Philippine Students Use Poetry to Promote Marine Conservation in Calapan

High school students from 10 schools used spoken-word poetry to highlight marine pollution, declining fish catches and the importance of protecting coastal ecosystems during Marine Protected Area (MPA) Day in Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro, on October 10.

Organized by the Calapan City government’s Fisheries Management Office, the competition carried the theme “Dagat ng Pag-asa” (Sea of Hope), encouraging students to raise awareness of threats to marine life and the livelihoods of fishing communities.

Oriental Mindoro National High School won first place with a performance depicting a young sea turtle struggling against plastic pollution, damaged coral reefs and destructive fishing. The presentation called for greater protection of marine life and coastal habitats.

Nag-Iba National High School placed second with “Niligaw Ako ni Marina” (Marina Led Me Astray), using humor and a fictional romance to explain the importance of respecting marine protected areas. Ceriaco A. Abes Memorial National High School took third place with “Dagat ng Pag-asa,” emphasizing the responsibility to preserve the ocean for future generations.

Other entries highlighted the effects of environmental degradation on fishing families and the potential for damaged ecosystems to recover.

Canubing National High School presented “Sa Kandungan ng Karagatan sa Likod ng mga Walang Pakundangan” (In the Embrace of the Ocean, Amid the Recklessness of People), telling the story of a fisherman's child whose family's catch dwindles as pollution and destructive fishing damage the sea.

Parang National High School’s “Ang Dagat na Naghihintay” (The Sea That Waits) portrayed a child waiting for a father to return from fishing with an empty catch. The performance turned toward action as the child began collecting garbage along the shore, inspiring others to follow.

Managpi National High School’s “Magiging Asul Muli” (It Will Be Blue Again) recalled Mindoro’s 2023 oil spill and highlighted the role of mangroves and coral reefs in supporting marine life and coastal recovery.

The performances drew attention to Calapan’s five marine protected areas: Harka Piloto Reef Fish Sanctuary, Silonay Mangrove Conservation Ecopark, Mahal na Pangalan Marine Park, Maidlang Mangrove and Beach Forest Reserve, and Calero-Salong Seagrass and Corals Marine Protected Area.

These ecosystems support marine biodiversity, sustain fishing livelihoods and help coastal communities cope with environmental pressures.

The competition also echoed the principles of Laudato Si’, Pope Francis’ encyclical on care for the common home, which emphasizes the connections between environmental protection and human well-being. For fishing communities, damage to marine ecosystems can mean reduced catches, food insecurity and lost livelihoods.

The organizers awarded 10,000 Philippine pesos to Oriental Mindoro National High School for first place, 7,000 pesos to Nag-Iba National High School for second place, and 5,000 pesos to Ceriaco A. Abes Memorial National High School for third place. Other participating schools received consolation prizes of 2,000 pesos, certificates and tokens.

Beyond the competition, the students’ performances called on residents to reduce plastic waste, respect marine protected areas, reject destructive fishing practices and help restore damaged habitats.

Their message was that protecting the sea requires more than awareness: it calls for practical action by individuals and communities whose lives depend on healthy coastal waters.