28 September 2019, Siniloan, Laguna. When Julia Clarete (i.e. Edda Giselle Rosetta Nuñez Clarette, better known by her screen name Julia Clarete) and husband Gareth McGeown stepped out of their car at 7:30 am on Saturday, 28 September 2019 at the top of the Sierra Madre mountains in Siniloan, Laguna – up to then, FEED had no idea we would be planting with a much-loved celebrity.
Having arrived slightly earlier than FEED’s advance team (Diane Penales, VP Operations & Anne-Marie Mananquil Bakker, Director, Partnerships), Julia appeared to invigorated, fresh and excited that early in the morning, as if she was at home in the Sierra Madres.
She and husband Gareth were joined by their support team, participating in the morning welcome talks then stretching and trek with the monthly Students and Volunteers for the Environment (SAVE) last Saturday of the month planting, joined also by 17 FEED Living Legacy partners from Hawak Kamay, represented by 5 students and 12 volunteers from the National Association of Training Centers for Cooperatives (NATCCO).
Days after the planting, Jules continued to be in touch with FEED to request that the trees planted be named after her friends, so that they too could have a lasting Living Legacy: Kitty Arambulo, Peachy Guevara, Aida Ishenalieva, Alexandra Vogl, Eva McGovern-Basa, Jacqeline Bell Tan, Dorothy Drysdaleea, Randy Buhat and Ronaldo Agoncillo.
When asked why she wanted to plant on her birthday, Jules replied: “They make the air we breathe, filter air pollution, reduce ozone levels and sequester carbon, helping to remove other greenhouse gases from the air to cool our burning Earth. I want to do what I can in my own small way, and hope it will inspire others to help save our planet. Big changes start with small steps, so if we all take small steps together, we can produce great results for future generations!”
Julia Clarette is a Filipino singer, actress, television host and performer. She is best known as one of the co-hosts of Eat Bulaga!, the longest actively running noontime TV show in the Philippines.
Photo Slide Show
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
Nature doesn’t need people. People need nature. (Video from Conservation International on Forest narrated by Shaileen Woodley)
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 to get a good idea of how FEED plantings go: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPC29Rwr6Pg
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.
© Fostering Education & Environment for Development, Inc.