BENCHWARMER

Manong Oca Hamada
RAMON S. DACAWI

The genius of forester Oscar Hamada and of engineer Horace Ramos was the subtlety with which they drew people to help them do their work and that of their office -- the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. They also knew their timing.

In early 1988, they convened Bishop Ernesto Salgado, Dr. Julie Camdas-Cabato and several others, in time to induct them as pioneer members of the Baguio Regreening Movement. on World Environment Day in June that year.

To seal the fate of the officers, the two presented each with a hand-carved figure of a tree cupped by a pair of hands as if in prayer. For an environmental move, it was a mistake, although a minor one. The figurines were made of wood.

To ground and anchor the BRM, the two had the members hit the ground running. Manong Oca, then the community environment and natural resources officer, and Horace, then the regional executive director, had them fence off to protect what remained of the Forbes Park along South Drive.

Eventually, BRM developed its own nursery, launched a continuing planting and tree-tending program that now includes children. Among others, it lobbied for two presidential proclamations covering two watersheds, including the endangered Buyog Watershed.

The pioneer BRM members, except perhaps for some of the politicians then, are still at it. That's why they continue to worry about reports that portions of the park they fenced and of the Buyog were, are being or will be titled in the name of private persons or for other uses than a forest reserve.

Bishop Salgado, now the Archbishop of Nueva Segovia, continues his push for environmental regeneration, alongside his pitch for moral and spiritual renewal. Dr. Julie, the busiest family physician hereabouts, still finds time to rally the barangays to clean their side of the creeks and tributaries flowing into the Sagudin-Balili River.

Barangay leaders draw inspiration from her quiet sacrifice, and her belief that restoring these murky, dead water bodies to life can be done. Like her, they now believe the “bunog”, the “jojo” and the red crab will eventually come back.

Seven years after BRM’s founding, Manong Oca went to his friend, then chief city prosecutor Erdolfo Balajadia, and asked if he could find time to do environmental work. Environmental issues, after all, are not the monopoly of the DENR. He tapped a man of law to head the Regional Multi-Sectoral Forest Protection Committee, another creation of the DENR.

The two teamed up in restoring the integrity of the Camp 8 Watershed, with Balajadia rallying workers in the Department of Justice to go environmental. When Bishop Salgado was transferred to the Catholic Dioceses in Laoag, Mang Erding was ready to chair the BRM.

One of the most active guideposts of the BRM is Manong Oca’s aunt, the venerable Cecille Afable, publisher-editor of the Baguio Midland Courier.

Years back, Mrs. Afable rallied the younger media to have director Ramos cancel a permit he issued for a mining area near a city water source. Horace learned that his own daughter, then in high school, had joined a demonstration against his decision while he was in Iloilo to receive his “Eagle Award” as outstanding director.

When the director came home, he cancelled the permit and then called a press conference to announce his decision. Mrs. Afable stood up and the rest of the media followed suit for a standing ovation.

If I remember right, it was Manong Oca who suggested that the pioneer BRM chair be the bishop. It proved to be the most crucial decision that insulated the movement from “ningas cogon” and ensured its survival and development the past 20 years. In a predominantly Catholic community, people look up to their spiritual father. Bishop Salgado is soft spoken, but his words draw people to the environmental cause he espouses.

The other culprits in this cabal of sorts were younger foresters the likes of Gemmo Fianza and Manny Pogeyed who also saw the need to create a credible citizens’ group to serve as a sounding board for sound environmental policy.

With or without the plotters’ design, the BRM now serves as a shield for the DENR whenever the department has to implement sound but contentious environmental decisions.

It was but right, therefore, that Manny, together with retired Assistant DENR Secretary Sabado Batcagan, were chosen to speak Thursday morning, after the memorial mass for Manong Oca. Many of those who attended the wake and funeral in Metro-Manila also have their own fond anecdotes of the boy from Baguio. Even Baguio boy Freddie de Guzman called from Canada to extend his condolences.

Aside from his gift of friendship, Manong Oca had what so-called development workers call “social capital”, or credibility to tap other credible leaders of the community. His greatest contribution was nailing them to his own environmental cross – with their consent and for life.

They felt relieved that they honored him during the launching of “Walk, Baguio, Walk” last June 2, a few days before Manong Oca moved on to that great forest in the sky. (e-mail: rdacawi@yahoo.com for comments).