The Philippine Online Chronicles

Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols. (Acts 17:16)

Are the so-called “Good Guys” good?  I am not very sure?  How could they be good if they are about to cut “at least 43 Alnus trees;  ball out 97 growing Benguet Pine trees and 42 more pine saplings because they want to expand SM Baguio along Governor Park?

Baguio residents are outraged and so should they because only “bad guys” cut trees.  Not that cutting trees per se is bad but when they do so because they want to earn more and more money, then it is.  The trees will be cut in order to expand the SM Baguio parking area.  Many years ago, people went to Baguio because of Baguio.  Today that no longer seems to be the reason why people go to Baguio.

If you want to go to a mall, malls are almost everywhere as the so-called “Good Guys” wish it were.  Thank God they have not yet succeeded.  Thank God for the people of Baguio raising their voices against the not so “Good Guys” of SM.  The people of Baguio are raising their voices for voiceless trees whose sweet scent and magnificent height is one of the reasons why people go to Baguio.  I remember the Baguio of 1974.  It was a magnificent and mystical place perfumed with pine scent and embraced by early morning and late afternoon mist.  Some people would like to change not only the landscape but the very value system and nature-loving spirituality of Filipinos which makes them travel to places as seekers and pilgrims.  With the Mallification and particularly the SM-ization of the Philippines our value system and nature-inspired indigenous spirituality are seriously threatened.

Why doesn’t the government stop the “Mallification” or the SM-ization of the Philippines?  It could and it should be done for the sake of the following:  First of all, the Environment and the imperiled few surviving trees in forests and mountains;  Second, the small businessmen and women who know too well what happens when the not so “Good Guys” come to town;  Third, the young generation who need to focus on Filipino values like family, education, love for the environment, silence and spirituality and many more;  and Fourth, Indigenous Philippine culture which is seriously threatened by these temples of global colonization and consumerism called Malls where we do find everything from everywhere but so little from “Her”, our Mother Land.

With the people of Baguio, I raise my voice against the not so “Good Guys” of SM who are about to have precious Baguio Trees cut.  I likewise join the people of Katipunan in their protest against SM Blue as well as the people of Antipolo who are asking why they now have not only one but two SMs and the many Filipinos everywhere who have long wished to shout:  NAMAN NAMAN!!!  Please, Please, Not Another Mall Now, please!!!

Image taken from Jun's World on Flickr. Some rights reserved.