MORONG, Bataan – Thousands of local folk attended the 12thPawikan Festival on Sunday at the seaside village of Nagbalayong here, mobbing the release of 100 baby marine turtles out into the South China Sea.
The huge crowd could not control their desire to get a close look and almost blocked the passageway as Gov. Enrique Garcia and daughter Gila led various groups the release of day-old hatchlings.
Morong Mayor Cynthia Estanislao, Dr. Cleotilda Concepcion, wife of Mariveles Mayor Jesse Concepcion, Bataan Tourism Council vice chair Alice Pizarro, Balanga City Mayor Jose Enrique Garcia III and wife also joined the event.
Vicky Garcia, Bataan Tourism Council chair, said 50,000 baby pawikan have so far been released since 1999 with the number growing to 50,100 on Sunday.
“Ginagawa natin taon-taon ang selebrasyon upang ipakilalaang banner festival ng Bataan na lagging nagpapaalaala na ang pawikan ay dapat pangalagaan sapagka’t ito’y parte ng ecosystem,” the wife of Bataan Gov. Enrique Garcia said.
The Bataan Tourism council is the lead agency in the yearly celebration held at the Pawikan Conservation Center in Nagbalayong.
The governor said the festival reminds every one of the need to protect the marine turtles and their eggs especially during November considered as their nesting period.
Ronaldo Tiotuico, Region 3 director of the Department of Tourism, said visitors in Morong will love the street dancing and the release of the baby pawikan. He said their department is in full support of the festival.
The festivity started at 6:00 a.m. with a walk for a cause attended by teenaged boys and girls and adults. The participants hiked six kilometers outside Morong town proper to the Pawikan Conservation Center.
