Pretty as a Butterfly
- by Lester Ledesma,
People Magazine, September 2000
If
you think butterflies are pretty, then this place is for you. Just a
few kilometers off the North Expressway lies the Pulilan Butterfly Haven.
Located near the town center of Pulilan, Bulacan, this picturesque,
500-square meter compound is a nirvana-in-a-net for anything with six
legs, a pair of colorful wings, and an unabashed obsession for flowers.
For
us two-legged creatures, on the other hand, it offers a welcome break
from the mall - as well as an entertaining and educational experience.
Guests get to watch a documentary video on "Nature's Flying Gems,"
then go on to tour the garden-enclosure, with its lush greenery, cascading
waterfalls, and hundreds of fluttering butterflies. "People
from all walks of life come to visit here," says Estelita Aguirre,
Deputy Director of the Bureau of Internal Revenue and the owner of the
place. "On weekends, we even have families from three generations
arriving to see our butterflies!"
She
had, in fact, discovered her love for these insects after a trip to
a butterfly farm in Palawan. Shortly thereafter, she decided to build
her own enclosure. Completed only last year, Aguirre now breeds and
raises around 15 butterfly species at the Pulilan Butterfly Haven. Despite
her success in the hobby, she does admit that her satisfaction isn't
quite complete. "I get to spend only my weekends here," Estelita
confides. "For most of the week I work in Manila, so I can't stay
in Pulilan as often as I'd like to." Obviously,
she doesn't mind the long drive to Bulacan, and neither should you.
Pound-for-pound and peso-for-peso (there's a P40 entrance fee), this
insect haven is truly charming, fascinating window into the world of
butterflies.
