Bohol underwater pilgrimage set

CEBU, Philippines - To celebrate the birthday of Mother Mary next month, Bien Unido town in Bohol and the Coastal Conservation and Education Foundation, Inc. (CCEF) will hold what is believed to be the first underwater pilgrimage in the Philippines.

The pilgrimage, which is expected to have at least 50 licensed SCUBA divers participating, will take place at the Double Barrier Reef Marine Park in Bien Unido, a 7,600-hectare protected area in the Danajon Bank. 

“For divers, this may be their first experience to do deep reflection while underwater. Anyway, divers who have been diving so many times have a lot to thank God for. For keeping them safe always,” said Bien Unido Mayor Niño Rey Boniel.

The event, slated on September 7 and 8, will include two dives: at the 80-foot grotto of the Virgin Mary and to the Sto. Niño grotto, which is only about 30 feet from the water’s surface.

The event will coincide with the second year anniversary of the installation of the three-ton, 14-foot Virgin Mary.

The two-day activity is also aimed at raising awareness on the importance of the Danajon Bank as a source of most sea food not only for the people of Bohol, but also to the whole Visayas, including Cebu. In a press conference, organizers showed a filmed interview of Archbishop Eme-ritus Cardinal Vidal urging the public to help stop the destruction of the Danajon Bank, it being the island’s food basket. The 147-kilometer stretch of Danajon runs through the four provinces of Bohol, Cebu, Southern Leyte and Leyte.

Boniel, an environmentalist himself, said this is the reason he installed, through the help of the Knight-Stewards of the Sea, Inc. (Seaknights), the two holy icons two years ago, as he said illegal forms of fishing-cyanide, dynamite, among others, were imminent in the area. After the installation, these illegal activities “declined,” but only in areas where the images are situated. Local fishers are reportedly worried of hitting them, he informed.

Atty. Rose-Liza Osorio of CCEF said apart from the lack of education on the importance of the marine environment and that it is first and foremost illegal to bomb a marine environment, poverty is also to blame for the existence of illegal fishing. 

Hence, the organization is partnering with Bien Unido to find alternative to fishers involved in such illegal activities. Osorio said the Department of Tourism has conducted an ocular inspection at the Danajon Bank. It assessed that the area has a “huge potential” to become an alternative dive site. It only needs promotion, Osorio said, quoting the DOT report.

The dive pilgrimage is also supported by Lapu-Lapu City Marine Sports and Boat Operators Association (MSBOAT) headed by its president, Emie Bonghanoy, who assured to bring guests from Mactan to the Danajon Bank to support the cause.

“We want to celebrate this gift from God. This is also for the locals to see how serious we are in preserving the country’s only double barrier reef,” Boniel said.     - THE FREEMAN