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RCMS Inaugurates “Trees For Life” Project in Zamboanga Sibugay
December 9, 2008, Makati City
By Pres. Edna Gan, RC Makati Salcedo
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It was a very busy weekend for the members of the Rotary Club of Makati Salcedo. Last November 21-23, 2008, the club conducted and completed several service activities in the province of Zamboanga Sibugay, which culminated in the inauguration of its 2008-2009 flagship project, “Trees For Life,” a large-scale reforestation undertaking in the town of Tungawan. The Schedule was so tight that members had to be in different locations at the same time. The following activities highlighted the three-day stay of the Salcedians in this Southern Philippine province.
Sister Club Signing with The Rotary Club of Ipil-Sibugay
Club Service, November 21, 2008, 8:00 PM
RCMS signed the Memorandum of Agreement agreement forging its sisterhood ties with the Rotary Club of Ipil-Sibugay (RCIS) of RI District 3850 during the joint meeting held at the Sibugay Grand Plaza Hotel in Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay, last Nov. 21, 2008. Pres. Edna Gan and IPP Dennis Belmonte signed on behalf of RCMS, while Pres. Jose C. Tiu and PE Romeo Oxenio signed on behalf of RCIS. Present to witness the MOA signing were Congresswoman Ann K. Hofer, PP Fani Santos and PP Byeoung Cheoul Ryu of RC Pohang Jeil, Korea.
Bonded by a common desire to be of service, both clubs agreed to jointly pursue the following objectives:
- To promote friendship and brotherly understanding among our members, spouses and children, as well as partners in service;
- To coordinate and cooperate with each other regarding projects and/or activities of mutual interest;
- Encourage visitations either individually or in groups and undertake joint activities in human development, thus promoting the Rotary motto SERVICE ABOVE SELF and make visible what Rotary continues to do in the community and the world;
- To exchange books, magazines, messages, slides, recorded tapes, and such other publications pertaining to Rotary activities; and
- To engage in joint activities and joint projects in the pursuit of the object of Rotary.
RCIS gave each RCMS member a banner as a token of appreciation for their attending the joint meeting and MOA signing. A sumptuous dinner courtesy of RCIS was served. As the meeting proper was adjourned, the group transferred to the next function to enjoy a night of fellowship with Provincial Governor George T. Hofer. |
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 “Coffee with Tong” Breakfast Fellowship
Youth and Community Service, November 22, 2008, 8:00 AM
As part of the club’s service program to the youth of Zamboanga Sibugay, RCMS Dir. Teddy Tong invited the officers and members of the Sibugay Bikers, an association of cycling enthusiasts, for a breakfast fellowship at the residence of Gov. George Hofer last Nov. 22, 2008. The breakfast was graciously hosted by Cong. Ann Hofer, the governor’s daughter.
The gathering was aimed at involving the group to help encourage the youth of Sibugay to become more active in sports, particularly, in cycling. Dir. Teddy will serve as a consultant and help in the design and construction of a Bikers’ Trail in the hills of Sibugay. Doing so will help persuade the Sibugay youth to pick up cycling as a sports activity, become more physically fit and enjoy the opportunity to commune with nature.
After the breakfast, Dir. Teddy and the Sibugay Bikers proceeded to inspect the proposed bike trail site for mapping. |
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Magic 103 FM Radio Interview of PP Greg Navarro
Public Relations Service, November 22, 2008, 8:30 AM
Also on Nov. 22, while Dir. Teddy Tong was having breakfast with the Sibugay Bikers, RCMS PP Greg Navarro was being interviewed live on-the-air by Magic 103 FM Radio Station of Sibugay. The program started at 8:30 AM and lasted until 10:00 AM due to the numerous calls received by the station during the question and answer portion of the radio program.
PP Greg talked about the service projects RCMS has lined up for the people of Zamboanga Sibugay, such as the “Trees For Life” Park and the Career Orientation for graduating high school students. He also dwelled on the subject of good governance as discussed in the book “The Power to Govern” that he himself authored, and gave a thorough analysis of the current global financial crisis. PP Greg also took the opportunity to thank Cong. Anne Hofer and Gov. George Hofer for their warm hospitality to the visiting RCMS Rotarians. |
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“Career Talk” for Graduating High School Students
Vocational and Youth Service, November 22, 2008, 10:30 AM
After Dir. Tong’s breakfast with the Sibugay Bikers and PP Greg’s radio interview, the Salcedians gathered at the Visitor’s Lounge of the Provincial Capitol in Ipil by 10:30 AM for the holding of “Career Talk,” a college education and career-preparation counseling activity for graduating high school students. The venue is in an elevated location that provides a picturesque view of Zamboanga Sibugay.
