Award-winning actor Julio Diaz isn’t easily swayed by attractive rhetorics or tempting invites, especially from people he doesn’t trust.
But when actress Cataleya Surio sent him an invitation for bird watching, forest walking, and sightseeing on a Sunday at the Las Pinas-Paranaque Wetland Park, a man-made islet off Coastal Road and Manila Bay, he didn’t mince words.
“It’s because Cataleya is a friend. We were together in some projects so I kinda trust her,” said Julio.
On top of it, the objectives of Surio’s invite were to promote environment and nature preservation which Wetland has been advocating with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
“Ganyan din ang gusto kong kampanya para sa ating lahat sa Filipino. Kailangan nating pangalagaan ang ating kapaligiran (That is what I also want to campaign for all of us Filipinos. We nee to take care of our environment),” explained Diaz.
In her orientation, Cataleya said that Julio and other guests like Lance Raymundo and Raquel Villavicencio would be able to watch many migratory birds in the park, walk in the forested parts of the small island and witness the unique and beautiful surroundings in the area.
Wetland is a few-kilometer ride from the mainland Paranaque.
By the colorful stories of Cataleya about the diverse bio life in the park, Julio was excited to get to Wetland at the soonest possible time.
“Gusto ko ang bird watching at ang katahimikan ng gubat dito sa siyudad (I like the serenity and sanctity of the jungle in the city),” exclaimed the actor.
With his friend Jess Borlaza, Diaz drove to Wetland.
“Pero nang umagang ‘yon, umaambon tapos, umuulan (But that morning, it was drizzling, later, raining),” he informed sadly.
“Sayang, ang gaganda pa naman ng mga ibon. May nakikita ako na tagak. Ang kaso, umulan talaga nang malakas. Ang ginawa na lang namin, sa resthouse na lang ng park kami tumigil at mula sa malayo, kitang-kita namin ang mga ibon. Sayang, mas maganda kung malalapitan mo pa ang mga ibon. At saka, kung maglalakad kayo sa pinakagubat (It’s regretful, the birds were beautiful. I saw egrets. But it had a heavy downpour so we just stayed at the resthouse and from afar, we watched the migratory birds. The view should have been closer, the better especially if you would take a walk in the forest),” Julio gushed.
Wetland is supposedly developed as a destination for both foreign and local tourists.
“Pero babalik ako r’yan sa Wetland. Magandang pahingahan at pagninilay-nilay (But I will return there. It’s a good place to rest and contemplate),” smiled the controversial actor.
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