Yesterday I received an email from Sir Nicky Wijangco bearing this letter of appeal. I am posting this in PinoyMountaineer.com since this will doubtless be of interest to mountaineers. Take note that we are merely airing his side; PinoyMountaineer.com is neutral as far as such disputes are concerned.
Dear Fellow Mountaineers and Selected Friends,
At noon today, I logged in a complaint in the Nasugbu PNP blotter regarding a powerline wire-cutting incident last night at 7 in the evening. The incident was designed to sucker me into the open while trying to reattach the severed electrical wires that fed power to my hut. Instead, I asked the help of PNP Region 4 Director General Per Palad who immedietely sent a team to look into my predicament. Because of the police presence, the power lines were attached without incident. Leading up to this event, two of our dogs have already been poisoned and the survival of the third an iffy proposition. Last night's harrassment was merely the latest of a yearlong string of incidents.
On April 16, 2008, I was summoned to appear before Nasugbu PNP Chief Maitim. There was no written charge of any kind but I decided to show up anyway- only to be lambasted by Teodoro "Brother" Ted Calimag and Barangay Kayrilao Chairman Jorge Gerpacio. I had done too good of a job preserving Mt. Talamitam which caused too many of you to come and your inevitable disposable income. Greed kicked in, and the takeover conspiracy was on!
On April 20, 2009, The Calimag brothers, led by Brother Ted, wanted to hack me to death in front of about two dozen PHINOE mountaineers.
On May 10, 2008, I decided to lump several events together that otherwise are spread out through several months. The river cleanup, tree planting and dental mission secured 300 volunteers, only to be scared off by a dozen policemen, 2 barangay chairmen and the big Calimag clan.
On December 28, 2008, I was visited by the Nasugbu PNP for allegedly extorting fees from you, my beloved mountaineers.
On February 17, 2009, I was brought to court by the Calimag clan for allegedly pointing a gun at them. The court dismissed the charge just this 10th of November, 2009.
On April 24, 2009, I was once again visited by the Nasugbu PNP for allegedly possessing a firearm. Member of the Sykes Mountaineering Group witnessed this incident.
On May 22, 2009, I was again harrassed for allegedly stealing a ton-and-a-half of used PLDT wires. The Las Pinas Adventure Group (LASPAG) witnesses this event.
On November 20, 2009, elements of the Nasugbu PNP rummaged through my hut on the strength of a court search warrant secured by Ted Calimag. The search proved negative for a supposed cache of firearms.
And then there was the wire-cutting incident a forthnight ago. Note that between incidents involving the police the had been at least two phycal contacts, numerous attempts to waylay my person; and numerous verbal threats at liquidation!
When I decided to espouse my environmental advocacy at Mt. Talamitam a dozen years ago, I had an inkling about the hardship and the risks I had to endure in my effort to conserve the ruggedly scenic area. What transpired on June 6, 2009 was so mindboggling that it convinced me that government and environment simply cannot mix in this country! On that day, a DENR Undersecretary with a bunch of regional synchopants in tow visited Talamitam. I presented photos of century-old trees poached from within the old forest. Not a single DENR personnel has taken pains to verify my photos to this day, and the rape of the forest goes on. More ghastly, they showed unanimous support for Ted Calimag (the very epitome of the pseudo-environmentalist).
I rest my case. Most of you are aware of the other unethical details. However, no harrassment or threat is going to make me back and leave Mother Nature unprotected! I will make a move soon to rectify this sordid conspiracy; and if the government agencies won't help us, then, so help me God, with your help, we will! Pass this message on to the brothers.
