My friend Bughaw
As I sat eating my cup of chocolate oats while facing the window, I couldn't help but be awed at how wonderful our world is. Just recently, the seas of Negros Oriental have been gifted with a friend whom we now call "Bughaw." Bughaw is a blue whale, the largest mammal at sea. We were told by a couple of marine mammal scientists that he might be staying in Tañon Strait much longer.
Chasing this whale was no easy feat. We waited for hours along the shores of neighboring towns after hearing reports that he was sighted there. It was time to go home but one of us in the team decided to drop by a Bantay Dagat center in Dumaguete City, and there we found this feeble friend swimming in the water, showing off his big tail for everyone to see. Every time he showed it, those watching screamed in excitement. It was a one-of-a-kind creature for this generation.
Sadly, blue whales have been reported to be endangered globally. About a few of them live in deep oceans and they could be in critical existence because of the changing times. Making a big deal out of a marine mammal makes sense because we can't tell when we could see this friend again. In another lifetime?
It is moving to note that some of the animals which we have come to know and love are slowly waning out for actions that we could have prevented generations back. Man, human as he is, is unaware of the possible consequences of his actions. Now groups are trying to correct the wrong but sometimes, it could just be too late. Left and right, people are lobbying for renewable and sustainable energy sources that have been there even before we existed. Why hasn't anybody thought of that? Maybe somebody did, but nobody ever listened.
We like to always hear those who are affluent and with full of charisma. They say it's a psychological thing, being convinced. That is why I respect people who take time to actually research and double-check facts before sharing to the whole world. The truth game may be relative. It is a philosophical sense that leads you to believe what may be right for you is wrong for me.
Nobody could really tell why the blue whale is in the waters of the Philippines. Theories include abundance of food and temperature change. Yet, it could also mean several different things including a gentle reminder for man to stay away. Despite it being in the waters where we fish for food and swim for leisure, the animal also has the right to live in his own habitat. Thus, we should not exploit him in whatever way. To quote the marine mammal scientist, "Just enjoy it." Meaning, observe and take photos from afar. No need to touch, ride or harm the mammal in any way.
Negros Oriental will be one for the books for this happening. I'm just so glad to have seen him while we still could. Happy swimming, big friend.
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