03/02/2025
๐พ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ช๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ช๐๐๐๐: ๐บ๐๐๐ฏ๐โ๐ ๐ด๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ช๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐น๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐
๐ท๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
Each wave that is supposed to crash upon the shores with solitude, and each footprint on the sand that is a mark of oneโs journeyโour mother natureโs experiences, is now a subtle call for help as our environment is constantly threatened by environmental degradation, the fragility of our nature, especially our marine ecosystem. This matter is what inspired the young minds of Tagbilaran City Science High School (TCSHS) to make this their missionโprotecting the environment and fostering active community involvement.
The Supreme Student Secondary Learner Government - Environment Committee together with the Youth for Environment Organization (Yes-O) worked hand-in-hand to come up with the project, โPagpakabana sa Kaugmaon,โ also known as Oplan PaKโa two-day event for the celebration of the International Waste Month, wherein the students of TCSHS together with some members of the faculty and staff participated in a mangrove planting activity and coastal cleanup.
โThe idea was brought up by Hera Bongoyan and Glenn Ingles from the SSLG Environment Committee months ago while thinking of various projects to be done. After slowly putting the pieces together, we decided to collaborate with YES-O through Ranz Baldo and Ahyan Ocno, their chairperson and vice-chairperson,โ shared Ms. Princess Shenzi Daniella M. Ban, the SSLG President. It was also revealed that they held a short meeting just right after the last day of the TCSHS Intramurals 2024, finalizing the target dates of the event, until which it was agreed to be done in January 2025.
With that, the mission officially began with the organizers taking back-and-forth trips to the Municipality of Dauis, the Bohol Provincial Environment Management Office, and calls with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources for consultations, insights, and clarifications; and once everything was settled, Oplan PaK finally began.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ผ๐ผ๐ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ฎ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ป๐ด๐ฒ
On January 18, 2025, participants of the Oplan PaK went to Basac, Loon, for the day 1 of Oplan PaK, the mangrove planting. Known as the โkidneys of the coast,โ mangroves are essential for our ecosystem. These plants provide protection of shorelines from erosion as well as provide habitats for various fishes and other organisms. Apart from that, mangroves mitigate the impact of storm surges, and filter harmful materials from the waters. With that being said, the organizers requested 150 mangrove seedlings for the students to plant, and without any doubt, the students enjoyed planting the provided mangrove seedlings.
โA day before the event, there was an orientation where I learned more about the mangroves and during the event, though the seedlings were pretty heavy, I surely had lots of fun planting them (the seedlings) especially since I was with my friends,โ says a Grade 11 STEM student participant of the project. The early call time and the heat of the sun truly did not stop the dudes and dudettes from planting their mangrove seedlings. With shovels as their swords and strength of purpose in their hearts, each mangrove seedling was planted with love as laughter filled the salty air, helping one another in finishing their task.
It wasnโt just mangroves that were planted in that very area, and definitely not just memories as wellโbut it is also the studentsโ appreciation for the environment, leaving a sense of fulfillment and purpose on the students.
The shore, now filled with rows of mangroves, is just the beginning of their planted efforts and love for a thriving coastal ecosystem, for the mission does not stop there.
๐๐๐จ๐ฆ๐๐๐ฎ๐น ๐๐น๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ป๐๐ฝ
The mission continued on January 25, 2025, as the participants traveled to Biking Beach, Dauis, greeted by the salty air and trash left scattered in the area. The participants, with their gloves and sacks, roamed around the area and picked up different types of trashโfrom residuals, recyclables, special wastes, biodegradables, and infectious wastes, all being the result of citizens' negligence of the environment, with each piece telling a grim tale of their actions.
โMy family and I would visit this beach and spend some time in Biking, and it is pretty upsetting that the garbage would just be left there, with the place not being properly maintained, and the amount of plastic bottles and glass bottles were a lot,โ shares a Grade 11 participant. โBut despite the amount of trash that was collected, I still enjoyed doing it even if it is a โsmall actโ since I got to help the environment, and change truly starts within ourselves,โ says another participant.
The wastes that were gathered were carefully segregated, and then collected by the dump truck. This is a crucial part of the process as waste segregation plays a vital role in taking care of the environment as well. Such practices serve as a huge step in fostering a greener future.
๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐ฎ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐น๐บ๐ผ๐๐ ๐๐น๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ
The two-day event of Pagpakabana sa Kaugmaon, just like its meaning, gives concern to our future. It is an eye opener for young minds with what is going on in our surroundings, creating a deeper appreciation for what truly should be done.
โThe activity inspired me to continue to care for our nature, not just in cleaning the environment, but also by being a disciplined and mindful citizen,โ shared a Tisay Girl Scout volunteer.
The SciHi community came hand-in-hand, embodying the true meaning of community action and environmental stewardship. Even through the smallest acts, we can create a big changeโone mangrove, a piece of trash, and our determination and awareness will bring us to this significant change.
โWe would like to thank the support of the teachersโespecially Maโam Anamie Galves, to our ever-supportive school administration, and of course to YES-O. And for the participants as well, I hope your efforts and concern for the environment will not stop at the end of the event. We also take pride in showing that the Tagbilaran City Science High School truly upholds the honor of being recognized with the Best in Waste Management Award in the Division of Tagbilaran City,โ Ms. Ban expressed with gratitude.
And when the coast is clear, the future of our environment will be at its best state. In every mangrove seedling that was planted, every piece of trash that was picked, and every footstep left in the sand, may each citizen of the community be reminded that we can be the change. It is also not just nature restored, but the event symbolized the strength and unity of the SciHi community towards the path of sustainable future.
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via Raphaela Esther Lanoy | The Equinox
Photos by Jon Marco Panio and Raphaela Esther Lanoy | The Equinox
Graphics by Denise Angelah Oculam | The Equinox
