The University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute (UP MSI) launched a new webpage on the marine life of the West Philippine Sea. The site is titled “Pag-asa Island: A Hidden Pearl of Biodiversity.”
The launch coincides with International Day of Biological Diversity and the Month of the Ocean. The webpage highlights marine research conducted in the Kalayaan Island Group.
Visitors can view underwater photos and laboratory specimens. Marine biologists provided descriptions for these images. The site also includes a timeline of expeditions. These trips began with the first visit to Pag-asa Island in 1993.
The webpage features a section called “Letters to Pag-asa.” Faculty and researchers share personal stories about their field experiences. They highlight their work with the local community.
Dr. Gizelle Batomalaque wrote about these experiences in a blog post titled “Still in the Philippines, Still at Home.”
“These are common experiences when one does fieldwork in remote parts of the country, whether in islands or in mountains,” Batomalaque wrote.
She added, “The residents of Pag-asa Island show the natural tendency of humans to self-organize and make the most out of their situation.”
UP MSI hopes to educate the public about life in the West Philippine Sea. The institute will add updates as future research progresses.
The Canada Fund for Local Initiatives and the Marine Environment and Resources Foundation, Inc. support this project. The Embassy of Canada in the Philippines manages the fund.
Showcasing Pag-asa Island Biodiversity Online
