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Defy gravity, love nature with rock balancing
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“Walang kokontra, sabi,” Leandro Inocencio mumbled as he slowly put an eighth rock on top of the pile he has built so far. He kept switching rocks, finding the right one to balance on its tip, to top off the stack that is now taller than him as he squat.
Leandro Inocencio (L) and Boboy Vista (R), founders of Rock Balancing Philippines, pose next to their art pieces.
Beside him, Ildefonso “Boboy” Vista started making his own stack of rocks: smaller, but just as tricky.
The Taytay mall where the founding duo of Rock Balancing Philippines did this activity last June 16 is not their usual haunt. The best place to do rock balancing is outdoors, next to riverbanks where rocks are abundant, where tree leaves rustle at every gust of wind.
At the mall, the two had to carry husks and rocks in sacks on a wheelbarrow up to the third floor where the only rustling sound comes from the hum of centralized airconditioning.
“Mas marami talaga 'yung tao (dito), 35-year-old Vista told GMA News Online. “'Yun nga lang, 'yung pagdating naman sa ibang event, mas na-eenjoy naming ang nature eh. Kumpara 'yung sa mall, medyo crowded, medyo parang hirap 'yung ano mo, 'yung feeling mo, kasi hindi nga kami sanay na ganun.”
But right at that moment, they had an audience at the mall, so along with their rocks, the duo brought their advocacy with them.
A response to Ondoy
Rock Balancing Philippines was founded in September 2010 in Tanay, Rizal, months after Typhoon Ondoy happened. As their personal response to the devastating calamity, the Inocencio-Vista duo then started a journey with nature, joining and organizing tree planting activities and other nature programs while promoting awareness for the environment.
Rock Balancing Philippines was founded in September 2010 in Tanay, Rizal, months after Typhoon Ondoy happened. As their personal response to the devastating calamity, the Inocencio-Vista duo then started a journey with nature, joining and organizing tree planting activities and other nature programs while promoting awareness for the environment.
Their free rock balancing workshop at the Rizal Exporters & Manufacturers Fair in Taytay last June 16 was a method of reaching out.
Around two dozen people joined the workshop which they conducted after they finished balancing rocks near the fair’s entrance. It was Father’s Day, and kids started stacking as soon as the workshop started.
“Lahat tayo artist,” Vista told the crowd. “Ang kailangan lang natin, gisingin natin iyon(g pagiging artist).”
Rock balancing is done worldwide, but it’s not as easy as it looks.
Here are the different styles that you should know as shared by Rock Balancing Philippines:
Here are the different styles that you should know as shared by Rock Balancing Philippines:
- Stacking: This is the simplest style of balancing as it only involves putting rocks on their flat sides on top of each other. It’s like piling up your books.
- Pure Balance: This is when you balance a rock on its small side or tip. It’s not easy finding the balance point of a huge rock, and it takes a lot of practice and concentration.
- Counter Balance: This is tricky, since you don’t place the rock on its center and you need a rock on top to counter the lower rock’s weight.
- Freestyle: This is rock balancing gone crazy, and could produce arches or stacks with three rocks on pure balance at the top.
It’s harder to balance smaller rocks, said Leandro Inocencio of Rock Balancing Philippines. “Ang malaki, mabigat. 'Yung maliliit, konting hangin lang, matutumba na.”
Inocencio shared a tip: Try starting tall stacks with three small rocks at the bottom, “parang tripod.” If you notice, three-legged stools don’t wobble compared to four-legged ones. That’s the same principle.
The rest is up to your practice and imagination.
Rock balancing, Vista explained, is art with a purpose.
It’s a “relaxing” activity that links your mind to nature, helping you meditate on how simple rocks can be used to grab attention without throwing them.
It’s a “relaxing” activity that links your mind to nature, helping you meditate on how simple rocks can be used to grab attention without throwing them.
“Bago namin ituro kung paano ang rock balancing, pinaparating muna namin 'yung mensahe namin na pangalagaan ang kalikasan,” Vista told GMA News Online.
True enough, he and Inocencio tackled greenhouse gases, carbon footprint, and proper garbage disposal during the talk.
True enough, he and Inocencio tackled greenhouse gases, carbon footprint, and proper garbage disposal during the talk.
It’s an indirect approach, but Inocencio said “magmamarka iyan sa kanila kahit papaano.”
“Mag-iiba na 'yung tingin nila sa bato, lalo na 'yung mga bata,” said Inocencio. “Kapag makakita sila ng bato, maaalala nila 'yung rock balancing mula sa amin, pati rin 'yung mga sinabi naming tungkol sa environment.”
Simple folk
When they’re not balancing rocks, Inocencio and Vista are “normal people.”
“Butcher ako, driver. Freelance artists and contractors din kami ni Boboy,” said Inocencio. “Mga simpleng tao lang kami. Kami nga wala pang funds at kapos sa time tapos nagagawa namin ito (para sa kalikasan). Paano pa 'yung iba?”
Back at the fair’s entrance, dozens of passersby took photos of the now-guarded rock towers. Some would playfully blow at the stack, to see if it the tall one would budge, but it didn’t.
“Biglang naging importante 'yung bato,” said Inocencio. “Kanina, nasa kariton lang iyan. Ngayon parang nakatingala na sila."
Inocencio and Vista hope that those who saw their works at the mall will try rock balancing beyond air conditioned spaces and find time to appreciate nature.
“Mas maganda kung dun mismo sa lugar, halimbawa, sa tabing-ilog o sa mga nature camp. Mas ma-e-enjoy ng mga tao na mismong nakikinig,” said Vista. “Mas maganda (na) sila 'yung i-invite papunta sa nature kesa 'yung ilapit dito (ang kalikasan). —KG, GMA News
Rock Balancing Philippines may be contacted via their Facebook page.
Rock Balancing Philippines may be contacted via their Facebook page.
