Environmental Heroes; Toto Malvar And His Brood
Published Mar 4, 2018 12:05 am
By Deedee M. Siytangco
ANGEL THOUGHTS
“The best time to plant a tree is 10 years ago. The second best time is now.” —Chinese proverb.
In the early 1900s massive reforestation efforts by government were done in the 26,000 hectare Upper Marikina Watershed as it was recognized as vital in the mitigation of massive floods. The area used to be densely forested by in the 1970s to the 1980s, widespread illegal logging all but left the watershed a nearly barren wasteland.
Alarmed by this, a privately-sponsored pioneering reforestation project in the Upper Marikina Watershed was launched, with Mount Purro identified as the primary site. In a few years, 700,000 trees were successfully planted and dutifully maintained. But because of the reality of surviving in the mountains, and no alternative forms of livelihood, majority of these trees fell to small-scale illegal logging, kaingin farming, and charcoal-making. This led to the painful conclusion that in order to take care of the forest, you first and foremost have to take care of the people.
Toto and Baby Malvar with their children and grandchildren in The Mount Purro Nature Reserve
This is what the family of Toto and Baby Malvar did. Bring back the forest to the mountain. What started out as a family’s simple yet heartfelt advocacy of promoting love for the environment, community building, and family togetherness, is now a full-fledged mission that seeks to inspire others to join in on the cause. And this is how Mount Purro Nature Reserve was born. It is all about the evolving journey of saving the Upper Marikina watershed and empowering the upland communities living within, particularly the Dumagats, through sustainable travel. And yes, making sure Metro Manila does not get inundated with massive floods because of no one is safeguarding the watershed.
The essence of Mount Purro Nature Reserve lies in its authenticity uniqueness. One hundred percent of what you see and experience is pure and organic, and there lies the magic of it all. The story of Mount Purro Nature Reserve is actually the story of Toto and Baby, and their 27 years (and counting!) of living at the heart of the Upper Marikina Watershed, creatively, purposefully, and tirelessly trying to make a difference in their beloved Calawis community, in their own small way. Toto is an Atenean who lives the Jesuit way, “A man for others.”
PAGCOR donates to the Manila cops.
He cut his teeth in developmental work by immersing himself in community-based projects after college and teaching in his school. He found a soul mate in Maryknoller Azucena “Baby” San Gabriel who also was in community social work in college. Eventually they married and produced seven like-minded children-Nina, with BDO, Toby Termulo based now in Texas but was active in the family advocacy, Kit Llamas, trainor, Kat Rodrigo, chef in New York City who was with the family advocacy too, lawyer Tojun, Toton, formerly a banker now with the family concern and TJ, a medical doctor full time with the farm. Truly, Toto’s fruits did not fall too far from him.
As a backgrounder, in 1960, way before Ondoy and Yolanda, Typhoon Lucille caused massive flooding and devastation in Metro Manila, unlike anything the Philippines had experienced before: 234 dead and thousands left homeless. During that time, a mother, fearful of her country’s vulnerability to natural disasters, whispered in her son’s ears to plant trees in the balding mountains of the Sierra Madre mountain range. Little did that boy know that the seeds planted in his head by his mother would eventually bear fruit and drastically change his life.
Fast forward to 30 years later, that boy, already a well-established family man with seven children, suddenly had an intense, burning, desire to plant trees in the mountains. Inspired by his mother and grandfather General Miguel Malvar, an environmentalist by heart, he made the courageous decision to leave the corporate world and sell his lucrative business, in a mission to do environmental and reforestation work.
At that time, he was also very much enraptured by the spirit of EDSA—amazed at how the Filipinos, through People Power, was able to peacefully oust a dictator and restore democracy. An idealist and a visionary, he wanted to harness that same People Power and use it to bring back the glory of the forest. Incidentally, he is a COPA Awardee for community heroism, People Power awardee too from Cory Aquino, Family Values awardee of the Church of Jesus Christ, Ateneo de Manila University Award of Service and Excellence, and more institutions have recognized him for his humanitarian and environmental achievements.
