MORONG, Bataan – Little children on Sunday released 50 hatchlings of marine turtles out into the South China sea in celebration of the Pawikan Festival held yearly in Nagbalayong, a seaside village of Morong, Bataan. Organizers placed at more than 10,000 people attending the festival.
The day-old hatchlings came from the Olive Ridley specie with eggs gathered and hatched at the Pawikan Conservation Center in Nagbalayong. As the children freed the baby sea turtles, other children eagerly waited to see a glimpse of the hatchlings being engulfed by the soft waves.
Morong Mayor Cynthia Linao Estanislao said more than 46,000 hatchlings mostly of the Olive Ridley specie have been released since the Pawikan Center was formed in 1991. Under the leadership then of the Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement, former pawikan egg poachers have turned into conservationist-volunteers.
The Bataan Tourism Council Foundation chaired by Vicky Garcia, Gov. Enrique Garcia’s wife, has for the past years held the festival to encourage more people in protecting the environment. “Patuloy tayong magdaraos ng festival upang protektahan ang mga pawikan na kailangan para sa ecological balance,” Mrs. Garcia said.
The celebration started with the “Help Save the Pawikan Walk for a Cause” or a 10-kilometer walk from Nagpajo Crossing in Morong to the Pawikan Conservation Center. More than 4,000 people joined the walk for a cause.
Visitors from Tarlac and Zambales with local folk witnessed the affair. After a short program and the release of the pawikan hatchlings, street dancing competitions followed. The participants donned pawikan-inspired and colorful costumes.
The day-old hatchlings came from the Olive Ridley specie with eggs gathered and hatched at the Pawikan Conservation Center in Nagbalayong. As the children freed the baby sea turtles, other children eagerly waited to see a glimpse of the hatchlings being engulfed by the soft waves.
Morong Mayor Cynthia Linao Estanislao said more than 46,000 hatchlings mostly of the Olive Ridley specie have been released since the Pawikan Center was formed in 1991. Under the leadership then of the Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement, former pawikan egg poachers have turned into conservationist-volunteers.
The Bataan Tourism Council Foundation chaired by Vicky Garcia, Gov. Enrique Garcia’s wife, has for the past years held the festival to encourage more people in protecting the environment. “Patuloy tayong magdaraos ng festival upang protektahan ang mga pawikan na kailangan para sa ecological balance,” Mrs. Garcia said.
The celebration started with the “Help Save the Pawikan Walk for a Cause” or a 10-kilometer walk from Nagpajo Crossing in Morong to the Pawikan Conservation Center. More than 4,000 people joined the walk for a cause.
Visitors from Tarlac and Zambales with local folk witnessed the affair. After a short program and the release of the pawikan hatchlings, street dancing competitions followed. The participants donned pawikan-inspired and colorful costumes.
