Planting a tree may seem to be an easy task. You will just need a seedling, a shovel, a planting site, ample sunlight and water. Growing a tree, however, is not as easy. It takes commitment to ensure that the seedlings planted will actually grow into trees.
Long before its deadline, Tagaytay Highlands reaches almost half its quota in this year’s “One Tree at a Time.” On May 23, partnering anew with the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity, officers and employees of Tagaytay Highlands, Belle Corporation and Highlands Prime, Inc. with the representatives from the German and Singaporean Embassies and guests will plant its 485,201st tree.
“Tagaytay Highlands was built and developed in the heart of nature. Mother Earth is our main and most important partner in providing our clients with unparalleled mountain resort living experience. Through this project, we show our utmost dedication in preserving our true foundation,” said Tagaytay Highlands Founder and Vice Chairman of Belle Corporation Mr. Willy N. Ocier.
In 2002, Mr. Ocier pledged to plant 1,000,000 trees by 2050. Only 13 years after, almost half a million trees were already planted within Tagaytay Highlands.The annual tree planting activity this year will be made more significant with a month-long series of environmental events under “Green Project 2015” which is also a celebration of Earth Day and International Biodiversity Day organized by the Tagaytay Highlands International Golf Club, Inc. and developers Belle Corporation and Highlands Prime, Inc. and supported by ACB.
The initiative started in 2010 when ACB partnered with the leisure destination for its first tree growing activity with representatives from the business sector. Because of this joint project, Tagaytay Highlands was recognized by ACB as a “Friend of Biodiversity”. Since then, Tagaytay Highlands has maintained its position as an agent of change on how it sees business.
Aside from ACB, Tagaytay Highlands also partners with Wild Bird Club of the Philippines in preserving the mountain resort’s fauna and promoting the Club as a bird sanctuary.Such efforts are also a way of providing homes for various species of birds and insects that have made the place their habitat and boost Tagaytay Highlands’ as a bird sanctuary.