Inspired by the age-old Chinese proverb, “It takes ten years to grow a tree, but a hundred years to nurture a person,” the Cagayan State University-Sanchez Mira (CSU-SM) campus has embarked on a transformative journey with the launch of the “Plant-It-Forward Challenge,” an innovative initiative launched on June 1, 2024, at Palmira Nature Village in Sitio Nagbaranganan (CSU Old Site), which seeks to intertwine the cultivation of tomorrow’s leaders with a deep commitment to environmental stewardship.

The tree planting activity was launched through the active participation of National Service Training Program (NSTP) students, under the guidance of Dr. Rodel Francisco T. Alegado, Campus Executive Officer, Mr. Valentin Apostol, NSTP Coordinator, and Mr. Chris Ian Rodriguez, ROTC Coordinator, with Mr. Jose Sheriff Panelo, Dean of the College of Criminal Justice Education (CCJE), and NSTP teachers also present, planting 150 Narra trees generously donated by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

This initiative is part of a larger vision set forth in March 2024 by Dr. Arthur G. Ibañez, ASEAN Engr., University President, under whose leadership the university has committed to planting 5,000 trees per campus to combat rising temperatures and enhance oxygen production.

The CSU-Sanchez Mira community is determined to extend their green efforts, pledging to plant more trees in the coming months and years, reflecting the university’s dedication to fostering ecological balance and societal well-being and paving the way for a greener and more equitable future.