Fondly,
Sir Nick of Talamitam
36 comments:
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kakalungkot nmn to..
guys, dis is an eye opener... these is really happening.. ndi tyo niloloko ni ser nick jst to get sympathy. lets help ser nick from harassment! i together wid my grup support ser nick on his appeal and advocacy on environmental issues at mt. talamitam. its abt time to make the necessary step. Lets protest and help ser nick.
thanks & rgds,
Nono
Himala si nono nagreact..hahahha!
anyway, i've met sir nick few years ago and i can say he's a very humble guy and in fact, he's a rare human who gambles his life to save our mountains. Sir nick, only i can do is ilapit natin ito sa media. If this F***ing Bast**ds cant do their jobs then maybe Media is our tool and let the viewers be our witnesses.
jhing
its only a issue of profit on both sides.mountaineers fee is life long business..on legal issue di ntin pareho alam kung ano talaga ang nangyari sa mga yan...i dont think na magpapatayan ang mga yan para daw sa kapakanan ng bundok..just asking? kung wala kayang registration fee me paki kaya ang mga yan sa talamitam? i climbed talamitam several times. puro siraan ang mga yan on each other ..kaya nkakawalang gana na ulit bumalik dyan..sa registration pa lang yung issue na yan kaagad ang sasalubong sa yo.even yung mga locals yan din kaagad ang itatanong sa yo kung kanino kayo nag paregister.kung kanino ka kakampi.me time pa dyan na itithreat ka ng both side na ibaban ka sa talamitam if di nasunod yung gusto nila...poor talamitam...helium20
I was here more than a month ago... I went straight to the new caretaker of this mountain to avoid any incidence... As for Sir Nick, his situation is serious... Hope our authority can do something about it... or can Sir Nick and the Calimag group can talk this out.
I smell politics here... if only we can do something about this... but we can't... where are from the outside looking in.
I guess the only way to clear this out is to bring this issue to the Nasugbu Municipality leadership.
Gecarl
i agree with helium, nakakaturn-off umakyat sa bundok kung puro ganito. sir nick was very friendly to our group since we first climbed in 2007. to his credit, mr. ted calimag took time to visit me last year to explain their side. but i don't think we can know for sure who's right or wrong...the important thing is the locals should realize that there is no winner in this argument if they will not cooperate.
Sayang naman, siguro pag nagtagal ganyan din ang magiging issue sa pico..
hayy... Napakakumplkado talaga ang pagiging gahaman sa lahat ng mga bagay...
Paano kaya tayo makakatulong sa kanila?
Lenin-HMC
hehehe yung last na akyat ko jan, dun na nga kme pnapnta sa "brother" ewan ko don! bsta don sa labas ng iskul.. kaya dna ako bumalik don dhl don.. pilit kme dun pinapapnta.. eh si sir nick ang alam ko.. tapus madaldal pa un si "brad" hahaha parang preacher! libro nalng ang kulang :P
mikoy
the best thing we mountaineers can do is to avoid climbing talamitam for now,,it is all about the profit,,pera ang pinagaawayan dito hindi an pangangalaga sa bundok...marami pa naman bundok na magandang akyatin dyan...example na lang an batulao,,sa kagustuhang kumita ng iba ang ginawa nung isa gumawa ng new trail,,eh di wla awayan,,,tutal medyo kalbo na rin naman an talamitam mas okay na rin sguro na wag muna akyatin to para makarecover naman an kawawang bundok...umaakyat tayo ng bundok para mawala pansamantala an mga iniisip natin na problema kahit sandali pero anu an aabutan natin sa pagakyat ng talamitam?edi problema din,,pano ka mageenjoy kung paakyat ka palang may banta na sa buhay mo?!!..marami pang bundok dyan...payo lang>>WAG MUNA UMAKYAT NG TALAMITAM>>let talamitam rest aleast for a while...
ruthlessdevil...
nakakaturn off umakyat ng Talamitam..
yung sa nakawan at tutukan ng baril incident....
nagBatulao na lang kamE.
tara na lang sa batulao...
iwas talamitam muna... hehe
i really don't know where mt. talamitan is located..
i'm just 15 years old when i started mountaineering..
i really want to explore the whole pinas..
but then, i still can't coz i'm too young..
and my parents can't understand what i'm doing..
hope something good will come out..
about the issue being tackled, hope it will end with a good result..
