In a powerful display of regional cooperation and environmental commitment, diplomats from across Southeast Asia gathered in Mexico, Pampanga for a symbolic tree-planting ceremony that blended historical remembrance with ecological action.
ASEAN Diplomats Lead Environmental Initiative
The Mama Sita Foundation, a Filipino organization dedicated to preserving culinary heritage and promoting agricultural sustainability, organized the event last month to celebrate the United Nations Día del Galeón. The ceremony gained significant diplomatic weight with the participation of His Excellency Dato Abdul Malik Melvin Castelino, Ambassador of Malaysia to the Philippines and the 2025 ASEAN Chair.
Ambassador Castelino planted early-bearing coconut trees at the ASEAN Plaza of the Agri-Learning Center, setting an example for regional environmental leadership. He was joined by distinguished representatives from fellow ASEAN nations, including Hon. Soe Ko Ko and Kay Thwe Khine from the Embassy of Myanmar, and Tommy Parlagutan Butarbutar from the Embassy of Indonesia.
Commemorating Historical Ties Through Green Action
The activity honored the UN Day of the Galeon, which marks the historic 1565 voyage of the first Manila Galleon to Acapulco, Mexico. This journey initiated 250 years of trans-Pacific trade and cultural exchange that shaped regional relationships.
With the theme From Galleons to Greenways: Honoring Our Shared Maritime Heritage through Environmental Action and ASEAN Solidarity, the celebration transformed this legacy of connection into tangible environmental stewardship. More than 200 volunteers from various sectors, including representatives from the Asian Social Institute, participated in planting 200 seedlings of native guava and achuete.
Building a Sustainable Future Together
The event also saw participation from Myra Paz Valderrosa-Abubakar, Undersecretary for Halal Tourism and Muslim Concerns of the Department of Tourism, alongside representatives from the Pampanga local government. This collaboration symbolized the shared commitment to sustainable development among regional partners.
Ambassador Castelino captured the event's profound message, stating: Each sapling we place into the soil is a pledge — a quiet but powerful promise that we will be caretakers of creation, not merely its consumers. His words echoed the call for ASEAN nations to transition from galleons to greenways, paving the way for a more sustainable and harmonious future.
The tree-planting ceremony successfully demonstrated how historical connections can inspire contemporary environmental action, creating living monuments to both shared heritage and collective responsibility for the planet.
