15 October 2018, Urbiztondo, San Juan, La Union Province, Philippines. On 15 October 2018, the first eleven surf instructors ever in the Philippines were trained in an Ocean Quest Global (OQG) Certified and Sea Shepherd Dive (SSD) Coral Propagation course in La Union province, Philippines.
The course was organised by long-time La Union resident, surfer, diver and Marine Biologist, Laura Riavitz of OQG and SSD, and was hosted by Urbiz Garden in San Juan, La Union – declared last year as the “Surfing Capital of the North“.
The 11 surf instructors from Jongky Surf School were sponsored by FEED, in order to assure sufficient qualified capacity to run the first-ever FEED designed “ECOSURF: A CLIMATE CHANGE ACTION PROGRAM“, to be held on 10 November 2018, sponsored by Ateneo de Manila.
This first ever Philippine surf community Coral Propagation Certification course was parried out in collaboration and with great thanks to with FEED LIVING LEGACY Partners:
- Jongky Surf School (FEED Living Legacy Partner)
- La Union Soul (FEED Living Legacy Partner; and Member)
- Urbiz Garden (Venue & AV Partner)
- Ocean Quest Global (Technical Inputs)
- Sea Shepherd Dive (Technical Inputs)
- Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University (DMMMSU, Snorkelling Gear)
- Photography and Audio Visual Documentation by: Andrew Bruce
- Vegetarian Lunch Prepared by: Norma Javonillo
- The awesome and classic ECOSURF Logo for FEED designed by Charisse Palmos, partner of one of Jongky Surf School’s instructors at the time.
The day was thoroughly fulfilling, commencing with the technical presentation on coral cultures and their impacts on the ocean and marine life and the total ecosystem as a keystone species, delivered by Laura – also a long time resident of San Juan, La Union and highly familiar with the Philippine coral status and particularly La Union’s coastline and drastic coral situation.
After learning the theory of corals as critical species, we proceeded to plant with an organic solution produced by Ocean Quest Global called a catalyst – which spurs the growths of corals planted on organic substrate also sourced from the sea. Once these baby corals are affixed to the substrate, they are placed in the nursery managed by Laura and the Certified Coral Propagators, until such time (typically 6 months onwards) they are strong enough to withstand the tides of the West Philippine Sea and placed deeper into the existing coral reef wall.
Videos on Coral Propagation by OQG Founder Anuar Abdullah
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIZ5k89SVnM
Sample of a Coral Nursery
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3bSs-s2BYA
Photo Collage
Congratulations Certified Coral Propagators from Jongky Surf School!
- Reymar Asperas
- Anne-Marie Mananquil Bakker
- Jefferson Ganuelas
- Rodolfo (“Jong”) Magsanoc, Jr.
- Cristina Suyat
- Nonelon R. Fietas Jr. (“TJ”)
- Charisse Palmos
- Ronald Pansit
- Diane Penales
- Domingo (“Keks”) Ventura, Jr.
- Rhoda Mae (“Rhea”) delos Santos Ventura
Thank you Laura Riavitz, OQG and SSD for this amazing experience!
Contact FEED
FEED runs a number of Students and Volunteers for the Environment (SAVE); Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) – such as mangrove planting for coastal protection or ridge reforestation plantings; One Child, One Tree; Bio-Intensive Gardens (BIG) for nutrition in public elementary schools and other spaces; Climate Change Survival 101 and other LIVING LEGACY programs – customised environmental engagement activities for individuals and organisations interested in contributing to climate change adaptation efforts and greening critical areas such as watersheds, ridges, and reefs that all require rehabilitation.
Planting with FEED: Video
Check out the video journey by Clueless Commuter who planted with us last 24th of June 2017 to get a good idea of how FEED plantings go: https://youtu.be/KROn4rjVqBg
Contact us at FEED for more details, to join our regular activities or to design your own CSR Program: info@feed.org.ph or call/text +63 (0)917 552 4722.
© Fostering Education & Environment for Development, Inc. (FEED)