• Hidden Place of the Giant Clams in Camiguin Island

Kebila beach (found in Guinisliban)- is the only area in the entire Camiguin mainland that has extensive white sandy beaches and has the largest existing mangrove forest. This beach is protected not only for its reef but also because it is the successful reseeding site of the giant clams.

As I’ve posted on the previous entries, there are only nine kinds of giant clams in the world, seven of which are found in the Philippines and six kinds of clams are found in Camiguin Island- one of the smallest islands in the Philippines.

Herewith are the informations about KEBILA BEACH ( the reseeding site of the Giant Clams in Camiguin ).

Kebila Beach White Sand Resort has:

• more that two thousand species of clams
• a 2.7km area of Coral Reef
• 488 sq. m. of the Training Center and Dive Site Camp
• 3,000 sq.m (1999) area of the Giant Clams Sanctuary
• 2,218 sq. m (2002) area of the Giant Clams Ocean Nursery
• 3,000 sq. m are of the Giant Clams Showcase

(These are just few informations about the Kebila beach – where stunning clams can be found.)

I want to share my experience to you,when we were there in Kebila beach- snorkeling (seeing the clams) and gaining informations about them.

August 2009. It was past 2 pm when my mom, Kristine, Leovie (my 2 friends) and me went to Kebila Beach to have snorkeling for research study purposes about the giant clams. It takes 30 minutes to go there in the said beach from our town – Catarman, Camiguin.

When we arrived in Cantaan or Kebila Beach, we asked and gathered  informations on the said clams.  These are the informations we have collected. I rephrased it for some clarity purposes in learning.

• Real names. Nicknames of the giant clams. Want to know them?

These are the kinds of giant clams found in Camiguin:

These are the kinds of clams which are not present in Camiguin Island.

• Hippopus porcellanus or China Clams (found in  the Philippines)
• Tridacna mbalavuena with it’s common name    Tevoro or Devil Clam

• Tridacna costata (Hilly Roa Quiaoit- from REGION X (NORTHERN MINDANAO) from Xavier University was one of the discoverers of this new kind of clam on August 2008 at the Red Sea. Audio Richter, Mohammad Ali-Zibalde and Maic Kochzius are her companions.)

Those are the names and kinds of clams. Get it?

After getting informations about those clams, we went into snorkeling with the guidance of the volunteered students from Camiguin Polytechnic State College. While we were there in the beach, we saw many thousands of giant clams- the small and big ones, we have also seen the different colors of it.

The youth volunteer told us that the names of the clams have also meanings. Those clams that were named as TRIDACNA means they are colorful while clams named as Hippopus means dull.

When we were there, we were intrigued by the clams. How can they reproduce other clams when in fact they can’t move? Because of these, one of my friends asked the volunteer again if what is the cycle of life of the clams.

• Way of life of the GIANT CLAMS

Giant clams can’t move, they dont have  feet like ours (human beings), but in order for them to reproduce they must have to spawn or release their sex cells in the water  so that they will be fertilized. One indicators if the clams are already spawning is when the water will look so milky. Furthermore, a large clam can release as many as 50 million eggs in 20 minutes.

Giant clams start their life as males and later becomes hermaphroditic.

I want to share with you the phases of the clams. ( I got this informations by interviewing those Camiguingnon Volunteers )

These are the Giant Clam Culture Phases:

First is the Hatchery Phase.

Next is the Larval Phase.

Next is the Land Based Nursery Phase.

Lastly is the Ocean Based Nursery.

Just follow the link in each phases if you’re interested to know more.

We also asked the volunteer about the giant clam’s food.

• Giant clam’s diet
  Giant clams have a built in food factories.

  The giant clam actually farms its zooxanthellae. It harbours symbiotic zooxanthallae ( a kind of single celled algae) in its fleshy body. The zooxanthallae produces food through photosynthesis. The algae makes food for the clam by using the energy from the sun. The algae also feed off the clam’s waste.

This article contains brief informations about the giant clams. You can see much more informations in the web.

One thing that makes my experience very much interesting is the fact that we also saw the other aquatic resources, the nice coral reefs and beautiful unique fishes in different ranges in this beach.

After they oriented and introduced the clams to us, we then proceeded in swimming underwater. We don’t have the pictures because we don’t have the underwater camera. :}

It is great thing to know that I’ve learned many informations and  I saw the clams  in this real experience.

Lastly, having myriad of clams in our island means “NO POLLUTION” in our place.

