"Contemplativus simul in actione"
Latin phrase means "contemplative at the same time as in action."
This term was coined by Jerome Nadal, one of the first 10 members of the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits) , who applied it to the founder of the Jesuits, St. Ignatius of Loyola. For Nadal, the Jesuits' founder was someone who can continually reflect on God's presence while they are fully engaged in the affairs of the world.
To fully engage in the affairs of the world is essentially the call of Pope Francis (another Jesuit) in his Laudato Si encyclical letter on climate change and integral ecology. In this 2015 encyclical, the Pope highlighted the connections between faith, ecology and social justice:
"Living our vocation to be protectors of God's handiwork is essential to a life of virtue; it is not an optional or secondary aspect of our Christian experience."
These words of wisdom were swimming in the head of the Mangrove Loving Penguin (MLP) as I went about planning a batch activity for our Ateneo de Naga High School Batch 1983 to commemorate the Feast of St. Ignatius on Jul 31. The soldier saint from Loyola holds a special place in the hearts of all Ateneans.
Why not have another mangrove planting activity this Jul-Aug 2024? Another activity similar to what we did in Jul 2023 when several 83neans planted hundreds of mangroves in Siruma in cooperation with a local people's organization.
Why not indeed? The Ignatian Solidarity Network created the Ecological Examen that can help us reflect on our personal relationship with nature, acknowledge and amend our ways, and promote ecological justice. One of the questions which the Examen asks us to reflect on is "Do I see the beauty of creation and hear the cries of the earth and the poor?" Reflecting on this question, I can say that I see the beauty of creation in the diversity and usefullness of the mangroves. Don't take my word for it. No less than the United Nations Environment Programme listed 5 key benefits of mangrove ecosystem:
1. Mangroves are climate heroes.
2. Mangroves protect against extreme weather and disasters.
3. Mangroves are a haven for threatened animals.
4. Mangroves boost food security.
5. Mangroves can bounce back naturally.
Speaking of nature, multilateral global institutions, like the World Bank , have been vocal that the greatest solutions to a changing climate can be found in nature. The mangove ecosystems is often referred to as nature-based solutions (NBS). You hear it often from those who have actually seen the destructive force of cyclones (e.g. Yolanda in the Philippines) and hurricanes (e.g. Dorian in the Bahamas), mangroves fringing the coastline were bending under the force of the waves, protecting the communities on shore. Sadly, in many places in the Philippines and around the world, the mangrove forests are being cleared for new coastal roads, aquaculture and beach resort complexes. Unlike the concrete seawalls built to replace them, mangrove ecosystems have the ability to adapt to a changing climate, sustain biodiversity and livelihood benefits, and sequester carbon.
Just planting mangroves is not necessarily NBS. What is required is an integrated approach which includes engagement with local stakeholders and long-term maintenance. Given these considerations, for the Aug 2024 mangrove activity, our Ateneo de Naga HS Batch 1983 decided to zero in on a mangrove area located in a city or town in Bicol where we have a batchmate actively engaged in the community.
In the municipality of Cabusao in the province of Camarines Sur, we have a high school classmate with deep roots in the town. He is Ronald "Bords" Eborde who is the Civil Registrar of Cabusao for 30 years and counting. The MLP contacted Bords in May of this year and he was very welcoming of the idea of our high school batch doing a mangrove activity in his hometown. Planning immediately commenced after our conversation. There are 4 coastal barangays in Cabusao and he recommended we have our mangrove activity at the major tourism attraction in their town - the Cabusao Wetlands, which is located in Barangays Pandan and Biong.
 |
| Location of Cabusao Wetlands in the province of Camarines Sur |
 |
| Entrance to the Cabusao Wetlands |
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), during the term of Secretary Ramon J.P. Paje, issued DENR Administrative Order (DAO) No. 2011-10 declaring a 27-hectare wetland area of Cabusao as a critical habitat for the Philippine duck (Anas luzonica), the country's only endemic duck. In the words of Sec. Paje: "This DAO is a step to protect the Philippine duck, whose existence is true to the phrase, 'only in the Philippines.' It will hopefully give this unique bird a chance to live and propagate in a place free from exploitation and destruction caused by high-impact human activities."
