A group of volunteer workers at the Iglesia Ni Cristo Central Office in Quezon City, Philippines, led a tree planting activity on October 31, 2026, on the birthday of the Executive Minister, Brother Eduardo V. Manalo.

The volunteer workers, numbering 160, serving at the Printing Section of the Department of Evangelism, together with 210 brethren from the Wawa Congregation, conducted the environmental effort in a 11,648-square-meter field in Sitio Catmon, Barangay San Rafael, Rodriguez, Rizal.

It was held in collaboration with the Ecclesiastical District of Rodriguez, supervised by assistant district supervising minister, Brother Samuel S. Saludez, and the Catmon Anti-Poverty Association (CAPA), a community-based organization committed to environmental protection and many of whose members are Iglesia Ni Cristo faithful.

Printing Section chief, Brother Arvin T. Galang, said that before they proceeded to the designated area, he “reminded the brethren that fulfilling this task is in obedience to God’s teachings to care for the environment and help those in need, especially as the brethren need to remain firm in the faith because our salvation is near.”

A total of 280 tree saplings were planted, consisting of timber and shade trees of 40 mahogany and 40 narra saplings; fruit-bearing trees of 40 guyabano saplings; and 20 saplings each of avocado, caimito (star apple), carabao mango, duhat, durian, langka (jackfruit), queen mango, and sampaloc (tamarind).

“Various groups have come here to plant different crops, especially fruit-bearing plants,” Jaymar Mosong, a deacon and CAPA member, said in an interview. “This helps preserve nature while providing livelihood opportunities for the residents in this area.”

Simultaneous with this, other volunteer workers distributed copies of the pamphlets to households within the area to invite residents to an upcoming evangelical mission to be held by the Wawa Congregation on November 6.

“We will return to visit those who received our pamphlets to invite them to join us for the propagation of God’s words next week in this area,” said Michael Eda, a machine operator at the Printing Section.

The activity was seen to further boost the Church’s propagation work in the area as an extension is projected to open in Sitio Catmon in early 2027.

Deaconess Adelia Escosura said she and other brethren residing in that “sitio belongs to Purok 3 of the Wawa Congregation. We have been praying to God for an extension to be established in our area.”

Fellow deaconess from the same congregation, Carmencita Dapitan, added, “This is a massive help for the spiritual fervor of the brethren here, as it brings their place of worship closer to them.” — With assistance from Earl Carlo Alaña and Aries Leones