What is better than a solo kayak?
How about a tandem kayak?
Typically a solo kayak is 11ft long while a tandem kayak is 17 ft long. The added length and space allow a tandem kayak to carry two persons. It can be argued then that tandem kayaks would be faster, more stable and much more of a shared experience. Advantages of a tandem kayak over that of a solo kayak are stability, increased efficiency, versatility, safety and social experience. Given the benefits and advantanges, the Mangrove Loving Penguin (MLP) picked the tandem kayak over that of a solo kayak to be donated to the United Caditaan Mangrove Conservation, Inc.(UCMCI) which is a people's organization (PO) dedicated, in generral, to environment conservation and, in particular, to taking care of the Caditaan Mangrove Forest located in the idyllic town of Magallanes of the beautiful province of Sorsogon.
So it was that in the sunny morning of the last day of the month of October this year, a good number of people gathered in Purok Avokado of Brgy Caditaan to witness the formal handover of the tandem kayak to UCMC. The MLP, together with son Marcel and grade school classmate Ruvill Villagomez , motored in from Iriga City in Camarines Sur. Arriving at the seaside venue inside the mangrove forest, I did expect officers and members of UCMCI to be on hand for the event. Also, a number of Caditaan barangay officials led by Brgy Captain Jimmy Canales I expected to join the event. But to our pleasant surprise, Magallanes Mayor Maria Elen Ragrario and Vice Mayor Augusto Ragrario attended together with Municipal Kagawad Ruben Conda and the Municipal Environment & Natural Resource Officer (MENRO).
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| UCMCI volunteers setting up the tarp for the handover event |
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| Guests arriving for the Kayak Handover Ceremony |
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| Mayor Elen Ragrario having a conversation with MLP on the biodiversity of the Caditaan Mangrove Forest |
The presence of the Mayor and Vice Mayor speaks volume of the solidarity that the Magallanes municipal leaderhip have with the good people of Brgy Caditaan. Their participation in the simple handover ceremony serves as an inspiring example of their support and shared purpose of the environmental advocacy of UCMI and its friends. Mayor Elen has a robust background in natural sciences having been a professor at UP Manila. Under the current leadership, environment protection and conservation are a key part of the Magallanes municipality's vision and development plans. The stated vision of the Magallanes LGU includes "an adaptive and resilient environment, led by pro-active and transparent leaders," and its mission explicity mentions "environmental protection and conservation" as a priority.
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| In her message, Mayor Elen Ragrario talked about the science-based and people-oriented approach of the Magallanes LGU on the management of the environment. |
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| In his message, Vice Mayor Augusto Ragrario highlighted the role of community leaders in taking care of the rich natural resources of Magallanes like the Caditaan Mangrove Forest |
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| In his message, Municipal Kagawad Ruben Conda looked forward to the municipal LGU working closely together with Brgy Caditaan and UCMCI. |
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| Magallanes MENRO Eden Ariate shared the good news that in her conversation with the Magallanes tourism officer, the Caditaan Mangrove Forest will now be included in the tourism loop of the municipality. |
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| Prof Cy Soreda articulated on the importance of having a shared purpose among the various stakeholders in our journey of taking care of the environment. |
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| UCMCI President Danny Batolbatol expressed the organization's gratitude for the donation of the MLP tandem kayak and vowed to utilize it for mangrove planting activities and an ecotourism initiative. |
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| Marcel and Ruvill received Certificates of Appreciation given to the Mangrove Loving Penguin, LCA 8379 Batch Association, Ateneo de Naga HS Batch 1983 and T1 Transport |
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| Left to Right: Jake Gocoyo (graphic artist that created the UCMCI Logo), MLP, Prof Cy Soreda , Maggie Guerrero (BAGS Adviser from the Caditaan National High School), Brgy Captain Jimmy Canales, UCMCI Pres. Danny Batolbatol, Mayor Elen Ragrario, UCMCI Secretary Ning Gime |
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| Group photo with the MLP tandem kayak. |
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| Caditaan Brgy residents trying out the MLP tandem kayak. |
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Jake and daughter enjoing the MLP tandem kayak.  |
Listening to the speeches and messages from the Magallanes LGU officials, Barangay Caditaan leaders and UCMCI officers plus witnessing the enthusiastic reception of the people present for the newly-received tandem kayak, one cannot help but have a very positive vibe about this Oct 31 event. There is a good feeling inside me that this event can be a catalyst for greater things. There is the aspiration that a simple initiative of providing a tandem kayak to the local community group can serve as a starting or rekindling point for broader community development, environmental stewardship and an ecotourism project built upon the initial resource donated.
