I Planted Trees

Tree Planting Activity with Co-officers

On November 21, 2011, Monday, my friend Kevin Abdala twitted and texted me asking if I could join a tree planting activity spearheaded by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). This activity would be on the 26th of the month participated by the Environmental Sciences Technology (EST) students and organization officers of the different student organizations of Mindanao University of Science and Technology (MUST).

I was very excited when I received the invitation. I always dream to plant trees. When I received the invitation, I immediately confirmed my attendance for the said event. But when the day of the tree planting activity came nearer, I suddenly had second thoughts. After working 12 hours a day, 60 hours a week, my body finally told me that I had enough. Right then I doubted if I could still attend. My body was telling me not to but my will was shouting the opposite.

The night before the said activity, I finally made a decision. Since I was a kid, it was always my dream to plant trees and help preserve the nature. I don’t know why but I always have a heart for Mother Earth. So I decided to go and plant trees.

The call time for all the participants was 5:30 AM so I woke up early and prepared for the upcoming digging. I ate my breakfast at Jollibee Gateway then I proceeded immediately at the school. When I reached there, students, officers and organizers were already in assembly. My friend Kevin was not yet there so I called him and he said that he was on his way too. Because of some unexpected changes, the departure time became 7 AM instead of 6 AM. But that was fine with me and I guess others didn’t argue much about the sudden change.

The student officers rode using the bus while the EST students hired jeepneys. We reached Mapawa, the place where we will plant trees,at about 7:30 and we still have to wait for others to come before proceeding to the actual site of tree planting.

When the group was already complete, we then proceeded to the actual area where we will plant the trees. We have to walk through tall grasses, rocky roads and faulting land formations, carrying plastic bags of seedlings before we reached the area. But everything we have been through were all worth it because we were having fun while walking.

When we were already in the steep site of our tree planting activity, everybody was excited looking for the holes where they will place the seedling inside. A very good friend once told me that each person must plant at least 10 seedlings a year so I also planted 10 seedlings during that activity. After I planted those seedlings, a different kind of joy and satisfaction grew inside me. A kind feeling that somehow made me complete because in a little way I helped preserve the nature.

When got back to the assembly area, free foods were distributed to ease up the hunger after the tree planting. After filling our stomach, the most important element in every activity took place, the picture taking. An event wont be complete without the documentation. So all were very busy posing and clicking the shutter button of their cameras.

When all were ready to leave Mapawa, each one started to get inside their respected vehicle going back to school. The tree planting activity was really a success because of the participants and the organizers. I bet everybody went home with a light heart not more than I felt. Till next time again.