Reef Dome Deployment
On November 9, 2024, at Silliman Beach, Bantayan, Dumaguete City, 5:30-8:30 AM, I got to experience my first reef dome deployment. This initiative was initiated by Team Bayanihan Para sa Inang Bayan with the target to complete 1,000 domes for the year 2024. Together with other participants, we helped install artificial reef structures in Bantayan to support marine life and restored its degraded coral reef ecosystem.
In doing our activity, I got to acquire the spirit of teamwork and the knowledge for understanding marine ecosystems. At first, I thought installing reef domes would be easy. Then, I realized they were indeed so heavy and needed the right amount of manpower to be in place. It surprised me how many people volunteered to install the reef domes with us. It’s good to know that there is a reasonable number among the population who cares for the welfare of not just the land but the waters too, an often overlooked part of the ecosystem by humans. The people who lifted the reef domes in place struck an impression on me. I saw their determination to give the fish their new habitats. Not only were they strong, they were thoughtful too, as they didn’t want others to share the same heavy weight as them, as long as they could manage. It prompted me to help and assist in the preparation of the reef domes instead of sitting around to watch.
This experience made me believe that humanity is restored. I saw how people create initiatives like these to help Earth recover not just for the betterment of its condition but also for the welfare of future generations. It makes me glad that they are here to walk their talk, and I can say their movements are indeed powerful and strong. I wish to connect with more groups like these who are advocates for nature. Just like them, I aim to restore earth’s balance. I will be on the lookout for future updates on events like these so that I may be able to support and participate more as an active member of the environmentalist society. The benefits of engaging in this activity propel me to look out for nature more. If I could do this project again, I would do it stronger physically, so I can help in lifting reef domes to put them in place.
Because of this activity, I am now an active environmentalist who looks out and cares genuinely for lives existing in the ecosystem. I promise to preach these advocacies till the end of time and make people more aware of activities they could do for the environment for it to heal, thrive, and achieve its natural balance.