Such an optimism was actually shared to the MLP by Brgy Kagawad Ning Gime who is an officer of the UCMCI. She referred to the arrival of the tandem kayak as a "game changer" in their advocacy for the Caditaan Mangrove Forest. The kayak provides a less intrusive mode of transportation for the PO's logistical requirements in taking care of the mangroves. In addition, the colorful design of the tandem kayak makes it more visually appealing; sparking interest among the barriofolks and visitors to Caditaan. And perhaps not just at the barangay level but in the broader municipal level as evidenced by the welcome participation of the LGU top officials in the Kayak Handover ceremony.
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| Messages from UCMCI secretary Ning Gime on the positive impact of the MLP tandem kayak to the people's organization |
Welcome in Caditaan indeed is the arrival of the MLP tandem kayak. But how did it arrived in Magallanes in the first place? The MLP tandem kayak took a long and circuitous journey but it was no less fun.
Let's start at the beginning.
Why Caditaan, Magallanes?
Back in February this year 2025, I attended the Training of Trainers on Mangrove and Beach Forest Rehabilitation and Conservation in the province of Aklan and Iloilo. This was a week-long traning seminar organized by the Zoological Society of London - Philippines (ZSL-Philippines) and it featured a top-class group of lecturers including Dr. Jurgenne Primavera. This was the 16th edition of this training seminar by ZSL-Philippines and our batch (ToT16) was the largest with 30 participants coming from different points of the Philippine archipelago. From Metro Manila, Siargao, Palawan, Pampanga, Batangas, South Cotabato, Romblon and Sorsogon, all 30 of us were eager to learn. At the end of our week-long seminar, we were grouped into pairs or teams and given the assignment applying the learnings about mangroves and beach forest immediately to our communities. On the part of the MLP, I was paired for this assignment with the participant from Sorsogon - Prof Cyra Soreda of the Sorsogon State University (SorSU).
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| Group photo of ToT16 on a field work inside the Katunggan IT Ibajay Mangrove Eco-Tourism Park back in Feb 2025. |
Prof Cy is an environmental science teacher in the Magallanes campus of SorSU. With her jolly demeanor and passion for teaching, she is loved and respected in the community. She has connections in the area. Given this, it was quite natural that our choice of community where to impart of knowledge on mangroves is the municipality of Magallanes. This town has an area of roughly 110 square kilometers subdivided into 34 barangays. Out of the 34, Magallanes has 21 coastal barangays. Of these 21, there are 11 barangays with mangroves: Cagtalaba, Cagbolo, Hubo, Behia, Biga, Binisitahan Norte, Aguada Norte, Aguada Sur, Caditaan, Salvacion, Ginangra.
The MLP first visted Magallanes in March 2025 and we visited 5 barangays (Hubo, Binisitahan Norte, Aguada Sur, Caditaan & Cagtalaba) with mangroves. The one that interested as the most is the Caditaan Mangrove Forest. Why? Because it is the most diverse with at least 24 mangrove species, including the endangered Gapas-Gapas mangrove (Comptostemon philippinense). Plus, there is a well-established people's organization (UCMCI) already in place. UCMCI actually has a Community-Based Forestry Management Agreement (CBFMA) with the DENR. The CBFMA was awarded to UCMCI in 2004 , is good for 25 years and can be renewed. It covers 10 hectares of mangrove forest.