It is a good thing then to know that Camiguingnons are very much environment-friendly. They are preserving Camiguin’s precious resources and the gifts of nature. Through these, they just don’t make Camiguin an ultimate eco-tourist destination but they are also making Camiguin a cradle of the sunset and a treasure chest of the earth.

~M~

Here are the pictures and videos of the clams. Enjoy watching.

]]> http://ischoolsmmelissa.wordpress.com/2009/11/19/camiguin-seafloor-the-stunning-giant-clams/feed/ 2 ischoolsmmelissa Camiguin Islands 4663_1176864182573_1257157141_30500515_2034073_n erase if u want TridacnaCroceaOrDerasa j6 Tridacna_squamosa Tridacna-gigas http://ischoolsmmelissa.wordpress.com/2009/11/19/global-warming-a-threat-in-this-magnificient-world/ http://ischoolsmmelissa.wordpress.com/2009/11/19/global-warming-a-threat-in-this-magnificient-world/#comments Thu, 19 Nov 2009 02:24:16 +0000 Manilac Melissa http://ischoolsmmelissa.wordpress.com/?p=132 ]]>

Illegal logging. Dynamite fishing. Garbages. Pollution. These are the causes why we are experiencing too much heat these days.

Global warming is the number one pressing problem our country is facing today. This is a threat that is haunting us now. This is an aggravating problem that must be

alleviated now.

What did you do? What can you do?When?

GLOBAL WARMING IS CAUSED..

by many things. The causes are splitted up into two groups.

First, this is caused by the MAN-MADE or ANTHROPOGENIC.

Man made  causes  do the most damage.

Pollution is one of the biggest man-made problems. Pollution comes in many shapes and sizes.

Burning fossil fuels is one thing that causes pollution. Fossil fuels are fuels made of organic matter such as coal, or oil. When fossil fuels are burned they give off a green house gas called CO2.

Population is also the cause of Global Warming. More people means more food, and more methods of transportation, right? That means more methane because there will be more burning of fossil fuels, and more agriculture.

Second, this is caused by NATURAL causes.

Natural causes are created by nature. It is when the earth goes through a cycle of climate change and this climate change usually lasts about 40,000 years.

Another causes of global warming are the improper waste management, misleading priorities, factories, vehicles, modern technologies,  rapid industrialization and the  human activities that adds excessive amounts of greenhouse gases contributes greatly in this problem.

GLOBAL WARMING: EFFECTS

The effects of global warming and climate change must be the concern for the environment and human life.

When we are not concern with our environment especially dealing with this problem, surely, these effects will happen to us!

• Polar ice caps melting

• • If this will happen (- polar ice melting ), there will be a raise of sea levels.

  • This melting ice caps will make or throw the global ecosystem out of balance.

  • This will make the temperature rise and this will be the reason why many several species will be endagered.

  • Shrinking glaciers

• Economic Consequences

• Increased probability and intensity of droughts and heat waves.
• Warmer waters and more hurricanes
• Spread of viruses and diseases
• Unusual weather patterns. ( Storms and Floods )

• Change of Food Production
• Heat waves
• Drought
• Conflicts and war

• Loss of biodiversity

Those are the effects of Global warming …  Did you experience it in reality? Those Filipinos who are traumatized because of the wild typhoons that hitted in our country for the past months is a proof that our world is changing crtiically. As far as I am concerned, we Filipinos deserved to be punished by Mother Earth. Look at our surroundings. . ! Many trashes, no more trees, dynamite fishings and all those illegal activities are the root cause why we have global warming.

But guys! Its not yet too late. We can help Mother Earth, we can help alleviating this threat in the world by cooperating various programs and organizations in which their objectives is too help preserve and save the environment.

I am urging the Filipinos to do these alternative ways to help stop GLOBAL WARMING!!

THESE are the solutions. . . .

(underconstruction)

~M~

Her question is : “Why did I choose the topic?”.

My first topic that I made is all about the CAMIGUIN SEA FLOOR: THE STUNNING GIANT CLAMS.

Out of 9 kinds of Giant Clams in the world, Philippines has 7 kinds of it, and lucky enough that Camiguin Island- the second smallest island in the Philippines has 6 kinds of giant clams. Incredible, right? That is one of the reasons why I chose this topic.

Next is, I want to promote Camiguin to the world by letting them know how blessed Camiguin is.  I want to disseminate informations about the giant clams – their kinds and differences, their cultured phases, the meanings of their names and also all about this specie (GIANT CLAMS).

Making an article or a blog about this topic also adds to the proof that Camiguingnons are very much nature friendly because of the mere fact that they are helping in protecting and preserving the giant clams.

There are no more than two thousand species of giant clams in our place too and this really means that there is no pollution that is present in our island.

