Arroceros Forest Park

 

The pandemic has taught us a lot of things. One is the fact that life is definitely short. Every day is a blessing and something that we should always be grateful for. Breath is a gift and it is not a guarantee. It is on this understanding that we should value every moment of our life. 

And if we talk about life, the best place to think about it is in a place where there are a lot of trees. A place where you can easily commune with nature. But if you live in Metro Manila, finding such a place has become very difficult. Most of the areas have been developed either to give way to subdivisions or malls. There is hardly a place that is accessible enough for anyone to visit and just take a deep breath. Development,  planned or without, has been turning areas into concrete with very few trees.

In Manila, there is a place where you can breathe. A place where you can commune with nature even for a brief moment. This place is called the Arroceros Forest Park. This park is the last bastion of trees and other forms of flora and fauna. But Arroceros Forest Park is the last remaining forest in Manila and is a habitat of various bird species.

Arroceros Forest Park is just 2.2. hectare in size but is considered as significant in providing fresh air in Lawton area where there is a huge number of commuters from nearby station of the LRT.

Aside from giving a place to breathe to people living in Manila and thousand of its visitors, Arroceros Forest Park has some form of historical significance. It is said that the area occupied by the park used to be a Chinese Trading Settlement during the Spanish Times. The area is also the former site of a Tobacco Factory in the 19th Century, a military garrison during the American occupation where the barracks was later occupied by the Department of Education. 

Despite the environmental and historical significance of the Arroceros Forest Park, there were previous plans made by a former Mayor of Manila to construct a school building and a dormitory. This plan became controversial due to its appalling environmental impact on the park. Years after, Arroceros Forest Park's existence was again threatened when plans to build a gymnasium were hatched. This planned construction was eventually deferred.

Under the present leadership of Manila, the Arroceros Forest Park thru an Ordinance has been declared as a permanent forest park and not just an ordinary property of the city. The Ordinance also prohibited the cutting of trees, excavation, and turning the park into a dumpsite. At least at this time,  we can breathe that the park's existence is somehow secure.

When I walked the trail inside Arroceros Forest Park, it is easy to comprehend why this park should be preserved. The park should be preserved for today's generation and for posterity. Instead of creating man-made concrete structures in the park,  why not simply protect the flora and fauna inside the park? Arroceros Forest Park may appear to be dependent on us for its existence, but in reality, it is us whose existence is actually dependent on parks such as this.