on Sept 23, 2006 in the mountain barangay near Mt. Manungal where the late Pres Ramon Magsaysay died in a plane crash was our next destination. Our mission is to plant trees in parnership of Philippine Business for Social Progress which was the result of the fellowship and service projects for the rotaractors after the recently concluded Rotaract DISTAS Training last Sept 1-3, 2006 in the Visayas.

I didn't expect that there were a lot of youth participation from different Rotaract Clubs of Cebu Normal University, Cebu Institute of Technology, South Western University and Cebu Doctors College- there were 60 students and 2 Rotarians one from Mandaue North of which I am part of and the other was from Metro Mandaue 2006.

We have planted around 300 seedlings of mahogany in that bald area. I still remember the last time I participated a tree planting in my college days in CITE last 1993, along the road way up to the school (The school is on top of a mountain). And when I go there for a visits to give talks and seminars to students, I could see and feel the benefits of having those trees grown in that area. It provides shades for students coming up the mountain and most of all it serves to help keep the rain water be absorved in the ground and be used as supply for the water requirements.

I know for the fact that the same effect will happen to our future seedling as they grow, and the Balamban mountain areas need more trees since it is part of a Watershed Area and we will be able to help and give back what we have enjoyed now for the future generations to come.

By the way, what amazes me was that we only have 2 jeepneys as our transportation and we all squeeze ourselves in it. We even have to stop and wait for the other transportation several times of the travel making sure that whatever happens we will not leave them behind. We thank God that nothing untoward happens and the day was really fit for the tree planting. More friends were gained and our next project will be planting 1 Million Mangroves in around Cebu islnad in partnership with Coastal Conservation and Education Foundation, Inc (CCEF, Inc). Watch out for it!