MANILA, July 26, 2011― The Diocese of Cabanatuan has pledged to plant 100,000 seedlings within the year as a sign of support for the celebration of the CBCP Year of the Youth (CBCP - YOTY),
The Central Luzon region has originally given the diocese a quota of 20,000 trees as part of the 1 Million Trees project of the CBCP-YOTY, but the diocese’s youth commission committed to exceed it by planting 100,000 trees within the year.
Fr. Denis De Leon, MMHC, priest-in-charge of the Cabanatuan youth commission, said their participation has a dual purpose.
According to him, it “is for the sake of ecology” and also, so that the youth will become aware of the value of nature.
So far, 13 parishes, schools and youth groups have had tree-planting activities, bringing the total number of trees planted to 7,170. The St. Paul the Apostle parish planted the most trees, numbering 3,000. The parish volunteers chose a site in Gabaldon for their tree-planting activity.
20k trees by September
According to Joannie Bolisay, diocesan youth coordinator of Cabanatuan, the original quota of 20,000 trees will be met by the 1st week of September, as Fr. Chito Beltran, director of the diocesan Commission on Ecology, also suggested. For the 100,000-trees commitment, the entire diocese will be involved, not just the youth.
De Leon added that September remains the best time to plant because the last quarter of the year will be rainy.
The latest tree-planting activity was made by seminarians from the Maria Assumpta Seminary last July 16 where 25 seminarians and a priest planted 1,500 Ipil-ipil seedlings. Isagani Pamintuan, a 4th year college seminarian, said they were not given a quota, but they just kept on planting as long as their energy lasted.
Aetas help plant trees
Pamintuan also shared that it was a unique experience because the Aetas helped them plant trees. He added that the experience was good but a bit difficult because of the hot weather. Bolisay and Pamintuan expressed confidence that the Aetas will help care for the trees, ensuring that they will grow well.
De Leon added that they hope to involve all the parishes and Catholic schools for the Episcopal Commission on Youth's 1 Million Trees project.
Aside from tree-planting, the annual plan of activities of the diocesan youth commission mentions a feeding program, gift-giving, prison ministry, and immersion with the indigenous people. (Jandel Posion)
