When Life Gives You Calamansi, Make Pancit

The watchtower from a distance

We’ve all heard the classic “make lemonade” advice—the ultimate optimistic battle cry for turning bitter circumstances into something sweet. In Sagay City, our two project sites took that citrusy metaphor and infused it with their own local flavors.

Last November 5, the metaphor was put to the ultimate test. Typhoon Tino tore through the region after making multiple landfalls in Leyte and Cebu. For those on the ground, the transition was jarring: the deafening roar of wind and rain vanished in an instant, replaced by a haunting silence as the typhoon’s eye passed over the city. It felt as though someone had suddenly pressed a “mute” button. But the peace was an illusion; all too quickly, the wind returned from the opposite direction—more vicious, more devastating, and ready to undo years of hard work.

The Lapus-Lapus Macapagao Mangroves

The eight floating cottages

In 2024, Seacology funded the construction of a watchtower to support the conservation efforts of Barangay Bulanon through the Lapus-Lapus Bulanon Floating Cottage Association. Construction was finished in June just last year.

The watchtower survived the onslaught. Also fortunately, no kayaks, normally lent to guests, were lost. But all eight floating cottages—the barangay’s main source of livelihood—were wrecked.

Photo ops

Recognizing that the community’s eco-tourism business is what fuels their efforts to conserve the 364-hectare mangrove forest, Seacology helped repair the eight floating cottages. Despite shortages in bamboo, which caused delays in their schedule, the floating cottages were finally ready to receive guests once again.

Last Friday, February 27, the eight Lapus-Lapus Bulanon Floating Cottages were relaunched. The community served fresh fish, crabs, and shellfish—the kind of local feast that guests have come to expect.

Seafood awaiting floating
cottage guests

These weren't just meals; they were products of the amatong method—an indigenous, eco-friendly way of aggregating fish that turned the intertidal zones into both a larder and a sanctuary. In fact, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources classifies this as environment friendly in that it can provide shelter and food to diverse marine life.

The first post-disaster guests have already booked for the next day, and things are looking good for business as the peak tourist season gets underway.

Suyac Island

Eco-tourism in Suyac Island focuses on mangrove tours and is managed by Barangay Taba-ao through the Suyac Island Eco-park Tourist Attendant Association. The community has engaged in tourism to protect their mangrove forest since the early 2000s. Through various forms of assistance, they were able to construct a boardwalk, a watchtower, several cottages, and a spa house. Proceeds from these provided livelihood and funds for maintenance, and enabled the community to keep protecting this resource.

The repaired pier

In 2023, Seacology funded the rehabilitation of the watchtower and spa house, both of which have come to disrepair through the years.

Just hours before Typhoon Tino’s eye stared at the city, a magnitude 5.6 earthquake shook the island. Rain and wind were already getting stronger so any damage could not yet be ascertained. 

Then landed Tino. An unusually high tide and storm surge badly damaged their pier, boardwalk, restrooms. Several cottages, whose foundations were likely already weakened by the earthquake, collapsed.

Some cottages still need repair
but some are usable

Some cottages survived, as did the watchtower, though structural integrity has to be properly assessed for earthquake related damage.

The immediate need was for the repair of the pier and boardwalk so the community can continue to operate their business, if in a limited capacity. For this, Seacology stepped in.

The pier has been fully repaired and about 80% of the boardwalk has been completed when we got there. Still some ways to go compared to pre-Tino facilities, but the community’s spirit seems as determined as ever.

On arrival, we were given the standard briefing given to all visitors in English. I am told that guests have kept coming just a few weeks after Tino, boding well for the community’s bottom line.

Reception area where we were
welcomed with a cultural dance
and given a briefing

Some sections were off-limits, but the general feel of a healthy mangrove is palpable. Nature lovers can certainly expect to see the tangled mangrove roots that look like giant spiders walking on water. And the colonies of fruit bats that are visible at times in the more secluded spots. And the kingfishers and other birds that stay motionless until they strike at a passing fish. And so much more.

And the food! For lunch, we were served a variety of shellfish and kilawin. But the kicker is the island’s own version of the kilawin, which is so heavenly that it was sold out when it was showcased at a local food fare.

The can-do attitude of the community is truly admirable, and it is serving them well in the face of adversities.

