A Masungi Park Ranger reveals the perils of protecting the environment

Environmental protection has its inherent dangers, and the life of Mazungi Park Ranger Kuhkan Mas is a testament to that.

Mas, 33, narrowly escaped shooting in July 2021 after patrolling a section of the Masungi Geopark project.

Hailing from Pikit, North Cotabato, Mas moved to Rizal province in 2012 at the invitation of his relative.

“Sa amin kasi, medyo magulo po, tapos pinili ko na lang sa masunki, nandito na rin naman po mga pinsan ko. natutua ako sa pangangalaga sa kalikasan,” Mas said.

Speaking to ABS-CBN’s “Tao Po,” Mas recalled the struggles he faced when he became a park ranger in Masungi, despite having no formal background or experience in environmental protection.

“‘Yung mga bato na ganito, wala. wala do’n sa ‘min nito. walang ganitong bandok. bago pa nga po ako, hindi ako sanai mag-Tagalog. nahihirapan ako. tatlong taon bago ako natuto mag-Tagalog,” Mass. Said.

“Nanibago po talaga ako, first time ko po magtrabaho. Nagtatrabaho ako sa palayan namin. Tintuan po ako sa paglilinis ng halaman at mga puno po,” he added.

It took him years to adjust to his new workplace. He was one of the first park rangers to establish several ecotourism site attractions, including the famous “Sapot” or Cobweb.

As a park ranger for more than 10 years, Mas has planted more than 10,000 trees.

“Masaya ako, bilib din ako sa ginagawa ko. Tapos masaya ako, nakikita ng ibang tao yung hindi sinisira ang mga bato, nakikita mga tao yung mga puno,” he said.

But his work in protecting the environment was not so good.

“Meron pong panganib na nangyayari talaga. Yun nakaran tawon at nakaran buan, lagi kami sinisigawan ditto. Yung baraks namin, binabato kami ditto,” Mass recalled.

In July 2021, some armed men attacked their barracks and fired 12 bullets into their sleeping quarters.

“Nagaton ako nag-roving nung alas otso. Ta’s 10 minutes, bumalik na ako kasi Malakas ulan. Tapos nakahiga na ako. Maya-maya, binato barak namin sa likod. Binato, malakas calambag,” he said.

“Sabi ko sa kasama ko, bumaba ka kako, patain mo ilaw. Kasi jalousi lang kabila, baka me sununod. Sabai kami yumuko. Sinabayan kami ng putok po e, nataman ako, nataman din kasamahan ko sa oolo,”.

Mas was cut in the neck and a fellow ranger was cut in the head. Two forest guards survived the incident.

Apart from this, there were other recorded incidents of landslides and land encroachment within the protected site.

“Siguro po, ayaw nila na pinoprotectahan namin lugar. Matagal na kami dito, marami na ako naitanim na puno. Dito na ako nakapangasawa, napamahal na ako sa trabaho,” Mas said.

But despite the dangers, Maas said he remains committed to protecting the Masungi Georeserve.

“Natadakot din naman po. Pangako ko sa sarili ko dito ako magtatagal. Kumbaga sa pamilya, pamilya ko na rin pinagtatrabahuhan ko. Kung lililipat ako sa trabaho, marami na ako naitanim na puno, masasayang pinagh said,”

Mas started his family in Rizal. He now has a child.

“Pangarap ko nga sa anak ko, paglaki nia, magiging ano rin nia ako e, park ranger din sia. Makita n’ya yung tinatanim ko, mypagmamalaki nia na tinanim ni papa yan,” he said.