SSC News and Events 2011

SSC Mega Outreach Tree Planting
by Sr. Celine Saplala, OSB, Social Action Center Coordinator
Posted: Monday, September 3, 2012

The hills of Tanay in Rizal were alive with the first SSC Mega Outreach Tree Planting in the morning of August 25, 2012. Led by SSC President, Sr. Mary Thomas Prado, OSB, lay administrators, Benedictine sisters, faculty, students, staff and general services personnel and parents counting more than a hundred rode two buses, a van and cars bringing with them seedlings of various kinds. Many of these seedlings were those brought at the Offertory procession during the previous day's Misa ng Bayan.

This Mega Outreach is part of the school's institutional activities in line with the school year thrust on "Revitalizing our Community." As the first of the activities, the Tree Planting was organized by the Institutional Outreach Committee in coordination with the Sisters who are in charge of the Priory's farm in barangay Kanlubatan, Tanay.

Upon arrival at the farm, Sr. Alicia Sobrevinas, OSB, Sr. Martina Noche, OSB and their farm helpers welcomed the SSC Manila outreach group with plenty of freshly picked guavas for the taking. With the seedlings brought by the group gathered in the farm shed, Sr. Mary Thomas explained the reason why SSC is conducting the activity. She emphasized that the Mega Tree Planting activity is part of the school community's effort in restoring the integrity of Mother Earth and thanked and commended everybody for their response and cooperation. A short prayer was led by Sr. Celine, OSB of the Social Action Center after which Sr. Mary Thomas blessed the seedlings.

Sr. Alicia oriented everyone regarding the areas where the seedlings will have to be planted, like the narra and banaba seedlings near the fence or in a sloping area; the atis, guava, duhat and other fruit trees in another portion of the farm, etc. From the officers of Munting Barangay, to the Sisters, administrators, HS, GS and College faculty, OP/PS and GSP and parents, with the help of the farm workers, a whole community of Scholasticans spent the rest of the morning in touch with the soil and enjoying their time.

Through this Mega Tree Planting activity, it is hoped that the group's institutional effort in taking care and giving back to Mother Earth in gratitude for all that she has given the school community will benefit the future, not only of for SSC children but for the whole of the next generation.