“If it would be my last day, then I will plant a tree and maybe the earth will remember

me”. Yes, because I believe that saving or healing the environment was never a burden but a
privilege and responsibility granted to our species and that we should never take for granted
mother nature. On May 13, 2023 the DJEMC graduating class of 2023 has conducted community
outreach program via tree planting activity at the watershed site located at brgy. Cuarenta, San
Jose, Dinagat Islands.

5:30 in the morning was the supposed assembly time but I arrived at 6:30am due to
personal reason at home. Upon arrival at the rendezvous point we then traveled as a group to
Brgy. Cuarenta and waited there for another hour for other students to arrive. At 7:15am finally
everyone was accounted for and we then went to the provincial agriculture nursery to get some
seedlings, two (2) seedlings per students was handed out by the staff. From the provincial
compound we hiked to the watershed for about 15 minutes, the path to the watershed was a bit
hard to follow because road was not properly paved and we have to manage it downward so
everyone has to be careful not to slip down.

Upon arrival at the designated planting area we then individually need to find our spot on
where to plant the seedlings that were handed to us. Finally, I finished planting two (2) of my
seedlings, when we were about to leave because all of us already planted the seedlings given to
us we met with one of our instructor Mr. Sayson on the way back and we saw him bringing
additional seedlings. Apparently, some of my classmates only took one (1) seedling instead of
two (2) and since every accounted seedling was already allocated and was already discharge
from the nursery we have to plant all of them. So without wasting any time, because frankly it
was getting a bit hot out there I voluntarily took an additional two (2) seedlings and planted
them.

After every last one of the seedlings where planted we finally get to go home. It was a
refreshing experience for me because beside from helping the environment by planting trees I
also get to exercise during the hike and get to breathe the fresh air in the forest area which is
fresher than the air we have in the rural areas.