A picture is worth...

I'm sure that you've heard me mention on a number previous posts, how difficult it has been to try and obtain any kind of photographic details of the Abaga Falls area via the Internet. Even when using more specialized search engines like Google or Microsoft Live Search, the results are less than rewarding. In fact, it would be very safe to say that one could easily locate ten times more photos of alleged Big Foots or Loch Ness Monsters of the world than photos of Abaga Falls or the surrounding area (recent or otherwise). The reality here is that there just aren't very many photos of Abaga Falls available. Again and as always, I'm not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing.

The most frustrating part of course for someone who is trying to take their cause to the streets, is that without any sort of visual or photographic depictions of Abaga Falls available, it is very difficult to rally people into action. In other words, how do you convince people to make any kind of effort to save and conserve something that they can't even see? This is a very "tough sell" to say the least.

It was during one of my recent image searches on the web for "all things Abaga Falls," that I came across the following photo of Limunsudan Falls. This spectacular two-tiered waterfall also lies on the outer fringes of Iligan City and is part of the surrounding system of dramatic waterfalls that are the city's claim to fame. It seems that this particular photograph has had an especially strong impact on me mostly because it is one of the few that I have recently come across that, in a way reminds me of the overwhelming beauty and grandeur I experienced as a boy exploring the Abaga Falls area. This photo in many ways, represents the primal beauty of Abaga Falls that I remember so vividly some 60 years ago. I can only hope that when the day comes, when I can somehow get my hands on similar photos of Abaga Falls, the beauty and grandeur will still be there...

Save Me: Pithecophaga jefferyii

(The first in a profile series highlighting several threatened species known to inhabit the Abaga Falls area.)

The people know me as Pagasa or the Monkey-eating eagle or even the great Philippine Eagle. The Filipino people refer to me in stories and in legends that they pass down through the generations. They emblazon my likeness on coins and military insignias. But few actually know me and even fewer have actually seen me in the wild.

I inhabit the lush tropical forests of the Southern Philipinne islands. In places like Abaga Falls, where I can hunt and raise my young without danger or disturbance.

All of that has been changing lately though. The humans continue to press further and further into our forests. At last count, there are less than 300 of us in the northern Mindinao area. We are killed to protect livestock, hunted for sport or kidnapped to be sold as exotic pets.

Worse, the areas that we often hunt and rear our young is being decimated for use as farmland. The trees we use to stand vigil and keep watch over our domain are being cut down to use as lumber.

At this point, all we can do is keep hope. Hope that the humans who often play the role of our enemies, will realize that it is only they who have the power to be our protectors and saviors.

Would you like to know more about me?

The Philippine Eagle Foundation

Philippine Eagle on Wikipedia

Indiana Jones and the....

Don't let the hiatus of active posts this past few months be any indication that I've somehow slacked off from my usual obsession regarding Abaga Falls. Quite the contrary! While it's true that I have been busy with things outside the realm of the this project, it is also true that I've been lucky enough dig up some very interesting information regarding the current environmental status of the Abaga Falls area (remember, this is still the primary quest of this project). Please note, I am using the term "interesting" here to denote that content of the information and not necessarily the quantity that is readily available to people outside of the immediate area. In regards to the latter, the situation remains the same... obtaining information about Abaga Falls is literally like pulling teeth. As I had mentioned in previous posts, I've been doing my best to make contact with locals, both formally and informally in a vain attempt to locate someone, anyone willing to provide any current information regarding the ecosystem. I've e-mailed countless local government officials, reached out to other bloggers and as well as local environmental groups for assistance. Nothing.

Well, up until recently that is... I was lucky enough to finally make contact with some of the folks from a group known as the Society for the Conservation of Philippine Wetlands. While they themselves were unable to provide any specific information regarding Abaga Falls (they've never even heard of the place!), they were able to put me in contact with some people that may be of value to our project now and in the future. One of of the most interesting things that I was able to cull from my recent various e-mail exchanges with these new contacts, was that Abaga Falls itself continues to be a mystery. Like some mysterious forbidden place right out of a good adventure movie. Frustration. Does anyone in that area know about Abaga Falls? There is so little information available. No one I've written to seems to know much of anything. Take for example, the second-hand satellite photo that one of my contacts recently provided (see attached photo). The photo has been cropped for the sake of size, but notice the markings on it to indicate various locations... Abaga Cliff? Why did whomever made this mark use the word "cliff" instead of "falls"??? Is this possibly because any sizable amount of water no longer flows through this area? Does Abaga Falls even exist anymore? It's somewhat demoralizing when your local contacts seem to politely insist that you're subject matter expert on Abaga Falls. I guess they're forgetting that I'm over eight thousand miles and an ocean away...

Wiki Wiki

Just a quick note to let you all know that we have recently created a page for Abaga Falls on that very popular on-line encyclopedia known as Wikipedia. This site will serve as public repository for all of the pertinent information that we are obtaining through our research, so I suggest that you please check the site on a regular basis.

Also, If there are any Wiki-Pros out there with information on Abaga Falls, we welcome you to stop by and add your own details to the site.

