The 2022 version of Trees Brew Life program of San Miguel Brewery, Inc. (SMB) happened in Carmen, Baguio District, Davao City on September 8. It was in close coordination with Euro Generics International Philippines (EGIP) Foundation, an entity that has been propelling sustainable management of ancestral domain forests in the hinterlands of Davao City, now being handled on the ground by my very good friend in Big Year Davao, Inc. Joshua Donato who have successfully reciprocated SMB’s drive towards reforesting key sites in Davao Region. Carmen is still within SMB's area of concern because Davao City is a long-time venue of its business particularly on beverage marketing and distribution. Also, SMB always look for other appropriate places where it can radiate its advocacy on environmental conservation and protection.
Trees Brew Life has been one of the most comprehensive conservation programs undertaken by a private sector, and this latest partnership with EGIP Foundation gave me (and my club LOGSAC) heavyweight reasons to be involved with despite it not being held in Sta. Cruz this year because two of my very close friends were at the forefront of it, Joshua and Meggy Santos of SMB. Yes, the last two years of this program were conducted in the mangrove reservation sites of Sta. Cruz.
The exact location of this year’s tree planting and nurturing is close to Panigan River in Carmen, Baguio District, an Ancestral Domain of the Ovu-Manobo which recently faces several challenges due to encroachment of non-IP migrants establishing activities and projects not commensurate to be undertaken within an ancestral domain, a thing which is very common nowadays anywhere else in the country. We reforested one hectare of the site using native tree species in an area bounded by a very important river system and a Local Conservation Area of montane rainforest which according to Joshua a dwelling place of the Philippine Eagle and other critical wildlife within its range.
I planted 15 seedlings during the event. The rest of my team from LGU Sta. Cruz and LOGSAC also contributed the same numbers. It matters as usual to be able to make sure that the planted seedlings should survive, which gives us reason to be back here and check if the planted trees grow. Personally I dedicated two seedlings to my two daughters Majesta and Zara because they deserve a healthy environment when they grow old. I planted one seedling for my wife, too, because just like you and me a fitting gift to our love ones should be more than just cakes and flowers.
Again, I would like to thank SMB for always inviting me and my group to take part to the Trees Brew Life program, especially to Plant Manager sir Larry Santos and to its Communications Manager Meggy Santos for always a good partner in terms of conservation and ecotourism development in Sta. Cruz. Rest assured that LOGSAC will always be an active participant to your endeavors in the future within and out of Sta. Cruz.
I am deeply gratified that despite some busy schedules you were able to made it to this activity Nelson Geralde, Jose Froilan Miagao and Delmer Carillo.
