Let me write on the spot clairealgarme.multiply.com

I was watching the evening news the other night and I heard the story on environment groups worldwide doing something to protect marine animals like dolphins, whales and sharks. On the local front, the Butandings, or whale sharks, of Donsol, Sorsogon was cited.

Straight from a four-day escapade in Palawan, memories of our Donsol trip started rushing back to my mind. With the overnight land trip going there (and another night on the road going back), our Donsol trip wasn’t that easy. We were there in time for the Butanding Festival although we never purposely planned for the festival. We weren’t the only visitors in Donsol. Entertainment and games were available at the town’s basketball court every night where people flock to enjoy themselves. The place where we stayed, which was like an ancestral home, was just a few steps away so we couldn’t resist the temptation to try our hand at the perya. We lost a few pesos but, what the heck, just for the fun of it.

Back to our under-the-sea adventure. We road a pump boat that brought us to the middle of the sea along with three hired hands: one manning the boat, a guide and a spotter. I found the Butandings were scary at first but after several jumps after, I got used to the vision of the gigantic whale sharks. Watching them swim was just the most amazing sight I have ever held. That’s why news of them being slaughtered really brings my blood to a boil.

But Donsol is not just about Butandings. Another interesting and, I might say, off-the-beaten-path pursuit in this small town are the fireflies along the river. At night, beneath the full moon and dancing nipa plants, these fireflies glow in the dark like tiny Christmas lights. They were just lovely to look at.

Next time you and your friends plan a trip, try to put Donsol in the list. Go there between March and April to avoid the rainy season. And go there not just to appreciate the whale sharks but also to advocate for their protection. Let’s all save our whale sharks. It’s one of the greatest beauty our country ever has. It would be a pity if they would be gone before you could even lay your eyes on them. But that reason is just mediocrity. We need to save them because like you and me, they are gifted with life from above. Have a great weekend everyone!