05/07/2026
Looking back 30 years ago, the low season in Boracay was not just a time of waiting for better days or worrying about the lack of income. It was also a season when we chose to make ourselves productive by planting fruit trees and thinking of the future. At that time, we may not have fully realized how important those small efforts would become, but today we are living witnesses to the value of planting and caring for the land.
The trees we planted then are now giving back to us in many ways. Our avocado trees bless us with a good harvest every year. The kamagong, which bears fruit year-round, has become a source of food for visiting fruit bats, reminding us that what we grow does not only benefit people but also supports the island’s wildlife. The tamarind or sampalok has become useful in our kitchens, especially for sinigang, while the Indian mangoes we planted are now saleable and appreciated by both residents and tourists. What once started as a simple act of planting has turned into a source of food, livelihood, and pride.
We also planted bignay, which has become a special tree for our resident birds. Mulberry trees have grown into favorites that everybody loves to pick from. Other fruit trees such as aratiles, duhat, atis, guyabano, guava, star apple ( kaimito) and kamachile have also become part of the blessings we now enjoy. We have a constant source of buko from the coconut trees we planted years back.. We planted jackfruit and orange trees as well, and although they have not yet borne fruit, they still remind us that not everything grows on the same timeline. Some trees, like some dreams, need more patience than others.
These memories are a powerful reminder that the low season can be used for meaningful and lasting work. Instead of allowing ourselves to be overwhelmed by the stress of having little or no income, we can use this quieter season to improve our environment, plant food for our own consumption, and inspire others in the community to do the same. Bananas, papayas, vegetables, and fruit-bearing trees may seem like simple beginnings, but they can awaken interest, encourage self-reliance, and create hope. Over time, these small actions can grow into something that benefits not only one household but the whole community.
The beauty of planting is that it teaches us patience, faith, and responsibility. We do not plant only for ourselves, but also for the next generation. We plant for our families, for our neighbors, for the birds and bats, and for the future of Boracay. Thirty years later, the harvest we enjoy today proves that the off season does not have to be empty. It can be a season of preparation, restoration, and quiet investment in something greater.
Perhaps this is the mindset we can continue to carry as a community. The low season may be calm, but it can also be productive. It can be a time to care for the land, grow our own food, strengthen our connection with nature, and turn worry into purpose. What we plant today may not all bear fruit tomorrow, but one day it can become a blessing that future generations will look back on with gratitude.
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