By now a familiar missive when we step into nature’s domain, “Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints” continues to gain more bite to match its bark. The global shout-out to preserve our natural resources, which has been under threat of unrestrained tourist traffic, has inspired this crucial reminder that we redefine the way we enjoy nature to activities that are least intrusive, least disturbing, and least damaging. Taking pictures is a natural option. Negros of Season of culture could not agree more. 
WADDY WATCHING. An Irrawaddy dolphin and her calf in the coastal waters of Bago City, Philippines
This June we feature new tourism draws in Negros Occidental that will give you a fresh perspective of the province when you return for a visit. For who knew there are dolphins this side of the river? Apparently, a dozen Irawaddy dolphins have become new residents in the waters of Bago City, just south of Bacolod. Our editorial team visited with Mark de la Paz of the Lumba Project, whose mission it is to educate the local community on how to guard and protect the dolphins. Joining forces with Mark in this conservation effort are the University of St. La Salle Centre for Research Natural Science Department, the city government of Bago, and the Province of Negros Occidental.
It may look far from it, but this is the origin of your cuppa coffee. Coffee cherries turn red as they ripen, which signals that they are good for harvest.
Looking east towards the mountain, we learn of another non-intrusive eco trip. As light softly filters through the forest canopy of Barangay Minoyan in Murcia town, naturally ripened, organically grown coffee beans, dressed in morning dew, glisten. They are the gems of local coffee farmers who supply beans to KapiPat, a coffee shop with an environmental platform. Owner Paul Jasper Javellana roasts, grinds, and brews only local coffee. His team’s pet peeve? Single-use plastics, so customers are asked to bring their own containers for orders to-go. Through their advocacy, Paul Jasper and his company have introduced many other coffee shop owners to the Minoyan coffee cooperative, and so the reduced carbon footprint benefit of buying local keeps both enterprise and environment in a happy co-existence.
Negrense fine art photographer Aeson Baldevia captures a photo of his wife, April, swimming in the waters around Danjugan Island.
We round out our June features with Aeson Baldevia, multi-awarded photographer and graphic artist whose works have been shown internationally. And now, we launch his photo gallery here at Negros Season of Culture. Having attended marine and wildlife camps at Danjugan Island off Cauayan, Negros Occidental, Aeson grew up keenly aware of environmental conservation. He carried a pang in his heart for wasteful lifestyles, so that when Danjugan called for a volunteer graphic artist, Aeson was the perfect shoo-in. In that role, he took photos of all events on the island and created all visual collaterals for the island’s campaign. Last year we featured a video documentary about Danjugan Island on our web, this time we get to revisit paradise through the lens of Aeson Baldevia. Utterly, we take nothing but pictures.
June Campaign Logo
Centering around the theme of ecology, this month’s logo uses the main elements of a mountain and waves to tie together land and water forms. To complete the picture, the Irrawaddy dolphins of Bago are shown across the water, giving the image more life. The arrangement of elements takes inspiration from Aeson Baldevia’s use of wide shots and layers in his landscape photography. Overall, the logo aims to depict a harmonious and scenic view of nature all together.
Text By: Alan S. Gensoli
Photos By: Kaila Ledesma-Trebol , Aeson Baldevia, Unit A Creatives
Logo By: Thea Torres
