The Mountains’ Greatest Nightmare

If I am a mountain, then this would be my greatest nightmare. Unfortunately, for the few mountains I saw in the not so distant past, this had become a bold reality they were and are currently facing. Eight years ago when I attended the Regional Schools’ Press Conference in Bohol when I saw mountains which sides are being sliced to mine limestones. And just recently, I witnessed the same disturbing fate. Two Sierra Madre hills were being carved and a mountain in Baguio had lost its natural grandeur.

What made me more upset seeing these unusual sceneries was that, machines were the ones used to destroy the natural terrain of these mounts.

I visited the Mystical Cave in Antipolo yesterday (April 1, 2012) to witness the natural formations of some holy figures. While waiting for other visitors, I trekked further to see their own depiction of the Crucifixion Hill (Mount of Calvary). Atop, I can view the Sierra Madre chain, part of Antipolo City, and the most distressing two carved mountains. I heard the machines roar as they dug and broke the rocks of the other poor hill. The other painfully nested to its ground as if hopelessly waiting to get back its lost greeneries.

Seeing these hills’ cruel fate made remember the mountain I saw from Port Del Pilar in Baguio City which its side collapsed to which I felt the same heartbreak when I saw Antipolo’s.

I have been to few places and I hope that I would not see the same sights in my future trips.

• Ian Limpangog
• April 2, 2012
• Categories: Stories