ON VALENTINE’S Day in Barangay Pagsanga-an, Pavia, Iloilo, the soil became the canvas of a different kind of love story. Panay News, as part of its 45th anniversary pre-celebration, gathered local leaders, volunteers, and environmental advocates for a tree planting activity that carried a deeper message: “Plant with love; grow with a purpose.”
Some 300 seedlings found new homes in fertile ground — each one symbolizing hope, responsibility, and continuity. But beyond the numbers, the day was about something more enduring: shared commitment.
Beyond Planting, Toward Growing
Iloilo’s Vice Gov. Nathalie Ann “Lee-Ann” Debuque captured the spirit of the occasion in a message that resonated with those in attendance.
“Ang ini nga aktibidad, indi lang ni siya ‘tree planting’. This is ‘tree growing’, planting with love,” she said, shifting the focus from a one-day gesture to a long-term promise.
Her words reframed the event. This is stewardship — ensuring those saplings would thrive long after the ceremony ended.
She expressed confidence in both residents and officials to nurture what they had started: “Magatubo gid ang aton nga igatanom subong nga adlaw,” emphasizing that growth — like love — requires patience and shared effort.
And then, expanding the circle of concern beyond municipal lines, she added: “Indi lang ini paghigugma, para sa aton barangay o sa aton banwa, paghigugma ini sa bug-os nga kumonidad kag probinsiya.”
It was a reminder that environmental responsibility does not stop at borders. The earth is a shared home; caring for it is a collective duty.
A Community in Action
The event drew more than 200 participants and volunteers, representing a mosaic of sectors united by a common purpose.
Among those present were Pavia Vice Mayor Edsel B. Gerochi; Sangguniang Bayan Member Daniel S. Fajardo II, chair of the SB Committee on Environment; Engr. Jolepe Suerte of the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office (MENRO-Pavia); and Efren V. Casuncad, barangay captain of Pagsanga-an.
But the gathering extended well beyond government halls. Solo parents from barangays Pagsanga-an, Cabugao Norte, Cabugao Sur, and Pal-agon joined hands with members of the Rural Improvement Clubs of the Philippines from Pagsang-an and the Pavia Federation. The International Police Commission (H-IPC), Alpha Phi Omega, representatives from Petron Fajardo’s Gasoline Station Mall-AQ, Panay News employees, and beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) all contributed to the day’s success.
Together, they embodied the idea that environmental advocacy thrives best when it is inclusive — when it bridges institutions, organizations, and ordinary citizens.
A Legacy Rooted in Responsibility
As participants pressed soil around each seedling, they were investing in cleaner air, greener spaces, and a future shaped by mindful choices.
The activity served as a living prelude to Panay News’ 45th anniversary on April 7 — a milestone that reflects decades of journalistic commitment. Yet the celebration was not confined to headlines and history. It extended into action.
In choosing to commemorate its anniversary through environmental stewardship, Panay News underscored a truth often forgotten: media does not only report on change; it can help cultivate it.
When the last seedling was planted and the tools were set aside, what lingered was not exhaustion, but quiet fulfillment. The air carried a sense of unity — of promises made not just to one another, but to generations yet to come./PN
