#teamseacamp

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PART II: It’s more fun in Negros Oriental for the Visayas SEA Camp!

By A'len Yap Read PART I here! Sailing Through School and Site Visits

Tricycles, locally called "pedicabs," are the taxis of cities like Dumaguete. Hail one down and you'll see that your P9.00 can take you far!

The next day, Kim and I had separate itineraries. She scouted for potential sites for the camp located at the outskirts of the city proper, while I did the school visits. I revisited Siliman University, but this time around, I went to the Office of Information and Publications and the Office of Student Affairs where I asked help with promoting the SEA camp to their students. The next three universities I visited were St. Paul University, Foundation University, and Negros Oriental State University. During the third day, I travelled 2 hours by bus to Bais City, where I got visit the other 2 campuses of Negros Oriental State University (which, by the way, offers courses in Fisheries), and La Consolacion College.

This beautiful hispanic-inspired building is  the municipal hall of Bais. Did you know that out of the 24 species of cetaceans sighted in Philippine waters, 11 species are found in Bais Bay, along Tañon Strait? How many dolphins do you spot in the photo above? :)

All the heads, officers, and teachers that I spoke with that day had nothing but positive feedback about the SEA Camp. They were happy that our team officially invited their students and hoped that many of them would be chosen to represent their school with pride.

Meanwhile…

Kim travelled for about half an hour by bus to get to Dauin, a coastal town south of Dumaguete City. This quaint town is popular for its fine sand beaches and dive spots around its marine sanctuaries. One of its more famous tourist destinations is Apo Island, a 72-hectare volcanic island that is home to 450 coral species and 2,500 fish species, making it an internationally acclaimed dive site. Their marine sanctuary is managed by their community, and is often mentioned as one of the best managed Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in the world.

During Kim’s visit to the Municipality of Dauin, she got to discuss the SEA Camp and ask support from the Mayor, Hon. Niel Credo. During their meeting, he shared that he has been a legislator in Dauin since the ‘90s and was one of the people involved in passing the ordinance declaring Apo Island as the first Marine Protected Area in our country. The project was initiated by the Silliman University Marine Laboratory (presently Institute of Environmental and Marine Sciences (IEMS)) led by Dr. Alcala, and since then has stimulated the creation of hundreds of other marine sanctuaries around the country. Kim invited him to be one of the resource speakers for the SEA Camp and he gladly agreed. We all look forward to learning from Mayor Credo about his other Coastal Resource Mangement (CRM) projects!

Kim made her way further down south to the Municipality of Siaton, where she was welcomed by Mr. Abed Gerona, the Municipal Agriculture Officer (MAO) and Mr. Nick Macahig, the Municipal Fisheries Technician. Both expressed their support for the SEA Camp too! The MAO suggested that the venue be at Lake Balanan. The fisheries technician and Ms. Sarah Colton, a US Peace Corps Volunteer stationed at Siaton joined Kim to visit the Lake.

Lake Balanan is a mountain resort developed around Balanan Lake. It is approximately 60 kilometers from Dumaguete City. The resort features pathways for trekking, a variety of pools for swimming, passenger bancas for boating and waterfalls for nature appreciation.

The resort is run by the Balanan Lake Development Authority and managed by the Labampako Lake Balanan Multipurpose Agricultural Cooperative (LLBMAC). The Cooperative is composed of approximately 50 local women who live around the Lake. The Chairman of the LLBMAC, Ms. Yanda Edria, expressed their interest to attend the lectures, workshops, and activities of the SEA Camp so they may also learn more about the environment and how to care for it. Now that’s what you call initiative coming from a leader of a model community-based ecotourism project! So during the SEA Camp, it won’t just be the participants learning from the speakers, but the community will also have the chance to join, learn and share their knowledge and skills as well, about their work involving tourism, nature, and their life by the lake.

Kim with the members of Labampako Lake Balanan Multipurpose Agricultural Cooperative (LLBMAC).

Home-bound, Happy, and Ready for the Last Leg!

Rushing to catch the 8PM ferry from the Sibulan port to Santander, Cebu, I hopped on a bus back to Dumaguete City from Bais with a sense of delight knowing that we have opened doors to the students of these universities and locals of these communities, so that they could become leaders in conservation.

Now that we’ve ticked off the Visayas SEA Camp ocular visit from the list, we had just one more box to fill: Mindanao!

