07/05/2026
On May 30, all roads lead to Pakil, Laguna for the annual "Ahunan sa Ping-as" where devotees ascend the hill for their "panata."
Yet this year, the festive spirit carries a heavier undertone, with what many locals now see and feel, as the developments around Ahunan Dam construction unfold. The hydropower project is being opposed by many residents for its potentially destructive impact on their environment.
The most jarring change began when images of the dwindling greenscape of Mt. Ping-as flood social media.
"Sakit sa matang makitang kalbo kana," Rheyster Guevarra posted on his page. What used to be green ridges are now marked by exposed earth and cut terrain. ( https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1EDDTBdbN1/ )
For many, the loss feels immediate and irreversible. Add to this, the noise brought by heavy equipment and drilling which has pestered locals, especially at night.
Dusts too, has become part of the town's everyday life. Fine particles from excavation and transport fill the air and settle over houses, vegetation, and skin.
In a post by Niño Joseph Caidic Valenzuela, he snapped, “Hindi lang bundok, lawa at palayan ang winawasak nitong mapaminsalang dam na itinatayo sa Pakil, pati kalusugan at baga natin ay sinisira ng Ahunan Dam dahil sa sobrang alikabok na dulot nito.” ( https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1ScdvS47xK/ )
Many residents worry about what the altered landscape might result to during heavy rains or typhoons. With portions of the mountain already cleared and loosened, concerns about landslides and flooding have increased.
All of this complicates the narrative of renewable energy. The Ahunan Dam is designed as part of a cleaner future, a shift away from fossil fuels and toward sustainability.
But for those living in its shadow, the cost feels immediate and tangible.
The irony is difficult to ignore: in striving for renewable energy, a non-renewable environment — mountains, forests, ecosystems — is being permanently altered.
(Photo: View of Pakil town from Mt. Ping-as)
