TIKTOKERS’ CHALLENGE
River/Coastal Clean and Earth Daty 2024.
For two occasions: children, youth, parents and stakeholders took part in the world celebration of Earth Day and the advocacy as inspired and have taught us by no less than the Holy Father himself in his encyclical Laudato Si. Also, the thematic issues have consciously joined in the reforestation and preservation of our watersheds which are sources in the area where we draw water from.
Lately, we have been advocating, pressing on the idea of “let us do it together” and encouraging people young and not so young to plant trees or if they are arduous to grow trees in their own backyard and at their own paces.
The world is in need of water day after day for it is what cleanses, refreshes, purifies, soften hard surfaces as well as for cooking, gives life to all that grows, meaning, to all that has been given the gift of life. We have a great need for rain and in some parts of this big island of Mindanao, it has not rained for four months! We know and saw its effects on both humans and animals, amd its bitter blow on green vegetables and other crops.
Prices of commodities and veggies have gone up like chasing for stars. People have gone hopeless for the change they wanted to see in our world, in our government, even from our families/communities, from these group of young and free tiktokers group who managed to stay aside to do some moves for fb feeding while in the site of tree growing.
We implored for rain, and it did rain, the Lord listened to our pleas. I have never witnessed people going out of their houses to see the rain. Such that, when we started planting trees, we have to believe that rain will make these tiny plants grow. Just as we hope on this Tiktokers around me, will be challenged to care for their own and that of other young people’s future.
As children, youth, staff, and parent leaders along with our partners agencies stepped up to climb the hill site designated for planting, I felt challenge to implore for the success of this activity to maintain life of the generations to come. I firmly believe athat this is one of the legacies we could leave behind for humanity. First, to care for the watershed in such a way that water will be abundant and free flowing for every type of use, life giving. Second is to courageously advocate the consciousness of loving our environment by caring for it. Third, is to give back to nature what nature has generously been supplying us with for the years we have lived on earth.
We invite all readers and dreamers of a world redeemed, to gaze upon the beauty of life surrounded by safe and green world around us, a gift freely given us to which we freely offer it to all who live and many who will likewise take shelter in this beautiful earth.
Tree grower in Basilan
