The pawikan hatchery project at Sitio Remedios
By Dr. Joven R. Cuanang
There are ways in this world that bring people of mutual interest together.
This one involves a text message from George Canlas, sometime in August 2022: “I have a friend, Ben Mead, who is involved in non-profits. Can I give him your number?” Knowing George, I texted back, “Of course.”
George is a very accomplished orthopedic surgeon, who is famous in his specialty, sports medicine, and once became the head of our clinic at St. Luke’s Medical Center Global City when I was its chief medical officer. He is a dear friend.
Soon, Ben Mead, an Australian, came for lunch at Pintô and we talked about his non-profits. It turns out that his Mead Foundation was in charge of the CSR projects of Vena Energy operating in Asia Pacific and currently doing the GARCIA 2 Solar Project in Currimao, my adopted hometown by the West Philippine Sea. I have often thought of installing solar panels in my property as part of my ecological consciousness. It is still expensive. With the project being done in Ilocos, with hope, it will become more affordable.
But anyway, I became more interested in Ben’s other ecological non-profits.
I became curious of what his involvements are because aside from my work in medicine, especially neurosciences, I have formed a similar non-profit, having become passionate in the promotion of arts, culture, and ecology. That has driven me to build the Pintô Art Museum in Antipolo to celebrate the talent of our Filipino contemporary artists, and the adjoining Pinto Arboretum, a rescue center for endangered Philippine plants. It has led me to celebrate my Ilocano heritage by building Sitio Remedios to showcase the genteel lifestyle in the far north during the ’50s.
Ben Mead has numerous ecological projects but what attracted me most of all is what his foundation is doing in Iba, Zambales, together with the Aetas. They are into reforestation as well as marine conservation, including the goal of increasing the turtle population by way of a pawikan hatchery project. The latter caught my rapt attention instantly.
About a decade ago, when I was building Sitio, somebody offered for me to buy a turtle shell. I knew the turtles are endangered, so I admonished the seller, but I bought it anyway because of its sheer beauty. I remembered that, when I was in grade school in the ’50s, we would find plenty of eggs of turtles in the pristine sands of Currimao. In fact, I remember eating some. In town, we would have turtles in a pond to take care of.
I became curious about Ben’s projects in Iba where they have been successful in increasing the number of turtles hatched and ‘marched’ back to the sea.
In recent years, the turtles have altogether disappeared. I have not seen one in years. So I became curious about Ben’s projects in Iba where they have been successful in increasing the number of turtles hatched and “marched” back to the sea. I was told that in the last three years, they hatched close to 3,000 eggs a year! That is very amazing!
Right away, I offered Sitio to be the site of a Pawikan Hatchery Project! If they can do it in Zambales, with sheer determination, so can we! Ben and I agreed, we can do it! We will replicate in Ilocos their success in Zambales!
I turned to Pipo, a fisherman, who worked in Sitio for many years to inquire about whether there are sightings of turtles in Currimao Bay. Yes, there are, but rarely, he mused. He also affirmed that there are egg-laying instances occasionally near the quieter side of the beach near Sitio. They know, as they occasionally spot turtle footprint-marks on the sand. In fact, the children would bring home prized turtle eggs, which when swallowed raw are said to be a “cure” for asthma! This is their belief! So , the turtles have not totally disappeared. Pipo attested to having seen two species of turtles in the seas occasionally, a greensea turtle and a long-necked one, which he still has to identify. In fact, he admitted to having brought home one as a pet! He promised to ask his fellow fishermen about what they have sighted out there in the blue!
Ben told me that we need to build the hatchery site soon, as the turtles hatch during the cold months from late November to early February. A model of the hatchery site was shown, and I chose the sand area in front of Sitio as the site. The bamboo and nipa enclosure was simple enough to build in a week. A leaflet was developed to notify the villagers about the project and anyone who sights an egg clump will be rewarded with cash! The eggs will then be brought by pawikan rangers who are trained how to handle the eggs and brought to the Sitio pawikan hatchery project site!
I am told, it takes a few weeks before the turtles emerge! Turtles lay eggs, a hundred or more at a time! I am looking forward to having these tiny turtles in our project site by early quarter 2023. Then, we will celebrate the return of these tiny turtles into the sea, with the whole community of fishermen and their children cheering these tiny darlings as they march out to the blue waters where they rightfully belong.
On Nov. 29, with the barangay officials, the town mayor, the fishermen and everyone who cares for our marine ecosystem in attendance, the Sitio Remedios Pawikan Hatchery Project of Currimao Ilocos Norte was launched. We do hope other communities will do the same!