Toto’s reforestation adventures led him to a remote town - Barangay Calawis, Antipolo City. In Barangay Calawis, he was made aware of the demise of Mount Purro, and how it succumbed to widespread illegal logging, mining, and charcoal-making.While there, he also had the chance to meet the Dumagats, the IP tribal community in the Sierra Madre mountain range. From then on, there was no more looking back. The mission was crystal clear—reforest Mount Purro!
Initially, the reforestation efforts were very successful. In less than a year, more than 700,000 trees were planted in the hills and slopes of Mount Purro. Victory, however, was short lived. Due to lack of livelihood, kaingin, small scale illegal logging, and charcoal making came back.
Lessons learned were invaluable: “In order to take care of the forest, you have to first take care of the people. Instead of just planting trees, you first and foremost have to plant in the hearts of the people, you have to plant in the heart of the community.” From then on, the focus was shifted from simple reforestation, to community development. And, in order to create livelihood, a nature camp was conceptualized, where families could enjoy each other’s company while hiking and enjoying nature.
The journey for the nature, wasn’t easy, with plenty of heartbreaks and much uncertainty. But the Malvars forged on. To date, Mt Purro Nature Reserve has touched the lives of many children, families, and organizations by providing them a space to rekindle their love for the environment and, in the process, rediscover what’s truly most important in life. Last year, Toto Malvar was officially adopted into the Dumagat Tribe! After almost 30 years of working closely together, the ceremony was symbolic of the strong and unbreakable ties they have formed.
“Slowly, slowly… dahan-dahan, more things have to be done, ” is the mantra of maverick Toto Malvar. Slowly but surely, he says “we are on the way to fulfilling our mission of protecting our environment, and most importantly, the upland communities.”
Currently, Toto and his wife Baby whom he fondly calls “Halma” (for mahal or beloved) live in the MPNR grounds, a place they call “the farm.” Initially, Toto recalls, his wife refused to live in the mountains with him but she eventually did 10 years later when the farm already had electricity. Their growing family of seven children, seven in-laws, and 17 apos spends most of their Sundays at the farm, enjoying nature and spending quality time with each other.
Toto’s dream is to be a leader in the country’s sustainable tourism industry as “the farm” has become a favorite destination for people who want to enjoy and help preserve nature and help in his efforts for the Dumagats and restore the damage ecosystem in Mount Purro.
A flood-free Metro Manila, would happen only with a thriving and well-forested Upper Marikina Watershed with its upland communities benefitting from an inclusive green economy, stressed Toto. The eco-tourism nature resort has amenities and facilities but the structures are leveled-up bahay kubos. It has meeting and seminar rooms, a swimming pool and other recreation facilities like a four-kilometer walking trail.
Toto wants unique and engaging ecological and cultural tours that would work in strengthening and bond of their guests with the environment and the local community. Apart from being a sustainable travel destination, he also wants to take a more active role in educating Filipinos, especially the youth, about ecology and sustainability. He is also recruiting members to their GNP (God. Nature. People) community. The GNP community is a group of like-minded entrepreneurs, businessmen, and investors who have the heart for the environment, the upland communities, and the Dumagats.
This awardee of the Ford Motors, Inc. for Environmental conservation has many dreams and goals to fulfill, and he is doing them slowly, one step at a time, with the help of his motivated family and community members.
On a personal note, my husband and I met Toto when he was still a student and a committed member of the Junior Operation Brotherhood International or the JOB. Sonny, my late hubby founded with Oscar J. Arellano of OB International the student organization for community development.
I reconnected with Toto and the JOBees at a recent reunion.. As with the other JOBees, I am very proud of this community hero and his family!
* * *
The Philippine National Police-National Capital Region Police Office (PNP-NCRPO) recently got a big boost in its anti-criminality efforts in Metro Manila with a P3.6 million financial aid from PAGCOR to buy patrol motorcycles.
PNP-NCRPO director Oscar Albayalde accepted PAGCOR’s donation from chairman and CEO Andrea Domingo in a simple turnover ceremony. He was joined by Manila Police District (MPD) director Joel Napoleon Coronel and other officials of the PNP-NCRPO.
