Panabo Pride Campaign: A Call to Protect Cagangohan Fish Sanctuary

“Sa sulod pasanayon, sa gawas bingwiton.” These were the words that echoed all around Panabo City during the grand launching of Panabo City Pride Campaign last November 27, 2013 at Cagangohan Barangay Hall, Cagangohan, Panabo City.

During the launching, Mr. Ezekiel Alforque, Senior Citizen President, was applauded when he emotionally recalled the abundance of seas during his younger years. He became more emotional as he flashbacked on how people ignored the Cagangohan Coastal Resources. That’s why he went down the stage with this request, “Pabalikon ta ang kaisdaonon sa atong dagat. Lantawon nato ang ugma”(Let’s regain the abundance of fishes to our seas. Let’s prepare for our future). This was supported by the City Administrator Ramon Sawan when he urged the fisherfolks to let go the small fishes. He added that, following the laws, the ordinances will eventually lead to the improvement of the quality of life.

The highlights of the launching were the recognition of registered fishers of Panabo City, the recitation of Fisher’s Creed by the target audience of the campaign, the fishers, the signing at the commitment wall of the fishers and community to amplify their support to the campaign, and finally, the distribution of 100 hooks and lines to 100 lucky fishers.

The presence of mascots and performers added to the festivity of the event. The crowd was moved out from their seats when the IFT Cheerdancers showcased their breathtaking moves as they introduced to the crowd, the ambassadress of the campaign, Danggi, the Danggit. The G.L. Dondoy Elementary School Drum and Bugle Corp. awed the audience with their twirl exhibitions while the DNSC Dance Troupe offered a very entertaining dance moves. The angelic voices of DNSC Chorale sung the invocation and the national anthem during the event.

What is Panabo City Pride Campaign?

The Panabo City Pride Campaign advocates fishing in the right place and using the right gear by inspiring fishers and community to protect and manage the Cagangohan Fish Sanctuary. The sanctuary is an area set aside by the Local Government Unit of Panabo City as breeding place and refuge of fish and marine organisms in the area.

The Panabo City Pride Campaign is the joint project of LGU-Panabo City, Davao del Norte State College and RARE. RARE is an international conservation organization that supports almost 300 Pride Campaigns in 50 countries all over the world including the Philippines for the purpose of bringing people and nature to thrive harmoniously.

Goals of Panabo City Pride Campaign

            The campaign intends to increase fish populations and other marine resources. To attain these, current threats must be reduced by the following right behaviors of the fishers:

1.    Fishing outside the Cagangohan Fish Sanctuary Core Zone; and

2.    Fishing using hook and line in the Cagangohan Fish Sanctuary Buffer Zone.

Sir Raquelito Mancao from RARE Philippines with the CF Girley Gumanao
throws the first question to the fisher during the Q&A Game.

The campaign hopes to strengthen the fishery programs of the local government particularly the CO 03-03 ug CO 14-12 which set the rules and regulations of the Cagangohan Fish Sanctuary. This will be more possible if the fishers know, believe and talk about the location, rules, regulations and benefits of the sanctuary as complemented with proper management and enforcement.

If this campaign will be totally supported by the community, Cagangohan Fish Sanctuary would really be the haven of marine life. They will thrive harmoniously and abundantly. And soon, provide sustainable living to fishers and to the Panaboans in general. 

Cagangohan Folktale

Once there was a beautiful sea maiden named Cagangohan.

Cagangohan was truly enchanting in her form. She had thick hair that curls into the waves of the salt water.She had glowing skin stretching along the freckled, white sand. Her slim hands and fingers were the sturdy mangroves that rose up in praise towards the sky. Her cool breath was the breeze that blew gently among the living.

Looking forward for better Cagangohan!

Cagangohan was a source of joy. People come to see her beauty everyday. At morning when the sun was high, she glowed in the of calmest blue. and when the nightfall arrived, she blushed with the most exquisite orange.

She was also the great provider of life to the creatures of the earth. Her soul blossomed with fish, corals, pearls and all the wealth of the sea. She bestowed people all her great wonders.

Men came to fish. They said, "Come on! Let's catch fish and sell them so we can earn money today".

They caught big fish. They picked corals. They dove for pearls. When the day was done, they sold all of their catches in the market.

On the other side, women came in rows to gather firewoood. They took down big logs to build huts. Children came to swim and play along the beach. Yipeee! they shouted. The water is very clear. Let's go for a swim! Their loud laughter echoed. Their cheerful faces beamed with delight as they played in the water.

And all with these, Cagangohan watched them with pleasure and pride. She continued to give people what they need. She wanted them to know that she was part of their happiness and life.

