Last January, me and my family joined the Save the Sea Turtles (Year 3) Activity. We left at around 5AM and we arrived at the Pawikan Conservation Center facility past 9AM. I think it was my first visit to Bataan (I’m not sure haha kasi medyo Dora the Explorer ako nung bata pa ako but my memory fails to remember where I’ve been to sometimes.)

The Pawikan Conservation Center in Morong, Bataan is a sea turtle sanctuary wherein preservation and conservation efforts are implemented to protect sea turtle species as given in https://turtlecaring.com/can-red-eared-slider-turtles-lay-eggs-in-water/ that are found here in the Philippines.

We were first welcomed by the organizers in the assembly area. Sakto lang yung size nung area for our group (70+ or 80+) and it has a built-in small turtle-shaped pond which houses two pawikans. Yung isang pawikan is a hunchback/disabled and the other one was sick so they had to keep them under their care.

So we were introduced to the place and to the people behind the conservation, and the event. We had a short orientation — the do’s and don’ts and what to expect from the activity.

Set Up Camp

The first thing we did after the orientation was to set up our camp along the beach. It was almost noontime kaya ang init talaga, lalo na yung buhangin. Ang lakas din ng hangin so our tent was uprooted twice. My husband knows how to set up a tent (buti na lang kasi ako hindi) but we’re not hikers/campers so medyo matagal kami bago nakatapos.

We purchased our Coleman sundome tent (4P) for PhP 5,000++. We could have gotten the 2k plus lang sana, kaso feeling namin madaling masira, sayang din.

Photo by Neil Lee

This is the main dining area. Our groupmates had a rice cooker so we just contributed money to buy rice and other easy-to-cook meals. Behind the dining area are rooms for rent for those who don’t want to sleep inside tents.

Lecture: Sea Turtle Conservation and Protection

After lunch, we went to the assembly area to attend the Sea Turtle Conservation and Protection lecture. We learned about the life cycle of a marine turtle and how important its role is.

Did you know that sea turtles eat jellyfish? I was surprised about this fact. Without sea turtles, our seas and oceans would be teaming up with jellyfish, making it impossible for us to swim and enjoy summer.

Pawikan Conservation Center and its dedication to the conservation of the pawikans has come a long way. During its first operations, there were limited resources and funding. But now that their efforts are being noticed and accepted both by locals and tourists, they’re slowly improving the place. 

Their activities include research (tagging and documentation), egg relocation to the hatchery, and hatchling release.

Why Sea Turtles are now Endangered Species

Predators of sea turtles include giant crabs, sea eagles, sharks, dogs, monitor lizards, and human beings. Yes, TAYO. We are the biggest threat to their existence. We kill turtles for their meat and other by-products.

In Morong, sea turtle eggs are a delicacy and a source of livelihood and it has been that way for decades or centuries. Kaya naman kailangan daw nilang hukayin at ilipat yung mga turtle eggs para hindi makuha ng iba and to protect the eggs from other predators.

Hatchery

The hatchery is the place where the eggs are relocated. Since turtle eggs are a bit rubbery, hindi sila nababasag kapag nahuhulog sa buhangin. We also learned that the gender of a hatchling depends on the temperature of the sand. Warmer sand makes more female sea turtles. Another threat to the sea turtles’ existence is global warming, wherein males are slowly being outnumbered by females. 

Read some sea turtle facts in the photo below (this is a preview of our photobook from Photobook Philippines :))

Releasing of Sea Turtles in the Open Sea / Sunset Viewing

We were scheduled to release a batch of baby pawikans first thing the next morning pero maaga sila naghatch, so the releasing took place ASAP at sunset. Right after the lecture about sea turtles we were asked to prepare ourselves for the releasing of the baby pawikans in the open sea.

For me this was the most exciting part of the Save the Sea Turtles activity. Before the sun sets, we lined up at the shore tapos pinahawak kami ng hatchlings (one per person). Sabi sa amin, bago namin sila pakawalan we must give them a name and along with that a prayer na sana he/she makes it to adulthood. The feeling we had was unexplainable.

