Well, I think there was a huge (and totally understandable) uproar because some folks thought I wanted to collect donations. I absolutely refuse to accept a single peso, because that is a conflict of interest and frankly, no matter how well any of you may know me, it is simply not a good idea for me to accept any donations because I have a vested interest in these teams and their success.
Habz was the first to come up with the donation idea, and then Ouddict contacted me to pitch it. I thanked him, because it is a noble thing to try to help out someone in need. But as I explained to him, it simply "wouldn't work", it would get messy (exactly what I feared, is exactly what happened). And so, he would have to figure out a way, if its even possible, to somehow get the funds to the family of the deceased with absolutely zero Taha presence in any step of the process. I'm not sure how that's even possible since I won't divulge any names, I've already seen where divulging names of my (ex) distillers got me!
At any rate, "actions are judged by intentions", and anyone who felt the urge to help those folks out, that's wonderful! Aside from prayers and sending positive thoughts their way though, I don't see how any form of financial help is possible.
One gentleman had analogized the deceased chap to a robber who's killed during a robbery. I'd like to let him know that in the Philippines I got the permit from the DENR and Quarantine departments (obtained in 2017, and still valid), and that this legal right to fell trees extends to anyone in my employ. So whatever you feel towards me, please don't direct that negative energy towards the guy who passed away, or the family he left behind. Aside from the 2 teams' ignoring my urges to NOT go for the hunt during the rainy season because it gets extremely dangerous (it was raining almost non-stop, with only short breaks here and there), he did nothing that would warrant your scorn.
As for me, then yes I have the right to be frustrated because the teams had gone against my express instruction to NOT proceed until the end of March (end of rainy season). But if I, who took the financial hit, don't have negative feelings towards the teams, I'm sure you can manage to dissolve yours away too.
Side note:
back when I posted the photos, even in the remotest furthest limits of my remotest imagination I had never fathomed someone would have come to the conclusion that I'm trying to 'capitalize' on these tragedies. I find it very disturbing. I also think perhaps such folks are not aware of some of the disasters in 2016 and 2017. Not once did I *ever* ask for donations, in fact I hardly ever even share them with anyone except some folks who I regularly talk to on the phone/WhatsApp.
So please take this opportunity now, realizing how treacherous it is to get high quality agarwood, to grasp the actual message I was trying to convey: this stuff is precious. So treasure what you have, and give it the respect it deserves.
Habz was the first to come up with the donation idea, and then Ouddict contacted me to pitch it. I thanked him, because it is a noble thing to try to help out someone in need. But as I explained to him, it simply "wouldn't work", it would get messy (exactly what I feared, is exactly what happened). And so, he would have to figure out a way, if its even possible, to somehow get the funds to the family of the deceased with absolutely zero Taha presence in any step of the process. I'm not sure how that's even possible since I won't divulge any names, I've already seen where divulging names of my (ex) distillers got me!
At any rate, "actions are judged by intentions", and anyone who felt the urge to help those folks out, that's wonderful! Aside from prayers and sending positive thoughts their way though, I don't see how any form of financial help is possible.
One gentleman had analogized the deceased chap to a robber who's killed during a robbery. I'd like to let him know that in the Philippines I got the permit from the DENR and Quarantine departments (obtained in 2017, and still valid), and that this legal right to fell trees extends to anyone in my employ. So whatever you feel towards me, please don't direct that negative energy towards the guy who passed away, or the family he left behind. Aside from the 2 teams' ignoring my urges to NOT go for the hunt during the rainy season because it gets extremely dangerous (it was raining almost non-stop, with only short breaks here and there), he did nothing that would warrant your scorn.
As for me, then yes I have the right to be frustrated because the teams had gone against my express instruction to NOT proceed until the end of March (end of rainy season). But if I, who took the financial hit, don't have negative feelings towards the teams, I'm sure you can manage to dissolve yours away too.
Side note:
back when I posted the photos, even in the remotest furthest limits of my remotest imagination I had never fathomed someone would have come to the conclusion that I'm trying to 'capitalize' on these tragedies. I find it very disturbing. I also think perhaps such folks are not aware of some of the disasters in 2016 and 2017. Not once did I *ever* ask for donations, in fact I hardly ever even share them with anyone except some folks who I regularly talk to on the phone/WhatsApp.
So please take this opportunity now, realizing how treacherous it is to get high quality agarwood, to grasp the actual message I was trying to convey: this stuff is precious. So treasure what you have, and give it the respect it deserves.
Last edited: