Hello Hivers and friends! In this blog I'll be sharing to you about the possible age of some trees in my school front. So, please take your time to read this blog. I also would like us to learn some lessons from it.
Old but Still Productive
This part of the jackfruit looks like the swollen hip and thighs of a woman. The barks that hump that look like thighs are very rough and sturdy. But still, it has fruits on its sides.
I really wondered if this jack fruit tree has really existed for several years. So, I asked Noy Marcos, our school watchman, if he had noticed this tree when he was in his elementary years in this school.
He told me that during his elementary years, this tree was already big. He is now 71 years old. As I look at the bark of the tree that seem to wrinkle like the skin of an old woman. They even crack and parts of it can be detached easily with bare hands.
Old but Still Strong and Cool
Another tree just a few meters away, is the old Mahogany. Referring to its age, I again asked Noy Marcos. He told me that this tree was also big during his elementary years. Yes, we can see that barks also can be detached by hand. Several layers of bark are already observable. So, based on Noy Marcos' age, we can conclude that this tree has existed for about eight or nine decades ago.
Tragic End
On the other side, there existed an old Ipil Tree near our kindergarten classroom. Teachers informed me that it has already existed for several years and already matured when the Strongest Super Typhoon Yolanda hit the school in 2013. But, it remained strong.
Until one day...the sad unexpected truth...
In one afternoon in January 12, 2024, a sudden strong storm hit the Ipil Tree that is located at the exit area of the school just about forty meters away from the trees I've presented to you in the beginning. It fell to the ground after several years of existence.
But it's only seven days before when I admired the look of this tree, thinking that it's strong. But, maybe due to its old age and declining bend of its trunk and the weakening of it's roots, it could no longer keep it's strength. It eventually fell.
I couldn't believe this will happen to it for having survived several years but it finally gave in only for a short but strong storm. How sad!
The Reflection
One can still be productive and strong even at old age. But change is inevitable.
After long productive years of existence or probably at work, one can't guarantee of continuous strength for several more years. Like the trees, our life situation may change in an unexpected time and occurrences.
Thank you for reaching this part here. I hope you enjoyed and had learned something. Hoping to see you in my next blog. Thank you very much for your continuous support.