ODE TO THE SEAS

CEBU, Philippines - I have vivid memories of my childhood mostly spent basking in the white sand beaches of Southern Leyte and Surigao and learning my first breaststrokes in Limasawa sans floaters. A certified beachbum, I still fear the stars of Jaws though, but due to too much VHS marathon, I developed this belief of mermaids, Sebastians and Flounders. 

More than 10 years have passed, I found myself in an outrigger boat docked near the coast of Apo Island in Oriental Negros, getting ready to snorkel in one of its marine protected areas. Upon my entry to the pristine waters, the corals and all that benefited from them were surprisingly lovely with the playful mix of hues and complex shapes of living organisms – a lot charming than that of The Little Mermaid’s, Shark’s Tale’s and Finding Nemo’s. I can’t help but marvel and feel like Ariel, dancing err swimming to the tune of Under the Sea. I had a similar experience while snorkelling in the waters of Surigao last December but this time, the sheer joy turned to an instant frustration after seeing dead corals due to dynamite fishing. I incidentally dove in the area where the effect of dynamite fishing was clearly evident and where the corals, struggling to live, still thrive, as well. Horrible!

Boracay Island has a different story. It’s summer all year round in the island and if it could only speak, it’ll decide to take a time off and breathe. With thousands of visitors frequenting the island, Boracay isn’t spared from garbage disposal issues. Since business is good in the island, the locals need to be vigilant in keeping Boracay alive. Early risers, composed of locals and beachfront resort/bar owners, do the beach cleanup everyday to sustain the beach life.

The Philippines, being an archipelago, has room for thousands of marine species to thrive in our seas. We have learned in many recent documentaries that the country has one of the highly diverse marine ecosystems in the planet, according to marine scientists. Indeed, to whom much is given, much is required; therefore, as sole stewards of God’s creation, it is our ultimate responsibility to protect our marine organisms. But some of us do otherwise! The shocking news on the declining health status of our marine life is alarming and threatening to the ecosystem. Latest studies revealed that only five percent of the 27, 000 sq km of the coral reefs are considered healthy while the rest are casualties of illegal/irresponsible human practices. If worse comes to worst, the future generation will no longer have enough food resources, and scuba will no longer be a hobby perhaps.

Atty. Antonio Oposa, a fierce environmentalist responsible for the School of SEAs, an experiential training center on marine management and conservation, in Sta. Fe Bantayan, has always been consistent in his advocacies on biodiversity conservation and curbing illegal practices. If we all have the heart for the environment then this world will be a better place.

ALERT: Our trash can suffocate small fishes so better dispose of your waste properly. Though there aren’t instant solutions to these dilemmas, there are a lot of simple and easy ways to save our seas.

One of the many ways to counter the sea’s predicament is through coastal and underwater cleanup. Last Saturday, I had my second coastal clean-up experience (the first I had in Plantation Bay Resort & Spa, which they usually conduct every last Saturday of the month) as I participated in the Zero Waste in Seas (coastal and underwater) clean-up drive organized in celebration of the International Coastal Cleanup. Zero Waste in Seas is spearheaded by The Islands Group (subsidiaries including Islands Souvenirs Inc., Islands Banca Cruises, Islands & More, and Islands Pasalubong Center) and supported by equally environmentally conscious organizations such as Scuba Den, AquaDive Inc., Ocean Care Advocates Inc. (OCAI) and Bigfoot Studios Inc. It is The Islands Group’s first venture on biodiversity conservation effort under its Corporate Social Responsibility. According to The Islands Group CSR executive officer Chai M. Apale, Zero Waste in Seas will be an annual project of the company’s foundation from hereon.

The orphans from the Albert Schweitzer Familienwerk Foundation Philippines Inc., one of Bigfoot Asia Pacific Foundation’s beneficiaries under its mentorship program, were one of the special participants of the cleanup alongside employees from The Islands Group, Bigfoot, some members of OCAI (hotels, diveshops and individuals), scuba divers affiliated with Scuba Den and AquaDive Inc., and some other volunteers. OCAI administrator Mario Marababol gave a thorough briefing on biodiversity conservation, the detrimental effects of garbage on the marine ecosystem and the importance of underwater and coastal cleanups to jumpstart the cleanup, held at the SSI Studio of Bigfoot.

With a vegetable sack as trash bag and wooden tongs in hand, the participants made their way to a portion of Saac, Mactan in Lapu-Lapu City, which was just right in front of Bigfoot. Houses on stilts and a mangrove area lie at the coast, thus it was just apt to conduct the activity there. OCAI facilitated the cleanup, giving proper orientation and teaching the participants the right way to conduct a cleanup – that it is advisable to fill-up the cleanup data sheet developed by Ocean Conservancy, an international agency that gathers information on the kind of garbage collected in a certain site. OCAI endorses all the data generated to Ocean Conservancy which is responsible in creating resolutions; educate its members and conduct advocacies for environmental protection. OCAI conduct surveys, reef assessment and socio-economic profile of the residence of Lapu-Lapu and Cordova. The divers did their thing also in Hadsan Beach.

In 45 minutes, the more than 200 participants were able to gather 630 kilograms of trash that included food wrappers, shoes, plastics, bags, tires, bottles, aluminium foils, sacks, among many others. I couldn’t help but feel guilty looking at the sacks of trash piled. The kids are lucky to have participated in the cleanup so they have a clearer picture of their responsibilities when they grow up.

Today is the 24th Annual International Coastal Cleanup, which is celebrated every third Saturday of September. Let’s think of Nemo, Sebastian, Flounder and their nameless playmates, the Thresher sharks in Malapascua, the charming beaches of Bantayan Island and Moalboal, the Tubbataha Reef and the other dive sites in Batangas, Balicasag, Siargao, Boljoon and Palawan, the turtles that are close to extinction. Our little ways in caring for our seas have a huge impact in environmental conservation.

Now that I’ve grown, I’m a lot more skeptic when it comes to mermaids but who knows, maybe a lot of them or either a few of them still live in our oceans…just a thought though.