09 August 2025, Laguna Quezon Land Grant, Siniloan, Laguna.  The commitment of Henkel Philippines to the environment and local communities was vividly displayed at the Laguna Quezon Land Grant in Siniloan. Despite the overcast skies, 120 enthusiastic eco-volunteers trekked into the heart of the Sierra Madre, not only to plant trees but to invest in the future through education.

This large-scale reforestation event, a result of dialogues with FEED, underscored a holistic approach to sustainability. In addition to mobilizing a significant volunteer force for ecological restoration, Henkel Philippines provided a partial contribution to the FEED Scholarship Fund, recognizing that genuine conservation requires nurturing both the land and its stewards. This financial support is dedicated to helping local youth pursue studies in agriculture, forestry, and environmental sciences, ensuring a new generation is equipped to protect their natural heritage.

The core of the day saw participants plant a total of 2,000 native tree seedlings across designated zones. The species were carefully selected for their ecological compatibility, including: 1,080 Maraluhat, 610 Lipote, 210 Malalansones, 60 Agusip, and 40 Kupang. This effort aims to strengthen a vital natural barrier and restore biodiversity.

Volunteers were oriented on the Ridge to Reef (R2R) framework by Anne Marie Mananquil Bakker of FEED, emphasizing how protecting the upland forests in Siniloan is directly linked to the health of downstream ecosystems.

https://feed.org.ph/By reducing soil erosion and sedimentation, this effort helps preserve water quality, ultimately benefiting rivers, reefs, and coastal communities. Crucially, the event also integrated FEED’s Tree Nurturing Program, guaranteeing the long-term care and monitoring essential for the seedlings to thrive.

The success of the day was a testament to the power of genuine collaboration. Volunteers were energized by a spirited warm-up led by Rose Bocado and worked side-by-side with local Forest Guardians. The residents were integral, offering invaluable knowledge, guiding the volunteers, and preparing meals. They demonstrated that conservation is most effective when it is deeply rooted in both corporate initiative and robust grassroots participation.

For the Henkel team, the activity was more than a symbolic gesture; it was a reminder that taking care of the planet and each other are one and the same. The donation to the scholarship fund, alongside the planting, illustrated that giving encompasses not only resources for today’s trees but also the support needed to cultivate tomorrow’s environmental leaders. This dual focus highlights a simple yet profound truth: collective care is self-care. By protecting the forests that protect us and by investing in the education of the community, this collaborative endeavor secured fresh signs of renewal on the forest floor, fostering a deeper sense of connection and safeguarding the community’s future.

Restoring the Sierra Madre Mountain Range – Why it matters

“Restoring the Sierra Madre mountain range in the Philippines is very important, for multiple interconnected reasons. Here are the key ones, with supporting evidence:

1. Natural storm barrier and climate resilience:

• The Sierra Madre stretches over ~540 km across Luzon (from Cagayan to Quezon) and is often called the “backbone” or “mother of mountains” of Luzon.
• It functions as a first line of defence against Pacific‑typhoons: when strong storms approach, its forested slopes and terrain slow down wind, absorb rainfall, and reduce flooding/landslide risks before the storm energy hits inland.
• Protecting and restoring it thus strengthens community resilience to climate change, extreme weather, flood and landslide risk.

2. Biodiversity, carbon‑sink & ecosystem services

• The Sierra Madre houses a large proportion of the Philippines’ remaining forest cover: around 40% of forest cover in the country, with ~1.4 million hectares of forest in the range.
• It supports high biodiversity: ~3,500 plant species (about 58% endemic) and many threatened fauna in its protected areas.
• As a major forest‑and‑watershed area, it plays a role in regulating water flow (catchments), maintaining soil stability (reducing erosion), and storing carbon (thus climate mitigation).

3. Watershed, livelihood & socio‑economic importance

• The mountain range includes headwaters, watersheds and forest reserves which feed rivers, irrigation systems, water supply and agriculture (especially in Central Luzon, Cagayan Valley) and ultimately affect many lives.
• Many local and Indigenous communities depend on the forests (for food, medicine, community economy, traditional practices). Thus forest degradation not only harms ecology, but also social livelihoods and cultural fabric.

4. The risk of degradation means urgent action

• The mountain range is under threat from deforestation, illegal logging, quarrying, infrastructure projects (e.g., dams) and other human interventions which degrade its forest cover and ecological function.
• Reduced forest cover weakens all the services above: less storm protection, less biodiversity, more flooding/erosion, less water regulation, poorer livelihoods.
• So restoration (and protection) are not optional: they are necessary to maintain the mountain range’s role now and for the future.

In short: restoring the Sierra Madre is extremely important for climate resilience, biodiversity conservation, water/soil security, community livelihoods and sustainable development in the Philippines.”

GPS Coordinates & Photos of Planting Site

Aug 9, 2025 Henkel GPS Coordinates of Planting Site: 14°28’45″N, 121°31’36″E. 

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: