Taking Care of Young Children
Amihan was formally established on April 4, 2004, as a result of the first skimboarding competition in Mayo Bay, organized by a private organisation from the Davao region, but the team already existed as early as of the year 2000. We gained a reputation as training camp for young individuals, who have great interest in skimboarding and surfing. Many of these young children that are still learning with us today, dropped out of school and some walked away from their homes because of poverty. Thus, they consider Amihan as their family. Our Kubo (bamboo hut) serves as the headquarters and provides shelter for these kids – it is where they do all their activities, like cooking, eating, sleeping, studying, etc.
Also, we put great importance on our members having a formal education. We envision that our members will develop holistic mindsets by incorporating good values in their life and decision making, teaching them basic life skills, and showing them how to love and care for the environment. As such, members of Amihan have to continue their schooling and are prohibited to use alcohol, drugs and cigarettes. In addition to Amihan, there are some private individuals who help and support these kids in terms of their basic needs, education, health etc. |
"Although we have only little income, the team is still hopeful and positive, and we continue our mission – that the kids go to school despite difficulties and the marine wildlife is protected." |
Marine Conservation & Hatchery Management
As there have been quite some accounts of turtle egg poaching, we patrol the beaches at night and set up two marine turtle hatcheries. During the patrols, we monitor traces of marine turtles laying eggs in the months of October-May (olive ridley turtle), and May-September (green turtle & hawksbill turtle). When the team members encounter a nest, then they transfer the eggs to the hatchery for protection from human activities as well as from predators such as birds, cats, and crabs. Even though only limited resources are available, we are determined to monitor and record the number of marine turtle eggs transferred and hatchlings released. We also tag the mother turtle for monitoring purposes and to inform conservation management. We have been properly trained in these procedures by the DENR-Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB) and ensure that all eggs are kept safe and steady when we relocate them.
Each member has to take part in managing the hatchery, that is, keeping the area safe from poachers and predators, cleaning the area regularly, and overseeing the strict enforcement of the no-smoking and no-drinking policy. We also allow guests to have a first hand experience in transferring turtles eggs and assisting the newly hatched marine turtles back to the sea. Proper safety and handling protocols are followed at all times. Because of our experience in wildlife and ecosystem protection and the abundance of marine wildlife in the area, we were chosen as partners of the DENR-GEF/ADB Integrated Coastal Resource Management Project (ICRMP) in the year 2013. As part of the project, our team was trained by national experts in marine turtle handling (recording eggs and hatchlings), hatchery management, treating of injuries/rescue operations, and in handling other marine wildlife. We were also trained as reef ranger guides for reefs in the area. In addition, we are also a partner of the Davao Oriental State College of Science & Technology and assisted with their research studies. |
Awareness Raising
Amihan is slowly able to convince Mayo Bay’s fisherfolk of the importance of protecting marine turtles, dugongs and other marine wildlife. Some fisherfolk bring injured marine wildlife to us, and we are able to take care them and safely release them back to the sea. In return, cooperative fisherfolk receive small monetary incentives or rice & grocery assistance, which means they can buy school supplies for their children and provide food in exchange for their good deeds. Even though we are a small organisation, we would like to help the fisherfolk, reward their exemplary behaviour, and give back to the community. As we say: “If you love nature, nature will love you back".
Guests visiting Dahican Beach also learn from us about marine wildlife and their importance for ecosystems and human well-being, where we also disseminate the knowledge that we were taught by marine wildlife experts. The Amihan Team also actively posts on social media with regard to our conservation activities to spread awareness to a broad audience. Our work has also been featured in documentaries, articles, and magazines. Moreover, we closely coordinate with DENR-BMB and the Davao Oriental State College of Science and Technology (DOSCST) to be involved in marine conservation projects and to guide the researchers. If we encounter marine wildlife mortalities, we try to report them to the Marine Wildlife Watch of the Philippines or the DENR-BMB as often as we can. If necropsies need to be done, we inform the DOSCST. The causes of mortalities are often consumed marine plastics, entanglement in nets/hook fishing, and boat strike injuries caused by boat propellers. |
"It was mainly about people and everyday moments that sometimes turned into magical moments." |
Coastal Clean-ups
As part of the team’s daily routine, members need to wake up as early as 4 ’o clock in the morning to patrol the beach and clean the coastline during patrolling. During weekends, Amihan members free dive, kayak, and stand-up-paddle to clean up the trash underwater and on the ocean surface. Unfortunately, the usual trash that we collect are single use plastics, styrofoam, disposable utensils, alcohol beverage bottles, straws etc. With this activity, we can ensure that also other marine wildlife species calling Dahican Bay their home are better protected, as they don't run the danger of ingesting or getting entangled in plastic debris. Species that have been recorded in the wider bay area are dugongs, whale sharks, manta rays, and different kinds of dolphins and whales.
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Teaching Surfing and Skimboarding
As all of our members work voluntarily, we need to teach in order for us to be able to continue our activities and to support our basic needs as a team. The Amihan team teaches surfing, skimboarding, kayaking, and assists visitors with other water activities. We also customize boards for visitors. The Department of Tourism conducted a workshop for us on how to teach surfing, and we obtained a license for teaching. This allows us to share our skills and also to collect some means for our daily needs and expenses. If the kids assist in teaching, they can earn their own money and their income can be used for their own personal necessities. The kids are also in charge of cleaning the boards after use and help adult members if their boards needs repair. Despite their young age, they are eager to assist us and to earn a little pocket money, e.g. to be used for their school allowance. Despite having only little income, the team is still hopeful and positive, and we continue our mission – that the kids go to school despite difficulties and the marine wildlife is protected.
The splendid waves in Dahican also provide a good opportunity for the Amihan members themselves to enhance their skills in surfing and skimboarding. And if there are opportunities to compete, we are ready to show our abilities even in international competitions. With that comes the responsibility to ensure sustainable tourism, e.g. to advocate for less light pollution from beach resorts, which may disorient turtles and hatchlings, to set up navigational lanes to avoid boat strikes, and to teach visitors about the appropriate behaviour if nesting turtles or hatchlings are encountered. |
For additional information:
Our cause was also featured in the SunStar, by the Philippine Information Agency, and twice in the Active Boating and Watersports magazine: "Too much fun in Dahican"(December 2012, pp. 32-34) and "Team Amihan" (June 2013, pp. 20-22).