Luntian Bags

Last April 19-20, Barangay San Teodoro, where my Luntian Bags livelihood program is based, made a stand for nature. To celebrate Earth Day, the school children painted the 200-square meter walls of the San Teodoro elementary school with murals depicting the precious and embattled marine life that sustains the highly-touted biodiversity of the magnificent Balayan Bay.

This area is part of the Verde Island Passage, considered the center of the center of biodiversity in the world. The aim was to raise awareness of the beauty of the underwater life and the urgency of conservation.

It was a truly bayanihan effort as the kids, guided by volunteer artists from Manila, and supported by the San Teodoro moms, dads, lolos, lolas, barangay officials, and corporate sponsors came out in full force.

This project is part of a barangay self-help environmental initiative started in late 2006 and named Project Utay Utay (Batangas parlance for “little by little, slow by slow”). And as Sandy Hammett, the driving force behind this effort said:

“The local elementary school is a testimony to a little-appreciated fact among powers that be and the more monied citizenry. Despite resources, the lack of upgraded facilities, materials, even proper toilet facilities or fans in the classroom – it bears witness to a fierce yearning for education in this country. As the children of San Teodoro make their way during high tides to the school, literally battling waves and hugging the rocks of the coastline, no one can ever say that education is not appreciated. Quality may not exist in these schools, but the yearning for education does…… Yes, Mother Earth did indeed cry on that Sunday afternoon!”