Basking in the sun’s rays in the lowlands, with branches swaying to the reverberating songs of distant forest fowls, towers a remarkable Dracontomelon dao—known simply as the Dao tree. Overlooking the Kabankalan–Mabinay national highway, this tree has literally and figuratively borne fruits that now safeguard the highlands and the community.

 Standing tall and firm at the heart of Central Philippines State University –RDEC building, the endangered native Da-o tree does more than provide shade or adorn the campus grounds; it has become a sanctuary for large bat species known as the Golden-crowned Flying Fox, a resting place for birds, and a thriving piece of the university’s natural ecosystem. Beyond its strong branches and generous canopy, the Dao tree carries a story—one that continues to inspire CPSU’s commitment to environmental protection.

 At its foot, fallen fruits lie scattered, consumed by local fauna and planted by local people. Seeds are propagated in CPSU’s nursery, awaiting regreening initiatives that will transplant them into the roots of the local mountains.

 The mother Dao tree also embodies resilience and hope. Strengthened by vermitea and organic concoctions, it has become the mother tree of thousands of seedlings that safeguard mountain slopes and protect nearby communities. Their now winding roots and towering trunk break violent water runoffs, redirect rainwater flow, and anchor the soil across the main campus and beyond.

 Years ago, during the time when the university was still known as the Negros Occidental Agricultural College (NOAC), Senator Loren Legarda visited the campus for a memorable tree-planting activity. Advocating for reforestation and the protection of native flora, she planted a young Da-o seedling beside the RDEC building. Her message was clear and powerful: restoring nature begins with a single act of planting, and nurturing our native trees is a duty to future generations.

 Today, that once small seedling stands high and strong, its branches stretched wide, its roots deeply entwined with the land—symbolizing both sustainability and hope. It has grown just as Senator Legarda’s advocacy has grown over the years.

 Now serving as Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Higher, Technical and Vocational Education and as a Member of the CPSU Board of Regents, her vision remains steadfast: “Flood protection should be rooted in the soil, strengthened by our trees, and guided by ecosystems.” With landmark laws such as the Clean Water Act and the Solid Waste Management Act behind her, she underscores that the greatest defense against climate risk is not reaction, but prevention—anchored in the simple act of letting nature heal itself.

 CPSU carries this legacy forward. Across its 4,653.7-hectare reservation area, the institution stands as a guardian of forests, watersheds, and native biodiversity within its vast biodiversity. Through community-wide tree planting, carbon reduction campaigns, research-based conservation, and environmental education, CPSU ensures that reforestation is not an event, but a culture shared by students, faculty, alumni, households, and partner communities.

 Today, the Dao tree has become a mother tree, producing over 10,000 seeds annually—valued at nearly ₱200,000. This income-generating project has been essential to the gradual attainment of CPSU’s “1.5 Million Trees Campaign.” Dispersed and planted throughout the reservation in partnership with campus settlers, these seeds revive forest cover, support wildlife, enhance climate resilience, and restore a species once at the brink of disappearance.

 This legacy is more than symbolic; it is transformative. As CPSU continues to nurture its forests, conserve its flora and fauna, and inspire environmental consciousness among its students and partner communities, the university brings Senator Legarda’s message to life. It shows that when people work with nature, when they choose stewardship over exploitation, the result is resilience that lasts far beyond a single generation.

 And so, the Da-o tree remains, tall and thriving, not just as a memory of a moment in CPSU’s history, but as a guiding symbol of what can grow when passion, purpose, and protection are deeply rooted in the soil.  With its towering buttresses, it stands as the epitome of an institution grounded in its vision and mission, and of a leader who safeguards the nation with the cradle of her heart.

 By: J.A. Emoy

Edited: CPSU Public Information Office