The Silver Lining on the Clouds above Lian, Batangas. . .

By: S.L.A. Co

     When I had learned that I was able to get a slot to join those going to Lian, Batangas, I was super happy and excited because we were told that we would be able to go snorkeling, among many other water-related activities in Talim Bay in the orientation. Knowing this, we had prepared and garbed for this trip in beach-appropriate outfits, expecting to get some warmed by the sun and soaked by the bay water. Unfortunately for us, on the day of our scheduled trip, we only got the latter of what we had formerly expected— to get soaked— and not just by water from Talim Bay but also from the sky that was grey and pouring.
We made our way to Lian, Batangas by a convoy of vans and cars. The roads were damp and therefore some traffic was to be expected as we were heading from Taft to the south. Thankfully, there were several rest stops at gasoline stations on the way so our food situation was covered.

     I had hoped that the weather would lighten as we made our way closer to our destination; however, the weather only became harsher. Several of the small winding roads to Lian were puddled with mud and rain. After nearly three hours, we finally made our way to the small fishing community surrounding Talim Bay at Lian, Batangas.
     

     What I had noticed immediately was how humble, quaint and picturesque their community was. There were flocks of chickens and their chicks, ducks and their ducklings, among other poultry shuffling and wobbling about. There were several deep-well water pumps which were surrounded by their homes. In the beginning, most of us found ourselves huddled underneath what were similar to bahay kubo or nipa huts, hoping not to get wet by the on and off rain showers. That time, I could faintly hear the waves crashing along the shore. We were all hoping that the weather would lighten up, otherwise, our guide told us that we wouldn’t be able to go snorkeling or into the water in general for our own safety.
     

     After a while, he officially told us that we would not be going into the water anymore because it was still raining; however, we are free to explore and walk along the shoreline and the bamboo foot bridge. By this time, most of us gave up trying to stay dry. We were prepared to get wet anyway so we all broke out into groups excited to explore Talim, Bay!
   

     Shoreline, mangrove trees, and the deep-sea— your eyes were certain to rest upon these in that order if you were looking at the coastal area from the interior to the exterior. And it was certainly a calming and breathtaking sight. What made it more convenient to get a good view of all these was the bamboo foot bridge. When you finally got to the end of it, you just really have to stop and stare in awe either in silence or blatant exclaims. It is a beautiful, beautiful place.
 

     What made it even better was how we got to hear about the story and culture behind the community surrounding it.
 

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     Naturally, they were a fishing community. They told us how about how important the shoreline, mangrove, sea grass, and coral reef were to them. This bionetwork were all connected to each other and essential to one another in maintaining the harmony or balance in their environment and their lives altogether. This experience opened my eyes to certain realities such as how dependent we are on our environment, and how important it is to take care of it as much as it “takes care” of us. In this case, the mangrove provides safety for the fisher folk from strong and wrecking waves during typhoons by easing the blow or impact of the waves that reaches the shoreline. The mangroves, sea grass and coral reef also provide food and livelihood for the fishermen by breeding and housing fishes and other marine life, as well as by bringing in tourists who are interested in exploring these waters. It was such a sad reality that their community was encountering several issues against the preservation of the coastal area. One was the issue of improper waste disposal because one could easily see garbage or trash scattered and lying around the shoreline and tangled within the mangroves. Apart from this hampering the beauty of the mangrove area and shoreline, it also negatively affects the nursery or homes of the small fishes close to the shore. And I am certain this garbage also is brought back into the ocean, polluting seabed and coral reefs. It was such an unfortunate sight because Talim Bay was perfectly beautiful if not for this. Moreover, if the coastal area is polluted and harming the marine lives, the ones most affected are the villagers living just along the shoreline or the fisher folk for they depend heavily on the marine resources they get such as fish as a part of their livelihood. After our sharing stories and experiences with the guide who was a member of this community, it was time to go home.



     At the end of the day, despite the weather, I’m super grateful and glad to have given the chance to come to Lian, Batangas. I think our whole team that went there could all agree when I say it was a truly enriching, wholesome and fun experience. We may have not been able to do a lot of the fun activities while having an in depth exploration of the coral reefs or sea grass but we certainly didn’t let the rain clouds stop us from coming out from the experience richer in knowledge and concern for others as well as the environment. We all learned that we must not just keep on taking or consuming from our environment; we must also give back to it by replacing what we take and by preserving, restoring and managing such coastal resources and surroundings wisely and lovingly. We were also fortunate enough to be able to experience another kind of beauty— that of Talim Bay. To think it is already beautiful on a rainy day, what more when the sun is out and warm. This experience also humbled me because it made me realize how much I take for granted my current resources. The villagers and fisher folk we met live such simple lives and yet they are content and happy. They do their best at what they do and make the most of what they have. We should all be wise to do the same.

     It is my hope that other people may be able to recognize and experience Talim Bay at Lian, Batangas like we were fortunate enough to be able to. I hope that they, just as we did, may come visit and enjoy the coastal area while at the same time gain the awareness on how essential it is to help preserve its natural beauty and resources including its rich marine life by cleaning up the shoreline and maybe even contribute and support the community there for the coastal area’s continuous restoration and management.
Just like the saying goes, every [rain] cloud has a silver lining! It is up to you to find it; and I’m glad we all did during our adventure at Talim Bay, Lian, Batangas. : )