GOD BLESS US ALL..
oo nga! kalorkey ah! been to talamitam din n sir nick ang kilala ko... we even bathe dun sa kanila.. then nung last yr.. kasama ko bro kong si mikoy with ofis friends bigla dun n kami pinapunta sa brgay d n daw pde kay sir nick..tpos pati pagligo dun nmn kina bro ted..anyway, madaldal nga sha.. nang momonchang p nga... nagkkwento ng kung anik anik.. sa pagod ko kasi dayhike, d ko sha pinapansin.. pinagkakamalan p nya kong koreana... adik lang! bwahahaha un n ung last kong akyat dun...
pero kung may ganitong mga issue parang ang hirap umakyat ulit sa talamitam.. sana maresolve n ito and wala ng harrassment... if they have the same advocacy to preserve ung pinag aawayan nila which is talamitan,.. sana mag joint forces na sila at mag bati-bati.. its not all about the money... this should be abt mother earth! =D
--ivy--
@ruthlessdevil...
Magandang ideya yang naiisip mo, siguro ay mas epektibo kung iiwasan muna natin na akyatin ang talamitam, pero parang nakakalungkot naman sa mga bahagi ng mga taong katulad natin na di pa nakakaakyat doon... Ahm.. Pero sa isang banda habang walang umaakyat doon maaring maiwasan pa ang pag-unlad ng isyung ito kung ang titignan natin na aspeto ay ang usapang pera na nakukuwa sa registration... Siguro sabihan na rin natin ang iba pa na huwag muna o hangga't maari ay iwasan na umakyat sa talamitam para maiwasan din ang posibilidad na may madamay pa na aakyat na wala namang talagang kinalaman sa isyu na iyon..
Lenin-HMC
The locals just dont want talamitam to be climbed by us "environmentalists" simply because we would be witnesses to their burning and deforesting and polluting the river, which would naturally results in us making efforts to stop. What we fail to see is that Mt. Talamitan, to the locals, is the land to farm and graze and collect lumber, not a landmark of the beauty and wonder of nature. We mountaineers simply dont see it the way they do, and vice versa. With due respect to the locals, it is the only plausible way to go. I mean Amadeo has it's coffee and Tagatay thier pineapples.
No mountaineers and sir nick = no one to care about the mountain. If we stop and leave it alone, sooner or later Talamitam would just be one of those "hills" with crops planted on the peak. Brgy Bayabasan will be famous not for Mt. Talamitam, but for some local delicacy, uhh bayabas pie?
My humble 0.02
Akyat lng ng akyat,para kaung mga "daga" na umiiwas sa 'pusa'.Kasama sa adventure nio ang ganyan.
Humihingi nga ng tulong ung tao (S'Nick)sa atin,tapos ang comment nio 'nakakaturn-off umakyat', eh di sa inio na nanggaling na hindi kau mga mountaineers,mga PASYALneers o MONKEYneers kau.
Magaling lang kau magsalita at magimbita.Ung iba dito nakikisawsaw sa kasikatan.Halos lahat na ata ng topic nagcomment,masabi lang pogi.
Sana wag lang puro 'fun' ang alam, magmasid at makialam din.Un lang po ginoong may akda!
- old member of UPM
i appreciate everyone's comments re. this matter.
to 'old member of UPM' -- i dont think you should conclude that those who commented are PASYALneers or MONKEYneers. feeling turned off over a mountain is a valid reaction of mountaineers over a local dispute that should be resolved locally. taking sides is also valid, but whichever opinion you hold deserves respect.
madaling sabihin na 'makialam' but what if you do not know for sure which side to take? there are clear-cut matters such as going against illegal logging; but there is also a danger in making 'sawsaw' in matters in which you are not in a position to know the whole story. rather than label people as "parang mga daga", can you suggest a course of action? if not, you too will fall under the category of 'magaling lang magsalita'.
old member ng up.
pumta ka run sa talamitam.dala ka ng placard .tapos nakalagay dun sa plakard mo... MAKIALAM SA TALAMITAM... KAHIT DI KO ALAM ....sige nga ano ang maitutulong mo sa talamitam? isa ka pa na puro dakdak.sabihin mo kung ano ang dapat gawin.?.
