ONLY GOD CAN MAKE A TREE

It's the fourth day of our trip.  And the most important question then, was, should we go to the tree or not?  Actually, the night when we were in Siquijor, I already had this resolve not to visit the tree anymore because of the fear that we would missed our flight back to Manila if we insisted.  That means, no matter how much I desire to see the tree, we simply don't have the time.  It was just sad that my desire to visit it the first time I went to Dumaguete and the second time now, would still not be a disappointment.

The following day, we were already back to Dumaguete by 7 am.  We took a camera shot again of ourselves with the Siliman University as the background.  

Suddenly, a bus going to Canlaon City passed by.  And my resolved not to go to Canlaon city was overpowered  my long desire to see the Oldest Balete Tree in Asia.  We took the passing of the bus as a sign to us that we are definitely going to the said tree.

We just bought something for a pasalubong in Dumaguete and then rushed to the bus station.  I think it was around 8:30 am when we left Dumaguete.  We rode on a non-aircon bus.  I am not aware if there is an airconditioned bus going there.  We were told that it will be a four hour trip.

While on our way to Canlaon City, I had this feeling that we practically covered the whole of Negros province in our trip.  Going to Dumaguete we passed by the cities and towns of Negros Occidental and going to Canlaon City via Negros Oriental towns and cities.  This fact gave me a feeling of happiness and fulfillment even if the trip was pretty tedious especially to first timers like us.   The  trip felt like an eternity.  But once we spotted these scenery, we   became preoccupied with the breathtaking view.

There was this point in our trip
were you would likened going
to Baguio because of the zigzag
road.  Just by seeing the mountain
ranges is enough to call your trip
a heavenly experience

Past 12 pm when we finally reached Canlaon City. I thought that the Balete Tree can be seen along the way but we were wrong.  At the bus station were motorcycle driver awaiting for tourists who would like to visit the Balete Tree.  We were asked by the  drivers of P200 each for the ride.  I realized how expensive this trip to that tree was.  But we would not braved the long trip to Canlaon City and the possibility of missing our flight back to Manila if we would just missed this sight.

It took us 25 minutes more or less to reach the hidden tree.  Sulit naman ang layo at presyo ng travel the moment we saw the balete tree.

Why am I so eager to see this tree?  Because it not just an ordinary tree.  It is 1,350+ years old.  It is the oldest in Asia.  Before the Philippines was discovered, this tree was already standing still and strong.  And perhaps this tree will still outlive most of us.  Naalala ko tuloy ang tula ni Joyce Kilmer na The Tree na may last line na, "Poems are made by fools like me but only God can make a tree.  And to give you an idea that Kilmer was really right that a tree can be a manifestation of God's majesty and power, look at the picture below.

That's how small  I am compared to
the giant tree

The two drivers encouraged us to climb higher but we were afraid that it would be difficult going down.  They said that there are tables and chairs waiting for us on top of the tree.  But we are pressed by time so we dismissed the idea of climbing higher.

The other side of the tree has a whole
were we looked like dwarfs inside

Around the tree are rice fields and Mt. Kanlaon

The little time we spent experiencing the tree was no matched to the long hours of trip.  But the feeling was surreal.  I was really in awe before the tree ... the magnificent tree.

Because of this experience we missed our other itinerary in Bacolod City.  But I had no regrets because all that we missed were just man made attractions but the tree that we saw "only God can do."

By the way, we did not miss our flight.