Real is a small town facing the Pacific Ocean, approximately 133 kilometers away from the Quezon capital Lucena City and 145 kilometers from Manila. Real has 17 barangays: 14 rural and 3 urban which located along the Sierra Madre Ranges and Pacific Ocean bay. Its total land area is 563.8 km², the second largest in the province after General Nakar.
Real has many tourist spots, the zigzag road views, river scenery, Baluti Island and the beaches that attract tourists during summer time but the most important visit is to trek in lush forest of the Sierra Madre mountain.
This photo was actually taken during my visit in that mountain last summer. The area is rich in clear water rivers which is actually a source of life in the province. But now is being treathened by many illegal loggers, kainginero and mag-uuling or coal making operations. Im just wondering what will be the future of my children if we cannot stop this people in using the mountain forest as a source of their livelihood. There's this one time that I've met a father and sons who is actually cutting trees inside our forest farm. I warn them and tell them that what's they're doing is illegal. I ask the father why, the kids is not into school since its school days when i met them. The father said, they have financial problem to bring the kids in school. In short, the boy become one of my schoolars and brought them to school . I actually taught them of the importance the trees and remind them of the 2004 Typhoon Winnie that flooded the town which killed hundred of lives. The boy is now studying and hoping to pursue his dreams to become a protector of the environment.
If we act now, even small things will definitely contribute to the overall wellness of our environment. This is not only for us but for our childrens future. Let's protect Sierra Madre and all other mountain within the Philippine 7,107 Islands. If not us...who?
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