21/03/2026
๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐๐ป ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ฎ ๐๐น๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ผ๐ฎ๐๐: ๐ก๐จ ๐๐ฒ๐ฏ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฆ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ ๐จ๐ป๐ถ๐๐ฒ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ช๐ผ๐ฟ๐น๐ฑ ๐ช๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ฎ๐
๐๐๐ผ๐๐ผ๐๐ผ๐, ๐พ๐๐ฝ๐ ๐พ๐๐๐ โ As the first light of dawn broke over the South Road Properties at 5:30 a.m. on March 21, the once-quiet coastline was stirred by the rustle of biodegradable sacks and the steady rhythm of determined footsteps. Students and faculty from NU Cebu joined forces with SM Cares and the SM Green Movement to transform the Inayawan shoreline into a frontline effort against plastic pollution.
At the heart of the universityโs participation was Banay Cebuanu, NU Cebuโs Community Extension Office, which worked hand in hand with SM Cares to mobilize the โCebuaNUโ spirit of volunteerism. Mr. Santiago 'Santi' Lingganay, Coordinator of Banay CebuaNU, emphasized that the universityโs mission extends beyond the classroom through active engagement in community and environmental initiatives. Despite the spontaneous nature of the invitation, Lingganay pushed forward with the initiative, demonstrating that the spirit of volunteerism is strongest when it responds to the environmentโs most urgent needs.
The collaborative effort coincided with World Water Day, transforming a global observance into a local mission of restoration and environmental stewardship. The activity served as a powerful reminder that freshwater remains a finite resource and that coastal health is inseparable from the sustainability of water systems. Pollution along the coastline threatens marine ecosystems and food security, as microplastics embedded in coastal sediments eventually enter the marine food chain and impact resources that sustain Cebuโs growing population.
Beyond its environmental impact, the initiative highlighted the importance of collective responsibility. By removing coastal debris that could serve as breeding grounds for pests and sources of toxic chemical runoff, the volunteers contributed directly to safeguarding both the shoreline and surrounding communities. The participation of students further strengthened the initiativeโs long-term impact, nurturing an environment-first mindset among the next generation of leaders and advocates.
As the clock struck 8:00 a.m., piles of filled sacks stood as a stark reminder of the scale of pollution along the coastline, yet they also symbolized hope and resilience within the community. Through the leadership of Banay CebuaNU and the support of the SM Green Movement, the event demonstrated that even a sudden call to action can spark meaningful and lasting change.
via Althea Kaithlyn Cabilte
PROOFREAD | Dnvr Cliedzray L. Gjaete
PHOTO | Sophia Cassandra Aspe