Abaga Falls on Wikipedia

Staying on Target

Whenever you take on a new project, there's a million things that go through your mind. Where to begin? What direction to take? The questions roll on and on. Ask any project manager worth his/her salt and they will tell you... it's very easy to get caught up in all of these considerations and lose sight of one's desired goals. For some time, I have been blogging about Abaga Falls, wondering about it's current state, gathering information (and mis-information) and then trying to draw conclusions about my findings. It's extremely difficult to hit such moving targets (and with so little information available), this is certainly a project that has me constantly reevaluating both my long term strategy and daily tactics. If I haven't already done so, let me go back and restate the very purpose of this blog. If not for my readers, then for myself...

1. To confirm the national park status (or lack thereof) of the Abaga Falls area
2. To determine, through reputable sources, the current state of the Abaga Falls Ecosystem

Sounds pretty simple doesn't it?

As a third and final goal, in the event that the Abaga Falls area does not currently enjoy national park status (and all of the benefits contained therein), to begin a campaign to obtain (or regain) such status.

Moving forward, I will do my best to keep readers apprised of any and all actions I have taken to achieve the goals I have detailed above. And as always, I remain open to any suggestions or recommendations that may be more effective in my efforts.

Remember, I cannot do this alone. Your support and involvement can help move mountains.

Hey, where's my falls?

Just happened to be checking out the "Official" website for Iligan City (I'm trying to e-mail the mayor) and noticed that there's a section of the site regarding local attractions in and around the city. Iligan City Cathedral? Cool. Hindang Caves? Great! Maria Christina Falls? Nice! Abaga Falls?... I said, Abaga Falls? Hmmm. I'm not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing...

Talking the Walk (Part 1)

While the purpose of this blog has always been to enlighten our fellow readers on the on-going plight of the Abaga Falls region, it has also tried to serve as more of a pro-active grassroots campaign for corrective action. Yes, it's certainly easier to sit here and point the finger of blame at everyone else for the apparent degradation of my old childhood playground, but I've realized that this kind of attitude never gets anything accomplished. So instead, I've decided that it's time to get a little more aggressive, to stick my foot out on the road as it where and to see what happens when you make the decision to get off of your seat.

This entry will be the first in a series of ideas that I have developed that I hope will provide even the smallest amount of inspiration to other like-minded readers and at the very least give people hope that all is not lost even in the most remote corners of the World. This is where ideas marry actions. Are the ideas I'm about to provide feasible? Not sure. Are they appropriate? Can't really say. I do know however that change must start somewhere. I've heard that some of the biggest fires in history have been started by one little spark...

Let's start with the Mission and Purpose of my plan to Save Abaga Falls...

Mission: To mobilize and encourage nature lovers everywhere to participate in the campaign to restore Abaga Falls area as a National Wildlife Park.

Purpose: From an environmental perspective, the Abaga Falls area is a ecological region that is ideal for providing the following through careful development:

• An area that can provide the protection to indigenous species as well as the food needed to help them survive in their natural habitat.
• An area that can promote the concept of coexistence and foster interest in the study of nature for future generations.
• An area that can be developed to be self-sustaining to support the park's daily operations requirements, financial or otherwise.
• An area close enough to the city limits that allows easy access and maximizes the usage of the park
• An area with suitable water flow that could be developed into a Hydro-Electric Plant to generate zero-emissions electricity for the local communities as well as help subsidize the parks continued operation.
• To create an area that is highly attractive to tourism and outdoor recreation interests.
• An area that can promote employment and stabilization of the local economy.
  

Again, this is just a brief overview of what I've come up with. I'll be following up in the next few weeks with more details. In the meantime I would love to get your feedback regarding my latest proposal and cure-plan for the Abaga-Falls region. And, if you have any other ideas that you'd like to share, please don't hesitate to send them my way...

Good Publicity

I just came across some nice coverage by National Geographic on conservation efforts taking place in the Philipines (just so you know that I'm not the only one harping about it!). Unfortunately, this is only a sample of the coverage. For more in-depth information, you'll have to get the February 2007 print version of National Geographic...

Hot Spots: The Philippines

Dark clouds bullied in as we reached Sabang, a frontier depot with a grocery store and a few dirt-floor karaoke bars. A water buffalo carted our gear a half mile to the cottages of a “beach resort,” where I lay hot and moist beneath the mosquito netting as rain pelted against the thatch, until the house rooster rallied us to a pastel dawn.

I had to rub my eyes. Paradise surrounded us.

-Priit J. Vesilind, Jounalist- National Geographic

Also, don't forget to check-out their on-line gallery for really nice photos of some the local animal life!

Where the Wild Things Are (or Were?)

Today's post focuses on the wild inhabitants of the Abaga Falls area. I've decided to recollect on my boyhood encounters with some of the more interesting and exotic wildlife of Abaga Falls. Again, from the few pictures I have seen of the area, things may not be as pristine as they once were. I'm wondering, are all these creatures still there?

