On 16 June 2024, at 5:00 a.m., two buses and three cars departed from the headquarters of the Chinese Filipino Business Club, Inc. (CFBCI) in Binondo, Manila heading to the Lamesa Watershed in Novaliches, Quezon City. In this natural reserve, a total of 129 individuals from CFBCI planted a total of 1,200 Narra trees in partnership with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources – National Capital Region (DENR-NCR), Quezon City Climate Change Adaptation Division and Parks Development and Administration Department (PDAD), and Chinatown TV.

The convoy from Binondo reached Novaliches, Quezon City around 6:00 a.m. where they reunited with the rest of the group. To guide the scholars, Executive Vice President Gerald Uy Chan, Vice Chairman Linda Lao, Vice Chairman Ramon Cheng, Vice Chairman Aileen Yang, Vice Chairman Stella Lim, and Plenary Members Jaime Tan, Nixon Co, Candy Joy Chua, and Benson Yang attended the special event.

Upon arrival, the group was tasked to gather at the nearby Arboretum. Then, EVP Chan, Vice Chairman Lao, and Plenary Member Co gave their short speeches, each reminding the scholars of the true essence of the project － to plant hope for their own generation and the next, and to be careful and vigilant in their journey towards the planting site. The scholars, upon hearing their words of concern and inspiration, applauded with motivation. Afterwards, the group was oriented by the personnel of the DENR – NCR regarding the process of planting the seedlings.

After the short program, the scholars were divided into ten groups where each group carried the name of Filipino native trees like Molave, Balete, Banaba, Mango, et cetera. Then, they were instructed to collect their seedlings from the nursery, and each individual carefully collected ten (10) seedlings and placed them in their personal ecological bags for easier handling. The DENR – NCR prepared 1,200 seedlings in total for the group which will hopefully grow into sturdy Narra trees, the national tree of the Philippines which is also a good selection for planting beginners.

Wearing rain boots and coat for protection from the morning drizzle, the scholars and CFBCI officers walked at least 1,000 steps towards the planting site. The terrain was a bit challenging for the group as the path became muddy due to the rain. Nevertheless, everyone accepted the challenge and pushed through with huge smiles and determination. After 30 minutes, the group arrived at the planting site and proceeded with planting the seedlings they carried.

Giggles and laughter echoed across the forest as the group planted their seedlings with high hopes. Some young scholars even found the process of searching for holes where they could plant their seedlings a terrific adventure. At 10:00 a.m., the group successfully returned to the assembly area and enjoyed a simple yet sumptuous lunch together comprising of rice, pork barbecue, and mixed salad.

Overall, the 2024 Tree Planting Project of the CFBCI Education Committee was a huge success. Hopefully, other individuals and organizations would be inspired to comply with the “Republic Act 10176 Section 8," a law which mandates “all Filipinos of at least 12 years of age to plant a tree every year."

菲華工商總會訊：今年影響全球的厄爾尼諾（El Niño，聖嬰）現象，至今導致菲律濱超過四百六十五萬人受災。由於厄爾尼諾加上全球變暖，進而使全球氣候異常。面對氣候危機，要如何緩解全球暖化？成為地球全人類刻不容緩的首要解決議題。

本會文教委員會領導，帶領「點亮未來」受助生，發起保護環境，守護地球使命，經多次討論結果，植樹造林是目前減緩全球暖化、減少氣候變遷的首選方式。故決定行動力行，由文教委員會主任曾煥眉、副主任留牡丹及西文秘書梅西卡，親自前往計順市La Mesa分水嶺，與環境與自然資源部國家首都地區辦公室（Forrester, DENR-NCR）森林負責人員Jerry Lanzarote商討細節，並勘查地形環境，以便進行植樹造林活動。

六月十六日（星期日）清晨五時，由執行副理事長曾國強，文教委員會副主任留牡丹、莊南文，青年企業委員會副主任楊佳玲，公共資訊委員會副主任施惠萍，理事陳柏材、許純維、楊錦程、蔡蕙伉等，率領一百二十餘位「點亮未來」受助生及學友會成員，整裝乘坐兩輛大巴，前赴計順市La Mesa分水嶺，種植一千二百株菲律濱國樹「納拉」（Narra）樹苗。

環境與自然資源部國家首都地區辦公室，計順市政府氣候變化適應處（Quezon City Climate Change Adaptation Division）、公園發展及管理處（Parks Development and Administration Department簡稱PDAD）皆派人員出席，支持本會此次有義意的植樹活動。本會媒體夥伴菲中電視台（Chinatown TV）全程跟拍進行報導。

抵達目的地，在進行植樹前，執行副理事長曾國強、副主任留牡丹及理事許純維分別先後致詞，向參加活動的「點亮未來」受助生說明此次植樹造林的意義，提醒大家要注意自身安全。隨後，將「點亮未來」受助生分成五組，並且由環境與自然資源部國家首都地區辦公室指導人員Cornelio Tablante向大家說明植樹步驟及注意事項，接著發放一千兩百株納拉樹苗；據指導人員解釋，納拉樹苗是最容易栽種和成長的樹木種類。由於早上剛下了一陣小雨，山路泥濘又蜿蜒曲折，但所有參與者早有準備，身著雨衣，腳穿雨靴，全副武裝，個個興高采烈，手攜樹苗，井然有序地緩緩前行，在步行了三十多分鐘之後，終於到達植樹區，在工作人員的指示下，化整為零，各自分散開來，尋找事先挖好的洞穴，開始植樹：放苗、埋土，然後接著尋找下一個洞穴，如此反覆重複，直到手上的樹苗全部栽種完畢，現場氣氛熱火朝天，情緒熱烈高漲，歷時一個多小時，植樹完畢，大家又原路返回集合地，並享用本會精心準備的豐盛早餐。

此次植樹活動，受到多位領導捐贈物資：理事長黃書瑋捐贈防日曬手臂套，副理事長施茵茵捐贈防蚊液，董事兼文教委員會主任曾煥眉捐贈雨靴，文教委員會副主任留牡丹捐贈雨衣和手套，理事許純維攜同急救人員，為大家提供緊急救治服務，使這次的活動得以順利圓滿完成，在此一併致謝。

本會於疫情前已成功舉辦過三次植樹活動，今年是第四次用行動來維護生態，對抗暖化，守護地球，為人類盡一份心力。本會期望透過舉辦植樹活動，推廣愛護大自然，發揮公益愛心，讓更多的人了解環境保護的重要。

圖片說明：
上小圖：（由上至下，由左至右）曾國強，留牡丹，許純維，指導員Cornelio Tablante致詞、說明之影。
上中圖：抵達計順市La Mesa分水嶺集體合影。