Today, the Vicars Forane, together with lay representatives from various parishes across the Archdiocese of Cebu, gathered at the Filipiniana Hall of the Archbishop’s Residence for the Laudate Deum Pocket Forest and Ecological Stewardship Program Technical Training.

The Laudate Deum Pocket Forest, a program under the guidance of Cebu Archbishop Alberto “Abet” Uy, through the Cebu Archdiocesan Commission on Environmental Concern, is a faith-based, science-guided initiative of the Archdiocese of Cebu that restores native forests, protects biodiversity, strengthens climate resilience, promotes food security, and forms communities in caring for our common home.

This training seeks to deepen the participants’ understanding of the pocket forest initiative, exploring its principles, processes, and practical considerations in preparation for its implementation in parishes across the Archdiocese.

Through small, replicable Miyawaki-inspired forests, we hope to transform parishes and communities into living spaces of faith, ecology, and stewardship—toward the Centennial Anniversary of the Archdiocese in 2034 and beyond.