Sadly, one must understand that the Abaga Falls area is probably not the only ecosystem in jeapordy of losing an important segment of flora and fauna that may be important to our planet and people in the future, the loss of this habitat is also a threat to the national identity of the Philipines and the Filipino people themselves. Why is this important? Simple, because ultimately it is the people who are to be the stewards of the land. Imagine Switzerland without the Alps or the American Southwest without it's painted deserts. While it's true that one could argue that there's no need to really worry and that we have the technology, the scholar’s and the best zoos in the world to lessen the perceived crisis but I'm afraid. Afraid that what is done and cannot be undone. That years of neglect cannot be reversed no matter how often we consider ourselves masters of science and nature…

On that note, I thought that perhaps the best way to illustrate my concern about the surrounding wildlife and it's role in the ecosystem of Abaga Falls would be to post some pcitures of a number of animals inhabiting the falls and the surrounding area. These are the creatures, the Wild Things I remember seeing on a regular basis during my boyhood adventures around Abaga Falls....

Philippines Eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi)–Very elusive, feeds on monkeys and reptiles; -resident of the falls area. Details at Wikipedia

Hornbill (Buceros hydrocorax)- feeds on insects, small reptiles and wild fig tree fruits; -a regual rresident of the falls area. Details at Wikipedia.






Hornbill (Penelopides affinis affinis)- feeds on insects, small reptiles and wild fig tree fruits; -a regualr resident of the falls area.
Details at Wikipedia.




Collared Kingfisher (Todiramphus chloris)-feeds on insects, small reptiles and fish along the river; -resident of the falls area. Details at Wikipedia






Golden Fox Fruit Bat(Acerodon jubatu)-feeds on wild fig tree fruits and other fruits; -resides along the Agus River above Baloi and at twilight time the bats start their trip to Abaga Falls area to feed all night and leave to roost by daybreak. Details at Wikipedia





Hopefully I got this part right. If anyone out there has any information on the status of wildlife in and aorund the Abaga Falls area, I would really appreciate you contacting me so that I may share it with my readers.

That's all for today. Hopefully this brings us a little closer to understand the importance of restoring Abaga Falls as a National Park and doing what we can to turn it into the “cage-less zoo” that it once was. We need to protect this vital habitat and the wildlife in the area. Once the area has been restored, one can venture deep into one of the most beautiful and enchanting pieces of real-estate on the planet. I know the the work will be difficult and the road to success is long and arduous, but we certainly have the imagination and perseverance to keep the message alive. Success is measured and achieved when; one can travel into such an area and stop to quietly reflect on how to coexist with nature’s magnificent gift. Remember, coexistence does not mean we are restricted from crossing the boundary between us and nature, we're all a part of it. The birds, the trees, the people... everything.

Opinion: Paradise Lost?

They say a picture is a thousand words. If that is true, then the once beautiful, enchanting and be-witching water falls, thick forest, tall trees, abundance of wild life and the feel of the mist from falling water above the tree canopy of Abaga falls appear to be no more …. It really irks me to look at what appear to be the most recent satellite images on Google Earth. It is all gone? My boyhood paradise? Back before WWII the road (although I do not know the condition of the road today) allowed complete access along the rim of the crater and visitors were able to see an abundance of wildlife in their natural habitat. To me, it was a display of the Earth’s primeval and natural beauty, an amazing “fenceless zoo.” While I do not blame humans for the apparent condition of the falls today (after all people in this region need to provide food, shelter and heat for their families… especially in the period of expanding world population).

I think it’s time for us to roll up our sleeves and change the “NO PLAN” attitude, get together and correct our mistakes. Again, I may be wrong in what I see in the latest Google Earth satellite imagery but if I’m not, the Abaga Falls area has lost its ecosystem. We need to think about re-foresting the area, re-introducing native wildlife and elevating the falls and the surrounding area back to National Park status. I urge my readers to take a moment and contact the Philippine Government to inquire as to the current status of Abaga Falls...

Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau- Philippines
Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Nature Center
Mindanao Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City
http://www.pawb.gov.ph/
Voice:+(63 2) 9246031-35
Fax:+(63 2) 9240109
planning@pawb.gov.ph

I would appreciate a copy of any responses you may receive as I am in the process of compiling all of the necessary information to continue my investigation into the current status of the Abaga Falls region.

Welcome to Abaga Falls

Beautiful, enchanting and be-witching water falls. Before WW-II the road allowed complete driving access along the rim of the crater and visitors will be able to see the abundance of wildlife in their natural habitat. As a boy I spent most of my weekend exploring the waterfall area. The vertical drop of this water fall is approximately, twice that of the nearby Maria Cristina Falls. To increase the water flow additional water from the Agus River, 4.5 km away at Baloi, can be diverted using the existing (or modified) river bed to Abaga Falls and with a careful design, primarily focus on protecting the environment could result to a huge reward. Aside the environmental protection for the Abaga Waterfall, the area, and the wildlife, there is a potential for a hydro electric plant (green power), agriculture irrigation system, recreational, education environmental research and future generation. Although found in web sites and advertised by travel agencies, I have not seen a full blown view picture of the falls, except, what I can remember. I suggest that the Abaga Falls Area be restored to National Park status.

If you are interested in helping to advance this idea ... Please e-mail me at: rmoscal@dslextreme.com

Ray