By Jocelyn P. Alvarez
ZAMBOANGA CITY -
An estimated crowd of over 7,000 people actively participated in Arbor Day na
Zamboanga, a city-wide celebration in consonance with the June 25, 2013 Philippine
Arbor Day observance.
Thousands
people filled up the Climaco Freedom Park in Abong-Abong, to show their love
and concern for mother earth and their willingness to protect and preserve the
environment by planting trees.
Mayor
Celso Lobregat during the short program preceding the tree planting, was amazed
at the turnout of participants for this year’s observance of Arbor Day. He said:
“This is the most-well attended Arbor Day na Zamboanga celebration.”
Shortly
after the program, the multitude of crowd which consisted of city and national
government employees, policemen, military men, students from the different
schools, barangay, private, civil organizations and various other sectors
participated in the massive tree planting activity at designated areas in the
Climaco Freedom Park.
“We
really appreciate the help and support you’re giving to the local government,”
the chief executive said.
The
Arbor Day program was made even livelier with the cheering competition and the “on
the spot search for Miss Arbor Day.”
For
the cheering competition, the Zamboanga State College of Marine Sciences and
Technology (ZSCMST) contingent won the first prize of P10,000; the Western
Mindanao State University (WMSU) delegation won the second prize of P6,000
while the military-police combined group received P4,000 as third place winner,
while Ms. Arbor Day went to WMSU representative who took home 1,200 cash prize,
ZSCMST was first runner up with P1,000 cash price, P500 was given as
consolation price to other participants.
Winner
for the search for Miss Arbor Day was based on the loudest applauds and cheers.
After
the program and the tree planting event, tagging with metal plates of declared
Heritage and Century trees was conducted at identified areas.