Revisiting our VIDES Mangrove Planting Activity this Season of Creation

As the Season of Creation continues, let’s have a throwback of our last Mangrove Planting in Mindoro in 2019. I know we all miss going to different places and planting mangrove seedlings for the community but for now, let us continue praying and caring for our common home in our own way.

The theme for this year is “A Home for All? Renewing the Oikos of God." Oikos is the Greek word for house, including the Earth, our common home, everyone living in it, and the web of connections that unites all living things in our common home.

 VIDES Philippines continues to encourage NOT to use plastic bags, which is being implemented even in solidarity relief operations or “Hatid Ayuda” programs. Beneficiaries bring their own container or recyclable bags. VIDES communities are also encouraged to grow plants in their own home. They even had a bayanihan event of cleaning up their environment. We continue to bring awareness about the environment and the importance of segregation and praying for our common home through solidarity prayers.

Hope this inspires you to think of ways to do Earth-saving measures in your own way. Make a habit of caring for God’s creation!

Mangrove & Beach Forest Development Project @ Calapan, Oriental Mindoro

Sixty volunteers traveled to Tahik, Baruyan, Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro to support the Mangrove and Beach Forest Development Project of the local government last April 22 to 23, 2017.  Despite the difficulty encountered in reaching the area and in the actual planting due to the rapidly rising waters, the group was able to successfully plant a total of 1,000 mangrove seedlings.

Revisiting Oriental Mindoro: Mangrove Planting

VIDES Pinoy volunteers revisited the Mangrove Sanctuary in  Barangay Silonay, Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro last May 9 to supplement the 1,000 mangrove seedlings which the group planted in January of the previous year.

Seventy-four volunteers, young and old alike, happily planted a total of 3,000 mangrove seedlings in the bare portion of the mangrove reservation area.   The trees planted will serve as additional barrier and protection for the residents of Silonay from storm surges, rise in sea level, and coastal erosion. 

The "Man Grows Mangroves Project" which was launched in 2013 is VIDES Philippines' contribution to the global effort to promote environmental awareness, protection, and preservation.   

Mangrove Planting in Calapan, Oriental Mindoro

In celebration of its 20th year, VIDES Philippines will have another mangrove planting activity on Saturday, May 9, 2015 in Calapan, Oriental Mindoro.

Dubbed as "Man Grows, Mangroves Project," the project aims to promote awareness of environmental issues, particularly the protection of coastlines and the importance of planting trees to help mitigate the effects of typhoon-related disasters. 

Mangrove Planting Project

Thirty-two (32) VIDES volunteers traveled to Barangay Silonay in Calapan, Oriental Mindoro last January 24-25, 2014 for the mangrove planting activity.  

With the help of the locals, the volunteers happily and excitedly planted a total of 1,000 seedlings, adding to existing mangrove forest of the 42-hectare Silonay Mangrove Conservation and Eco-Tourism Park.

  

In thanking the participants who joined the activity, VIDES Delegate, Sr Jojo Carrasco FMA, imparted an inspiring message to the volunteers:  

“Do you realize that when one plants a mangrove, man shares in God's creative work? Planting mangroves also supports Don Bosco's Preventive System because this activity is being done in view of protecting the environment and preserving it for the present and future generations, especially during typhoons and other natural calamities. Somehow, planting mangroves is also a form of ‘evangelization in action’.  As VIDES volunteers, we proclaim our love for God by being responsible stewards of His creation." 

The “Man Grows Mangroves Project” was initiated by VIDES Korea in 2013, right after Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) devastated Central Philippines.   The project aims to educate VIDES volunteers and the local community on the importance of protecting mangrove forests and enjoin them to be active environment crusaders. Said project is jointly implemented by VIDES Korea and VIDES Philippines.