Fifty students belonging to the top 5 of graduating classes from 10 different high schools in the province participated in the program. Pres. Edna Gan introduced the members of RCMS, enumerating their respective classifications and current engagements as professionals or businessmen, to inspire the students and help guide them on their career choices. She also emphasized on the value of hard work, taking inspiration from these successful Rotarians who rose from the ranks to be where and who they are now.
Four RCMS members gave inspirational and highly informative lectures on various courses the students may take in college and elaborated on their pros and cons. PP Richie Marquez talked about Information Technology, Rtn. Vince Kelemen tackled the fields of Business Process Outsourcing and Real Estate, PP Cynthia Reyes discussed Entrepreneurship and PP Greg Navarro covered possible career opportunities for those who chose to become accountants. PP Greg stressed on the importance of being able to communicate well, both verbal and written, using the English language.
After the presentations, which were capped by a lively question and answer session, each student was given a token bag and lunch pack. The Salcedians then proceeded to the Governor’s Office for lunch and to celebrate IPP Dennis Belmonte’s birthday. They were entertained by the Sing and Dance Troupe composed of the governor’s scholars. |
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Book Donation to Zamboanga Sibugay Provincial Library
Community Service and Literacy Project,
November 22, 2008, 12:30 PM
RCMS, through PP Fani Santos, donated Harvard Classic books to the Zamboanga Sibugay Provincial Library. The books were formally turned over to Gov. Hofer in an informal ceremony at his office at the Provincial Capitol. |
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 “Trees For Life” Project Inauguration
Environment and Community Service,
November 22, 2008 4:00 PM
Never before has RCMS embarked on a large-scale environment project through reforestation, such as "Trees for Life" in, of all places, a remote town like Tungawan. It all started in the 1960's as a dream by a dreamer-doer, George T. Hofer, the incumbent governor of the Province of Zamboanga Sibugay, when he envisioned an environmentally sustainable settlement where progress could co-exist with nature conservation.
After almost 50 years, another dreamer, RCMS PP Rod Santos, started working to make the good governor’s dream a reality. PP Rod saw, an otherwise idle, 9 hectares of land becoming fully reforested and serve as a living museum of various hardwood tree species. He espoused the realization of that dream and seek out help from various organizations using his own funds and supported by the generosity of Cong. Ann Hofer. Positively responding to his call were several local government units, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Sibugay Lambo Pa Foundation, Medina College and the Vulture Humanitarian Fund. RCMS was honored by a special invitation to become the project’s major partner, to which, the club willingly agreed.
To date, all nine hectares of the project site, which has been transformed into an ecology park, are planted with about 8,000 trees of different species, including Lauan-Bagtican, Mayapis, Banaba, Cherry Blossom, Mahogany, Rubber, Coconut, Durian, Lanzones, Ylang-Ylang and Rambutan. The "Trees for Life" Park was inaugurated last Nov. 22, 2008, in the presence of RCMS members together with PP Byeoung Cheoul Ryu of RC Pohang Jeil of Korea and PP Cynthia Reyes of RC Makati San Lorenzo, who planted 2 more species of Narra trees around the cleared portion of the area. Representatives of the project’s partner organizations were also present.
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Forming as integral part of the project, an initial one-kilometer road was constructed within the park to allow all forms of land transportation to pass through and connect the communities in the area. The creek that passes through the park, once regarded as dead, was resurrected to serve as a source of fresh water to support the vegetation in the surrounding areas.
There are many obvious benefits from planting trees and they have been aptly summarized in Cong. Ann Hofer’s speech during the parks inauguration when she said, "All these are part of our dream project, ‘Trees for Life’. The trees will serve as museum and botany for future generations to learn from. They will serve as environmental conservation, a beautiful natural canopy that will help this province in the fight against global warming. They will serve as an eco-tourism earner, so the people will have added livelihood. And, the trees will serve as a legacy, so that generations after generations will be able to partake of all this beauty and, who knows, from their ranks could come even more dreamer-doers to follow the path we have taken today."
Its club logo permanently imbedded on the entrance arch of the park, RCMS has, indeed, embarked on a noble project. “Trees for Life” is the legacy of the Rotary Club of Makati Salcedo, the benefits of which, will extend to the future generations of Zamboanga Sibugay. |
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