Saving the Gulf is our mission Text By Alger P. Dura Photos By King Rodriguez Sun.Star Davao employees braved the glorious heat of the sun last October 12, 2013, as they pulled off the companys corporate social responsibility (CSR) in a community in Davao City. Led by general manager, Tessie A. Pa¤a, the five departments of Sun.Star Davao worked hand-in-hand in planting 3,000 seedlings during a mangrove tree planting activity at Purok Pisces in Barangay Lasang, in Davao City. We felt tired with the preparations a week before, but this did not topple down our eagerness to help, and the spirit of volunteerism was what pushed us to wake up early to catch 6:30 a.m. jump-off time at Sun.Star office on Jacinto Street. From there, we travelled north bound of the city where the planting site was located. Upon arriving at Purok Pisces (an area passable only by a four-wheel vehicle), we disembarked and walked our way to the site, which was about a half kilometer away from where we were. All of us endured the pain trudging down to the site, as the glorious heat of the sun gave off its extreme midday heat. But the tiresome feeling that morning was paid off with happiness when we finally grabbed each of the mangrove seedling that we were about to plant. We were all elated upon knowing that we have fulfilled the companys mission in nurturing our Mother Earth. True, were also able to touch the lives of the residents in the area. Taking care of our nature has been part of our mission, Adopt-A-Site project, which was launched in 2010. The company allocated funds for the planting and maintenance of fruit-bearing trees planted within Talomo-Lipadas wateshed area at sitio Saro, Barangay Manuel Guianga, Tugbok District, this city. The project, in coordination with Davao City Water District (DCWD), aims to protect and conserve our watershed areas where our potable drinking water is coming from. While this project is still on-going, we also took the opportunity to forge partnership with the Save Davao Gulf Foundation (SDGF), Inc., an organizer of the recently concluded mangrove rehabilitation and protection activity. Like Sun.Star Davao, SDGF alo stays true to its mission in saving the gulf. Hence, they conducted several activities in line with the protection of Davao Gulf which gave us also the opportunity to participate. We, at Sun.Star Davao, are not only concerned in protecting the upland areas, but also were concerned in protecting the gulf because we believe that we could actually save the gulf by saving also the upland. How to save them? Simple. Lets plant more trees (possibly fruit-bearing trees) and different species of mangrove trees starting today. In so doing, generally speaking, we could take part in the governments greening program. Maybe we could organize the same activity next year, Sun.Star general manager Tessie A. Pa¤a shared to all participating employees in the said activity. Upon arriving at the site, there were young children who helped their parents in clearing the site for the seedlings. My observation led me to a realization that the spirit of bayanihan still exists even until date. How I wish that their act of volunteerism will be inculcated in the minds and hearts of our readers. While the women in the host community, all members of Nagkahiusang Gagmayng Mananagat sa Barangay Lasang, were busy removing carefully the seedlings from the plastic pots, a group of men were clearing and digging holes in the site for planting. The seven-year old boy named Jovan, whose story of helping volunteers who come to visit their community, was the most touching of all. He stayed the whole morning with us, guiding and helping us in our mission of planting trees. For Jovan, he believes that planting more trees is the only way to save the ecosytem, especially that his father is a fisherman and the familys livelihood depends heavily on fishing. He said that if theres a lot of mangrove trees in their area, his father, a fisherman, will have more fish catch because the mangrove-forested areas serve as a sanctuary for fingerlings. These areas, too, are where these fishes take refuge when moonsoon waves come. Nowadays, we could seldom find young people like Jovan who are willing to devote their time and effort to serve the community. And I do hope that this story may inspire people to do what is good for our nature as well. In behalf of Sun.Star family, Id like to thank my colleagues who devoted their time in saving the gulf: Tessie A. Paña, Human Resource supervisor Vic Purgatorio, Newsroom supervisor Donna Cuyos, Credit and Collection supervisor Leo Ocot, Circulation supervisor John Darwin Kapaw-an, Production supervisor Raymundo Dumagunot, and photographer King Rodriguez. Our participation in re-greening our forest cover was a proof that we do not only care for our duties and responsibilities as media personalities but also for our community. Also, we thank Save Davao Gulf Foundation president and Davao City First District Councilor Leonardo R. Avila III (this writers former boss) for spearheading the said event, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Barangay Council City Agriculture Office, and members and officers of Nagmabala, Globe Telecom represented by its Safety, Health and Environment Program expert Bernadeth Jimenez for sending their employees to be one with us in the volunteering works. May our longings and aspirations will continue to achieve a greener nation for our childrens children.
Posted on: Mon, 21 Oct 2013 09:46:53 +0000
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