.issue lang yun ng registration fee..ganun yun kadali..problema yun ng locals.hindi ng mountaineers.dun ka dapat pumunta kung ano ang magagawa mo dun.
old member ng upm,,sa mga sinabi mo,,ikaw ang nagpapapogi,,respect lang,,saka wag mo na sama an UPM sa post mo,,baka madamay pa un ibang member ng UPM dahil sa kaangasan mo.....
tama ka jan sir gideon... cguro kung pupunta nga etong si old member ng UPM at maglalagay ng placard gaya nga ng sinabi ng isa nating kapatid na " MAKIALAM SA TALAMITAM...KAHIT DI KO ALAM...last climb na cguro nan... yabang mo brod!
invite mo kami pag aakyat k ng talamitam na kaya mong gawin yan para witness namin yung gagawin mo kung matapang ka talaga "OLD MEMBER NG UPM"... kung pwede wag m na lagayan ng UPM kasi nadadamay sila...
anonymity nga naman...
kaya di ako naniniwala na UPM kayo sir, maganda ang reputation ng UPM, wag mo na siraan. (Di yan gawain ng mga Mountaineer.)
wag nalang natin kalimutan na "empty kettles make the most noise."
AHm..
Wag tayong mag-away, kaya nga tayo andito at naguusap ay para magpalagayan ng mga opinyon at suhestiyon kung paano makaktulong at kung anong aksyon ang pinakamainam na gawin sa ngayon, ng sa ganoon ay maiwasan pa ang pagkakadamay ng karamihan... Kaya tayo naguusap ay para lumabas ang pinakamainam na solusyon mula sa mga bagay na iniisip natin...
Pero sana ay huwag naman natin husgahan ang isa't isa o atakihin ang mga bagay na sinasabi nito...
@Old Member ng UPM
Sa pagiging mapusok ng dila ay maraming nasasaktan at minsan nagdudulot ng kapahamakan, nagbibigay din ito ng pangit na konsepto sa pangalan ng grupo na dinadala mo...
@sa lahat
Apektado tayong lahat dito maging nakaakyat ka man o hindi pa ng talamitam ay dapat tayong magkaroon ng reaksyon sa kasulukuyang nangyayari dito, isipin mo na lang na kaya natin ginagawa ito ay hindi dahil sa niyaya lang tayo o para matawag o masabihan na "ASTIG" o "ANG PORMA NAMAN NIYAN!", kundi dahil sa ito tayo at bahagi tayo nito...
Lenin-HMC
Old UPM Member?
I doubtganyan ang comment ng mga nga UPM.
They know better than that.
Wag namang isali ang pangalan ng UPM dito.
Nanahimik lang sila kasi wala naman silang
ibang patunayan pagdating sa mountaineering sa Pinas. Babae man o lalaki nila na summit na rin nila Mt. Everest.... na di pa sa marami pang ibang groups.Humble lang talaga ang mga iyan kaya alam nilang lumugar sa ano mang bagay.
nakuh me nagisa nnman dito..hehehe
@old mem,
sir/mam i know what you feel,kung pakiramdam mo need talaga ng tulong at me paraan ka dyan then invite us out..samahan k namin ano palang batch ka? alam ba yan ng grupo mo,or else matapang klng magsalita..either way suportahan ta ka!