If you are an adventure-seeker, nature-lover or simply aspire to help save our seas, then we invite you to join the Sea and Earth Advocates Camp. It will be an all-expense-paid trip where you get to travel, explore, meet new friends, snorkel and dive, learn about the environment and conservational efforts from FIN-spiring SEAtizens, and get to plan your very own project to create positive impacts for our coasts and communities. It is a project by the U.S. Embassy Manila and SPS.

Send in your applications today! Deadline of submissions is on December 23, 2014. Read more and apply here!

[savephilippineseas]

PART I: It’s more fun in Negros Oriental for the Visayas SEA Camp!

By A'len Yap Just 3 hours away by sea from Cebu, Kim and I found ourselves in one of our favorite cities in the Philippines: Dumaguete! Although we just had one day to recuperate from our weeklong escapade in Batangas for the Luzon SEA Camp ocular visit and a side trip weekend in Baler, we still had the energy to take on the next exciting adventure!                    

With smaller backpacks this time around and a float instead of a flight to catch, it was comforting to know that our next destination was not too far from home. It was 8 o’clock in the morning and the blare of the horns of the boats by the pier was the perfect wake-up call. Kim and I chugged down our coffees and made our way to the boat, where we were greeted by the familiar scent of the sea. I looked up and saw the sun smiling down on us, and for a moment I thought it was summer. I grinned as I put on my shades, and walked down the aisle to our designated seats. During our travels, Kim and I always make sure we take turns on who would get the window seat. It was her turn that day. But that did not stop me from peering through the window, careful not to wake a sleeping Kim. The cool blue horizon was a calming sight, and for a minute or two, I was somewhat stuck in that line where the sea and sky met. I wish I took a photo of that moment, but I too succumbed to slumber. I blame the slow and steady hum of the engine and the thumping of the waves hitting the side of the boat, which became the rhythmic lullaby that made me drift away.

Welcome to the City of Gentle People!

When we woke up, the view of the famous boulevard welcomed us to the beautiful city of Dumaguete. After we had lunch, we met up with Ms. Meemee Sobrevega of Ecosystems Improved for Sustainable Fisheries (ECOFISH) who accompanied us to the Institute of Environmental and Marine Sciences (IEMS) of Siliman University.

There, we sat down with Dr. Janet Estacion, the directress of IEMS. After we discussed the details of the SEA Camp with Dr. Janet and her staff, she asked, “How can we help?”.

Kim and I smiled at her straightforwardness and told her of our plans to tap their research hub for potential resource speakers for the camp. The discussion ended on a happy note, as Dr. Janet expressed her support for our endeavors and mentioned that the IEMS was ready to be of help to the SEA Camp and its participants. She told us that we could also “borrow” some of their students as guides or facilitators for the camp. Thank you IEMS-SU!

L-R: Ms. Meemee Sobrevega of ECOFISH, Kim Lao - Blackfish Kahuna and Operations Manager, Dr. Janet Estacion of IEMS-SU, and A’len Yap - Dev Comm Dolphin and Social Media Officer

Before we left the campus, Kim and I did a quick tour around the research facility and found interesting things on the campus grounds, such as a marine mammal museum, crocodile breeding grounds, mangrove garden, and ponds full of giant clams, sea urchins, seaweeds, groupers, and other fish for experiments. The funniest thing we saw were big yellow signs that warned:

We hopped on a tricycle that dropped me off at the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) office, while Kim and Ms. Meemee headed to the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) office that shared space with the staff of ECOFISH. At the PIA, I met with Ms. Jennifer Tilos, the Information Center Manager. In early November, Ms. Jennifer put in the SEA Camp Press Release in the PIA news, with a header entitled, “Save Philippine Seas Invites Negrense Youths for SEA Camp.”

During our talk, she told me how the youth were enthusiastic about environmental activities such as these. She also mentioned that many students from the different universities in Dumaguete were aware of the issues concerning climate change, habitat degradation, and the destructive practices or human activities that contribute to these.

One of the current issues being discussed is the logging in Mount Talinis. Also known as the Cuernos de Negros (Horns of Negros), Mount Talinis is a volcano located 20 kilometers away from Dumaguete City. It is the second highest mountain on Negros Island after Mount Kanlaon, making it a popular hiking site. Ms. Jennifer shared how people of different ages and from different places made a strong stand against the logging. This is one of the objectives of the SEA Camp: that our participants will not just learn from advocates and resource speakers to fight for causes such as these, but they themselves be empowered to lead and act on their own principles and beliefs.

