We've been sadly missing this annual February 14 event every year for various reasons. Finally, this year, we deliberately made plans to join the citizens of Puerto Princesa City in planting mangroves along the coastline to express our love for nature --- in fact, our love for Puerto Princesa, which has been our home for the past three years.
Conveniently as well, Mangrove Ecosystems was Elise's lesson in her Science home school program for February. So we had a stronger reason for participating! We set off, along with another family, at 4:30A.M. to Pook Silangan in Barangay Tagburos, a small coastal fishing village.
When we got there, three priests just finished celebrating Holy Mass by the beach for a huge crowd.
We found some marked spots and got some help with planting our seedlings.
The city government offices like the City Tourism Office and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources sent their staff and managers to plant and help out. Even the PNP and the Philippine Navy were there.
Locals like us were lingering even after planting several seedlings.
Around the bend, some dancers were getting ready for the festivities.....
We spent around an hour and a half there, feeling connected to the community. We left Tagburos knowing that we helped saved the coastline by planting at least six or seven mangrove trees there.
We love you, Puerto Princesa!
Conveniently as well, Mangrove Ecosystems was Elise's lesson in her Science home school program for February. So we had a stronger reason for participating! We set off, along with another family, at 4:30A.M. to Pook Silangan in Barangay Tagburos, a small coastal fishing village.
We hurriedly registered and got our mangrove seedlings. They were packed in small black bags. We proudly carried them over to the areas which were assigned for planting.
As we walked towards the mangrove planting area, we saw many other people walking too. We were all silent, overwhelmed by the dramatic sky, the cool breeze, the shadows and the rising sun. This was indeed an expression of love for nature -- walking on the shore with family and friends at the break of dawn to do our part to save the coastline from eroding and eventually protecting them from storms and building a sturdy mangrove ecosystem. So, we marched on.
We found some marked spots and got some help with planting our seedlings.
The city government offices like the City Tourism Office and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources sent their staff and managers to plant and help out. Even the PNP and the Philippine Navy were there.
Private organizations were there too!
Locals like us were lingering even after planting several seedlings.
Back at the beach, we caught a glimpse of Mayor Edward Hagedorn officiating a free mass wedding for about a hundred couples.
We spent around an hour and a half there, feeling connected to the community. We left Tagburos knowing that we helped saved the coastline by planting at least six or seven mangrove trees there.
We love you, Puerto Princesa!
