>> GMA’s Pinoy Records wants to feature Quirino’s Balete Tree

15 Aug 2008 11:30 a.m

 

Just an hour ago, I read a comment on our post entitled Quirino’s Katkat Padua bags Mutya ng Maria Aurora crown. I was a bit wondering because the comment was not in a way relating to the post while there is this new one I posted about the Inquirer’s article to which it should be more fitted. Just a wrong box perhaps.

 

 

Anyway, it was another good news! And a step to prove the real facts about our Balete Tree, whether or not it is indeed the biggest and oldest tree in Asia. For this purpose, a team will be visiting the tree, probably on Monday, August 18, and will be gathering informations regarding the balete. Yes, the “Team Pacquiao” will be there! I mean, the team or staff of the GMA program “Pinoy Records” hosted by the Pambansang Kamao, Manny Pacquiao.

Here is the message through the post comment:

15 August 2008

Good Day!

Im Wiz Vargas, Researcher of Pinoy Records.
Pinoy Records is hosted by no other than people’s champion and Pambangsang Kamao Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao and UAAP Basketball heartthrob, Chris Tiu– is a showcase of extraordinary abilities of Filipinos, a visual treat ranging from spectacular to out of this world, entertaining, awe-inspiring as well as informative and factual records—is already towards its fourth season and with our audience and commercial load growing, we have come up with new segments and more interesting stories.

In this regard,we would like to ask for your help, if anyone form you can help me get in touch w/ Maria Aurora Province Mayors Office.we want express our interest to feature the 600-year-old and LARGEST and oldest BALETE TREE in ASIA and designated as the official “Millennium Tree” of The Philippines, located in Maria Aurora Province. We have scheduled the shoot on Monday, August 18, 2008, and hopefully we could interview Maria Aurora Mayor and some of your old natives to testify how old and big the Balete Tree.

Very truly yours,

WIZ R. VARGAS
Researcher
PINOY RECORDS / ENTERTAINMENT TV
GMA NETWORK, INC.

I have just talked to Ms. Vargas about their visit to our barangay on Monday, and Brgy. Capt. Onasis Ronquillo has already been informed regarding this matter. Let us wait to see our Balete Tree featured on Pinoy Records. Who knows, the Guinness maybe next.

>> Inquirer’s article on our “Balete”

In his address during the pageant night of Brgy. Quirino’s 59th founding anniversary celebraton, Mayor Ariel Bitong announced that a team of the Inquirer was scheduled to come to our barangay the following day, Saturday, the second day of the Founding Anniversary celebration, to visit the Balete tree and conduct dialogue with the officials and the owner of the lot where the tree stands.  Thanks to Brgy. Captain Onasis Ronquillo for giving me the tip that the paper is out today with the awaited article on the neglected Belete Park.

 

Here is the article from Inquirer.net by Tonette Orejas:

Ancient ‘balite’ tree battles for life in Aurora

MARIA AURORA, Aurora – A “balite” tree, carbon-dated to be between 400 and 600 years old and said to be among the oldest and biggest in Asia, has suffered from human abuse, as the Aurora provincial government and a family in Maria Aurora town try to settle a row over management of a park where the tree stands.

“Umaakyat ang mga tao. Inuukit pa nila pangalan nila. Nasasaktan ang puno (People climb it. They also carve their names on it. The tree is hurt),” Onassis Ronquillo, barangay chair of Quirino, said of the tourist-drawing natural wonder in his village at the foothills of the Sierra Madre.

Click here to read the complete news from Inquirer.net

I will be posting some facts about the Balete in few weeks.   Watch out.