Even AS “Gipaw Rapu-Rapu,” the first NCCA arts and culture summer camp, closes it leaves behind a blueprint for a fresh approach to community tree-planting against which similar endeavors in the future may possibly be gauged.

The camp organizers call it tree parenting, a perfect method of making sure the seedlings planted are nurtured to full growth not just deposited in the ground and left to the mercy of the elements.

On April 22, last day of the arts camp, VP Cecille A. Calleja of Rapu-Rapu Minerals and NCCA Chairman Felipe M. de Leon, Jr., guest of honor and speaker at the arts camp, with RRNHS Principal Lauro Millano and Gipaw Camp Director Carlos Arejola led the “tree parenting” activity.

They introduced the “Art Covenant with Mother Earth,” written by M. M. Lorena Tariman. The covenant is a tree-parent’s pledge to nurture trees as life-giving resource. De Leon and Calleja led as well the arts camp attendees and workshop facilitators during the signing of the covenant.

A major arts and culture event this year for students and language and art teachers alike, the NCCA organized Gipaw Rapu-Rapu in cooperation with the Department of Education offices in Albay and Rapu-Rapu and the Community Development Assistance Program, the mine project’s arm for CSR.

The arts camp was held at the Rapu-Rapu National High School from April 19 to 22, 2012 where 100 students and 25 teachers took part.

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About the author:

MERLITA LORENA TARIMAN.  Poet and free-lance journalist from Daraga, Albay. She writes about culture and the arts, education, the environment, development,  women in politics, and corporate social responsibility projects. She is  based in  Albay in Bicol and has three daughters.
 
 

 

 

Munting Nayon News Magazine