Bicol Bamboo Summit! Giant Bamboo Advocacy Goes To Camarines Norte

On the way to the wake of my departed cousin, Elizabeth Piñol-Par, in Koronadal, South Cotabato yesterday, I received an unexpected call from Governor Ricarte “Dong” Padilla of Camarines Norte.
Gov. Padilla is brother of actor and Senator Robinhood Padila who won the Governorship of Camarines Norte last year after serving as Vice Governor.
While we had not met personally, Gov. Padilla sounded very friendly during our phone conversation and asked me if I could help him establish a Bamboo Industry in his province.
My answer, of course, was a big Yes.
I had heard of Gov. Padilla’s interest in developing a Bamboo Industry in his province from fellow Bamboo advocate Mark Sultan Gersava and my wedding Godson, Jeff de Guzman.
The fact that it was he who initiated the contact yesterday shows his deep interest in the Giant Bamboo Advocacy.
So, our initial understanding yesterday was that we will introduce the Bamboo Industry in Camarines Norte through a Bamboo Summit, Show and Exhibits next month, March.
The advocacy spreads from Mindanao to Leyte, Cagayan Valley then Negros Occidental and now Camarines Norte and the whole of the Bicol Region.
Just like the Bamboo, we are slowly creeping and growing, hopefully covering all provinces of the country, even beyond my lifetime.
#GreenPhilippinesAdvocacy!
#TheDreamNeverDies!
(Photo of Gov. Dong Padilla grabbed from his Facebook page.)