Siniloan, Laguna — July 4, 2025. Despite the overcast skies, the energy of 100 eco-volunteers from AXA Philippines’ Marketing Division shone bright as they journeyed to the Laguna Quezon Land Grant in the heart of the Sierra Madre. Their mission was more than planting trees—it was about giving back to the environment and the communities that depend on it.

Designed as a result of various dialogues between FEED in partnership with AXA Philippines, the large-scale reforestation event underscored a shared commitment to climate resilience, ecological restoration, and community empowerment. With each seedling planted—volunteers were helping restore biodiversity and strengthen one of the country’s most vital natural barriers.

Across designated planting zones, participants placed 1,250 native trees into the soil: 810 Maraluhat, 240 Kupang, 80 Gakakan, 30 Bani, 30 Kalumpit, 30 Agusip, and 30 Balubo. These species were carefully selected for their ecological compatibility, ensuring they would thrive and play a lasting role in forest recovery.

“The Sierra Madre serves as a living shield that protects Luzon from devastating typhoons,” said Forester Rey Lorida during the morning’s briefing. “But its strength relies on its forests. Without trees, we lose that shield.”

Volunteers were also oriented on the Ridge to Reef (R2R) framework by Anne Marie Bakker of FEED, highlighting how protecting upland forests directly influences the health of rivers, reefs, and coastal communities. By reducing soil erosion and sedimentation, reforestation efforts in Siniloan contribute to preserving water quality—benefiting both inland and marine ecosystems.

The day’s activities also integrated FEED’s Tree Nurturing Program, which ensures long-term care and monitoring of the planted seedlings. This follow-through is essential to make sure each act of giving grows into something that endures.

Rose Bocado led a spirited warm-up, setting the tone for a day of purposeful action. Volunteers trekked into the field alongside local Forest Guardians, bringing not only seedlings but also in-kind gifts for the community. Local residents played a vital role—preparing meals, guiding volunteers, and sharing their knowledge of the land—proving that conservation thrives best when it’s rooted in both corporate responsibility and grassroots participation.

This collaboration between AXA Philippines, FEED, and the local community showed that giving is not limited to resources; it’s also about time, effort, and genuine care. When we care for the planet and each other, we’re also caring for ourselves. The idea is simple yet profound: collective care is self-care. A healthy environment sustains healthy communities, and healthy communities nurture the individuals within them. By protecting the forests that protect us, we are, in essence, safeguarding our own future.

For the volunteers, planting trees became more than a symbolic act—it was a reminder that taking care of each other means taking care of yourself. In the quiet rustle of leaves and the shared laughter on the trail, there was an unspoken truth: the well-being of people and the well-being of nature are intertwined.

By day’s end, the forest floor bore fresh signs of renewal, and the hearts of those who joined were filled with a deeper sense of connection to nature and to one another. In a time when environmental challenges can feel overwhelming, the event served as a reminder: giving is one of the purest forms of care—and when done together, it transforms not only landscapes, but lives.

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AXA Philippines, one of the largest growing insurance companies in the country. AXA provides financial security to almost 2 million individuals through our group and individual life insurance as well as general insurance products. Our strength and expertise are in the hands of more than 7,000 financial advisors in more than 40 branches, as well as over 900 financial executives in over 900 Metrobank and PSBank branches nationwide.

Established in 1999, AXA Philippines is one of the largest and fastest growing insurance companies in the country. It offers financial security to over 1 million individuals through its group and individual life insurance as well as general insurance products.

AXA Philippines is one of the first to introduce bancassurance operations in the country, and is among the pioneers in the investment-linked insurance sector.

AXA now offers a complete range of products for all its customers’ insurance and financial protection needs, including savings and investments, health plans, and income protection as well as general insurance: fire, motor/car, marine cargo, personal accident, bonds, casualty, and engineering insurance products.

AXA Philippines closed 2023 with P2.6 billion in consolidated net income from both its life and general insurance businesses. Today, AXA has over 5,000 financial advisors in more than 50 branches, and over 600 financial executives in over 900 Metrobank and PSBank branches nationwide.

AXA Philippines is a joint venture between the AXA Group, headquartered in France, GT Capital Holdings, Inc. (GT Capital), a leading listed conglomerate in the Philippines, and Metropolitan Bank and Trust Company (Metrobank), one of the Philippines’ largest financial institutions. It is duly recognized by the Insurance Commission.

GPS Coordinates & Photos of Planting Site

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: