By Cyrus A. Natividad

Participants of the Tree Planting.

One of the significant activities that made the 97th Foundation Anniversary of the CPU College of Arts and Sciences more memorable was the ceremonial tree planting activity.

The Tree Planting Ceremony was held on Monday, December 21 2020 at 9:00 A.M at Brgy. Dungon A, Jaro, Iloilo City, with the special participation of the Barangay officials and the CPU Outreach Center. 4 saplings were planted on the CPU Property in the Dungon area.

The theme of the tree planting activity is “NON: Natural Healing, Organic Farming and Native Trees.”

A short program was held before the tree planting. Dean of the College Dr. Stella G. Fernandez led the Opening Prayer.

Hon. Sonny D. Catalan Bgy. Capt. of Dungon, Jaro, Iloilo City and Dean Fernandez gave the welcome remarks.

Atty. Jeremy V. Bionat, Member, CPU Alumni Association Board of Trustees, explained the activity’s rationale.

The following poem was read by Dr. Nicolas G. Guanzon, Jr., Chairman of the Life Sciences Department:

By the Dungon Brook
By Resurrection Drilon, 1926

I stood upon its brink one day
And watched its waters glide along,
From reed to reed it winds its way,
Its bubbles chant a dulcet song

A dulcet song its bubbles breathe,
That mingles with the hymns of birds;
The bowing trees in whispers grieve,
To tired souls they sing a dirge.

Its ripples sweep the wet clay bank,
Its current bends the grasses green,
Its waters dark flow to the strands
And lazy drifting leaves are seen.

From day to day it goes that way,
That famous brook in Dungon old,
You may to “Central” come someday,
That muddy little brook behold.

The Tree planting and Turning-over of veggies seeds to the community followed.

Engr. Levi O. De los Santos, Director Outreach Community Engagement and Prof. Kareen Jay D. Lozada, Chairperson, Department of Social Work, delivered the closing remarks .