Promoting responsible outdoor activity ethics, the Makiling Center for Mountain Ecosystems’ annual Lenten season visitor management program—Make It Makiling (MIM)! 2026—was successfully held from 29 March to 05 April 2026. The program was spearheaded by the MIM! 2026 Steering Committee, chaired by Forester Alexis John Fajardo and co-chaired by Forester Mary Anne Abdillos. The operational success of MIM! 2026 was ensured through the key roles played by various committee heads, including Forester Arnulfo Yanoria, Coordinator of the Los Baños/Bay Committee; Forester Aldin Alegre, Coordinator of the Sto. Tomas, Batangas and Calamba City, Laguna Committee; Forester Leonardo Barua, Head of the Secretariat Committee; Mr. Mickie Oracion, Head of the Financial Committee; Forester Marlo Caña, Coordinator of the Camping/Hiking Committee; Forester Leilani Castillo, Coordinator of the Resource Generation Committee; Ms. Ma. Jesusa Menorca, Coordinator of the Food Packaging/Distribution Committee; Mr. Sancho Lanao, Coordinator of the Culinary/Food Preparation Committee; Forester Angela Limpiada, Coordinator of the Briefing Committee; Ms. Isadora Opulencia, Coordinator of the Ticket Fee/Collection Committee; Special Police Captain Jasper Jason Madrigal, Coordinator of the Emergency, Rescue, and Communication Committee; Mr. Misael Palanginan, Coordinator of the Peace, Order, and Law Enforcement Committee; Forester Myranel Canceran, Coordinator of the Local Trade Management Committee; Forester Analyn Malayba, Coordinator of the Waste Management Committee; Mr. Choy Natividad, Coordinator of the Unallowed Items Depository Committee; Mr. Romer Mada, Coordinator of the Transportation Committee; and Forester Geine Joseph Esguerra, Coordinator of the Ocular and Preparation Committee. These dedicated steering committee heads were responsible for overseeing food services, safety protocols, environmental management, and transportation. Such responsibilities were essential in ensuring effective organizational management, with high priority given to both tourist welfare and ecological integrity throughout the week-long event.
The management of the MIM! 2026 was reinforced by the unified efforts of partner institutions from various organizations, including the Local Government Units surrounding the Mount Makiling Forest Reserve (MMFR): Los Baños, Bay, and Calamba City in the province of Laguna and Sto. Tomas City in the province of Batangas; Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (DRRMO) of Los Baños, Laguna; DRRMO of Sto. Tomas City, Batangas; Environment and Natural Resources Office of Sto. Tomas City, Batangas; Philippine National Police of Los Baños, Laguna; United Radio Organization and Communication; Los Baños Safety and Emergency Team, Inc.; UPLB Security and Safety Office; UPLB University Health Service; Rural Health Units of Los Baños, Laguna and Sto. Tomas City, Batangas; Laguna Tourist Police; 1st Laguna Provincial Mobile Force Company; Kalasag; Barangay Bagong Silang; RescueKidz; Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau (ERDB); International Rice Research Institute; National Power Corporation; Laguna Rescue; Educators for Nature Tourism; and student volunteers from the University of the Philippines Los Baños. These partners worked collaboratively with the center in advancing the conservation and sustainable management of the MMFR, an ASEAN Heritage Park (AHP).
Furthermore, the MIM! 2026 was made possible with the support of the following partners: Philippine Geothermal Production Company, Inc. (PGPC); Decathlon Philippines, Inc.; Toyota Batangas City; Calamba Water District; Laguna Water District Aquatech Resources Corporation; Trueclear Water Refilling Station; 88′ SPA; Big Stone Laundry Shop; RFM Corporation; CDLS Homestyle Cooking; Kim-Kat Enterprises; Ramirez Transport Services; Jericho’s Bakeshop; Gina’s Store; Provincial Government-Environmental and Natural Resources Office (PG-ENRO) of Laguna; Local Government Units of Bay and Los Baños in Laguna and Sto. Tomas City in Batangas; New Batong Malake Public Market Multi-Purpose Cooperative; Makiling Forestry Credit Cooperative; ERDB and Science Community Multipurpose Cooperative; Ms. Camilla Y. Ables; and Mr. & Mrs. Rico & Rose Uruga.
The MIM! 2026 successfully guided and provided services to more than 5,000 tourists during the Lenten season. Visitors were consistently reminded and guided on the importance of responsible outdoor practices, as the program actively promoted key principles such as the Leave No Trace ethics, encapsulated in the messages “Take nothing but pictures” and “Clean as you go.” Through these efforts, MIM! 2026 was not only centered on providing meaningful and memorable outdoor experiences, but also on strengthening long-term commitments to shared responsibility among tourists, enhancing awareness and education on biodiversity conservation, and supporting the sustainable management of the MMFR AHP. (Article by For. Alexis Fajardo, photo courtesy of VM Aboc)