TREE PLANTING, ANYONE?

For those who have been following my entries, I suppose you are already aware that am the Happy World POC in Cebu. Well, for those who are unfamiliar with Happy World, it is the corporate social responsibility arm of Aegis. The initiative is the company’s commitment to give back to the environment and community by doing significant and meaningful activities that would benefit the environment, micro-entrepreneurs and the people in general.

So, last April 30, 2011, together with 57 volunteers, we conducted a tree planting activity at Tungkil, Minglanilla. The activity is in partnership with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Am so proud because we planted a total of 5, 000 mangrove propagules and according to DENR, when the propagules are fully grown, it will sequester 2, 750 metric tons of carbon dioxide and reduce carbon emission of 500 cars. Isn’t that amazing? 

The activity was definitely fulfilling. Am inviting the rest of my colleagues to get involved and be part in our future activities. We hope to see you!

HAPPY BIRHDAY, LANGGA PANGET!

My sister and I during her graduation. We look so much alike :-)

Wow! It has been an awkwardly long time since I updated this space. It’s not that I don’t have any pieces to write about, I was just drowned with a number of activities in the office that needs my concentration. For a while, I couldn't get any word out of myself but luckily, I was able to bounce back that’s why this entry came about. Work has been demanding this past few days and I have to press myself to the same level of pressure my work is asking from me.

Anyway, today is my sister’s birthday and I want to dedicate this entry to her. I already posted an entry about her before (Click here to visit "Am a Super Proud Brother) and I expressed in that article how proud I am as her brother. Judith is a loving and generous sister and everyday, I am thankful to God for giving me such a blessing. My sister and I are so tight and I have my parents to thank for raising us that way. I can still remember when we were still in high school…my sister and I usually wear identical shirts during school activities. Also, am the spendthrift between the two of us and she usually lends me her allowance when am out of money to spend.

‘Twas year 2001 when my family really struggled with our finances – our business went south and my dad got retrenched from his job. Our financial setback took its toll when my sister had to stop schooling so I can continue mine. ‘Twas really difficult, heart breaking in fact however, my sister never complained. She stayed home for two years waiting for me to finish. She was always hopeful that am going to make good with my studies and would eventually end up with a good job so I can send her to school. I did not fail her. After graduation, I took the job offered to me as a journalist in a local daily in Cagayan de Oro and used my salary to support my sister’s education.

My sister took Bachelor of Science in Law Enforcement and she is, like me, an achiever. She graduated top of her class and was awarded as the Outstanding Intern of the Year of the pioneering batch – an all male batch. Fast forward to today, she is now a law enforcer.

Let me close this entry by sharing to you the closing statement of her speech when she was asked to speak to the graduating class of 2009.

                “You might be wondering why I chose Law Enforcement. Well, for a variety of reasons and I can enumerate them to all of you one by one. Point by point. However, I do not want to hold you for a long time. That's why in a nutshell, let me tell you this. If you are a person who still believes in hope; hope that law enforcers are the catalyst of peace and order, a channel of change, the pillar of public safety, the embodiment of integrity, an individual who never cheats just to get what he or she wants—then this course is definitely for you. Because in the end it's still all about the public and service.”

Happy birthday Langga!!! Mama, Papa (who’s in heaven now) and I love you so much!