Adventures in Miniloc

One morning, as I embarked on my usual flight, I came across a speedboat carrying three girls with their luggage: a big suitcase, a large box, and three handbags. They were leaving Lagen Island, guided by their supervisor, and were about to explore a new island called Miniloc. As they approached the entrance to Miniloc, a magnificent tuna-like fish leaped out of the water to greet them. It was my cue to bid them farewell and let my friend, the Giant Trevally, continue their journey. 

The girls arrived during my 10:30 am merienda break and surprised me with their kindness by feeding me squid and small fish. As a sea creature, I also enjoy shrimp, jellyfish, crabs and their eggs, snails, and worms. One of the girls asked: “Why are we feeding them if there is a rule against feeding animals?” Their Sustainability officer explained that jackfish feeding has a specific time to protect them from overfishing. These fish go at this time of day because they know that there is food there but after it they will go back to deeper areas to look for their own food. We want these fish not to depend on us and learn to hunt their own food. It is also important to know that giving improper food like bread could lead to digestion issues for them. That’s why we feed them based on their natural diet. 

Since they were so generous to me, I decided to accompany them on a tour of the island’s facilities. They started by visiting the resort’s generators, which provided electricity independently from the mainland, ensuring any electricity issues could be easily resolved. As we moved along, we came across the sewage treatment plant, which fascinated them as they saw the water going through different stages of cleaning. 

Next, they explored the desalination plant, where seawater was filtered and transformed into fresh water used in the resort’s bathroom facilities. The girls learned that there was an additional step to make the water potable for drinking purposes. The excess salt was safely returned to the ocean without harming the marine environment. 

My friend, Swiftlet told me that the girls had undergone a Be G.R.E.E.N training on Lagen Island. Although they hadn’t received the turtle-shaped pins yet, they were already practicing sustainability by taking short showers and turning off lights and AC when not needed. 

It has been a while since I last saw my neighbors from Sitio Kiminawit, which is why I followed the girls there. They were surprised to see children playing with plastic waste. It sparked a desire for change in their hearts. They found inspiration from the Ten Knots group, which supported local women by offering sewing opportunities to earn a living. During the pandemic, the women made face masks and turtle keychains, but their production had stopped due to a lack of equipment and facilities. The girls decided to support the women by purchasing handmade turtle keychains and even helped design a logo to showcase the women’s work and the local wildlife.  The intern who studies communications, found it very interesting as she applied what she learned this year. She wanted to highlight the importance of the community on the logo. She worked alongside the graphic designer to create a mindful and respectful logo of what this community truly is. 

That same day during the evening I saw them learning traditional fishing (not an activity that I enjoy watching).  To my relief, they weren’t especially talented so they didn’t catch many of my friends since bottom fishing is a low-impact type of fishing. The fish caught were given to Sitio Kiminawit. Once again the girls were happy to help the community. 

On their second-to-last day, they woke up early to kayak at sunrise in Big Lagoon, a stunning place with limestone formations and lush vegetation. They marveled at the bird sounds and the serene atmosphere. Small Lagoon and Secret Lagoon, though not as secluded due to mass tourism, were their favorite natural pools because of the mesmerizing light reflections on the limestone. In the Small Lagoon, they enjoyed the tranquility and even got the chance to see a Rufous-Night heron nest.  One of them said “How peaceful is this place, I have never seen anything like this back home”. However, they had a humorous encounter with tiny fish that chased one of them in the Secret Lagoon. 

Before departing, they met my family and fed us with fish, our natural food. Finally, I got to enjoy my merienda in peace. I realized I would miss their company and the food they shared once they moved on to Pangulasian Island, where my friend, the monitor lizard Bayawak, would take care of them. 

Overall, the girls’ journey was filled with learning, exploration, and a deep commitment to sustainability and community support. They left a positive impact on the places they visited, leaving behind lasting memories for both humans and marine life alike.