The Consuelo "Chito" Madrigal Foundation - Bikol (CCMF-Bikol), in cooperation with the Parish Pastoral Council, held tree planting activities in honor of Our Lady of Penafrancia in various parishes of the Archdiocese of Caceres. On October 17, CCMF-Bikol's staff and volunteers planted acacia and mahogany trees in three parishes in Pili, namely Christ the King Parish, St. Therese of Child Jesus, and St. Rose of Lima. The respective Parish Pastoral Council identified the sites for planting.
More tree planting activities were held to celebrate the month of the Holy Rosary. On October 22, the foundation's staff and scholars planted acacia and mahogany trees in Calabanga, specifically in the parishes of Our Lady of Porteria, Divine Mercy, and Holy Cross. The activity continued on October 24 in the municipalities of Canaman and Magarao particularly in the following parishes: the Our Lady of the Assumption Parish, St. Anne Parish, Our Lady of Annunciation Parish, and Parish of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary. In St. Anthony of Padua Parish of Camaligan, twenty-five of the members of the Parish Youth Ministry joined the staff and scholars in the tree planting on October 30.
In the signed joint commitment between CCMF-Bikol and the Parish Pastoral Council, CCMF-Bikol commits to visit the trees monthly together with a council representative and to provide additional trees in case of future tree planting. Meanwhile, the council commits to nourish the trees, to inform the parishioners about the joint commitment and seek their support to continuously care for the trees.
The activity was dubbed "Earth day, Everyday!" to emphasize the call for more communities to engage in giving solutions to environmental problems.
Fr. Wilmer Tria, CCMF-Bikol's Chief Executive Officer, explained that the activity aims to gain camaraderie among its employees while performing its responsibility to for the environment. He also said that building partnership with the parishes could create awareness that the foundation could be their partner in their efforts for social development. "Through the activity, we participate in Archbishop Leonardo Z. Legaspi's goal for the Archdiocese to intensify the care of creation," Fr. Wilmer adds. The Archbishop is one of the directors of CCMF - Bikol.
Incidentally, the parishes were selected based on the area of coverage of CCMF-Bikol's Microfinance Program.