It is believed that turtles go back to their natal beach when they’re ready to lay eggs. I hope one of the pawikans we released this season comes back after XX years to lay its eggs. It really is investing in the future and saving our children’s generation and the next.  

I named my first hatchling Kylo, and the next one Rey. I’m smitten with those two SW characters and I think those are powerful names since both are survivors. I really hoped those two hatchlings make it.

This baby turtle is an Olive Ridley. 🙂

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Shane, PurplePieces.com (@amethystine)

Leave No Trace Awareness Workshop

By night time we all joined the Leave No Trace Awareness Workshop. Sobrang eye-opener siya for me because we were taught proper outdoor etiquette by a certified LNT lecturer. In a nutshell, I became aware that I need to respect nature by enjoying the great outdoors responsibly.

The Leave No Trace Seven Principles
– Plan Ahead and Prepare
– Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
– Dispose of Waste Properly
– Leave What You Find
– Minimize Campfire Impacts
– Respect Wildlife
– Be Considerate of Other Visitors

To learn more about Leave No Trace, visit https://lnt.org/

“Take Nothing but Pictures. Leave nothing but footprints. Kill nothing but time.” -Motto of the Baltimore Grotto (caving society)

Sea Turtle Nightwatch and Sea Turtle Patrol

The nightwatch and sea turtle patrol was optional. I have fever (plus ubo at sipon) that time kaya sabi ng guide I can skip the activity if I want to. Kaya lang nanghinayang ako.. So I still joined the patrol. We were reminded to wear jackets kasi mahangin at malamig.

Maglalakad lang sa shore at maghahanap ng turtles na mangigitlog or eggs na nakabaon sa sand. Super easy, right? Nako parang naka-2 hours kaming naglalakad sa dilim, with only our flashlights as our guide. Imagine doble o triple pa yung effort namin maglakad kasi buhangin.

We didn’t get to spot a turtle. Wala ring eggs. 🙁 But still, it was a fun experience with my family and we got to observe hatchlings that dug their way to the surface that night. So cute! 🙂

After a tiring stroll by the beach my family and our group had a little smore’s and spicy instant noodles party with the group. I didn’t expect na sa age kong 31 ang dami pa palang “firsts” na pwede kong ma-experience. 🙂

 

I woke up twice in the middle of the night ’cause I felt something move under/beside our tent hahaha. Ganyan ako ka-paranoid kapag nasa ibang lugar. But it was a pleasant sight waking up in the morning being greeted by the expanse of sand and sea.

We have the morning all to ourselves — swimming, exploring every crevice and corner of the place and taking IG-worthy photos and videos.

 

 

It was after lunch time when the Awarding of Certificates took place. Last activity kaya medyo nalungkot ako. But I was still happy we’ve done something good for the animals and for the environment. Special mention si Z and the rest of the kids who joined (medyo konti lang sila) because they’re still young but they were already exposed to such “Save Mother Earth” efforts. As his mom, syempre sobrang proud ako. 🙂

Thank you so much to Climber PH and to the rest of the organizers. Our Save the Sea Turtles experience was definitely one for the books. 🙂 

https://www.facebook.com/climber.philippines/

 

Of course, dapat may pasalubong pagbalik sa Metro Manila. Sapsap! PhP 25.00 lang per plastic. We also took home turtle magnets and necklaces.

To cap off our Bataan trip, we decided to go island hopping. We only had the whole afternoon to go island hopping so isa lang napuntahan namin to go swimming and cliff diving.

Photo by Neil Lee

 

Our Save The Sea Turtles experience was definitely one for the books. We brought with us learnings and practical life lessons that we can’t get anywhere else. There’s still so much to learn about sea turtles so please, I’m encouraging you to join this annual activity. 🙂

My son really enjoyed the trip. He told me that he wanted to go back. I’m looking forward to exposing him to more educational and inspirational activities just like this.

 

 

This particular shot easily became one of my favorites from all the sunset photos I took. I felt like the skies were in my favor (purple kasi, char!)

Published: 2018-03-06 21:50:56