By Eva C. Visperas

 

I will miss the trees behind the Capitol complex.

They had been cut down. Some netizens perhaps cried, feeling sorry for the fallen trees that can never be brought back again.

I will not dwell on the debates about this tree-cutting issue at the Capitol complex. You can read them here in this publication. No need to repeat them.

I will simply relay my own feelings being a reporter who goes to the Capitol weekly to get some news for my beat. I loved walking under the shades of the trees at the back of the Capitol building. I felt like breathing the needed fresh air for my lungs.

I used to walk around that area for my fitness regimen during weekends. I’d stroll also in the nearby Veterans’ Park, stretching to the front of the Capitol building, up to the pathways where some offices are located then to the DepEd Division office.

When doing my coverage for events held at the Veterans’ Park, I’d find temporary solace staying under the trees.

I enjoyed the sight of seeing couples having their prenuptial shoots in that area as well. It was truly a photographer’s delight having their subjects pose beautifully and elegantly with the trees and green grasses and a view of either the Urduja House or the Capitol Building as the backdrop.

I used to bring my kids there, played around that wide area where the trees were. They, too, had so much fun. We would play volleyball in the afternoon minus the net. I felt stronger then doing that routine.

When my dear Papang was still around, I would bring him there, too, to have some fresh air. It was a simple habit that cost only few pesos for our transportation then.

Those were some of the few priceless moments with my sweet romance with the trees in that area. But times have changed and changes must be done, as what the current administration does.

Should we cry foul, judge it for that act, attack those behind, or keep silent and wait?

Like you, I felt pain for not seeing anymore the 64 cut trees there. But the present leadership has great plans, not just for that area where the initial 64 trees were fallen down.

When we were invited to provide coverage for the groundbreaking for the reflecting pool and interactive fountain project in the Capitol complex held on November 8 last year, we were admittedly wowed by the masterplan!

Who would not love to have our version of Taj Mahal or Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington DC?

The initial feelings of dismay and sadness like mine must be respected. We just woke up one day this February 2024 and found viral posts of cut trees in the area.

It was the same feeling when years back, I saw century-old trees along the highways in Pangasinan already cut. They had to go to preserve human lives.

Change, as they say, is inevitable.

But few comments said, “Should we sacrifice the trees for the reflecting pool?”

Like children, there’s a bit of consolation that many more trees will be planted as replacement of the cut trees.

Goodbye to the seven mahogany, 30 acacia mangium, four agoho, four Gmelina, three narra, 13 umbrella and three mahogany poles. We were assured of a hello for a total of 3,200 healthy seedlings as replacement for the affected trees that shall be planted during rainy season.

So, then, we should not cry over spilled milk?   We can only hope for better things to be done. For now, what’s done can no longer be undone.

But we can continue to dream, for better days to come.

Let’s hope it’s worth the sacrifice. Then, let’s see the outcome and judge at the right time.

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