Saint Louis University’s Center for Sports Development (SLU-CSD) coaches and student-athletes took part in a tree planting activity on 04 October 2024 at the CICM Home Sweet Home, Baguio City.
Together with the Home Sweet Home personnel, parishioners, CSD staff, and student-athletes, a mass was presided over by Rev. Fr. Ramon Caluza, CICM, before the tree planting event. In his homily, Fr. Caluza emphasized the importance of continuously advocating and practicing the values of passion, compassion, humility, and identity. Likewise, he also mentioned the relevance of actively participating in preserving and sustaining the environment through the tree planting activities conducted within the community. Fr. Caluza highlighted until the end that love must be the basis of everything we do for the community and environment. This mass was also a celebration of the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the Patron Saint of ecology and animals.
The group planted a total number of 426 coffee samplings in the CICM Home Sweet Home compound. This project is an annual program of the CSD office in collaboration and partnership with Bro. Jonel Dalimag, CICM Home Sweet Home Administrator. The tree planting activity is imperative to combat and respond to the environmental issues in the community. By planting these coffee tree samplings, the group contributes to preserving, balancing, and sustaining the ecosystem of Baguio City for the next generation. Through this environmental initiative, the City of Baguio continues to become greener and cleaner.
SLU-CSD’s tree planting activity is a testament to their full support of the United Nations Sustainable Developmental Goals (UNSDG) particularly targeting SDG 15: Life on Land and Laudato Si Goal 1: Response to the Cry of the Earth of Pope Francis. (Article by Raymund G. Austria | Photos by CSD Coaches)