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| MLP and Prof Cy on their March 2025 visit to Caditaan Mangrove Forest with UCMCI officers. |
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| Drone survey of Caditaan Mangrove Forest conducted by Marcel last April 2025. To the left is the small abandoned fishpond which UCMCI is replanting with mangroves. To the right is a "newly-discovered" fishpond structure which looks to be unauthorized |
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| MLP with a Gapas-Gapas mangrove and its wildlings inside Caditaan Mangrove Forest . |
So in the next couple of months afterwards, we visited the Caditaan Mangrove Forest several times interacting closely with the UCMCI officers and members, particularly its president and secretary, on how best we can help them. We joined a number of mangrove planting activities in Caditaan. We did also a drone flight of the Caditaan Mangrove Forest, in the process "discovering"from the air a patch of clear area within the forest which looked to be a fishpond in the offing. We also accompanied a UCMCI officer to the town of Barcelona to check out an ecotourism venture located within a mangrove forest. With the dream of starting a mangrove-based ecotourism enterprise blossoming, the idea of donating a kayak came about.
Where to acquire a kayak suitable for the needs in the Caditaan Mangrove Forest?
In Mandaue, Cebu, there is a Canadian that crafts beautiful kayaks. His name is Karl Gallop and he specializes in fiberglass kayaks which are more durable and more maneoverable than plastic kayaks. My US-based classmate Doc Rolly showed me how to get in touch with Karl. By the month of June, while on a business trip to Cebu City, I visited the kayak shop in Mandaue where the MLP was able to admire the customized color schemes of the kayaks being made there. Inquiries were made and soon I had a fairly good idea of how much each a solo kayak and a tandem kayak cost.
How much does a tandem kayak cost? How about the funding?
A fiberglass kayak does not come cheap. At least for the likes of MLP. To come up with the funds necesary to acquire a tandem kayak to be donated to UCMCI, the MLP had to be creative and collaborative.
It is fortuitous that in the months of June and July, the good people of the HR team in First Balfour organized events that presented opportunities for fund raising: Food Bazaar (Jul 16) and Love Local (Aug 19). The MLP sold a bunch of laing in those food fairs. The "Laing for a Cause" sold like the proverbial hot cakes. Proceeds were added to the funds used to purchase the tandem kayak.
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| Laing for a Cause was a big hit with the employees of First Balfour. |
In addition to the "Laing for a Cause", the MLP also printed Balik Alindog Program (BAP) shirts and sold it to fellow 83neans of the Ateneo de Naga High School Batch 1983. Part of the gain on the sale of the BAP shirts was added to the fund to purchase the tandem kayak. MLP also approached grade school classmates from the LCA 8379 Batch association for donations to the fund. Classmates responded generously to the call for assistance as they knew that it is for a worthy cause.
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| Proceeds from the sale of BAP shirts contributed to the fund for the MLP tandem kayak. |
If there is a will, there is a way. True enough, with God's grace and the generosity of many, the needed funds were raised and in the month of September the order for the tandem kayak was placed to the kayak manufacturer in Mandaue, Cebu.
By Mid-October, the tandem kayak was ready for pick up in Cebu. T1 Transport, the transport arm of First Balfour , took care of the logistics and by the time the All Saints/All Souls Weekend was approaching, the MLP Tandem Kayak was seeing the sunrise and sunset in Sorsogon.
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| Logos of UCMCI and LCA 8379 Batch were included in the customized design of the MLP tandem kayak. |
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| Also the logos of Mangrove Loving Penguin and Ateneo de Naga HS Batch 1983 |
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| Arrival of the MLP tandem kayak in Brgy Caditaan in late October |
A long journey the MLP Kayak took to reach the Caditaan Mangrove Forest in Magallanes, Sorsogon. Despite the length of the journey, it was a fun and learning experience for all concerned. The MLP tandem kayak was handed over to the UCMCI in a simple ceremony made more special by the participation of various stakeholders. There is a special joy in seeing and feeling a community coming together for a common good.
If there is one new lesson that I will take from this experience, it is this: a single act of generosity can have a ripple effect, consistent small efforts leading hopefull to a significant achievement. This single donation of a tandem kayak to the people's organization can trigger a ripple effect in several ways like enabling new initiatives, promoting well-being, building community pride and attracting further support.
Let's make it happen.
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