You probably remember me saying that we plant a tree for every case of wine we sell. We have been doing this for a decade and we will carry on with this activity year in and year out. After all, success comes not only from excellence. It also needs consistent effort.

On 16 July 2023, we sent sixty (60) Manila Palm seedlings to one of our favourite branches of the military in preparation for the beautification of their camp. The Basi del Diablo brand chose the Manila Palm because when they are in bloom, their nectars attract bees. You know how it is with me and biodiversity and how we, as a collective, depend on the ecosystem and its creatures for our survival.

Today, 22 July 2023, we delivered fifty (50) Manila Palm seedlings to Palayupoy Beach in Currimao, Ilocos Norte because they needed trees for their large garden. We were able to plant ten of these seedlings this afternoon. The rest will be planted next week as the proprietor will still have to determine where we can plant said seedlings.

The Importance of Bees

According to experts at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, a third of the world’s food production depends on bees. They pick up pollen and spread it, allowing crops and plants to reproduce. It is unfortunate that bees are now under threat due to habitat loss, weather pattern changes, and excessive use of agrochemicals. And if they all die, our well-being and livelihoods will also be at risk.

My company can’t address agrochemicals and we can’t change weather patterns but we can give bees refuge through our Manila Palms. We also observed that these palms grow fast and so do their seeds. This is a win-win for an agricultural community.

Photo by K. Lagustan