I know you’re wondering that Im talking about our place. To tell you honestlyl, all I want in my blog is not just to provide scientific informations (technically) but also I want to share my personal experiences in which it is also related to Science. I dont want that my blog- writings and posts will be too formal.  I want to give entertainment to my readers while learning (and that is through my ability to write).

Camiguin is just a small dot in a map and as big as 10 football stadiums but this doesn’t mean Camiguin is very poor. I can proudly say that Camiguin’s tourism is improving because of the unwavering support of the government through implementing many rules to preserve its environment.

Dont worry! You will see more adequate informations about this beautiful colorful clams soon.

~M~

Blogging is your journal in life. You can express all your ideas here guided with the right ethics.

Using wordpress as a platform in sharing your ideas to the world is such a great free opportuniy and a way to tell to the world about your insights and perspectives.

Actually, all the functions – the linkings, embedding, pagination, categorization, polling and tagging-, are very much useful in your blog. You cannot make a blog in using only one function.

It is very much obvious then that I dont have any choices in any of these six choices . This is because I truly believe that if you will market or develop your product or something through your blog- you must convince the readers much by using any of these functions.

Linking – is very much useful, because this connects other web pages or web sites (especially your references). You can recommend informations to your readers by giving web sites or linking.

Embedding for me is a tool that must be use. Here, you will going to share videos, pictures and any stuff you want to share to other people.

Pagintaion, categorization and anything also contributes to the blog

.

On my view, you cannot promote your blog  without any of these functions. This clearly indicates that all thetools and functions in the wordpress must be used to make your blog attractive and organize.

You must use your creativity in writing. because this is the most important of all.You cannot blog without sentences or words so as you cannot write, when you are not going to read ( or doesnt even know how to read at all).

~M~

Anyway, seeing Korean people especially those affluent one who are playing golf, staying in the villa with e-cards, censored gate, driving golf carts (beginner) and eating foods which are very rare to us are SOME of the memorable experiences that I have.

Those few stuffs I have mentioned really new to me, because these things don’t exist in our place. Haha

Though it sounds disgusting yet Im still happy for a probinsyana girl like me.

The next thing I cant forget is the time where I gain new friends from different places in the whole country.  I am close to my SCIENCE TEAM, and you know they are nice to be with….

I also enjoyed listening to the resource persons during plenary session, I also learned few things from them that is very much related to this 21st century, living with a modern world.

These knowledge that I have now is inculcated in my mind and I can share this ideas to my colleagues (That’s if they need it).

It is a sad reality knowing that we dont have many time to spend other stuffs like touring around here in Mimosa and etc. We ate our lunch past 12 and we went to our villa around six to seven pm. Tiring, right? The next thing I dont like is I’m not used to be in the air conditioned room all the time. I have to sweat.! I have backpains because of the heavy laptops that we have to carry everyday and my eyes keep on watering because we have to use this gadget for no less than 9 hours. Im worried also about our lessons in school (especially Math). Maybe im left behind nah.

Anyway, Im still looking forward to a  new memorable experience in this remaining days in our seminar.  Im expecting that we can go somewhere in Pampanga to spend 3 hours to alleviate the stress that we’ve felt in classrooms. I want to drive a golf cart. I want to have a free time to clear some glitches on my brain.

This is enough for now.

View This Poll

I want to share video with you guys. Actually, I didnt see this video yet but I want to share.

]]> http://ischoolsmmelissa.wordpress.com/2009/11/07/my-unforgettable-experience-in-camp-blog/feed/ 1 ischoolsmmelissa MimosaFlower01 4943Mimosa_Flower-1 erase if u want http://ischoolsmmelissa.wordpress.com/2009/08/13/activity-3/ http://ischoolsmmelissa.wordpress.com/2009/08/13/activity-3/#comments Wed, 12 Aug 2009 10:16:19 +0000 Manilac Melissa http://ischoolsmmelissa.wordpress.com/?p=157 ]]> Question No. 3: How is my camp blog experience so far? What do I like best? What do I like least?

Though it’s tiring, I learned many lessons especially the BASICS of wordpress and anything that relates to blogging. I don’t find it much enjoyable because we don’t have anytime to go out to have fun. I’m having my vicious backache.

What I like most is the fact that I know now how to work with wordpress, I can already distinguish what platform is best to use.. I also love listening to resource persons like Sir Jo and others.

What I like least in this seminar is the time! TIME! NO free time! *sigh* ( Give us even 2 hours or 1 hour of free time everyday ! PLEASE??)

That’s all for now. Im hungry!

~M~