But people wanted more and more.

"Let's fish and dive for more pearls!', the fishers exclaimed.

They caught big fish and small fish. They used smaller nets and threw dynamites. Booom! Water splashed everywhere. They damaged the corals and the shells for pearls.

"Let's cut more trees and clear huge areas so we can build stories and sell goods to people who visit the beach”, the women called out.

“Crack!”. The mangroves fell everywhere. They cleared the shore to build huts for selling.

“Let’s play more!’. The children shouted.

They came more often to swim and play. But they left garbage along the beach. They forgot the empty wrappers and cans. Clank! Garbage was thrown everywhere.

One day soon, people had destroyed the sea. They left Cagangohan dirty and polluted.

She became angry and sad at the same time. People took away her very soul and ruined her beauty. She wept and wept. Her tears pour down from the skies that caused heavy rains for number of months. No one could stop Cagangohan from weeping for she was totally hurt by people whom she loved the most. She wept for a year. The water in the sea increased while the harsh winds created huge waves that crashed towards the sandy beaches. Darkness covered the entire place. No man, woman or child could go near the angry Cagangohan.

People became afraid. They realized what they had done. In regret, they started to understand their mistakes. They humbly knelt down, prayed and asked forgiveness.

Listening to their pleas, Cagangohan stopped from crying. After awhile, the rain ended. The sea became still. But dark, heavy clouds still loomed over the land and water. There was no sign of life.

“What should we do?”  The men asked.

“We need to do something!” The women answered.

“ We have to please Cagangohan”. The children cried.

All men stopped from catching small fishes and throwing dynamite into the water. They halted diving for more pearls and talking out corals.

All women planted mangroves by the beach. They knocked down huts they built and planted more trees.

All children picked garbage on the seashore. They cleaned up the beach.

“We must love the sea that gives us life and happiness. Let us help preserve the sea. Let us restore the wounded Cagangohan”. The people agreed as they vowed to protect the ocean.

Upon seeing these changes, Cagangohan smiled and opened her kind heart to forgive. She allowed the sun to rise above her. The sea maiden became prettier than it was before. The calm blue waters blended with the horizon. The long stretch of white sand sparkled like fireworks under the clear skies. The thick, sturdy mangroves stood in line while small fishes jumped once in a while above the sea water without fear from the people.

Cagangohan bestowed her wonders to men, women and children of the earth once more.

From then on, the beautiful Cagangohan and the people lived together happily and abundantly ever after.

Later, the place is called Cagangohan in honor to the very generous and kind hearted sea maiden.

Panabo City RARE-PRIDE Team Exudes Remarkable Achievement

“It is very unusual for me to write a letter to campaign team before the start of the university phase. However, I feel the compelling need to express my personal satisfaction to the extraordinary achievement made in Panabo City Pride Campaign”. This is the statement that highlighted the open letter of Mr. Fel Caesar Cadiz, the Pride Program Manager of RARE, to the Panabo City Pride Team for the exceptional achievement of the team within the first 7.5 months of implementation of the campaign. Mr. Cadiz also gave special mention to the results of the hard work and dedication of the team on the campaign that contributed much on the achievement of activities in the research plan. Series of reinforcement workshops to capacitate the Fishery Law Enforcers Task Force (FLETF), constitution of a management committee for the Cagangohan Fish Sanctuary, finalization of three candidate flagship species, and remarking of the Cagangohan Sanctuary were only few of the team’s achievements. CF Dr. Girley Gumanao, DNSC’s PRIDE, headed the team.

To keep the team become superb in campaigning for sustainable fishing in Panabo City, Dr. Gumanao will again participating the 2nd University Phase of the RARE Pride for the 2012-2014 Pride Conservation Fellows. The training will run for seven (7) weeks from June 12 to July 31 of 2013. This training phase has three (3) exciting developments as shared by Director Brooke Sadowsky. First, the training phase will happen in two locations. The first  2. 5 weeks will be spent in Bohol and transfer to Cebu for the remainder of the training to allow the participants experience the change in scenery as well as the greater access to creative resources of conceptualizing and drafting campaign materials during the second half of the training phase. Second, there is a multiple opportunities for Pride Campaign Team members to join. This allows each CF to choose the 1 or 2 weeks when they would like a member of their team to join. Last but not the least, supervisors of the CF will be invited to join the last week of the Training Phase.

With this project, Davao del Norte State College partnered with RARE and other fifty (50) countries all over the world in testing and refining innovative method for social change that is helping to fill the need of meeting basic life needs in the face of dwindling natural resources