La Carlota Saints Plant 100 Trees in 2013 National Day of Service

Youths, single adults and even married couples members of the 8 units of La Carlota Philippines District of The Church of Jesus Chris of Latter-day Saints planted 100 seedlings of Mahogany trees in the available grassy lot of Dona Hortencia Salas Benedicto National High School in this year's National Day of Service.

Tree Planting

One hundred sixty-five members representing all the units and branches of La Carlota Philippines District participated in this one-day NDS. Those representatives came the young mean and youg women organization, Relief Society, and the leading auxiliary organization, the Elders' Quorum. Also with the participation of 24 CAT cadets of the high school assisting on the tree planting made the activity successful.

Things To Do

The LDS volunteers were divided into three groups. The young men and young women bit the scorching heat of the sun to plant trees to an area near the athletic oval of the high school. They planted 100 seedlings of Mahogany trees.

Tree planting is the main activity of the La Carlota LDS in line with 2013 NDS in partnership with Luntiang Pilipinas (Green Philippines). Church Public Affairs representative, Cristina R. Millado did her best to secure and provide these seedlings which were planted by the members.

The Relief Society had cleaned the athletic oval, the ground near the grandstand, and the adjacent classrooms.

The priesthood group led by President Mario A. Malacaman dismantled the existing shed for the students near the industrial building. They removed the roofs and transferred them to a new constructed bamboo structure. The other church leaders involved in this priesthood project were President Banghaon of La Carlota 2nd Branch, President Rebelde of Manggapsang, President Jundill Parreno of Masville, President Joel Vergara of La Carlota first branch, and Bro. Arlen Malacaman, Elder's Quorum President of La Carlota first branch.

As to conclude their community service, those who were through with their assigned tasks did the weeding and cleaning of the canals leading to the oval of the School as their last community service.

The district provided the snack and the lunch to the member.

School Principal with La Carlota District Leaders

Words of Appreciation for Pasalamat Day

The high school principal Denny Castaneda in statement expressed his gratitude. He said that the conservation and community project give any volunteer the opportunity to work in community development and help improve the infrastructure of the school.

Pasalamat Day of Service is the title of this project to coincide with the annual Pasalamat Festival of La Carlota City which has already started Monday, April 22 and will culminated on April 28, 2013.

He particularly mentioned on the things that the Church volunteer members had accomplished such as increase personal satisfaction, making friends and meeting new people, learning new skills or maintaining existing ones, and gaining work experience, health and well-being.

Leader's Reactions

Sister Cristina Millado, the Church community specialist became emotional when the activity was evaluated before the lunch time. She couldn't believe the all-out support of all the members as evident in the attendance and the success.

La Carlota District President Mario A. Malacaman also appreciated the support of the all branch presidents of San Enrique, Ayungon, Masville, Manggapsang, La Castellana, Moises Padilla, La Carlota first, and La Carlota second branches.

The Church is planning to participate in the National Maintenance Week of the Department of Education in May 2013, said President Malacaman.