In that 27-hectare place designated as a safe haven for the Philippine duck is a thriving mangrove forest which hosts at least 20 mangrove species. That was enough to wet our appetite. Our HS Batch 1983 wrote a letter to Mayor Weny Apang Sabalbero asking permission to visit and plant mangroves in the Cabusao Wetlands. A visible proponent of the Cabusao Wetlands, the good mayor positively gave his permission thru our classmate Bords.
 |
| Mayor Weny Sabalbero visting the Cabusao Wetlands during the World Wetlands Day (every 2nd day of Feb). |
With the permission granted, the MLP eagerly recruited from our Ateneo de Naga HS Batch 1983 the volunteers for the mangrove activity. There were more than a dozen 83neans who signed up. Come the dawn of August 5, a handful of vehicles motored from Naga City to the coastal town of Cabusao. Twenty minutes before 7 in the morning, the 6-vehicle convoy arrived at the Cabusao Wetlands.
Waiting for us is the designated contact person from the Cabusao LGU. His name is Abner Avizola and he has been assigned to the Cabusao Wetlands since its declaration as a critical habitat back in 2011.
 |
| The narrow entrance road to the Cabusao Wetlands. |
 |
| Cabusao LGU's Abner Avisola giving the briefing at the start of our visit. |
 |
| Group photo before the mangrove planting. In the photo with Abner and the MLP are Ateneo de Naga high school classmates Omar Mercurio, Jun Erfe, Mark Betito, Jess Valle, Bong Sotaso, Rene Notorio, Bob Castilla, Ruel Tolosa, Gil Doblon, and Philnar Turiano. Also in the photo is La Consolacion grade school classmate Ruvill Villagomez. |
Abner gave us a briefing about the Cabusao Wetlands and the Dos and Donts while inside the critical habitat. He proved very knowledgeable about his subject matter and his passion for the environment showed in the generosity of his knowledge-sharing. Although there are more than 20 mangrove species in the wetlands, Abner informed us that the dominant mangrove species in the area are the Bakawans. What we will be planting are Bakawan Babae and Bakawan Lakaki. After the briefing, we are off to walking towards the designated planting area. It was roughly a kilometer of walking with our slippers on. But at the entrance to the planting area, Abner adviced us to take off the slippers and wade into the muddy and slippery terrain with our barefeet. This is where the real fun begun.
In this kind of situation, photos are far more visual and visceral in their story-telling. So, will let the photos do the talking.
 |
| Walking live the disciples of biblical times. Spreading the Gospel of Mangroves. |
 |
| Abner told us to remove our shoes and slippers before we enter the wet planting area. |
 |
| Mangrove planting is 2-step thing in the wetlands. 1st step is dig a hole in the mud with the stick. |
 |
| 2nd step is plant the propagule in the hole. |
 |
| Easy does it. Just have to be good at maintaining one's balance on the soft and unstable mud. |
 |
| My son Marcel giving it a try. |
 |
| Getting a father-son photo. |
 |
| Faster if we work in pairs. |
 |
| Planting the last of the 300 Bakawan propagules. |
 |
| Showing our banner. |
 |
| Great shot from above of the Wet and Barefoot Men for Others. |
 |
| Planted months before by other volunteers, the Bakawan mangroves are slowly but steadily growing in a sea of grass. |
In less than an hour, we were finished planting 300 bakawan propagules. We trekked back to the assembly area where our classmate Bords was waiting for us. After another round of group photos, Abner was kind enough to offer to tour our batch inside the Cabusao Wetlands where they have a footpath leading to the waters of San Miguel Bay.
 |
| Cabusao LGU Civil Registrar and felow 83nean Ronald Eborde joining us in the group photo after the mangrove planting activity. Resplendent wearing the Mangrove Loving Penguin shirts. |
While walking towards the sea, we could not help but admire the size of the mangrove forest. On both sides of the footpath were thick rows of mangroves. While other mangrove forests we have visited in southern Luzon have suffered losses due to conversion of mangrove areas to fisphponds and cutting of mangrove trees for construction material and firewood, we saw none of that in Cabusao. Inquired as to why this is so, Abner explained the key role of the Cabusao LGU and the DENR (MLP YouTube Video of Abner Avisola talking about the role of the Cabusao LGU).