A Watershed Energizes a Village

Nabuangan River

Hydropower has been with us for thousands of years. Waterwheels ground grain to flour. Archimedes’ screws lifted water to irrigate fields. And since the past century or so, water-driven turbines came to generate electricity, ever evolving to become more and more efficient.

For the Isneg village of Sitio Lapat, Barangay Nabuangan, Conner, Apayao, the Seacology-funded 15-kilowatt micro-hydro system is nothing short of a godsend. Built with technical expertise provided by engineers from SIBAT, Inc. (Sibol ng Agham at Technolohiya) and in partnership with Green Empowerment, it will electrify 67 households, a school, and the Nabuangan Barangay Health Station. It will also provide power to livelihood activities such as wood working, welding, ice making, cold storage, and others.

The hanging bridge that leads
to Sitio Lapat, then the other
sitios of Barangay Nabuangan 

Sitio Lapat is home to the Isneg tribe, which is one of the several ethno-linguistic groups within the Cordillera mountain range. They are known to practice lapat, an indigenous resource management system that declares a specific natural resource, such as a river or a section of the forest, as protected. These customary laws are passed down from every generation to the next, ensuring the continuity of their rich culture and traditions.

It comes to no surprise that Sitio Lapat is named after the lapat system. Their Isneg forebears declared the 500-hectare Boboli Creek Watershed area as lapat after all. Lapat roughly means off-limits, with the weight and nuances associated with tribal warfare and peace pacts. As the village is at the gateway of the watershed, people have come to call it Lapat also.

Ribbon cutting with Conner
Mayor Jorico Bayaua and SIBAT

The watershed boasts remarkable biodiversity, with 119 species of birds and many mammals, including fruit bats called white-winged foxes. Tropical hardwood (dipterocarp) trees and Rafflesia plants (which produce some of the world’s biggest flowers, several feet across) thrive there.

In return for Seacology's assistance, the community committed to strengthen their conservation of the watershed by highlighting the watershed’s importance, particularly in generating electricity, during tribal meetings and other community engagements. The lapat system has already been codified in accordance with this agreement, as may be seen in signs strategically posted throughout the barangay.

Putting the listeners to sleep

On the morning of February 11, 2026, management and maintenance of the new micro-hydro system was formally turned over to the community. The good mayor of Conner Municipality, Atty. Jorico Bayaua, SIBAT Board Member Dr. Romeo Quijano, Executive Director Estrella Catarata and Deputy Director Shen Maglinte, and myself were on hand for the festivities.

SIBAT Engineer Jey Mart
demonstrating the Micro-hydro

Taddo and Talip, traditional Isneg dances accompanied by gongs, were performed. In my two previous visits to the community, we were invited to join in the dancing. Not this time as the morning wore on, and I thought that was that. I found out very much later on just how ridiculous it was for me to casually dismiss what should have already been learned from previous experience.

After the speeches and after indulging in the local delicacies our hosts prepared for us, we adjourned to the micro-hydro station, where SIBAT Engineer Jey Mart Erasquin walked us through the whole operation. Tests show a respectable attainment of 230-240 Volts and 60 Hertz Frequency. 

The micro-hydro system

There will be costs in the micro-hydro’s operation, of course. Drive belts will have to be replaced, maybe once a year, and bearings maybe every five years, and others. Beneficiary households, which have their own electric meters, will be paying a nominal fee for this purpose.

From there we went through the canal conveying water for the micro-hydro. Some three years ago, during initial talks on what might be possible, SIBAT engineers explained to the community that a kilometer-long canal would be needed if a micro-hydro system were to be built. No promises were made, not then at least.

Venturing to the canal
feeding the power station

With nothing but an idea that begot more than warranted inspiration, the community began to dig that canal. Every Sunday for nearly a year, the villagers worked tirelessly and continuously during what was supposed to be their day of rest until funding was eventually secured. The powerhouse came from Seacology, and the rest from Green Empowerment, Misereor, and the local government. It was a gamble held together by a fragile tendril of hope that could have very well resulted in collective disappointment. Fortunately for the community, their faith moved mountains.

Dancing, because of course we
have to

As we were preparing to leave the village, we noticed the gongs being brought out and a circle being formed. It was for our obligatory dance with the community, something we did with much enjoyment and much respect.