11 August 2018, Laguna Quezon Land Grant, Siniloan, Laguna.  26 of the initially 28 confirmed FMC participants showed up at 8 am on a Saturday morning, despite the heavy and persistent rains delivered by Tropical Storm “Karding” (international name “Yagi”).

The FMC team were a jovial, fit and excited bunch of foresters throughout the duration of their half day Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) tree nurturing program.  After registration, refreshments and breakfast, the participants were briefed about FEED and its scholarship and climate change action programs; followed by a technical talk by Forester Rey Lorida’s Status of Philippine Forests 2018 updated, which generated much concern amongst participants about how we could each take steps to help.

They then commenced on a 45 minutes leisurely-paced but rather muddy, heavily rainy and challenging trek up to around 1,530 ft into the Sierra Madre mountain range of the Laguna Quezon Land Grant of FEED’s Living Legacy partner of almost 20 years, the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB).

Upon arrival at their designated site, they proceeded to plant a variety of 200 indigenous Philippine forest tree seedlings of approximately 8 months old each, which had been  prepared earlier that morning by forest guards – who typically spend their days traversing the near 10,000 hectare protected forest ensuring the protection and maintenance of trees, some of which are centenaries.

Advanced site preparation is necessary to ensure standardisation in approach and application of species planted, with 1 meter spacing in between and 12 inch deep dug holes – mimicking the species selection and behavioural growth of trees appropriate to that part of the ridge.

Once the planting was completed, the FMC group stayed on site to admire their living legacies planted, many participants sang to their plants, while others said prayers asking the trees to live long and prosper.  The occasion was especially heartwarming, knowing that 300 kilometres downstream in Marikina and other cities in Luzon, Tropical Storm Karding was wreaking havoc in many with Marikina river levels rising to 18 meters, forcing the evacuation of thousands of local residents – thereby reinforcing the need for more rehabilitation of our upland watersheds.

Ms. Marge Gay Bahasa, FMC Brand Manager, delivered a sustainability talk on one of FMC’s main advocacies being the need to train farmers in the relevant use of agricultural products, stressing the company’s commitment to reducing its environmental and social impacts in manufacturing processes and products; energy use, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, water use and disposed waste; adding FMC’s focus on advancing the well-being of the farming and other local communities in which they operate and live.

FEED and FMC both are signatories of the UN Global Compact, a voluntary initiative based on CEO commitments to implement universal sustainability principles and to take steps to support the UN Sustainable Development Goals (Goals), one of which is to encourage and work in multi-sectoral, multi-disciplinary partnership towards taking climate change action – for no one agency or person can make it happen alone (Goal 17: Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development).

Serious Sidetone: “On the same day, at least 800 families or 5,000 individuals have reportedly left their homes already as of 6 pm.”

3RD ALARM. Marikina River water level, as of August 11, 6 pm. Photo from Marikina PIO Facebook page.

As heavy rains poured in Metro Manila, Rizal, and other parts of Luzon due to the southwest monsoon or hanging habitat, the Marikina River’s water level exceeded 18 meters shortly before 5 pm Saturday.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration said Tropical Storm Karding (Yagi) will continue enhancing the southwest monsoon even if it already left the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR). A tropical depression outside PAR is also enhancing the southwest monsoon.

Source (extract from): https://www.rappler.com/nation/209352-marikina-river-water-level-august-11-2018

Thank you to the Brave FMC Jungle Survivors!

Under the circumstances, it is with a tense but very grateful heart FEED and all our Living Legacy partners thank the brave FMC eco-warriors and jungle survivors for continuing their environmental advocacy, never once hesitating from having to wake up at 5AM to travel to the site, to arriving in the clouds with limited visibility, thick fog and inescapable rains that sometimes poured down with ferocity.

Thank you to all of you at FMC who committed to planting during your free weekend time, for braving climate change’s unpredictability and for completing your initiation in not only tree nurturing, but jungle survival! You can be very proud, and we sincerely hope you help us all pay it forward, by encouraging other inspiring eco-leaders to join!

1	Felipe Villanueva	15	Irene Chavez
2	Violeta Villanueva	16	Juan Paolo Concepcion
3	Christopher Cuevas	17	Sancit Baria
4	Katrina Inocencio	18	Zhyra Mae Sabado
5	Elizabeth Bustos	19	Eddison Capistrano
6	Jhoana Marie Angeles	20	Ma Christine Apares
7	Jhona Segurola	21	Trixie Pinon
8	Juvy dela Rosa	22	Michael Vincent Openia
9	Lilet Gutierrez	23	Crispin Ermita Jr.
10	Margueritte Bihasa	24	Generous Terrado
11	Sarah Kay Fajilan	25	Evangeline Barrogo
12	Elizabeth dela Cruz	26	Ryan Lopez
13	Aurea Luz Barzaga	27	Joan B. Perez
14	Daisy Salaño	28	Janhissi Enriquez

At about 11AM, once everyone had trickled back to base camp, some at a high pace (possibly hungry), others at a relaxed pace, whilst some opted for the tractor ride up – everyone evidently enjoyed the view and experience. After freshening up, removing some leaches and changing into spare and dry clothes, they proceeded to enjoy a native “binalot” lunch of Philippine adobo wrapped in banana leaves with rice, tomato and banana all sourced from the local community.