 |
| YouTube video of Cabusao Wetland's Abner Avisola on the role of the Cabusao LGU |
Thanks to the vision and vigilance of the Cabusao LGU, the mangrove forest in the Cabusao Wetlands is truly thriving. Thousands of mangrove trees inside the wetlands and the variety is impressive. An assessment by the Alliance NGO identified 22 mangrove species (18 true mangrove species and 4 associate mangrove species) present in the Cabusao Wetlands. These are:
1. Bakawan babae (Rhizophora mucronata)
2. Bakawan lalaki (Rhizophora apiculata)
3. Bakawan bato (Rhizophora stylosa)
4. Langarai (Bruguiera parviflora)
5. Bosain (Bruguiera gymnorrhiza)
6. Tangal (Ceriops tangal)
7. Pototan (Bruguiera sexugala)
8. Api-api (Avicennia officinalis)
9. Bungalon (Avicennia marina)
10. Pagatpat (Sonneratia alba)
11. Miyapi (Avicennia lanata)
12. Tabigi (Xylocarpus granatum)
13. Buta-buta (Excoecaria agallocha)
14. Nipa (Nypa fruticans)
15. Nilad (Scyphiphora hydrphyllacea)
16. Tui (Dolichandrone spathacea)
17. Saging-saging (Aegiceras cornicubetum)
18. Gapas-gapas (Camptostemom philippinense)
19. Bani (Pongamia pinnata)
20. Dungon (Heritiera silvatica)
21. Dungon late (Heritiera littoralis)
22. Pedada (Sonneratia caseolaris)
The end of the footpath led us to waters of San Miguel Bay and there at the edge of the mangrove forest we saw 3 mangrove species. These are the Pedada, the Buta-buta, and the Pototan. Abner was kind enough to talk more about these trio and here is the link ( MLP YouTube video of mangroves in Cabusao Wetlands ).  |
| YouTube video of Cabusao Wetland's Abner Avisola talking about the Pedada, Buta-buta and Pototan. |
Pedada (Sonneratia caseolaris) is like its more famous kin, the Pagatpat (Sonneratia alba) in that both are big mangrove trees which are priced for their use as construction and boat-building materials. Pedada can be distinguished from Pagatpat by its bigger pneumatophores. The Pedada is also known as cork tree, because fishermen in some areas make fishing net floats by shaping the pneumatophores into small floats. The slightly acidic fruit of the Pedada, which resembles a red-orange persimmon, is eaten raw or added to soups for souring, or made into vinegar. The Genus name, Sonneratia, is Latin and named after the French botanist and explorer Pierre Sonnerat (1749-1841). The specific epithet derives from Latin caseolaris, meaning 'small cheese', likely referring the cheese-like taste imparted by the ripe fruit.
The Buta-buta (Excoecaria agallocha) mangrove lives up to its name as its abundant white, milky latex can cause blisters or temporary blindness if in contact with the eyes. The Genus name, Excoecaria, is from the Latin word excaeco, which means "to blind". The specific epithet, agallocha, derives from ancient Greek "agalokhon" referring to the resinous wood exuding the sap. Buta-buta tree is usually not more than 8 meters high and have leaves that are alternate, shiny, pointed at the top, somewhat rounded at the base and 6 to 12 centimeters long. Grows on both muddy and stony soil. In the rural areas, the sap is used to treat toothache and ulcers, and as fish poison.
The Pototan (Bruguiera cylindrica) mangrove is called as such because when found beside taller Rhizophora trees (e.g. Bakawan babae at 15 meters tall & Bakawan lalaki at 20 meters tall), the species appears short (2 to 8 meters tall). The propagules of the Pototan are also short at roughly 7-15 cms compared to the Bakawan lakaki's propagule at 22-26 cms long and the even longer propagule of the Bakawan babae at 34-70 cms long. The genus name honors Jean Guillaume Bruguire (1750-1799), a French biologist and explorer. The species name derives from Latin "cylindrica", referring to the shape of the propagule of this species.
 |
| On the bridge at the heart of Cabusao Wetlands |
It was truly a learning experience for us 83neans in our visit to the Cabusao Wetlands. We appreciate the hospitality of Abner and the Cabusao LGU. We are thankful of the Certificates of Appreciation which the Cabusao LGU issued to the Ateneo de Naga HS Batch 1983 and the Mangrove Loving Penguin. The certificates were signed by no less than the Cabusao LGU - Mayor Weny Sabalbero. It is not often that we get such certicates in our batch endeavors.
 |
| Certificate of Appreciation for Ateneo de Naga HS Batch 1983 |
 |
| Certificate of Appreciation for the Mangrove Loving Penguin |
But more than the appreciation, the value of our visit and planting in Cabusao is the opportunity to engage with a community (to engage in the affairs of the world, so to speak ) in a positive and collaborative way. Being wet and barefoot while planting mangroves in the wetlands got me thinking on the symbolism of being barefoot, as in without shoes or slippers. In a number of religious traditions, going barefoot is an expression of simplicity, humility, being closer to God, connectedness to the world. All these things are who is St. Ignatius about. That got me smiling, and I hope my fellow 83neans do too on that Aug 25 morning.
So let me end this article by quoting yet another one of those wise and concise words of the great saint from Loyola: Love is shown more in deeds than in words.
No comments:
Post a Comment