Shine Baliangao!

BRM Class of 2013 (some are busy picture-taking somewhere else)

The Municipality of Baliangao, a 5^th class municipality in Misamis Occidental, is an emerging tourist spot in the country. It has beaches that according to a colleague can match up Boracay’s beaches only that the latter has finer and whiter sand. It has alive marine life with colorful coral reefs yet to be discovered. Its marine sanctuary is yet to be improved to strengthen their advocacy on environmental conservation and preservation. In less than a decade, Baliangao will certainly shine bright like a diamond.

The Biological Resource Management (BRM) class under Prof. Ramel Rambe had an exposure trip to this emerging tourist spot Feb. 25 – 28, 2013. The group, accompanied by the Municipal Tourism Officer Kuya Remil, explored and discovered the yet to be known beauty and splendor of Baliangao.

The Tour Guide

Kuya Remil showing us what is it like to be a fisherman.

 

Meet Kuya Remil (Not probably the correct spelling), 24 years old, a graduate of AB Communication Studies major in Broadcasting minor in Advertising in a college in Dapitan, single, and still no plans of getting married in the near future. When asked when will he settle down, his answer was a meaningful laugh and said “Pag-nagshine na ang Baliangao.” Jokingly, I responded “So next year na Kuya?!” He again smiled. Like what is expected from a tourism officer, Kuya Remil is very articulate and clear. His discussions about everything we see give some light.

 Swim with the Dolphins

Dolphin in the Dolphin Island.

 Dolphin, the friendliest sea creature, is found in Baliangao. The Dolphin Island under the management of Misamis Occidental Aquamarine Park houses three dolphins in a waist-level pen. Dolphins are best known to be social animal and travel in group and are among the fastest in the sea. Amazingly, they communicate by screeches, whistles, and clicks. An interesting fact about them is in many dolphin species each individual produces a unique signature whistle. The loudness of the whistling may communicate the emotional state of the dolphin. As wildlife advocate, I don’t like to see animals being held in captivity because of amusement and of commercial purpose. As a free creation of God, they too have to enjoy freedom. However, there are cases when a wildlife has to held in captivity. One is when the wildlife is suspected or is a potential source of infection to the natural population in the wild. Second is when the wildlife gets used to life in captivity that their animalistic instinct has gone. Such wildlife once released to wild may not survive because it lost its ability to find food and other survival skills. Third is when they are critically endangered and that humans have intervene in their reproduction to replenish their number in the wild.

Community Immersion

Sustainable development tries to balance the interest of the people and the environment. When we talk about resource management, we also have to touch the topic on human resources. In our first night, an NGO worker has discussed to us the history of Balingao and its efforts to conserve its marine life. Their efforts dated back early 1990’s and are still on-going. The only difference was the local government is now giving much attention to ecotourism leading to better natural sceneries. He stressed out that man’s utilization of his environment is always based on his desire to survive. This could be attested by the fact that people has developed several means of fishing and consume natural resources may it be from forests to oceans.

Jinan and Ailea interviewing a wife of a fisherman.

 

Our exposure opened to us a new avenue of learning. A community immersion into a fishing folks has led me to understand their plight and clamor. Meet Nanay Marla (not her real name), 50 y/o, a mother of three, a housewife and her husband support them through fishing. My interview with Nanay Marla took longer than expected. Her tales and how she managed to survive life adversities had lead me to questions not included in my structured interview questions. Nanay Marla is an amazing and very proud mother. Her daughter graduated from MSU-IIT despite the meager monthly income they have. Her daughter, now in Manila waiting for dispatching in Abu Dhabi, promised to help the family and support her younger sister who is in high school. I’ve seen her the love and that different feeling of gratification from a mother who is genuinely happy for the success of her daughter while we were exchanging words. She is also a responsible parent. She disclosed that they had planned their family. The couple wanted a small family because according to Nanay Marla what’s the use of having a large family when their income cannot support their living. 

I also had a chance to chitchat with a vermi farmer from the residence of Kuya Remil. Vermiculture was introduced to Baliangao years ago but accordingly the people then didn’t realize the economic opportunities of vermiculture. Back then, it wasn’t really that known not until the vermibeds showcased its economic potentials. Today, there are several households who do vermiculture. Its product isn’t only fertile and good for plants but is also used as a substitute feeds for pigs. Its effectivity and efficiency is yet to be researched. Since I think it’s my nature to ask about personal matter, the vermin farmer I talked with shared that she is a mother of two, whose eldest is in Dapitan taking BS Technological Communication.

The immersion has taught me several things and has awakened myself on things that I usually neglect. While we were leaving their place, I was thinking about them and praying that in the next days, months, and years, they’ll survive and remain happy despite life’s tests.

Oklahoma Island

 

 

It’s March and the smell of summer is certainly around the corner. The summer heat is obvious and the sunblock, bikinis, and hats are in. Baliangao has the Oklahoma island to give you the complete package of summer. They have cottages that will suit your taste overlooking a nice beach and the rare feeling of tranquility. Want to escape from the polluted city life, go to Oklahoma Isalnd. Plus the fact that it wouldn’t destroy much of your finances. You’ll get there through a 15-minute boat ride from the mainland. It has a beautiful sand and a mangrove forest, indicating that the marine life is still at its heights. 

The sunrise at Sunrise Beach Resort

 

Seeing a sunrise is rare! In Baliangao, you’ll have a firsthand experience of a beautiful and breath-taking sunrise.

 More of Baliangao Splendor

LAST WORD: What really made this trip so special are the people who were with me sharing the same experience, the same sceneries, and learning the same things. Without them, this trip wouldn’t have much color. Thank you! To Baliangao, SHINE BRIGHT LIKE A DIAMOND. You all have the potentials to be a tourist’s destination. :D