Author: JAVIER.P.GOMEZ

I used to be a Theology lecturer. My days were filled with lectures on divine mysteries, medieval mystics, and the intricate teachings of the Church. As a specialist in Christian mysticism, I found myself drawn to the raw beauty of personal encounters with the divine – those moments when boundaries between self and sacred dissolved.… Read more

When most people think of disturbed environments, they picture invasive species taking over. Here in Bataan, something remarkable happens – our native species can outcompete non-natives, especially in the most disrupted areas. This unusual pattern stems from our region’s volcanic history, creating a “living laboratory” of adaptation. Using the 1991 Mt. Pinatubo Eruption as a… Read more

Three Key Functions in Philippine Ecosystems When we look at Philippine native trees, we’re witnessing three distinct classes that have evolved through thousands of years of natural selection. From the towering Timber Giants, to the quick-establishing Fast-Growing Pioneers, to the resilient Coastal Defenders – these three broad classes help me make sense of Philippine native… Read more

I pulled up a satellite view from Google Maps to show you the land I’m working with. It’s about 0.5 hectares in size and still very raw. Right now it’s kind of overgrown as you can see. This was the only picture I could get that wasn’t completely swallowed by vegetation. But you know what?… Read more

The first time I hiked between Mount Natib and Mount Mariveles, I felt like I was discovering a completely different Bataan from the one I knew as a child. Growing up, this peninsula had always meant beach trips – I remember sitting in the back seat of our car, watching with curiosity as we wound… Read more

The three-hour drive to my planned permaculture site takes me through an endless sea of rice paddies. From the highway, they paint a deceptively idyllic picture – neat rows of green stretching to the horizon. But beneath this uniform landscape lies a troubling reality: struggling farmers locked into cycles of patented seeds and scheduled fertilizers,… Read more