By ERWIN ‘AMBO’ DELILAN
FROM hobby to passion to conservation. What a story to tell. And what a cause to be proud of.
This is about Ilongga Yhen Osorio, 36, of Sara town and her 2,050 “babies” – giant clams (taklobo).
A midwife by profession, Yhen never thought she would be brought to another dimension. The primary roles of a midwife are to take care of pregnant women and assist them during labor and birth.
These roles were diverted from humans to giant clams. Right now, she’s taking care of giant clams from “birth to death”. Really, her story is a head-turner. It dwells on her immense passion and commitment to take care of giant clams and let them multiply.
Such passion is Yhen’s greatest gift to Cadiz City, Negros Occidental and Mother Earth. What a blessing-slash-gain for Negros, hence.
Giant clams, per research, develop “lots of opportunities” for both humans and society such as culture value, socio-ecological value, value to tourism, and value to build social capital.
‘GOODNESS’ OF COVID-19
Yhen’s story was one among the “goodness” brought about by the dreaded novel coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19). She was then a cashier at the famed Lakawon Island Resort in Barangay Cadiz Viejo, Cadiz City.
When COVID-19 overran the world in 2020, Lakawon closed. Yhen was one among the millions of workers who ended up jobless.
Left with no choice, she developed a hobby – shell gathering along Lakawon’s shoreline. One day she was able to pick three tiny live bivalve mollusks and fell in love with them.
She brought the mollusks in her quarters and put them in a bowl of water.
She didn’t know yet what sea creatures they really were. Only that, for her, it was quite amazing to “see and talk” to them every morning. She considered the mollusks her “babies”.
When she finally decided to go home to Sara, Iloilo she queried the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) about her “tiny babies”.
Yhen was told to coordinate with the City Agriculture Office (CAO) of Cadiz and look for City Agriculturist Ike Escares.
That was the time she knew that what she was taking care of were the endangered species of giant clams.
Elated by Yhen’s story, Escares presented such to Mayor Salvador “Bading” Escalante Jr. for the latter’s review.
Impressed by the fib, the mayor asked Yhen if she’s willing to continue taking care of the clams.
“Yes!” Yhen retorted with gladness.
Starting then, the city government employed her as casual/contractual worker.
G.C. VILLE
In just a span of three years, Yhen’s three little mollusks grew bigger and generated faster.
They’re now 2,050, per CAO’s latest official counting.
And each grows “beautifully” in varied colors.
Cadiz, therefore, was compelled to devote 1.3 hectares of seascape beside Lakawon as giant clam village, popularly known now as G.C. Ville. Fishing in this area is strictly prohibited.
Mayor Escalante hopes Congress will declare G.C. Ville a protected area soonest.
Since it’s adjacent to Lakawon, Mayor Escalante expects G.C. Ville to be their premier eco-tourism destination soon. Thusly, the city government of Cadiz is spending much for their conservation efforts.
‘HULOG NG LANGIT’
The mayor said, “Yhen is ‘hulog ng langit’ for Cadiz.”
Too, her being single is a “plus factor”. She can only focus on the giant clams. And her “babies” have four different species right now. These include:
* Tridacna squamosa (fluted giant clam)
* Tridacna crocea (boring giant clam)
* Tridacna maxima (small giant clam)
* Hippopus hippopus (Horse Hoof clam)
Be it known that giant clams in the Philippines are endangered. Heavy poaching caused the decline of the giant clam population.
Giant clam shell is the best replacement for ivory, a study bared.
Right now, only Silaki Island in Bolinao, Pangasinan has a sustainable giant clam conservation area. It’s a 10-hectare heart-shape islet solely devoted for giant clam propagation.
Thus, Silaki is billed as the “Giant Clam Capital” of the Philippines.
CORAL SUBDIVISION
Complementing the rapid growth of giant clams is the rise of a coral subdivision at G.C. Ville.
Pne of the “streets” in this coral subdivision has been named after Mayor Escalante.
Happy and proud of their newest conservation showcase, the mayor said G.C. Ville is Cadiz’s way of raising awareness for everyone to protect and preserve the environment.
Kudos to Mayor Escalante for this “noblest” environmental quest.
In NegOcc, Cadiz is next to Sagay City with an existing giant clam propagation. But G.C. Ville makes Cadiz distinct from Sagay.
Yhen’s significant human experience has put a “face” to the giant clam story of Cadiz./PN
