MANILA, Philippines??Like receiving a diploma from the University of Mother Earth.? Thus, actress/singer Timmy Cruz described her 2009 Fr. Neri Satur Special Citation for Environmental Heroism ?for being an eco-friendly music artist? and citizen.

She wrote to Living Stars soon after the recent awarding ceremonies in Malacañang: ?I know out there, somewhere, are passionate nature lovers just waiting to be awakened.?

She knows whereof she speaks. Outside of her numerous endeavors known to many (including the family leasing company and her very own preschool), Timmy has been a gardener since she was 7.

?GreenTimThumb? was discovered by her Aunt Viring. ?I would spend weekends with with her,? Timmy recalls. ?One day, I gathered branches and leaves that she let me plant in milk cans. On my next visit, we found that some of the cuttings had flourished. Since then, I would often be in our garden at home?digging, pruning, repotting! Almost anything and everything I planted took root and grew.?

As a little girl, she nurtured two dreams: ?To become a professional singer and to have my own garden.? We visited her ?Casita de Mis Sueños (Little House of My Dreams)? in Tagaytay recently and found that she had fulfilled the latter as well as the first.

The property is 3,000 square meters of gently rolling grounds, rich soil and lots of plants?from peanut grass to bromeliads, to palm trees ?rescued? from a gasoline station that was folding up.

We met Freeda, a dapdap tree that used to tower over the grounds. Typhoon ?Milenyo? forced her down on her side, and still she flourished. Now Freeda is the centerpiece of Timmy?s green home.

The special citation is awarded by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Climate Change to ?individuals, groups or entities from ... who have contributed to the protection of the environment.? The award is named after Fr. Neri Satur, who died fighting illegal loggers and protecting the forests of Bukidnon.

Other celebrity awardees included Richard Gutierrez, Kidlat Tahimik, Francis Magalona and Carlo J. Caparas.

Timmy takes every opportunity to share her ?green passion? via workshops, seminars and actual planting activities, and has another dream: ?To make the joys and rewards of planting known to all.?