Learning about mangroves in Olango

CEBU, Philippines - When Georich Livelihood and Learning Foundation offered our Executive Lifestyle Editor Marlinda Angbetic Tan a chance to treat young readers of The FREEMAN to a day of learning and fun, she did not hesitate to inform the rest of The Lifestyle team, instructing us to start looking for other partners in the endeavor.

Jen Vega was at the forefront in inviting more partners into the project, especially key people who could share their expertise on mangroves and the environment. Cahms Allego, the head of The FREEMAN’s pre-press department, took care of all the designing, from the tarpaulin to the announcements, while Ms. Tan and The FREEMAN’s General Manager Melandro Mendoza provided the guidance and the direction.

The original plan was with Earth Hour, last March 17, but since the date was too close for us to be able to come up with an outstanding project that would leave a mark in the children’s lives, we decided to have it on Earth Day, instead. More accurately, a day before Earth Day, April 21.

The project was called Kid Stuff Loves Mother Earth: Olango Fun Day on Earth Day. It was a half day trip to Olango Island to learn of the island’s international significance, the importance of mangroves, and the right way to plant them. Of course, the kids also had to experience planting mangroves; after all, learning is about experiencing.

The first to answer our call for partnership was Islands Group together with Islands Souvenirs and Islands Banca Cruises through their corporate social responsibility head, Chai Apale, and with the support of the company’s president, Jay Aldeguer.

When we asked McDonald’s (through Cerwin Eviota) and Shakey’s (through Allen Tan) to cover our breakfast and lunch, respectively, they opened their menu to us without hesitation.

Plantation Bay Resort and Spa (through Joanna Marie Cuenco) then gave us a large bus to bring the kids to their resort, and we were treated to a brief tour of the property on our way to Galapagos Wharf where one of Islands Banca Cruises’ craft was waiting for us.

On our way back, there was Hilton Cebu Resort and Spa’s van (through the generosity of Manny Osmeña and the help of Mia Sy), to transport us to The FREEMAN office.

The Rotaract Club of Cebu South also joined us in the trip, and they donated the snacks for the group. Prosel Pharma, on the other hand, gave the kids a bottle of Selvon C multivitamins, while for the adults their newest vitamin product, Selvon Cee SR, 1000 milligram ascorbic acid in sustained release tablet, allowing for 24-hours of protection against free radicals.

The kids were also given shirts from Islands Souvenirs, as well as summer shorts and a kit from The FREEMAN Foundation.

Reginald Bueno of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and Mario Marababol of Ocean Care Advocates offered their time to give the kids a fun lecture on the importance of mangroves, in Olango Island, and, of course, how to properly plant mangroves.

After planting around 500 mangrove propagules, the kids then went to a fish sanctuary where they saw lots of fishes. They were also made to either draw or write about their experience, which will come out on the ECO Sunday edition of The FREEMAN Kid Stuff on May 17.

Indeed, it was a morning full of fun, adventure and learning. Although the weather was a bit hot, the kids, all 14 of them, nonetheless enjoyed the trip.

The challenge now is how to make the project even grander on its second year, and it could be safely said that by then more kids would be looking forward to The FREEMAN’s Earth Day kids’ treat.

To all the kids, their parents, and the sponsors of the event, our deepest and warmest thank you.