The most powerful motivation that gets septuagenarian Joaquin “Jackie” Rodriguez out of bed every day isn’t business or the mere management of his companies and farms. He wants to make this world a little better.

“It’s the desire to live a good life,” he says. “Your motivations evolve over time. In youth, it was about money and enjoying it. As you grow older, it’s about doing good things for people, bringing the family closer together, loving your children and grandchildren and appreciating your friends,” he says.

Rodriguez is chair of Iridium Holdings, which oversees mining in Negros, solar farms in Isabela, a wind farm in Cebu and agriculture in Davao.

His other company, Guidance Management Corp., is in real estate and in the Kalinga Geothermal Plant which is part of a consortium with Aragorn Power and Energy Corp. and Allfirst Kalinga Ltd.

The Rotary Club of Manila, the first and largest in Asia, also keeps him busy.

Rodriguez notes that the pollution in Metro Manila has increased by 11 percent in the past two decades. The gases, smog and fumes reduce the oxygen concentration. Oxygen-deficient environments can lead to major health issues.

“My generation created the pollution. We gave out permits to cut trees and closed our eyes to the illegal cutting. The lack of trees cannot absorb the pollution in Metro Manila. We are killing ourselves by breathing this terrible air,” he says.

A million trees

As Rotary Club of Manila’s president, Rodriguez is reviving his campaign for the environment, the Total Revolution for Economic and Environmental Solution (Trees) program. In 1980, he was chair of Trees, whose main project was to plant a million trees.
“The few trees that survived were cut and sold. We planted pine trees in the Cordilleras and monoculture in other places, but that didn’t increase the animal life,” he says.

Rodriguez realized that no amount of tree planting would succeed unless it was rooted in education, increased public awareness through media and making the Filipinos realize the immediate benefits of planting.

Although the acronym Trees remains, the revived campaign is called The Rotary Environmental and Ecological Stratagems. Rodriguez says many Rotary Clubs in the Philippines have agreed to help solve environmental problems.

Last June 15, 230 clubs did tree planting. Plans are afoot to make it a yearly activity.

Rodriguez met with Sen. Vicente Sotto III and proposed measures to address environmental problems. One was to give an incentive of P100 to every Filipino who planted a tree that survived after one year and showed growth potential.

Another recommendation was that every elementary school graduate should have planted five trees, a high school graduate 10 trees and a college graduate, 20 trees. Schools must also include subjects on ecology/environment in the curriculum.

“This must be taught during children’s formative years,” he says. His vision is for every barrio, sitio and public school to dedicate 10 sqm for a seedling bank.

“These have to be mandated by law. That is why we plan to go to Congress and the Senate,” he says.

“Most people don’t know the value of a tree. If I have a mango seed, I have two choices: throw it or plant it. If I plant it, the seed will be a tree and bear fruits,” explains Rodriguez. He notes that fruits are source of nutrition and that trees can capture carbon dioxide and release more oxygen. The roots can hold thousands of gallons of water.

His farms in Davao City have cultivated 8,200 trees and various crops, including the biggest bamboos in the country.

Setting an example

Under the Rotary, he also set up other legacy projects. The Ambassadorial Society appoints ambassadors of different clubs to establish ties with Rotary Clubs from other countries.

“Many Rotary Club members didn’t have a connection with each other. We now have a highway through our ambassador. They are important links to joint projects,” he says.

Since its conception, the Rotary Club has depended on contributions from its members. To make the club more sustainable, Rodriguez established the Bequest Society where members can leave some money to the Rotary Club in their wills.

“When I die, the Rotary Club of Manila will get a certain amount. The quantity doesn’t matter. Financial stability assures the club’s longevity,” he says.

At 78, Rodriguez reports for work at 8:30 daily in a building partly owned by his family.

His wife of 56 years, Sonja, is active in the three farms in Davao. His sons Joaquin Jr. (Jack), Sean and Armando Carlos (Archie) are involved in the family business, while Antonio is based in Florida. Rodriguez plans to hand over his chairmanship of Guidance Management Corp. to Jack.

Most of the time he stays in the office till 7 p.m. after a day of reviewing projects.

“That’s what I enjoy. I never leave the office until I’m finished with work. If I didn’t accomplish my work, my sons would follow me. I have to set an example.”

His farms and businesses are also giving back to society. The farms support an orphanage in Davao, while the Kalinga Geothermal Project assists 160 scholars.

Every Sunday, his children and grandchildren get together for lunch. He is proud that his granddaughter by Antonio, Katarina Sonja, was Miss World Philippines 2018 and first runner-up in Miss Intercontinental 2017.

“With seven girls and three boys—that’s ice cream for a grandfather,” he says.

Looking back at his achievements, Rodriguez says in modesty, “I’m not rich. I’m a simple guy who wants to do well.” —CONTRIBUTED