@all,
Mgar sir/mam wag na po natin banggitin ang grupo dito(upm) baka po kasi me sariling agenda si "old member", di natin alam. I've been in that group as well,and maganda naman orientation samin sa ganyan. Baka sobrang old na c "old mem" kaya napagiiwanan ng balita..jk :D
But of course his/her group may clear their side of the story. Tama na ung nag-comment c Gid wag na pahabain pa.
That's all folks!
Talamitam is one of my favorite mountains. I've seen the changes through the years. And I don't like it.
I've met both personalities - Sir Nick and Bro. Ted. Spoke with both of them. Heard there side of the story.
I would like to keep to myself who I believe is saying the truth. To anyone who wants to know the real score, try to visit the place. See for yourself.
I miss the old Talamitam.
bakit kaya ganun na d2??pag may sumalungat na isa pinagtutulungan na agad..di nman ganito d2 dati.
@ old mem - maxado ng marami d2 yung wala ng ginawa kundi sumawsaw sa lahat ng isyung pinaguusapan.. marami na rin d2 ngayon yung akala mo bidang bida lagi.. di lang tayo dapat palaging puro komento, aksyon din dapat. at kung umaksyon man, di na kelangang ipamalita at ipagyabang.
-kamote-
ahahaha.... akala ko tapos na yan.. yun pala lalo pa lumalala......simula't simula pa ganyan na nangyayari dyan... hehehe...
as mountaineers at ang concern natin is not just the mountains but the environment as well, we have to focus on this problem. ang pag iwas sa bundok na ito na umakyat ay hindi isang solusyon, all mountaineers can unite para ipakita sa mga gahaman ng mga ito na hindi lng tayo basta basta umaakyat sa bundok ng walang dahilan. maka ilang beses na ba napatunayan natin ang unity ng isang mountaineers sa kabibilang activity na ginagawa ng bawat group? maybe its time na lahat ng leader and members ng mountaineers ay gumawa na ng action towards this mountain. isa isang tabi na muna natin ang ating personal o mga group activities lets unite as ONE...LETS GET SERIOUS about solving this problem for the sake of our MOTHER EARTH...sana hindi lng matatapos sa pag post ng comment sa internet ang action na ito.
sige brod umpisahan mo na mag organize ng climb sa talamitam .sama ko dyan..kaw na rin mag isip kung pano mo yun gagawin.
ako at mga kaibigan ko ay handa din sumuporta! organize kau sir ng climb sama kami! sobra na talaga sila!
I agree with the last two commenters, mas maganda cguro hikayatin natin ang lahat ng groups for a FUN HIKE sa talamitam, To see for ourselves kung ano ba talaga nangyayari na dun sayang din naman kasi kung bigla nalang natin siya kakakalimutan maganda pa naman yung bundok actually pede din tayo mag tree planting para sa mga nakakalbong area ng talamitam pero magtira din tau ng area para sa magandang view What you think wag na tau mag-away at magcomment sa comment ng iba, Peace
-*Glenn*-
@old-member
Sad to say isa ito cguro sa mga hndi na induct or tinanggap ng grupo sinasabi nyang ksapi sya kawawa ka nman, nakasama nko sa grupong ito sa mga open climb at tree planting activities nila kya impossible na isa ka sa mga member nila ang layo ng pag iicp mo sa knila hayy wawa.... ang alam ko OPEN pa ang upm mga july re-apply ka baka sakali matanggap ka or makapasa ka na
pacensya na po moderator at sa lahat d ko lng po mapigilan tlaga ang angas ksi baka di pa nga marunong mag nurturing ng puno yan, PASENSYA NA PO SA LAHAT, naging mabait lng sakin ang UPM at madami ako natutunan tungkol sa environment na hndi ko natutunan sa school.
Anonymous said...
Akyat lng ng akyat,para kaung mga "daga" na umiiwas sa 'pusa'.Kasama sa adventure nio ang ganyan.
Humihingi nga ng tulong ung tao (S'Nick)sa atin,tapos ang comment nio 'nakakaturn-off umakyat', eh di sa inio na nanggaling na hindi kau mga mountaineers,mga PASYALneers o MONKEYneers kau.
