Over 1,000 volunteers were deployed in 33 beaches and shorelines for Toyota Motor Philippines’ (TMP) massive coastal cleaning effort. As part of the global ‘Start Your Impossible’ campaign, TMP had Paralympic swimmer Ernie Gawilan lead the charge from his hometown of Samal Island in Davao.
The day also saw volunteers plant over 10,000 mangrove seedlings to further protect and sustain the communities they had just cleaned up. From Pangasinan to Albay, and all the way down to Davao, volunteers came together to usher in a cleaner Philippines into 2025.
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And for Ernie Gawilan, this was also his way of thanking his community for their undying support throughout his athletic career. The beaches and the residents of Samal Island in Davao shaped Gawilan into a two-time Paralympian and a gold medalist in the Asian Para Games.
Now, the swimmer is focused on advocating for environmental awareness and cleaner waters. Toyota’s Start Your Impossible campaign aims to uplift athletes into stewards for advocacies and efforts towards a better world.
Along with planting 10,354 mangrove seedlings, Gawilan and other volunteers filled 789 bags with trash and other pollution from the beach. Volunteers came from Toyota dealers and other TMP offices across the Philippines. The cleanup was also supported by various local government units and enviromental agencies.
“Nagpapasalamat ako sa Toyota family sa pagtulong sa akin sa pagtatanim at coastal cleanup ngayong araw... Sana marami akong na-inspire, at pagtulungan natin na ma-preserve ang kalikasan natin, lalo na ang dagat, kasi dito po ako nagsimula,” said Gawilan.
