Together, we can lift each other up.
This is a wonderful and natural trait of sea turtles, or what locals call “pawikan mentality”, where the strong ones lift and assist the weak ones.
Like the turtle, this is the advocacy that the La Jolla Luxury Beach Resort and volunteers from the Pag-asa Pawikan Protection Conservation Center Corporation have undertaken: a united and continuing effort to help the turtles and the planet.
The Pag-asa Pawikan Protection Conservation Center Corporation was established in December 2020, during the time of the COVID-19 pandemic. Founder and Pag-asa Barangay Captain John Harry Carreon started the advocacy and, with the cooperation of La Jolla, staged the first La Jolla Pawikan Day at the resort on January 29, 2022.
At least 300 sea turtle hatchlings were released during the celebration of 2nd La Jolla Pawikan Day in Bagac, Bataan on January 22, 2023.
Present at the event were La Jolla CEO President Ronnie del Rosario, General Manager Bollie Bolton, Bataan Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) Head Rafael de Leon, Pag-asa Pawikan Protection Conservation Center Corporation’s Carreon, local officials and volunteers.
To witness such a wonderful event dedicated to assisting the planet and its inhabitants by helping conserve and protect the turtles as they continue their journey is a great experience.
Nanay Edna, a Pawikan Center volunteer her colleagues refer to as “the Mother of the Pawikan”, said they must do something because only one percent for every 100 hatchlings survive because of predators and come back to their birthplace. Turtles have a magnetic memory locator that brings them back to the place where they were born to lay their eggs and start the cycle of life.
Before, eggs found on the shores were cooked for food and sold for livelihood. Carreon thought that if such practice continues, the turtles will vanish in their area. He decided to do something about it and established the foundation.
To date, the conservation center has already released over 47,000 sea turtles. Carreon mentioned they have three species of sea turtles in Bataan: the Olive Ridley, the Green and the Hawksbill.
All three sea turtle species are listed as endangered. The Hawksbill is critically endangered, the Green is endangered while the Olive Ridley is vulnerable. So the Pawikan Center’s efforts aim to increase sea turtle numbers in their own little way, “pawikan style”.
The center accepts donations and offers an “Adopt-a-Nest Program” for Php500 per nest for those who would want to adopt sea turtles. The adoptive parents will be given updates about their turtles’ progress and will be informed when they are ready to be released to the sea. The turtle hatching season is from October to February. Hatching occurs around 40-60 days after the eggs have been laid.
This is a commitment of the La Jolla Luxury Beach Resort not only to Bataenos but also to guests from other towns.
The beach resort is a 60-hectare tropical estate and a hidden gem in the western tip of Bataan. It is a premier destination with its panoramic views of the mountains and the sea.
Located at KM 154 in Banawang, Bagac, Bataan, the property is just three hours away from Manila and one-and-a-half hours away from the Clark International Airport in Pampanga. The wide roads and minimal traffic are a respite from the busy world. Inside the property, visitors are greeted by an uphill drive on a private road lined with tropical trees.
La Jolla’s 60 spacious guest rooms are designed not only as havens of comfort but also a sanctuary for worn-out minds. Each room has its own balcony offering serene views of the mountains and a magnificent view of the turquoise sea.
A 1.5-kilometer long beach with fine sand is the centerpiece of this luxury resort where one can enjoy a breath-taking sight of the sunset.
Facilities for leisure, sports, wellness, relaxation and entertainment include four swimming pools, an indoor game room, basketball and tennis courts, a fitness gym, spa, archery range, KTV lounge, ATV, bicycle and Go Kart rides as well as an area for stargazing. The resort also offers Team Building Activities with facilitators to boot.
It offers the finest international and local cuisine for guests that is best experienced with at the Mango Café, The Molave, Lobby Lounge, Sizzling Seaside Station and the Beach Bar.
Water sports activities are also available such as Banana Boat, paddle boards, kayaks and jet skis. What is most notable is it has a clinic with licensed nurses to ensure the safety of guests as they indulge in the thrilling activities.
Truly the Jewel of the West, it has accreditations from the Department of Tourism (DOT), Tourism Infrastructure Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), Philippine Tour Operators (PHILTOA) and the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB).
For inquiries and reservations, call (0920) 552- 9570, (0939) 921-8681 and (0906) 438-9714 or send an email to reservation@lajollaluxurybeachresort.com. You may also visit their website at www.lajollaph.com and follow their social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok @lajollaluxurybeachresort.
The Voice Newsweekly is proud to have been able to cover the event and be one of those chosen to be part of this worthwhile, life conservation effort.
***All photos by the author
