Carlos Hilado Memorial State University (CHMSU) led a tribute to the environment this Earth Month 2026, with a series of high-impact environmental and community events in April.
In partnership with the City of Talisay, JCI Talisay, the Regional Center of Expertise on Education for Sustainable Development (RCE-NIR), and XFM Bacolod, CHMSU organized the highlight events “FreeCycle Day” and “Earth Walk, Run, and Jam” April 24.
The day began at the Talisay City public plaza with FreeCycle Day, a “free store” concept designed to divert waste from landfills.
CHMSU students, faculty, and staff spent April 20-23 collecting pre-loved items, including clothing, electronics, toys, books, and kitchenware.
These goods were distributed for free to senior citizens, PWDs, and families, giving hundreds of items a second life. The initiative was facilitated by the Center for Internationalization and External Relations (CIER), and supported by student-volunteers from Event Management Team (EMT) and CHMSU 3Zero Club.
The momentum shifted to the Talisay City Track and Oval in the afternoon for the “Earth Walk, Run, and Jam”. The event kicked off with a high-energy Zumba warm-up before the gunstart for the 3K and 5K “Earth Run”.
Beyond the competition, the gathering served as a platform for environmental advocacy, CHMSU said in a press release April 27.
Talisay assistant administrator Ismael Penado, JCI Talisay executive VP Atty. Ernalin Constiniano, Councilor Erlou Penado, and CIER director Rhoderick Samonte delivered inspiring messages before joining participants in signing a Commitment Wall.
This symbolic gesture reinforced the university and city’s shared pledge to grassroots environmental preservation.
As evening fell, the “Earth Jam” transformed the venue into a cultural hub. The showcase featured performances by CHMSU students and local artists, including the CHMSUnata and Alni Sanz. The event also included a fashion show, featuring designs by BSIT Fashion and Apparel students.
“These collective actions prove that community-led initiatives are vital to generating a massive positive impact for our planet,” Samonte said.
CIER also kickstarted the series of SDGs Unplugged virtual chats for the year, with sessions on “Rediscovering Kaningag: A Native Treasure for Health, Livelihood, and the Planet” with Plantsvilled Health CEO November Canieso-Yeo; “Own It: A Student’s Guide to Intellectual Property Rights” with Armando Reosura, CHMSU director for Intellectual Property Management; and “The Power in our Hands: The High Five for a Sustainable Lifestyle” with Samonte.
CHMSU will cap off its Earth Month celebration with “The Road to a People-powered Planet” session, featuring Joshua Villaobos of the Negrosanon Initiative for Climate and the Environment (NICE). Four more sessions that tackle issues related to the SDGs will also be held next month. ||