Magaling lang kau magsalita at magimbita.Ung iba dito nakikisawsaw sa kasikatan.Halos lahat na ata ng topic nagcomment,masabi lang pogi.
Sana wag lang puro 'fun' ang alam, magmasid at makialam din.Un lang po ginoong may akda!
- old member of UPM
hindi yan ang topic dito. lahat kayo OFF TOPIC! anu ba yan? konting salita lang nadala na agad kayo. ikaw old member, kilala kita. isa lang sa upm ang alam kong nagsasabi ng "MONKEYneers". tropa tayo, ikamuzta mo nalang ako kay mario.
point here is that, magkaisa ang mga mountaineers sa issue ng talamitam. yun lang! no other side comment. respect one's opinion. ang resulta, guilty yung mga nagreact na "MONKEYneers" nga sila.
LET'S ALL UNITE FOR THE GOOD OF MT.TALAMITAM
So what's the good for talamitam? Suma-side ka din naman eh. Pwede ba kay Mader Earth na lang tau sumide?
Haven't been to mt. talamitam pero ano ba dapat nating gawin mga kapatid? Mag-organize tau ng climb? Tree-planting? Mag-rarally ba sa tuktok? Magsasama ba tau ng journalists at mediamen para maparating 'to sa lahat ng mountaineers, environmentalists, and iba pang concerned groups sa buong pilipinas? Di ba tau ma-baback hoe at mamassacre pag ginawa natin yun? Kelangan ba muna nating ilapit sa lokal na pamahalaan to bago tau sumugod mga kapatid? Suggest na ng dapat gawin.. Open muna tau sa suhestyon, saka na muna kritisismo. Apir!
mantra
My partner and I have been climbing batulao for a decade now and recently decided to check out Talamitam.. Turning right from the highway, we were greeted with a sign nailed to a tree addressing the "mountaineers". I tried to take a picture of it but the pointed looks of the people standing around stopped me.
To summarize, it said that Nick Wijangco is no longer authorized to collect any fees from mountaineers and that this was agreed upon by the Barangay and that they have assigned someone else for the registration.
With this as their welcome banner, we already knew there was trouble brewing. Out of curiosity we drove on until the road was too rough for the car. And got to talk to the locals. We pretty much got the "feel" of the guy that now collects the fees. We also met Nick. (and my "taklesa" reaction was Your name was on that tree!)
In Mt. Batulao's case, Mang Johnny has been given that responsibility and you can see him hauling the trash from campsites when the weekends are done. He has planted Talisay trees too to give shade. He has buko on camp one and built a latrine for mountaineers and will gladly provide water for flush if you ever need it.
I remember last year, we climbed there with our kids and it rained, (we have not even reached camp 1 yet and have not paid the fee) the locals (neighbors of mang johnny- the villanueva kids) let us sleep in their kubo for no fee. They gave their lamp with gas and made sure we were OK.
In Talamitam, I am highly doubtful if the caretaker will go that extra mile for a moutaineer.. without getting anything in return.
Well, I'm not writing this to convince anyone or to take sides, but to all who have doubts about the Talamitam controversy, my suggestion is: visit the place and you'll know who the crooked one is. It is pretty obvious who cares for the place and who cares for your pocket money.
Once you've been there and met them, then you can come back to this page and write your honest opinion.- jdb
kmi po ay grupo ng bgo po n moutaineers tga sta. tersita bats po kmi.my blak kc po kmi akyatin ang mt . talamitam ngaun arw ng kalayaan(june 12) kso po hndi nmen alm ang pgpnta dun?pnu po ba pg mngggaling kmi ng bats city sn po ba kmi baba sa nasugbu??pg smkay kmi ng bus d2? sna po ay m2lungan nyo po kmi....salamat po!!!e2 po ang no ko 09103145489
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