By Hanah Tabios MASINLOC, Zambales – Almost four years after a deadly natural tragedy in Tarlac, one of its survivors is now leading an environmental campaign in a bid to save the coastal community of San Salvador Island here. Coastal clean-up drive in Masinloc, Zambales led by Marielle Pagalan, one of the survivors of the tragedy in Tarlac in 2015. (HANAH TABIOS / MANILA BULLETIN) Last July 27, Marielle Pagalan, 27, initiated a coastal clean-up drive that gathered around 40 local tourists from Metro Manila and volunteers from the Masinloc local government in hopes to elevate the Masinloqueños’ consciousness about the importance of proper waste disposal and management. It was the first time that Pagalan returned to organize a volunteer activity since she was figured in a hiking tragedy in Tarlac where six of her friends died as they were swept away by strong currents while crossing Pangasaan Creek near Iba village last August 31, 2015. Their group was part of  an outreach program in an Aeta community in Sitio Baag in San Jose. She remembered that she couldn’t even touch of come near any body of water in the immediate aftermath of the 2015 tragedy. But years later, she was able to conquer her fears, and is now manager of a resort in San Salvador Island. And it was when she set out on her new job that she decided to embark on the beach clean-up for the coastal community. “Unang dating ko palang kasi upon approaching doon sa port area, sobrang dami talagang basura and I know uulan, kasi pupunta siya sa gitna so magkakaroon ka ng floaters yung mga nakikita niyo on top of the water and yung mga nakikita niyo na sinkers yung mga napupunta at the middle of the sea tapos nakakain ng mga isda so sila yung could make a great impact pa kasi kinakain sila ng malalaking isda so it’s really a domino effect. Hindi lang nagdedegrade yung species living in Masinloc but also the corals,” she said. The event began in the municipality’s port area which serves as a gateway for residents and tourists into San Salvador Island. Volunteers were transported by two small boats, picking up trash as they made their way to Bacala Sandbar. Pagalan noted that, despite the small number of volunteers, for her, the impact of the activity was huge as she believes that the event was able to convince local residents to be consistent in cleaning the environment. “So being an environmentalist is not just being part of an organization pero it’s a being na you always wear wherever you go. Kaya ineencourage ko lagi ang mga tao lalo na right now, I am managing a resort, I am managing Raimer’s so I want to impart that what you call, responsible tourism,” she added.