A breath of starlight

By Virginia Jasmin Pasalo

WE have lost most of the trees after a long and painful struggle. There are many sectors who participated in the movement to save them, and I am grateful to everyone. I would like to particularly cite the consistent support of the media, without whose involvement and vigilance, the trees would have died sooner. I will forever remember that they rushed to the scene, whenever a tree is about to fall, and when almost every tree has given out its last cry. I am touched to the very core. You know who you are. I will keep your names in my heart.

Why should it matter that the trees were given a longer time to live when they were massacred anyway? The trees have moved on to another existence, but they have etched a lasting memory of their passing, created awareness of their value, and opened the eyes of many about the politics and the economics of protecting the environment. We realized how slow, still, our legal processes can be in an urgent motion to protect the trees.

The broad coalition unmasked the malice and the hypocrisy of agencies tasked to protect and enhance the quality our lives. We have debunked the stupid logic of the development paradigm and the “replacement” mathematics they used to justify the killing of the trees. We organized a pool of new eco-warriors. Children are beginning to plant seeds, and writing poems. We have gains in small increments that taken together can begin to create a tipping point for a stronger environmental coalition to evolve. We brought to the fore, a deep-seated consciousness that all forms of life must be respected and cared for to ensure human survival. We have mourned, the heartbreak will heal over time, and the tears will dry with the cold wind of December.

In the book “Where I’d Like to Be”, Frances O’Roark Dowell said “Trees breathe in starlight year after year, and it goes deep into their bones. So when you cut a tree open, you smell a hundred years’ worth of light. Ancient starlight that took millions of years to reach earth. That’s why trees smell so beautiful and old.”

May the death of each tree be a breath of starlight that will nourish our hearts and minds with acts of caring and enhance our spiritual journey to the stars.

 

BISITA

Anggapoý rason ya unloob ka ed melag tan balang ya kakiewak

agak manisiya ya wala’d pusom ya parakepen so kipapasen ko

antak no antoy gabay na sangim: gabay ton tuklaben su susok tan ilupen toý dalak

 

agtaka gabay ya unloob balet akaloob ka lanlamang

lapud samit na salitam tan delap na kuwartam

ed saray abartek tan mangiras ya manbabantay tan mangisasakit kuno ed siak

 

nen naksel ka la immugaw ka lamet, tan siak, immakulawak

aga bimmayag mikakasi ak la’d sika, singa ramaý mipapayabol

dimad ambilunget, mainget tan marutak ya dalan

 

Visitor

There is no reason why you should enter my small and wild forest

I do not believe you have my best interest at heart

I know what your mouth lusts for: it wants to devour my breasts

and gobble my blood

 

I did not want you to come in, but you entered anyway

because of your sweet words and a flood of money

to the drunken and lazy guardians that are supposed

to watch over and care for me

 

as you were nourished you became young again and I, became old

my hair fell slowly from its thick beginnings

and in a matter of time I was already pleading for your mercy and grace

like the beggars, in the dark, crowded and filthy corners of the streets

(For your comments and reactions, please email to: punch.sunday@gmail.com)

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