Balanga City have just got its perfect
reason to continue the advocacy on the protection and conservation of its
God given natural wealth!
As the saying goes, the best time
to conserve our environment was 50 years ago and the second best would be now!
Balanga, a lone city of Bataan is not wasting a single minute on being watchful of their environment. As a proof, the city took a great effort on the dissemination of information through festivities to conserve the remaining resources that is left in the city. One of these is the Ibong Dayo Festival.
Balanga, a lone city of Bataan is not wasting a single minute on being watchful of their environment. As a proof, the city took a great effort on the dissemination of information through festivities to conserve the remaining resources that is left in the city. One of these is the Ibong Dayo Festival.
 |
| Mangrove forest and the mudflats in Brgy. Tortugas, Balanga City |
Few years ago, the residents of
Tortugas have noticed the increase of the migratory birds flocking in their
coastal areas that peaked on the months of January and February. Some of the
populations even settled in the vast mangrove forest of the coastal community
and seems have no plan of leaving the place ever since.
Some people's organizations have shown
concern on the impact of the migratory birds and have come up in consensus to
protect the migratory birds rather than purge the avian community away. They have
learned that man and migratory birds can exist mutually. Now, the wetland have
become one of the hottest bird watching sites in the Philippines with more than
50 bird species and a total population of 25,935 based on the bird census in
2014.
 |
| Whiskered Terns flock on the mangrove trees of Balanga City |
As interests have grown in the
wetland area and its migratory birds, the local government of Balanga came up
with an artistic way to promote the importance and protection of the migratory
birds and its habitat through a festival, giving birth to Ibong Dayo Festival in December 2010 (official).
Now on its 5th year,
the city of Balanga headed by their chief executive Joet Garcia and the
City and Provincial Tourism Offices, set
off the festival at the Wetland and Nature Park in Barangay Tortugas. This
annual festivity is embraced by the city dwellers by participating on various
eco-programs engineered by the city tourism office.
 |
| People dancing on the beat of the festive music during the 5th Ibong Dayo Festival |
The celebration started with the proud
testaments from local residents and barangay officials how the preservation has
benefited them from the protection of the migratory birds and its lone habitat,
the mangrove forest.
The festivity was even fortified with the strong support
of the officers and members of the Wild Bird Club of the Philippines (WBCP) with
the presence of Mike Lu and Carmelita Española as this year’s guest speaker.
Residents have learned that to
protect the migratory birds means also protecting its nesting
ground, the mangrove forest. And during the festival, the people of Balanga have demonstrated a tree planting effort in
the vicinity of the conservation site, increasing the area of the mangrove forest to accommodate
the swelling population of the migratory birds.
 |
| Kapak, a smoked fish from Balanga City |
To make this festivity even more
effective and adhering strong to its noble mission, the LGU tapped the youth to showcase their interpretation of the festival with their gigantic mascots, dances and other forms of art.
The Ibong Dayo Festival was highlighted by some dance exhibition and performances of students coming from various schools in the city. The beachfront ground of the Wetland and Nature Park was filled with feathered costumes representing a
particular species of migratory bird.
Spectators witnessing the event have sensed the pride of the people on how they championed the conservation effort through the collaboration of government offices and private sectors.
Spectators witnessing the event have sensed the pride of the people on how they championed the conservation effort through the collaboration of government offices and private sectors.
It was also an amazing
observation that would make everyone proud on how these young minds, the youth
of Balanga have known at least the ecological importance of the bird population
in their environment, a type of environmental education that is lacking from the other places in the Philippines.
In support to this festival, even
the winning contingents of Pawikan Festival dance competition roamed the
grounds of the Tortugas with their festive dance routine, rocking everyone in
amusement.
The residents of Balanga also
took the opportunity to share with its visitors their home grown aqua-marine products
like the famous and my favorite smoked fish known as Kapak, boneless
bagoong (fish paste), toyo flakes, shrimp paste, krispy fried anchovies and the
likes.
Aside from the marine products, the city also promotes the use of
organic fertilizers on agricultural crops and produce to lessen the impact of
synthetic fertilizers and pesticides on the coastal waters of Balanga.
Balanga is a blessed city to be
chosen by the migratory birds as its temporary shelter. The presence of
these migratory birds only proved the rich and resilient environment of Balanga that could accommodate its ecological requirements to survive while in temporary migration.
The promotion and the conservation
effort on the migratory birds in Balanga City is a proof of partial success in achieving sustainability. This festivity is a model of environmental initiative
that we hope could be replicated by other cities or municipalities at least in
the Philippines. Efforts like this may not be simple but a single step through people’s
initiative with the support of willful local government officials would lead to a better and livable "home". With that, I salute the people behind this great movement! Kudos to Ibong Dayo, Kaibigan Tayo!
Mabuhay Bataan!
Tips:
- There is an Information Center & Exhibit Area and Viewing decks at the wetland and nature park (look for Ms. Lolit or Allan)
- You can enjoy the 5 minute
audio-visual show about the park from: Mondays-Saturdays at 9:00am |11:00am
| 1:00pm |3:00pm |5:00pm Sundays and Public Holidays at every hour from 9:00am to 5:00pm
- Migratory birds are at peak on the months of January and February.
- Bird watching is best enjoyed during the breaking of sunrise and before sunset.
- Be sure to bring the most important gadget, binocular to witness birds in the nearby mangrove forest.
- At the wetland you can have a simple picnic while enjoying the beautiful sunrise and sunset, so be sure to bring your camera.
For more information:
City of Balanga Tourism Office
Tel: (63) (047) 791-4008
Fax No. (63) (047) 237-2969
Email: tourism@cityofbalanga.gov.ph
Website: www.cityofbalanga.gov.ph
First time to hear about this festival and it seems masarap manood nito. Total community participation talaga. Love to this that Kapak (parang simpleng tinapa lang).
ReplyDeleteOh wow. That's a lot of bird species! No wonder there's a lot of both local and foreign tourists visiting to see the different species of migratory birds.
ReplyDeleteI am a naturalist. In your thought presentation I was caught by a phrase "protection and conservation". If we do love our family and the family of our family, we should unqualifyingly (without condition) support this advocacy as long as we live to take care of our natural resources.
ReplyDeleteIt's nice that both pawikans and bird species have found their home in Bataan. This can really create Bataan as an ecotourism hub.
ReplyDeleteHaven't witnessed festivals like these. Hopefully, I can see some soon! Looks like a festive activity! Awesome!
ReplyDeleteI love festivals they are an expression of our culture and art...
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a really fun and colorful festival! :)
ReplyDelete