"on a shoestring"

May its roots grow deep, its leaves bloom and its trunks a refuge to many.

Most believe that one of the ten things you must do before you die is to plant a tree. And so together with more than 200 tree planting volunteers on the morning of August 7, I planted some Molave and Ipil-Ipil trees at the Ipo Dam, Norzagaray Bulacan. I am thankful to Nature Valley Philippines for this “make a difference” project. Each of the volunteers planted about 5 trees after 1 hour of hike. It feels good to be doing something not only for yourself but for your kids, you future, for nature. I just hope and pray that the Dumagats and DENR would be serious to nurture the trees we planted.

The volunteers on their way to the mountain

Start of the 1 hour hike

We are happy to plant trees

TBR Marathon Classmates

The advocacy started when 11,200 runners joined the Nature Valley Run last May 30, 2010. I’m glad that Nature Valley is true to their words as this tree planting activity is already the part 2 of the 3-part tree planting endeavor. Thankful that I’m part of this worthy advocacy.

With some Dumagats & fellow volunteers (Odie, Leo and Odette)

On a personal level, I joined because I love nature, the mountains, the trees and I’m an outdoor person. It would break my heart to climb a deforested mountain. Also, I learned that this would benefit the Dumagat tribes that are living near the mountains. During college, I have had a lot of opportunities to help the Dumagats of Aurora province and I think this is a good follow up, this time the Dumagats of Bulacan. For more info, you can visit the Nature Valley website.

After the tree planting, Nature Valley kind enough to give us loot bag. Double Kudos to Nature Valley! I was looking for the Haagen Dazs ice cream but there is none.hahaha

How I wish all ‘runs’ that are being organize are like this. This is really what we call run the ‘extra mile.’ But of course you also want to be part of it. Sorry, but the activity already ended. Maybe I can offer you some suggestions to start in your own little way:
1. Stop littering and teach others to do the same.
2. Segregate and Recycle.
3. Bring your own bag when going shopping.
4. Bring your own mug at Starbucks/CBTL.
5. Stop using straw in fastfoods, its plastic. Its cool to drink without the straw.
6. Buy 1.5L of Gatorade instead of the usual 500ml bottle.
7. Help my friend Kassy. Read further for more details…


Let’s hold our hands together, go the extra mile- for NATURE, for the FUTURE!

http://mapletreefoundation.net/

Kassy, a marathoner friend is running her 2nd Marathon at the SC Standard Chartered Marathon on December 5, 2010. She will do this for the benefit of The Mapple Tree Foundation. She is raising some bucks “to help deprived and underserved mountain communities live healthy, productive, and peaceful lives with sustainable resource development programs that provide basic services, livelihood development, and education.”


Please check out her blog HERE and help put smile on the faces of the kids living in the mountains. You don’t need to do something BIG or be FAMOUS in order to make a difference. small things make a BIG difference when done with all your heart.

Note: Some pictures are from Odie, a fellow runner and tree planting volunteer. Nice meeting you guys!