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Monday, March 10, 2003
Profit secondary to saving earth
By Jessica Banzon-Natad
Sun.Star Staff Reporter
POURING P5 million into a project that has a vague chance of delivering a return on investment (ROI) may be a no-no to most businessmen.
But not to 56-year-old Juan Sala of the prominent Spanish mestizo Sala clan of Cebu.
Sala, president of Discovery Hills located in Babag II, Cebu, told Sun.Star that recovering the ROI of his project is only secondary to him, as what is more important is that he is able to open the door for people to start appreciating and loving the environment.
Discovery Hills is a theme park and mountain haven where people can take a journey and get closer to mother nature.
Sala, a former barangay captain of Camputhaw, said he considers Discovery Hills his contribution to the advocacy of protecting the environment.
“I feel that I alone can’t do anything to protect mother nature, so I decided to do a little.
“The place is a very different hideaway where people can camp, have a retreat, trek, and be able to see the beautiful flowers, colorful hills, rocks, plants and insects.
“Discovery is a place where people can start understanding and loving the environment and protect it. You see, protecting starts with loving. How can you protect something or someone if you don’t learn to love it, or her or him?” he said.
The Carolinian graduate of business administration said his passion to protect the environment started when he was still in high school.
Driving force
“Poems and readings about the importance and beauty of the environment subconsciously penetrated my mind, and have become my driving force until today to become a champion of the environment,” Sala said.
He said he shares his passion with his wife, Josie, and five children.
Sala, who is also in real estate development, said the people should know that the garbage they throw away will eventually go to the ocean, where it will be eaten by fishes.
These fishes are the same fishes that we and our children eat, he said.
(March 10, 2003 issue)
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