Send in your applications here!! Deadline of submissions is on December 23, 2014.

Read PART II of It’s more fun in Negros Oriental for the Visayas SEA Camp! :)

[savephseas]

What a view! A unique landscape greeted us from the airport of #TawiTawi. This picturesque #mountain shares its name with this quaint town called Bongao. #TeamSEAcamp eagerly hops on the #tricycle, ready for the day ahead! I wonder what this ocular visit will offer us for the Mindanao #SEAcamp :) #SavePHSeas (at Bongao, Tawi-Tawi, Phillippines)

[savephseas]

#TeamSEAcamp touchdown #TawiTawi! Blackfish Kahuna @kimndwhale and Dev-Comm Dolphin @alenzyap is off to another adventure. They will be doing an ocular visit for the Mindanao #SEAcamp :) ASSALAM MUALAYKUM to all from #SavePHSeas! (at Bongao, Tawi-Tawi, Phillippines)

[savephseas]

#Bantayan Island needs #nofilter ♥ This photo was taken by @alenzyap of #TeamSEAcamp during her visit with #VolunteerInCebu for a feeding program and coastal clean up drive - and to put up #SEAcamp posters too! A year after #Yolanda, Bantayan remains to be beautifully blue for me and you. Let us all make that conscious effort to keep our seas clean - Water are the ways you can help? @SavePHSeas and @usembassymanila has a sea-riffic idea: Apply for the Sea and Earth Advocates Camp! Send in your applications on or before December 23, 2014: http://savephilippineseas.org/seacamp

[savephilippineseas]

It’s more fun in Batangas for the Luzon SEA Camp!

Words and photos by Anna Helen "A'len" Z. Yap

It was 5AM, and Kim and I were sleepy, hungry, yet uncontrollably chatty -- it was pretty obvious that we were excited to board that flight bound for Manila from our hometown, Cebu. It was the first ocular visit for the SEA Camp and we were headed to Batangas for the Luzon leg. Although we had a list of things to do while we were on fieldwork, there was still this lingering thrill of not knowing what to expect. With backpacks stuffed with FIN-tastic ideas, a hammock, a camera, and a bag full of SEA Camp posters, we were ready for anything! #SavePHSeas

L-R: Kim Lao, Blackfish Kahuna and Operations Manager and A’len Yap, Dev Comm Dolphin and Social Media Officer Upon arrival, we gulfed down breakfast and hopped on a taxi where our Tagalog tongues were tested through the mid-week Manila traffic madness. At the terminal, we squeezed into a V-hire that took us directly to Calatagan, a municipality in the Province of Batangas. The town comprises the Calatagan Peninsula between the West Philippine Sea and Balayan Bay.

Why was Calatagan chosen to be one of the sites for the Luzon SEA Camp? Here are 3 main reasons: 1. It has a Marine Key Biodiversity Area, and is an Ecosystems Improved for Sustainable Fisheries (ECOFISH) Project site. The USAID-funded project seeks to reform the fisheries sector through an application of ecosystem-based fisheries management (EBFM). 2. Calatagan is popular for its white sand beaches and ecotourism destinations -- places that are perfect for a fun and educational experience for our SEA campers! 3. Calatagan has a strong Coastal Resource Management program supported by its Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office (MENRO) and a number of conservational NGOs. It is one of the Municipalities that is responsible for the protection of the Verde Island Passage that was declared as the “Center of the Center of Marine Shorefish Biodiversity.”

After 3 hours of not-too-rough roads and sharing the back row of the van with Kim and Mr. Jun Narvadez from ECOFISH (see photo above, in red), we arrived in Calatagan right before lunch break, just in time to meet with Ms. Evelyn Custodio from the MENRO (see photo above, in yellow). Ms. Evelyn had a lot of great suggestions as to what the SEA campers should not miss to experience, like snorkeling, mangrove identification, and planting at the mangrove conservation park, and scuba diving. Kim and I were ecstatic to hear positive feedback and support from the MENRO.

In photo: Evelyn Custodio – MENRO of Calatagan (in yellow), Jun Narvadez – ECOFISH (in red),  Arturo Macalalad - Youth and Solid Waste Mgmt Coordinator of MENRO (in blue), and Kim.

