The Ph Celebrates Nelson Mandela International Day with a Tree Planting Activity in NLEX
(4th from left, 2nd row), Assistant Secretary Hjayceelyn M. Quintana and South African Ambassador Martin Slabber (last row, 4th from right)
31 July 2017, MANILA — The Department of Foreign Affairs participated in the celebration of the Nelson Mandela International Day through a tree planting activity held at NLEX on July 17.
The Nelson Mandela International Day was launched on Mr. Mandela’s birthday (which is July 18) in 2009 via a unanimous decision by the UN General Assembly. The day is meant to inspire people all over the world to make a positive difference in their communities by volunteering their time in recognition of Mr. Mandela’s lifetime of service and dedication to justice and equality. This year’s theme is “One World: Caring for the Environment is Caring for People.”
In the Philippines, the day was commemorated by planting 250 seedlings of Banaba and bougainvillea at a site near the NLEX Tabang exit. The activity was organized by the South African Embassy, Aspen Philippines (a South African pharmaceutical company), and the Fostering Education & Environment for Development (FEED Inc.), an NGO that has been planting native Philippine hardwoods, root crops, nutrition-based bio-intensive gardens throughout the Philippines. END.