Planting trees, nurturing communities

MANILA, Philippines — There is now a feeling of dread among many Filipinos whenever it rains. This conditioned response is likely due to the ever-increasing incidents of severe flooding and other weather-related disasters in recent years.

Mother Nature is clearly telling us that things have become untenable and that we all have to do something to combat the climate crisis. As individuals, many of us feel helpless and powerless given the enormity of the challenge.

And this has often led to paralysis and inaction on our part. One answer to this problem is the “whole of community” approach. By organizing ourselves and banding together to do something as a community, we can make a difference. And to make a difference, communities can do one simple and yet amazingly effective thing — plant trees!

It is this idea that drove several local groups and individuals in San Mateo, Rizal, to recently come together and conduct a tree-planting activity in their municipality. Led by Angat San Mateo, Bikers for Light, KaSaMa, Angat San Mateo Youth, the Manila Waldorf School, and some residents of nearby communities, the diverse group planted Narra seedlings in one of the eco-sanctuaries inside Timberland Heights, a Filinvest Land township project.

It was truly an entire community event, fully supported by Filinvest Land, represented by Timberland Heights estate manager Fidest “Star” V. Salonga and her staff.

San Mateo government also participated, led by Vice Mayor Jimmy Roxas, Councilors Carlito Briones and Norberto Salen, and municipal administrator Jose Enrique Desiderio, who delivered a message on behalf of Mayor Omie Rivera. Environmentalist Poroy Pangilinan gave inspirational remarks. After the tree-planting activity, the entire group had refreshments at the nearby Eats by the Park, a nature-inspired open-air weekend market in Timberland Heights that is open to the public.

Angat San Mateo leader Qwyn Rivera hopes that the activity can show the local San Mateo community that each and every one of them can make a difference in the fight against the climate crisis.

This whole of community approach can bring the community closer, increase the sense of volunteerism; and this can be reapplied to address the other needs of the local community. This way, we will not just be planting, growing and nurturing trees, but also communities.