MORONG, Bataan- Street dancing on the sand and the release of day-old marine turtles or pawikan to the West
Philippines Sea highlighted the Pawikan Festival held Sunday in Morong, Bataan.
Manolo Ibias, chair of the Bantay Pawikan, said 100 hatchlings of the Olive Ridley species, just hatched at dawn
of Sunday, will be released in addition to more than 62,000 hatchlings they have freed to the sea since 1999.
“Malaki na rin ang nagagawa namin bilang pangangalaga sa mga pawikan,” Ibias said. Members of Bantay Pawikan were former poachers who used to sell pawikan meat and eggs but have turned protectors. Hundreds of people
watched and enjoyed as the baby turtles were released on the beach sand. The little sea creatures that looked like rubber toys were first reluctant to crawl but were finally engulfed by the waves.
Vicky Garcia, chair of the Bataan Tourism Council Foundation and architect of the annual celebration, led guests in
the release of the hatchlings. Because of the big crowd in the release of the hatchlings, some children spent
their time watching the replica of pawikan hatching eggs and the three live sea turtles on a small pond.
Groups of dancers from 11 towns in Bataan regaled the audience as they danced heavily thumping their feet on the sand. The street dancers were in colorful inspired-pawikan costumes. Morong Mayor Jorge Estanislao thanked all those who came to warch “this most important event adjudged as “Best Tourism Event last October 5, 2013.”
