When it comes to ancestral domain, there are no better stewards than the Indigenous People (IP) themselves.
They have that connection to the earth.
Throwing in a bit of support from private sector though makes that stewardship less burdensome logistically.
However, they can strengthen their care with the help of the private sector and NGO like San Miguel Brewery (SMB) and EGIP Foundation.
Trees Brew Life, which is a yearly project under SMB’s Buhayin ang Kalikasan flagship environmental program, believes that the environment needs humans’ tender loving care such as tree planting.
After two years of being slowed down by the pandemic, it has returned.
SMB-Davao Brewery recently concluded its planting activity here in Davao City. But what made this year’s activity noteworthy is its not only improves the environment but also improved awareness among the Obu Manuvu tribe of the importance of trees in their community while protecting their ancestral domain for their well-being and culture.
A combination of forest, fruit, and non-timber forest product seedlings were planted in a one-hectare land of Obu Manuvu Ancestral Domain in Barangay Carmen, Baguio District, Davao City.
The tree planting activity was conducted in partnership with EGIP Foundation.
“It’s our first time to partner with an NGO for us here in Davao as far as Trees Brew Life is concerned and we hope to work with them for as long as we can so that we can continue to make a lasting, sustainable impact to the environment and the community,” said Larry Santos, SMB plant manager.
EGIP Foundation, through its president Alec van Dierendonck, is committed to nourishing the 620 seedlings to full maturity and keeping them alive as long as they can as each tree plays a critical role in the thriving of our biodiversity and healthy ecosystem.
“We cannot just plant trees and leave them, they need TLC with the support of the host community. We cannot just plant any kind of tree anywhere either because we have to balance the flora and fauna of the place,” he said.
EGIP Fundraising Manager Celina van Dierendonck underscored the importance of continued protection and nurturing of the environment so as not to flaw the quality of Davao water, which is known to be the best in Southeast Asia as well as the city’s proximity to its beaches and mountains.
“Thank you, San Miguel, for your advocacy and for trusting us because while you’re great at brewing beer, we are great at planting trees. May we find more people and more company like you,” she said.
Trees Brew Life, which turned 13 this year, is SMB’s advocacy of fostering sustainable development and the need to focus on responsible stewardship of the environment.
“Our support to the environment is one of the pillars of the company’s CSR efforts in its advocacy towards sustainable green initiatives. It was thirteen years ago when we launched our nationwide re-greening activity. Over that period, I am happy to report that, with your help, SMB has succeeded in planting over 1 million seedlings in different locations across our areas of operations in the country,” said SMB President Roberto N. Huang, in his message, read by Davao Brewery Plant manager Florito F. Santos.
He added that seeing these initiatives push through despite the challenges shows the company’s commitment to protect, preserve, and rehabilitate forest covers in both rural and urban settings and do our share in regenerating mangrove areas in coastal communities.
During the pandemic, SMB successfully planted over 150,000 seedlings in select sites in Cebu, Negros Occidental, and Misamis Oriental.
This year’s tree planting activity carries the theme “Sama-Sama para sa Kalikasan.”
Now you know that it’s not just because of the unlimited beers after the planting activity that volunteers join the tree planting activity of San Miguel Brewery (SMB) but because of the advocacy it brings.
