Amanda Virrey
Maryknoll Ecological Sanctuary, Baguio City
(Baguio City, Philippines) One of the beautiful things about Baguio City is the community’s staunch advocacy towards Mother Earth.
Everywhere in the city, signs are placed to remind people to care for the environment, while campaigns to preserve Mother Nature resonate in artisan café’s, art galleries, parks, schools and many more institutions.
Maryknoll Ecological Sanctuary is one of those moving institutions in Baguio that provide in-depth holistic understanding about the Earth and inspire proactive actions in sustaining Mother Nature’s resources through scientific data, ancient traditions and indigenous cultures.
In order to disseminate this understanding, Maryknoll offers engaging programs that touch all angles of the ecology.
Some of them are the Indigenous Earth Wisdom offers an interactive understanding on the sacredness of the earth through nature and ancestral spirits;
Earth Recollection, a full-day activity that comprises of the Cosmic Journey through the evolution of man and fosters a reverence for nature and a meditative walk in the Labyrinth;
Evolutionary Consciousness shares a comprehensive understanding of the spiritual dynamics of nature and how to face environmental crises and
Early Earth Education where children from a half to four-and-a-half learn to grow a garden, prepare and enjoy vegetables and celebrate the bounty of the earth.
Among these, the Cosmic Journey is the favorite of visitors, mostly of families with young kids, due to its real-life simulation with a nature trek to fourteen stations depicting the creation of the world.
Reliving the Pre-Historic Era Through the Cosmic Journey
At the entrance of the nature trail, a beautiful scripture was written to evoke awareness and action to its visitors. It says, “I pledge allegiance to the flora, fauna and human life, that it supports one planet, indivisible with safe air, water and soil, economic, justice, and equal rights for all”.
While nearby is the first station, called the “Universe Came into Being 137 Billion Years Ago”, which depict various rock displays,. This aptly leads to a wide opening of beautifully assembled rocks that are transformed into a mini Stonehenge, representing that “Planet Earth Emerges 5 Years ago”.
The rest of the trail covers succeeding events from the Earth’s creation, such as the oceans as life’s birthplace, the dinosaurs appearance, the arrival of mammals, birds taking flight, flowers spreading, arrival of primates, early humans living in caves, the hunting and gathering age, the village period, the Earth giving sweet water, the Earth’s religious traditions, and the Earth House that is made of earth and recycled materials.
It offers a fascinating trek amid sloping hills, a ritualistic valley, pine trees, sprawling staircases, caves and bridges that children would simply love to explore.
So when in the city, be sure to commune with Mother Nature and relive the Earth’s history at Maryknoll Ecological Sanctuary.
Maryknoll Ecological Sanctuary is located at 25 North Santo Tomas Road, Campo Sioco,, Baguio City. Contact nos. +63 74 424 5745 and +63 915 655 5745. Email: [email protected]
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