Something to be proud of being Maubanin

From a community that had long feasted on sea turtles, people of Cagbalete Island in Mauban, Quezon, have beocme protectors of the gentle marine creature.
"The transfortation of the residents from predators to protectors of endangered species is an inspiration, " said Jay Lim, community coordinator of the Tanggol Kalikasan-Southern Luzon, an environment legal defense center based in Lucena City.
"It only shows that the government and enlightened citizenry can make a great difference in environmental protection". A video documentation by the Tanggol kalikasan showed residents and barangay officials of Cagbalete narrating their experiences with the marine turtles locally known as "pawikan" The island is 30 minutes by boat from Mauban, which faces the Lamon Bay where the pawikan thrive.
Five months ago, Mayor Fernando Llamas created the Task Force Kalikasan to stop the widespread killing of the pawikan. Llamas also formed the Bantay Pawikan and stationed it in Cagbalete to educated the villagers on environment laws and the situation of sea turtles and other endangered marine species that are also found in the Lamon Bay.