I suggested to Datu Godo that he set up a nursery for endangered herbs, run by Bagobos. He frowned. Bagobos, for centuries, feared being invaded by lowlanders. If the lowlanders discover the secrets of their medicinal herbs, they would take over the mountain. Their ancient herbal science was handed down in utter secrecy only to direct descendants. There are no documents, only oral history.

Datu Godo said the Bagobo herbal culture was dying because babaylans, their wisdom stored in their heads without documentation, were a vanishing breed. Their herbal knowledge dies with them. He mentioned the names of some babaylans who were scattered around Mt. Apo, some had passed away, some he did not know if they were still alive.

The children, whom they want to teach so to pass on their ancient oral wisdom, go to lowland schools and never return. I convinced Datu Godo to take the risk of a written documentation, as long as it is held only by Bagobos. He said Apo Sandawa would be pleased, but he had an utter fear of it being leaked to lowlanders by a babaylan traitor.

As Datu Godo quickly cited herbs and the ailments they cured, I suddenly stopped, realizing that I was doing the first written documentation of their herbal culture, defying centuries of tradition. I asked if it was all right. He smiled and said he trusted me. He cited many ailments that he claimed could be cured with Mt. Apo’s rare herbs, from asthma to flu, tuberculosis to cancer.

Hit-and-run journalists like myself are eagles roaming the rainforests. As soon as we write our stories, we forget them, since the papers make them immortal, and we go on to the next assignment.

Without any funds, Datu Godo started to set up the nursery for endangered Mt. Apo herbs, relying on the generosity of his followers. Without resources, it was a losing battle. I approached a noted anthropologist who turned my proposal down even before he heard the details. His mind was focused on other projects where he could get bigger funding for his work. He failed to see the urgency, the crisis of a dying herbal culture that has spanned centuries.

The world could actually benefit from Bagobo herbal wisdom without them losing control of their mountain sanctuary. The funds needed would be peanuts to a big Western foundation like Rockefeller or PBS. They just have to protect the interests of the Bagobos so they would share their wisdom with the whole world. It is possible. It can be done. But, alas, I am not a proposal maker. It would take me perhaps a year to search for foundation funds. As I said, I am a hit-and-run journalist lacking the skills and time for such a big job.

I, in my old age now, have not been back to Mt. Apo for decades. I don’t even know if Datu Ugo and Datu Godo are still alive. And many babaylans would have died through these decades. I feel guilty that the herbal wisdom of the Bagobos has vanished through the years, and I am helpless to do anything about it.