Mabaw Reef's Mabi , friends visit schools

TAGBILARAN CITY, Philippines  — Mabi, the clownfish mascot of Mabaw Reef, who has been making the rounds of elementary schools and other reef conservation activities in the city since his debut in October 2011, is again set to visit some schools here today, August 7. 

This time, Mabi will be joined by mascot friends from different parts of the country, representing the flagship species of 12 of the country’s marine protected coral reef areas. They will be visiting the Victoriano D. Tirol Advanced Learning Center (VDT-ALC) in Brgy. Taloto and the Holy Name University (HNU) Grade School Department in Brgy. Dampas.

Joining Mabi in Taloto and Ubujan in the morning today are Tilang, a giant clam or taklobo from Cantilan, Surigao del Sur; Rabita, a white spotted rabbitfish or danggit from Cortes town, also in Surigao del Sur; Pitz, a splendid red spooner crab or sipitan from Hinunangan in Southern Leyte; Booky, a thumbprint emperor fish or bukhawon from Bacacay, Albay; Agcaton, a leopard coral grouper or lapu-lapu from Tinambac, Camarines Sur; and Meloy, a panther grouper or melo-melo from Inabanga, Bohol.

In the afternoon, Mabi will troop to Dampas with friends Cora Plaskera, a fire coral or gasang from Boljoon, Cebu; Lappy, a red coral grouper or lapu-lapu from Amlan, Negros Occidental; Fredo, an orange clownfish or bantay botbot from San Francisco, Southern Leyte; Pipay/Pipoy, a Reeve’s scallop or paypay from the Island Garden City of Samal in Davao del Norte; and Loblob, a painted rock lobster or banagan from Lanuza, Surigao del Sur.

The campus visits are part of RARE Conservation’s National Social Marketing Conference, to be held in the city today and tomorrow, aimed to showcase best practices in social marketing for marine resource conservation. 

Mascots are among the social marketing tools used by RARE Conservation fellows to raise the awareness and local pride of coastal communities in local resources to change the behavior of fishermen and residents towards protection and conservation of no-take zones.

The visits will include an overview of RARE’s Pride Campaign Program, a two-year initiative in each of the 12 sites in coordination with local government units and other institutional partners. These are aimed to reduce illegal and destructive fishing activities in marine sanctuaries and consequently increase the coral cover and fish population. 

Storytelling or dancing with the schoolchildren during the visits will also help the pupils remember the importance of protecting coral reef areas for their families’ food supply and a healthier marine environment. The campus interactions are a fun way of integrating lessons in science and environmental protection.

Mabaw Reef is an 84,339 sq. m. patch reef, about 3 km off the shores of Taloto, Ubujan and Manga in Tagbilaran City and home to more than eight species of Acropora corals and 70 fish species including the orange-and-white clownfish, locally known as bantay botbot. It has been declared a no-take zone marine protected area (NTZ-MPA) by the city government through an ordinance enacted in April 2006.

RARE, an international conservation organization, with its Philippine office located in Bohol, is organizing the event, with funding support from the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), in coordination with the Department of Education-Tagbilaran City Division, and the city government.  (FREEMAN)