three English phrases, which they said in between every other song: “I love you,” “Thank You” and “I’m Hungry.”