A retiree’s passion for trees

Benjamin Zapanta has free time on his hands after retirement from the Philippine Navy in 2008 where he had served for 37 years.
Instead of being idle, Zapanta and his team set up a tree nursery in his hometown in barangay Guibuangan, Barili town, southwest Cebu.
In 2009, he led the creation of the Guibuangan United Coastal Environmental Savers (Gucesa), which seeks to conserve and preserve the environment by growing seedlings and rehabilitating mangrove forests.
The project is in partnership with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
“We are the first people’s organization (PO) in the barangay. At first, many were apprehensive about the project,” he said.
The contract between Gucesa and the DENR commits the organization to conduct two projects — mangrove rehabilitation and seedling production. They also have to organize coastal cleanups and tree planting.
Zapanta is blessed with 10 children. Nine are professionals — six teachers, one engineer, one seaman and one IT expert. His youngest child is in high school. To date, he has 18 grandchildren.
“God wants me to help others. Gucesa is one of the ways to extend my help to the barangay,” he said.
Aside from leading Gucesa, Zapanta is president of the senior citizens organization in the barangay.
Since people were initially hesitant to support the project, he had to shoulder expenses of the nursery himself.
“We let the people understand the benefits of the project. There were reservations, but they eventually appreciated what we were doing,” he said.
The nursery, located near his residence, started with 3,000 seedlings of narra, mahogany and jackfruit, among others.
“The establishment of the nursery highlights the bayanihan spirit of the members. Now, many people, including schools and local government unit, ask for seedlings. It’s already a big leap,” Zapanta said.
At least 23 schools used seedlings from the nursery for their tree planting activity.
“I also teach kids, especially elementary school pupils, how to plant. I let them understand the importance of trees. It’s a way of empowering the kids to be advocates, too,” he said.
Gucesa also joins the annual Run 2 Plant for GREENIN Philippines spearheaded by the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. and the Cebu provincial government.
“This kind of volunteer work is about sacrificing your time. One should put his heart in this work,” he said.
“I have a big heart for nature because it is the source of everything we have right now,” Zapanta said.
Gifted with a green thumb, the 63-year-old grandfather loves to plant. His parents, both farmers, influenced him to be passionate about trees. He has 10 tree species in the nursery for now, but he intends to add more tree types.
“Ten years from now, I hope that the team will continue implementing what we have started. We will not be the ones who will benefit from this. It is the youth, the next generation,” he said.
If not busy planting trees, he volunteers to bring his grandchildren to school. For him, spending quality time with his loved ones is one of the best things he has done after his retirement. /BY Chrisley Ann Hinayas