A hundred Ramons to launch year-long tree-planting

A hundred men named Ramon will converge to launch a year-long, nationwide tree planting activity to commemorate the 100th birth anniversary of the late President Ramon Magsaysay, his family announced Tuesday.

These “Ramons”, led by Sen. Ramon Magsaysay Jr., will lead the planting of 100,000 trees which will be called “Ramon Magsaysay Centennial Trees.”

The tree-planting activity will be conducted all over the country from Aug. 31, 2007 to March 17, 2008, the family said in a press statement.

The “Ramons” – who are doctors, engineers, architects, artists, stage and film actors, journalists and environmentalists – will meet on Monday, Aug. 20 at a luncheon from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at No. 43 Hillside Loop, Blue Ridge A, Quezon City.

Friends and relatives of the 100 “Ramons” are urged to help in the planting of trees anywhere in the country, including Mt. Pinatubo, the name of the presidential plane that crashed in Cebu, and Mt. Manunggal where former President Magsaysay died along with 25 other passengers. The lone survivor was Malaya columnist Nestor Mata.

The organizers of the unique project include the Philippine Mountaineers, Mother Earth Philippines, Green Army Foundation, Manila Seedling Bank, Philippine Wood Producers Association, Artists for the Environment, Earth Day Network Philippines and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

For more information, contact Ramon Orlina (0917-8805108) or Odette Alcantara (647-1181).