Beautiful and resilient: Liptong Woodland, the native forest planted by one man

MANILA, Philippines – Lauans, liptongs, and other native trees rise to the sky in Liptong Woodland, forming a green ceiling that shields from the scorching sun. The forest feels cool even at high noon and its trees have survived super typhoons. 

Rene Vendiola, the local who planted the over two-hectare forest in Bacong, Negros Oriental, recounts how no tree fell even during Typhoon Odette (Rai).

The damage inflicted by Odette, the strongest storm of 2021, was most significant in Visayas, including Negros Oriental, and Mindanao. With winds averaging up to 280 kilometers per hour, Odette claimed lives, uprooted trees, and destroyed homes and infrastructure.  It plunged cities and towns into darkness, with no WiFi and mobile connection, running water, or access to ATMs.

Passion as strong as trees

Vendiola, fondly called Tatay Eti or Ete by those who know him, said that Liptong Woodland at most had branches torn off by the strong winds. He highlighted the resilience of the trees in Liptong, especially of liptong, the tree the forest is named after.

“Native trees withstand strong winds better,” Vendiola said. “They don’t easily fall down compared with exotic trees.”

Vendiola, 72, knew this fact when he started planting in Liptong Woodland back in 2005, initially on his oan and later, with assistance from his son.

To date, Liptong has over 400 native plants, with at least 300 of them native trees, and many of them rare or threatened species. The forest also attracts native wildlife, among them rare birds that have not been spotted in many years, as well as interesting insects. Their numbers were dwindling in Bacong so Vendiola took it upon himself to plant them. 

Once a kaingin (slash-and-burn) farmer, Vendiola grew to appreciate native trees more as he guided travelers, researchers, and environmentalists in Mt. Talinis and other parts of Negros. He attended seminars and learned not just about native trees but also restoring forests.

“Native trees absorb water and hold the soil together better, preventing erosion and helping against flash floods,” Vendiola said, citing one of the benefits of native trees. 

Vendiola also witnessed how trees began to dwindle in numbers in his home province, especially during the government’s logging concessions in the 1970s onwards, which led to massive deforestation.

As the trees he loved became rare and threatened, Vendiola decided to preserve them before they disappeared. During his mountain guiding, he took wildlings from the forests to replant and propagate on what he would later call Liptong Woodland.

“We get seedlings from mother trees in Mt. Talinis, Bayawan, and other parts of Negros,” Vendiola said.

He also had a personal reason for starting Liptong Woodland.

“It was a dream of mine to live in a forest,” Vendiola said. “And so I planted my own.”

The forest was a realization not only of his dream, though, but also the preservation of vanishing native species.

Aside from planting trees, Vendiola also set up a nursery to share seedlings for those who want to plant native trees too.

Listening to nature’s wisdom

Another practice that helps make Liptong Woodland resilient is that Vendiola planted trees following the terrain of the land. He said he did not always plant in neat straight lines.

He also noted that the natural “planters” of forests like birds do not drop seeds in neat straight lines. “They follow the order of nature,” he said.

Vendiola was already doing forest restoration work before he began Liptong which he would later apply there. 

In his work as a barangay captain back then, he helped improve the water supply in Bacong by working with the local government to plant trees to make an effective watershed. Drinking water was scarce, especially during the hot summer months, and the government had to generate water through electricity, making it prohibitively expensive. Many families could not afford it.

With a watershed, though, there would be an abundant groundwater source not only for drinking water but also to sustain the forest and the wildlife living in it.

Vendiola now shares his wisdom from Liptong and previous experiences by teaching in conservation and restoration-related seminars, as well as to interested people. 

Beauty, biodiversity, and beyond

Aside from planting and teaching for forest restoration, Vendiola also plants and propagates rare and beautiful native flowers and fruits, some of which can only be found in Visayas.

He is fond of the orchids in Liptong, locally known as manan-aw.  He also has plants connected with traditional practices like the salimuyaw, a native calamansi endemic to Cebu, Negros and Bohol. He calls the salimuyaw the “shampoo of our ancestors,” and indeed Filipinos combined the citrus’ intense yet pleasing fragrance with coconut milk for their hair. 

Vendiola continues to plant trees not just in Liptong Woodland but in other areas and tree planting projects as well.

“I still plant every year,” Vendiola said.  “I do 10,000 trees.”

For all restoration projects, Vendiola ensures the species are native to be resilient against hazards and to attract native wildlife as well.

Vendiola has opened Liptong Woodland not just to researchers and special interest groups like native tree enthusiasts but also to the public curious to know more about native trees.

If ever you are traveling to Dumaguete or nearby areas, include Liptong Woodland in your itinerary for a unique forest experience. The place can easily be included in a day trip.

How to get to Liptong Woodland: Take a flight to Dumaguete City. From the airport, ask to be taken to the jeepney terminal, where you will ride a jeep to Valencia. From Valencia town proper, take a tricycle or motorbike to Liptong Woodland. Total travel time from Dumaguete City is less than 1 hour. You can also rent a motorbike from the airport. Contact Rene Vendiola through his Facebook account first before going to Liptong Woodland. – Rappler.com

Claire Madarang is a traveler, writer, biodiversity communications practitioner, and facilitator of nature play activities. Follow her adventures, travel tips, and reflections on her blog Traveling Light and on her Instagram.