MISTAH FOUNDATION CELEBRATES ARBOR DAY 2020 AMIDST COVID 19 - Mistah Foundation

MISTAH FOUNDATION CELEBRATES ARBOR DAY 2020 AMIDST COVID 19

Date: 11 Aug, 2020  No Comments

“Each generation takes the earth as trustees. We ought to bequeath to posterity as many forests and orchards as we have exhausted and consumed” – J. Sterling Morton (founder of Arbor Day)

Mapita, Aguilar, Pangasinan — Since 1947, Arbor Day has been institutionalized here in the Philippines and being celebrated every 25th of June by planting and growing of trees, ornamental plants and other related activities.

In line with the celebration, with this year’s theme “Forest, Health and Wellness: The Role of Forestry and Forest Management in Promoting and Sustaining Health and Wellness”, MISTAH Foundation under CDR RICHARD T GUBATAN SR (GSC) PN (Res), in partnership  with the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) under Director Gayo; Philippine National Police (PNP) Aguilar under PCPT Sembrano, Chief of Police; and volunteers, a total of forty (40) participants, conducted Tree Planting Activity at Brgy Mapita, Aguilar, Pangasinan.

Annually, Mistah Foundation does their best to commemorate Arbor Day. Therefore, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, CDR GUBATAN decided to invite volunteers to join the activity. The volunteers were asked to strictly observe health protocols such as, physical distancing, wearing face masks, and proper sanitation to prevent possible spread of the virus.

The activity commenced at sunrise, but not without having a light breakfast to toughen up every one for the challenging hike that awaits them. At 6:00 am the volunteers started hiking, digging and sowing.

They decided to plant Chinese Acacia (Acacia Confusa), which can be used as traditional herbal medicine, converted as charcoal and also frequently used as durable flooring material. And Mahogany (Toona Calantas), which is widely favorable for crafting first-quality furnitures, musical instruments and even used with boat constructions.

At 4:00pm, the exhausted but satisfied volunteers finished planting a total of two thousand (2,000) seedlings. The activity came to an end with an all-scrumptious Filipino traditional boodle fight, all provided by MISTAH Foundation.