According to Albayalde, the lack of motorcycles to use has been hampering their conduct of the Motorcycle Riding Course among their personnel. The police official lamented the longer period it takes to finish the training due to the unavailability of big bikes that they borrow from the Highway Patrol Group (HPG).
“We didn’t think twice about extending the much-needed financial aid to the PNP-NCRPO for the purchase of motorcycles, knowing that it will help boost their campaign in keeping the streets of Metro Manila safe from criminals. We need to enliven further our tourism industry, and we can only do this if we have a safe and peaceful metropolis,” Domingo explained.
Toto and Baby Malvar with their children and grandchildren in The Mount Purro Nature Reserve
This is what the family of Toto and Baby Malvar did. Bring back the forest to the mountain. What started out as a family’s simple yet heartfelt advocacy of promoting love for the environment, community building, and family togetherness, is now a full-fledged mission that seeks to inspire others to join in on the cause. And this is how Mount Purro Nature Reserve was born. It is all about the evolving journey of saving the Upper Marikina watershed and empowering the upland communities living within, particularly the Dumagats, through sustainable travel. And yes, making sure Metro Manila does not get inundated with massive floods because of no one is safeguarding the watershed.
The essence of Mount Purro Nature Reserve lies in its authenticity uniqueness. One hundred percent of what you see and experience is pure and organic, and there lies the magic of it all. The story of Mount Purro Nature Reserve is actually the story of Toto and Baby, and their 27 years (and counting!) of living at the heart of the Upper Marikina Watershed, creatively, purposefully, and tirelessly trying to make a difference in their beloved Calawis community, in their own small way. Toto is an Atenean who lives the Jesuit way, “A man for others.”
PAGCOR donates to the Manila cops.
He cut his teeth in developmental work by immersing himself in community-based projects after college and teaching in his school. He found a soul mate in Maryknoller Azucena “Baby” San Gabriel who also was in community social work in college. Eventually they married and produced seven like-minded children-Nina, with BDO, Toby Termulo based now in Texas but was active in the family advocacy, Kit Llamas, trainor, Kat Rodrigo, chef in New York City who was with the family advocacy too, lawyer Tojun, Toton, formerly a banker now with the family concern and TJ, a medical doctor full time with the farm. Truly, Toto’s fruits did not fall too far from him.
As a backgrounder, in 1960, way before Ondoy and Yolanda, Typhoon Lucille caused massive flooding and devastation in Metro Manila, unlike anything the Philippines had experienced before: 234 dead and thousands left homeless. During that time, a mother, fearful of her country’s vulnerability to natural disasters, whispered in her son’s ears to plant trees in the balding mountains of the Sierra Madre mountain range. Little did that boy know that the seeds planted in his head by his mother would eventually bear fruit and drastically change his life.
Fast forward to 30 years later, that boy, already a well-established family man with seven children, suddenly had an intense, burning, desire to plant trees in the mountains. Inspired by his mother and grandfather General Miguel Malvar, an environmentalist by heart, he made the courageous decision to leave the corporate world and sell his lucrative business, in a mission to do environmental and reforestation work.
At that time, he was also very much enraptured by the spirit of EDSA—amazed at how the Filipinos, through People Power, was able to peacefully oust a dictator and restore democracy. An idealist and a visionary, he wanted to harness that same People Power and use it to bring back the glory of the forest. Incidentally, he is a COPA Awardee for community heroism, People Power awardee too from Cory Aquino, Family Values awardee of the Church of Jesus Christ, Ateneo de Manila University Award of Service and Excellence, and more institutions have recognized him for his humanitarian and environmental achievements.
Toto’s reforestation adventures led him to a remote town - Barangay Calawis, Antipolo City. In Barangay Calawis, he was made aware of the demise of Mount Purro, and how it succumbed to widespread illegal logging, mining, and charcoal-making.While there, he also had the chance to meet the Dumagats, the IP tribal community in the Sierra Madre mountain range. From then on, there was no more looking back. The mission was crystal clear—reforest Mount Purro!
Initially, the reforestation efforts were very successful. In less than a year, more than 700,000 trees were planted in the hills and slopes of Mount Purro. Victory, however, was short lived. Due to lack of livelihood, kaingin, small scale illegal logging, and charcoal making came back.
