Endless ripple of kindness

BEING 12 years old is a fine time for discovering some of the cheeky moments in life like having petty crushes or having the first fight with your best friend. But also, it would not hurt to act mature and take part in the societal issues that people face today.

JiroJunn Juri M. Lopoz, a sixth-grader from the Teodoro Palma Gil Elementary School and the President of the school’s Supreme Pupil Government is nothing but ordinary except him envisioning a greener community in the progressive city of Davao.

Lopoz confessed that he developed an open mind for environmental awareness during his participation in the Division Federation Leadership Training held in March this year. Discussions were centered on the effects of climate change and possible means to mitigate its effects. He, together with the teaching force and the officials of Teodoro Palma Gil Elemntary School Supreme Pupil Government (TPESSPG) identified specific projects that can be implemented in line with their chosen advocacy.

To be able to bring it to a larger audience, Lopoz wrote to the President of the country a letter of invitation for a treeplanting event, Treevolution of the Young. He had the privilege to hand this over to the President because his mother is Undersecretary Janet Lopoz of the Mindanao Development Authority.

On September 9, Wednesday, 400 students and 100 teachers from the Davao Central District were able to plant 2,000 seedlings of fruit trees and hardwoods at Tigatto, Buhangin. On the latter part of the event, PNoy graced their school to show appreciation for the children’s initiative.

Among the young, this was an exciting day that sparked their comprehension on the fragility of our environment and the importance of its protection.

With this, we hope that a simple act of kindness will create an endless ripple and indeed, our national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal was proven right once again.