Certificates of Participation were awarded to everyone who helped “keep our people and planet healthy” contributing also to carbon capture for future generations to appreciate. It is thanks to adventurous, thoughtful and caring souls such as the FMC participants that FEED is able to continue its reforestation, rehabilitation and other environmental initiatives today.

Thank you Students and Volunteers for the Environment (SAVE) participants Brian Ian Paul A. Ranada and Imee Florence G. Ranada for joining us in planting an additional 20 native Philippine trees to the Sierra Madres!

So, may the Forest be with you all always!

Climate Classification

The Philippines has five types of climates: tropical rainforest, tropical savanna, tropical monsoon, humid subtropical, and oceanic (both are in higher-altitude areas) characterised by relatively high temperature, oppressive humidity and plenty of rainfall. There are two seasons in the country, the wet season and the dry season, based upon the amount of rainfall. This is also dependent on location in the country as some areas experience rain all throughout the year (see Climate types). Based on temperature, the warmest months of the year are March through October; the winter monsoon brings cooler air from November to February. May is the warmest month, and January, the coolest.

PAGASA’s Tropical Cyclone Intensity Scale

Weather in the Philippines is monitored and managed by Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

PAGASA categorises typhoons into five types according to wind speed. Once a tropical cyclone enters the PAR, regardless of strength, it is given a local name for identification purposes by the media, government, and the general public.

The Philippines sit across the typhoon belt, making dangerous storms from July through October. These are especially hazardous for northern and eastern Luzon and the Bicol and Eastern Visayas regions, but Manila gets devastated periodically as well.  “Bagyo” is the Filipino term to any tropical cyclone in the Philippine Islands.  From the statistics gathered by PAGASA from 1948 to 2004, around an average of 28 storms and/or typhoons per year enter the PAR (Philippine Area of Responsibility) – the designated area assigned to PAGASA to monitor during weather disturbances. Those that made landfall or crossed the Philippines, the average was nine per year. In 1993, a record 19 typhoons made landfall in the country making it the most in one year. The fewest per year were 4 during the years 1955, 1958, 1992 and 1997.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_of_the_Philippines

Slideshow, FMC Tree Nurturing CSR Program, 11 August 2018

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GPS Images & Coordinates

Use any GPS (Global Positioning System) software / applications to input the latitude and longitude coordinates to be able to remotely see the location of your trees planted. Some examples include:

• https://www.gps-coordinates.net/
• https://gps-coordinates.org
• https://www.maps.ie/coordinates.html
• http://www.mapcoordinates.net/en

About FMC Corporation, Philippines

Sustainability is an enduring, fundamental part of FMC’s structure, our talented people, novel products and responsible stewardship at all levels are Powering Progress and Growing Results.

For more than a century, FMC Corporation has served the global agricultural, industrial and consumer markets with innovative solutions, applications and quality products. On November 1, 2017, FMC acquired a significant portion of DuPont’s Crop Protection business. FMC employs approximately 7,000 people throughout the world and operates its businesses in two segments: FMC Agricultural Solutions and FMC Lithium.

Ever since our beginning in California in 1883 when John Bean invented the first piston sprayer for agriculture, FMC has continued a proud heritage of pioneering solutions for our customers. Today, we use an array of advanced technologies in manufacturing, research and development to produce customized products and solutions for the many markets we serve.

As a global leader utilizing advanced technologies and customer-focused research and development, FMC provides innovative and cost-effective solutions to enhance crop yield and quality by controlling a broad spectrum of insects, weeds and disease, as well as in non-agricultural markets for pest control. Our lithium products are utilized in energy storage, specialty polymers and pharmaceutical synthesis.

More about FMC here: http://www.fmc.com/

Contact FEED

In 2015, the Philippine government submitted to the United Nations the country’s commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The country committed to reduce its carbon emissions by 70 percent by 2030. The carbon dioxide reductions will come from the sectors of energy, transport, waste, forestry and industry.

Join us!  Help us reverse the Earth’s “hothouse climate” tipping point.

FEED runs a number of Students and Volunteers for the Environment (SAVE); Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) – such as mangrove planting for coastal protection or ridge reforestation plantings; One Child, One Tree; Bio-Intensive Gardens (BIG) for nutrition in public elementary schools and other spaces; Climate Change Survival 101 and other LIVING LEGACY programs – customised environmental engagement activities for individuals and organisations interested in contributing to climate change adaptation efforts and greening critical areas such as watersheds, ridges, and reefs that all require rehabilitation.

Tree-Planting with FEED

Check out the video journey by Clueless Commuter who planted with us last 24th of June 2017 to get a good idea of how FEED plantings go: https://youtu.be/KROn4rjVqBg

Contact us at FEED for more details, to join our regular activities or to design your own tree-nurturing event: info@feed.org.ph or call/text +63 (0)917 552 4722.

© FEED, Inc.