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       SSC News and Events                                              SY 2006-07

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Tree-Planting: High School unit's gift to Mama Mary
 Marian Salonguit, IV-Commitment, Forest Club President
Posted: Thursday May 31, 2007 03:37 PM

Just in time for Mama Mary’s birthday last September 8, 2006, eighty-one (81) students together with ten (10) Science teachers, had their tree planting activity at La Mesa Watershed.  The 100 trees planted at the site served as the High School (HS) unit’s gift to Mama Mary.  The activity was spearheaded by Ms. Mira Angeline Villanueva, OIC of the HS Forest Club.

The tree-planting took off with an orientation facilitated by one of the foresters, Mr. Val Mendoza, of Bantay Kalikasan.  The 20-minute orientation

 


Students posing with the newly planted seedling

included the history of La Mesa Watershed, Bantay Kalikasan’s primary advocacy which is reforestation, the importance of trees in the sustenance of life, and a short demonstration on planting trees.  After the orientation, the groups were clustered and started trekking the path to the planting site.  The 30-minute hike was one great ordeal because of the muddy trail. Everyone got her share of dirt, some fell and hurt along the way – but nevertheless persevered until we all reached our destination.  The group was given 30 minutes to plant the 100 trees.  After the task, the group headed to the briefing area for sharing of experiences.


The participants at the orientation camp with Mr. Val Mendoza of Bantay Kalikasan

   The responses from students were heart-warming.  One student realized that people waste resources easily not knowing that it would be difficult to get these resources back.  Some commented that the hike was memorable than the planting itself because it was there that they were  able to appreciate the hardships people go through to plant trees.  The students learned that the value of life is too much, that irresponsible cutting of trees is indeed killing and a sin to God and to mankind. The teacher chaperones felt

that all their preparations paid off knowing that the students gained something worthwhile from the experience.

The activity certainly detached the students from the comfort of their air-conditioned classrooms and exposed them to the long and difficult trek, intense heat and a variety of forest insect bites.  Nevertheless, the students went back to SSC with smiles on their faces filled with a true sense of fulfillment.  But their mission does not end there.  Their task to “heal what is wounded, restore what is lost and give life to what is destroyed” has just begun. 

 
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