The Panlablaba Youth Association (PAYO) and the Kababaihan sa Panlablaba (KASAP) women’s group planted trees together last May 23, 2021, in Awang, Misamis Oriental. At that time PAYO, with the help of their Elder, Datu Marcus, already had around 4,000 seedlings of various endemic species. They had started their tree nursery in 2019, and last year, at the height of COVID-19 lockdowns, the youth spent their time expanding their nurseries. They still plan to re-plant the surrounding hills in their sitio (village) which had become barren over the years. It is important for them, especially because their source of water is coming from the hills and the remaining forested areas within their ancestral domain. 

The KASAP women group had only recently been formed this year, when the women expressed their urgent need to bring electricity and water into their village zone, which they have not had ever since. It will be their first time to undertake their own project, so they identified that they want to strengthen their capacities first. During the Women’s Leadership Training, KASAP members joined with the PAYO members for the tree-planting. It will also serve as a remembrance of the first leadership training that the Higaonon women of KASAP received. In planting the trees, together they are nurturing the environment for the future generation.

Together, we can be #generationrestoration   #nurturingGeneration   #findingresilience