"The SEA Camp is a good and useful tool for education. It is similar with our youth camp that also aims to develop leaders for the environment. It helps build awareness of these issues to communities, both for the young and the older generations." In the photo above, you will see the first SEA Camp poster being put up at the announcements and notices bulletin board of their Municipality Hall.

Thank you MENRO-Calatagan for showing your full support for the SEA Camp!

I have always believed that it is the little things in the day that keep you going. This was what I caught from the corner of my eye as we were walking around the town proper: an art-sea mural of marine animals painted by the police station. It was a simple reminder for everyone to keep our seas clean, with a caption that said: “Dagat o lupa man, huwag gawing basurahan” (Whether sea or land, do not turn them into trashcans). The SEA camp participants will have the chance to create beautiful artworks like this to inspire people to help save our seas in our own ways.

We went to two schools that the MENRO suggested that we visit. Arturo Macalalad, the Youth and Solid Waste Management Coordinator of the MENRO, told us how the community and schools have had a positive change in behavior regarding the disposal of their garbage. “Before they did not care at all. Now, kids and even parents help gather trash everyday. During Thursdays, they hand these over to the junk collectors who turn these into cash,” he explained. This project has reinforced people to clean up their communities and serve as an example for other barangays to do the same. Another NGO, Greenpeace, has also worked with schools to teach kids to reuse, reduce, and recycle. An activity they had was making a bench with plastic bottles filled with wrappers, shaped by cement. When Kim and I saw the bench and heard the story behind how it was made, we were inspired to incorporate innovative activities such as this for the SEA Camp.

Our second day felt like a high school field trip. Kim and I were skipping through sugar canes, together with Mr. Dennis de Guzman, the Marine Protected Area (MPA) Coordinator of the MENRO.

We were on our way to visit Mr. Dionisio Gonzales (see photo above, in blue), the President of PALITAKAN (Pro-mangrove Alliance and Implementing Team Aim as Kilitisans Advocates of Nature). This People’s Organization is the community group that manages the mangrove conservation park called "Ang Pulo".

“Here we promote eco-friendly tourism. Ang Pulo is a project by the community and for the community. Before, the locals used to cut down the mangroves for firewood and materials to build their homes, and for dye,” shared Mr. Dennis.

“Since this conservation park has been established, the cutting down of the trees has been minimized since the locals have noticed that there are people who are taking care of the mangroves and protecting them,” Mr. Dionisio added. “Usually, the women help in the cleanups while the men prioritize fixing the boardwalk. There are seasons when tourism is slow so income is low, but volunteers from the communities still come to help.”

Ang Pulo will be one of the field trip sites for the SEA Camp, where participants will learn not just about the importance of mangroves as a marine ecosystem, but also how ecotourism projects like this becomes successful and sustainable through the cooperation and unity of the community, Local Government Unit (LGU), and NGOs.

A glorious sunset bid us farewell as we made our way back to Manila. We brought along with us heavier backpacks filled with extra learning and a bigger and better perspective about things to come. Henry Miller said it best: "One's destination is never a place but rather a new way of looking at things."

To catch up with the adventures and misadventures of Kim the Blackfish Kahuna and A'len the Dev Comm Dolphin, LIKE the Save Philippine Seas Facebook page and FOLLOW us on Twitter and Instagram @SavePHSeas :)

Luzon SEA Camp ocular visit down, Visayas and Mindanao here we come! #TeamSEAcamp

If you are an adventure-seeker, nature-lover or simply aspire to help save our seas, then we invite you to join the #SEAcamp. It will be an all-expense-paid trip where you get to travel, explore, meet new friends, snorkel and dive, learn about the environment and conservational efforts from FIN-spiring SEAtizens, and get to plan your very own project to create positive impacts for our coasts and communities. The SEA Camp is a project of SPS, in partnership with the U.S. Embassy Manila.

Only 30 participants will be chosen per region so send in your applications today! Deadline of submissions is on December 23, 2014. Read more and apply here!

A'len is the SPS Dev Comm Dolphin and Social Media Officer of the SEA Camp. She is a travel junkie, sports enthusiast and has a great appreciation for music and the arts. So far, she has dedicated her professional career to the NGO world and plans to take on the waves of life with one strong and steady paddle at a time.