Lessons learned were invaluable: “In order to take care of the forest, you have to first take care of the people. Instead of just planting trees, you first and foremost have to plant in the hearts of the people, you have to plant in the heart of the community.” From then on, the focus was shifted from simple reforestation, to community development. And, in order to create livelihood, a nature camp was conceptualized, where families could enjoy each other’s company while hiking and enjoying nature.
The journey for the nature, wasn’t easy, with plenty of heartbreaks and much uncertainty. But the Malvars forged on. To date, Mt Purro Nature Reserve has touched the lives of many children, families, and organizations by providing them a space to rekindle their love for the environment and, in the process, rediscover what’s truly most important in life. Last year, Toto Malvar was officially adopted into the Dumagat Tribe! After almost 30 years of working closely together, the ceremony was symbolic of the strong and unbreakable ties they have formed.
“Slowly, slowly… dahan-dahan, more things have to be done, ” is the mantra of maverick Toto Malvar. Slowly but surely, he says “we are on the way to fulfilling our mission of protecting our environment, and most importantly, the upland communities.”
Currently, Toto and his wife Baby whom he fondly calls “Halma” (for mahal or beloved) live in the MPNR grounds, a place they call “the farm.” Initially, Toto recalls, his wife refused to live in the mountains with him but she eventually did 10 years later when the farm already had electricity. Their growing family of seven children, seven in-laws, and 17 apos spends most of their Sundays at the farm, enjoying nature and spending quality time with each other.
Toto’s dream is to be a leader in the country’s sustainable tourism industry as “the farm” has become a favorite destination for people who want to enjoy and help preserve nature and help in his efforts for the Dumagats and restore the damage ecosystem in Mount Purro.
A flood-free Metro Manila, would happen only with a thriving and well-forested Upper Marikina Watershed with its upland communities benefitting from an inclusive green economy, stressed Toto. The eco-tourism nature resort has amenities and facilities but the structures are leveled-up bahay kubos. It has meeting and seminar rooms, a swimming pool and other recreation facilities like a four-kilometer walking trail.
Toto wants unique and engaging ecological and cultural tours that would work in strengthening and bond of their guests with the environment and the local community. Apart from being a sustainable travel destination, he also wants to take a more active role in educating Filipinos, especially the youth, about ecology and sustainability. He is also recruiting members to their GNP (God. Nature. People) community. The GNP community is a group of like-minded entrepreneurs, businessmen, and investors who have the heart for the environment, the upland communities, and the Dumagats.
This awardee of the Ford Motors, Inc. for Environmental conservation has many dreams and goals to fulfill, and he is doing them slowly, one step at a time, with the help of his motivated family and community members.
On a personal note, my husband and I met Toto when he was still a student and a committed member of the Junior Operation Brotherhood International or the JOB. Sonny, my late hubby founded with Oscar J. Arellano of OB International the student organization for community development.
I reconnected with Toto and the JOBees at a recent reunion.. As with the other JOBees, I am very proud of this community hero and his family!
* * *
The Philippine National Police-National Capital Region Police Office (PNP-NCRPO) recently got a big boost in its anti-criminality efforts in Metro Manila with a P3.6 million financial aid from PAGCOR to buy patrol motorcycles.
PNP-NCRPO director Oscar Albayalde accepted PAGCOR’s donation from chairman and CEO Andrea Domingo in a simple turnover ceremony. He was joined by Manila Police District (MPD) director Joel Napoleon Coronel and other officials of the PNP-NCRPO.
According to Albayalde, the lack of motorcycles to use has been hampering their conduct of the Motorcycle Riding Course among their personnel. The police official lamented the longer period it takes to finish the training due to the unavailability of big bikes that they borrow from the Highway Patrol Group (HPG).
“We didn’t think twice about extending the much-needed financial aid to the PNP-NCRPO for the purchase of motorcycles, knowing that it will help boost their campaign in keeping the streets of Metro Manila safe from criminals. We need to enliven further our tourism industry, and we can only do this if we have a safe and peaceful metropolis,” Domingo explained.