Wazzup Pilipinas!?
PHINMA Foundation and the PHINMA Construction Materials Group, part of one of the country’s leading business groups, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Masungi Georeserve Foundation to support the restoration of an initial 2 hectares of degraded forest within the Masungi Geopark Project.
Through the Adopt a Hectare program, partners from various sectors sponsor the planting, nurturing, and maintenance of forest areas for one year, with options for renewal. The Masungi Geopark Project, managed by the Masungi Georeserve Foundation, seeks to restore 2,700 hectares of degraded watershed areas surrounding the Masungi Georeserve, fostering collaboration among stakeholders for effective reforestation.
The signing ceremony took place at the PHINMA Plaza on May 27, 2025, with inspiring messages from Ms. Nicole Del Rosario Serafica, President of PHINMA Foundation, Inc. (via video); Sir Ron Reyes and Ms. Jeng Mungcal of PHINMA Foundation; and Mr. Derik Tabunar of PHINMA Construction Materials Group.
“To date, the Masungi Geopark Project has established more than 18 kilometers of monitoring trails, over 15 ranger stations, and helped rescue over 2,000 hectares of watershed areas from illegal and destructive activity,” said Billie Dumaliang, Director of Advocacy for the Masungi Georeserve Foundation. “Through our experience at Masungi, we have learned that nature knows how to heal itself—our role is simply to protect it and let it regenerate without disruption. In 10 to 15 years, we will see a fully grown forest in this once barren landscape.”
The Masungi Georeserve Foundation looks forward to this holistic and long-term partnership, grounded in sustainability, strong values, and our shared vision for a greener, more resilient Philippines!
ChatGPT said:
Hope Takes Root: PHINMA Foundation and CMG Join Forces with Masungi to Breathe Life into a Dying Forest
Makati, Philippines – May 27, 2025. In a time where concrete jungles rise with startling speed and nature is pushed to the margins, a bold partnership is taking shape—one that dares to rewrite the story of the Philippine landscape. PHINMA Foundation and the PHINMA Construction Materials Group (CMG), pillars of one of the country’s most trusted conglomerates, have stepped up to do the unthinkable: bring a forest back to life.
In a stirring ceremony held at the prestigious PHINMA Plaza, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between PHINMA and the Masungi Georeserve Foundation—guardians of one of the nation’s most iconic conservation sanctuaries. The goal is nothing short of miraculous: the restoration of two hectares of severely degraded forest under the Masungi Geopark Project, a living testament to nature’s ability to heal when given a fighting chance.
The initiative is part of Masungi’s “Adopt a Hectare” program, a transformative movement that invites businesses, organizations, and individuals to fund the planting, nurturing, and protection of forest land for at least a year, with the promise of long-term renewal. PHINMA Foundation and CMG are now among the growing number of stewards investing not only in land, but in legacy.
Speaking through a heartfelt video message, Nicole Del Rosario Serafica, President of PHINMA Foundation, emphasized the organization’s unwavering belief in responsible development—one that nurtures both people and the planet. On the ground, Sir Ron Reyes and Ms. Jeng Mungcal of PHINMA Foundation, alongside Mr. Derik Tabunar of CMG, underscored their commitment to this shared mission of environmental redemption.
But the most compelling voice was that of Billie Dumaliang, Director of Advocacy for the Masungi Georeserve Foundation, who framed the moment with quiet power:
“Through our experience at Masungi, we have learned that nature knows how to heal itself—our role is simply to protect it and let it regenerate without disruption. In 10 to 15 years, we will see a fully grown forest in this once barren landscape.”
It is a vision that defies cynicism. Since its inception, the Masungi Geopark Project has defied odds—rescuing over 2,000 hectares of watershed from the claws of illegal loggers and land grabbers. With more than 18 kilometers of monitoring trails and 15 ranger stations, it is not just a reforestation effort—it is a frontline resistance against ecological ruin.
The partnership with PHINMA is more than symbolic. It signals a strategic alignment between corporate influence and grassroots conservation, a union of boardroom clout and muddy-boots fieldwork. It challenges other conglomerates to look beyond their balance sheets and see the value of sustainability as a core metric of success.
This endeavor also comes at a time when climate anxiety, biodiversity collapse, and water insecurity loom larger than ever. In this context, the act of planting trees becomes an act of rebellion—a declaration that tomorrow matters, and that healing is possible.
The Masungi Georeserve Foundation has long warned that environmental degradation in areas surrounding the Sierra Madre mountain range is a ticking time bomb. The erosion of forest cover not only threatens wildlife but compromises the safety of communities downstream. Through initiatives like the Masungi Geopark Project, the tide may yet be turned.
The road ahead is long. Two hectares may seem small in the face of 2,700 in need. But every tree begins as a sapling, and every movement begins with belief. With PHINMA now walking beside Masungi, this small victory may very well be the seed of something monumental.
In a world gasping for green, partnerships like this don’t just plant trees—they plant hope.
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For more information or to join the Adopt a Hectare program, visit www.masungigeoreserve.com.
Ross is known as the Pambansang Blogger ng Pilipinas - An Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Professional by profession and a Social Media Evangelist by heart.
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