Much has been said about the environmental impact of human activities but very few have taken steps towards reversing it. Davao Christian High School Batch 1999 decided to kick off its series of fund and fun-raising alumni activities with TREEvolution: A #BeTheLight Planting Project.
“One of our goals as a
batch is to encourage and engage the DCHS community to serve others and be good
stewards of what God has entrusted us with – including our planet,” shares
Stephanie Seng Ong, Batch President of DCHS Batch 1999. “We didn’t want our
projects to focus only on raising funds for our homecoming activity, but to
answer the question, how can we be the light?” she continues referring to their
theme verse found in Matthew 5:14.
“We thought of an
activity that involved the DCHS community while making it fun, educational, and
memorable for them,” reveals Desi Dario Magnaye, Batch 1999 Execom member. “A
batchmate raised the idea of tree-planting and with Earth Day coming up,
everyone immediately warmed up to the activity as it ticked all the boxes,”
Desi adds.
DCHS Batch 1999 found a credible partner organization namely, EGIP Foundation, Inc. a non-government organization based in Mindanao whose primary objective is to support the indigenous cultural communities in the island in protecting, rehabilitating, and reforesting their ancestral forests. The foundation’s role also includes research on biodiversity, improving livelihood among the indigenous communities, food security, community development, health, and education.
Last
Earth Day, a group of 70 seedling sponsors composed of students, family
members, faculty, and DCHS alumni trooped to Sitio Puting Bato, Brgy.
Baganihan, Marilog District to conduct the tree-planting activity.
The Obu-Manuvu Bantay Bukid team, who will take charge of ensuring the survival of the seedlings for the next 3 years, lent a hand in clearing and preparing the site. The participants got their hands dirty choosing to plant a native fruit or forest seedling and proceeded to paint their names on a wooden stake which was placed beside their sponsored seedlings.
EGIP project coordinator and field biologist, Joshua Donato, and project manager, Celine Le Neindre Van Dierendonck, spoke about the importance of continuing to spread awareness, participate, and contribute to forest protection and regeneration. “While there are too many factors stacked against us, the involvement of humans is necessary to give ourselves and our earth any chance in the near future, to have what we have taken for granted for too long; fresh air, clean water, and natural nutritious food,” Celine explains.
The group was rewarded with freshly roasted corn-based coffee as well as a delightfully tasty and aromatic native dish called nilotlot na manok which is native chicken slowly cooked inside a bamboo stalk with coconut milk, lemongrass, ginger, and other spices.
On
the other hand, the more adventurous members of the group decided to trek to
the majestic Kwagsik Falls accompanied by some teachers and the Bantay Bukid
team while those who remained were treated to a tour around the
intricately-designed bamboo structures by Ms. Rica Villanueva-Gadi of Bamboo
Bootcamp, an NGO that trains and educates individuals on the sustainable
life-cycle of bamboo from shoots to structure.
“We received heartwarming messages after the activity from students saying it was one of the highlights of their high school life. We are grateful for the opportunity to give back to the environment and create core memories for the families and friends that joined. We hope this continues to be an annual event and we invite everyone to support our upcoming activities.” enthuses Stephanie.
Participants went home with a custom #BeTheLight baseball cap, a certificate of participation, and happy memories knowing they made a TREEmendous impact on the future generation.
For seedling donations and to join future events, please follow DCHS Alumni Homecoming 2024 on Facebook.
To find out more about how you can support the EGIP Foundation and the Obu-Manuvu Bantay Bukid organization or how you can organize your own tree-planting activity, please contact Joshua Donato of EGIP Foundation through email: egip_foundation@yahoo.com.ph or their Facebook: EGIP Foundation.
For more information about Bamboo Bootcamp, please check Facebook and search for Bamboo Bootcamp.
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