Look up to the sky
What better way to enjoy the white sandy beaches and clear blue waters in Panglao than to swim and frolick on the beach.
And what better way to forge bonding time with kids than to build sand castles using the white powdery sand.
And take pictures later for the Facebook.
Perfect bonding time, right?
* * *
By itselft, sandcastle building is an innocent and innocuous-looking activity.
Per se, it is a very worthwhile experience because it enhances creativity, unity and industry among the builders.
A very good stress-reliever, it also provides satisfaction because the structure is the by-product of group work.
Because there is no limit in the design and materials used, the builders can come up with fancy structures.
And take pictures before the wave demolishes the structure.
* * *
In Boracay, the sandcastle builders took a more serious approach in their trade.
They used tons and tons of powdery sand and made elaborate designs. These were not your ordinary structures using mere hands in scooping sand. They used mechanical equipment and spend long time in building their structures.
Yes, they were serious in their sand castles.
For a reason.
They made these sandcastles in exchange for donation from tourists who posed in these castles, prominently bearing the word “Boracay” as permanent keepsake of their visit to the world-famous beach.
In a sense, building sandcastles was like a budding “handicraft industry” among Boracaynons.
They made big money out of it.
As time went by, they became experts at this trade.
And the number of sandbuilders grew in proportion.
It didn’t take long for them to realize the deadly consequence of their trade.
* * *
Because of the sheer amount of sand needed for their structures, they disemboweled the bosom of the white beach daily for tons of fresh sand needed to build them.
This resulted in the alteration of the shoreline’s surface and diminished the sand’s color and powder-like quality.
Boracay authorities realized the perits attendant in the sandcastle building industry.
And so they passed an ordinance banning the building of structures.
It took a while for the locals and tourists to understand the rationale behind the municipal ordinance prohibiting giant sandcastles.
But the ban is now in effect.
* * *
The problem in Boracay does not stop there.
The boats that bring tourists had killed corals and reduced coral cover in White Beach due to anchor damage. Tourists that dive, swim or snorkel in the reefs also threaten these fragile ecosystems.
Studies have shown that reefs and sea grass provide the first line of defense against sand erosion.
Without the reefs and sea grass, sand is easily transported by the back-flow of water.
Seaweeds are also responsible for the propagation of Boracay’s precious white sand. Studies have also shown that seaweeds help in the formation of coral reefs that are essential in sand and sediment development.
* * *
If we look at the different resorts in Panglao, we can readily see scores of pumpboats.
To keep them in place, pumpboat operators drop their anchors a few meters from the shoreline.
Beneath the surface, these anchors dug into the sand or corral reefs, damaging them in the process.
When this is done repeatedly on a daily basis, one can easily understand the extent of damage to the corral reefs caused by these innocent-looking pumpboats that are anchored near the seashore.
Right now, nothing is done about this particular problem for obvious reasons.
Diving is part and parcel of the business of the resort. And pumpboats play a very significant role, hence, they are indispensable to the resort business.
Remove them and the resort industry will also suffer.
So the problem is how to balance the interest of the resort owners and the need to address the environmental problems.
I suppose this is a very interesting subject of discussion that should be the top priority of the stakeholders in the industry, especially the local government unit.
* * *
Meanwhile, I was in Manila when super typhoon Chedeng was supposed to hit Luzon.
PAGASA predicted that Chedeng would hit landfall on Thursday. But when we flew Cebu Pacific from Dumaguete on Wednesday for Manila, the weather was already terrible.
The plane was full.
About 15 minutes from Manila, we already experienced bumpy ride.
The bumps plus the fact that we were enveloped in dark clouds added tension to the ride.
Suddenly, the plane made an uncontrolled drop and many people were shouting.
And then we were past the dark clouds and we were back to a brightly lit sky.
What a relief it was.
* * *
I was scheduled for a meeting in Makati at 4 in the afternoon on Wednesday.
But as early as 2 pm, heavy rains started to fall causing heavy traffic build-up along EDSA and C5 Avenue.
Weather reporters started to announce possible flooding in flood-prone areas of Metro Manila.
This prompted an immediate cancellation of the meeting.
The desire to cancel appeared to be mutual because of the threat of flooding. Nobody wanted to be stranded for several hours in some unknown places.
I know and I understand the situation.
I was in Metro Manila when Ondoy struck with very heavy rains.
The person I was meeting with was forced to check in a hotel for 2 days because the road leading to his subdivision was overflowing with dirty water and debris.
* * *
Thursday came and it was a big surprise when the weather was surprisingly good.
No rains, no strong wind and the sky was brightly lit.
It was only later that we learned that Chedeng had changed course and spared the country from its wrath.
This is the time when we can look up to the sky and offer our thanks to the Almighty.
More when we return, stay tuned for more.
More when we return, stay tuned for more!
More when we return, stay tuned for more!
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