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| Sponges |
Scientifically, yes. It happened. I did not wear diving apparels and equipment to see him…I mean the marine creature which is the inspiration of the existence of the most affable resident of Bikini Bottom.
The Bolinao Marine Laboratory of the University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute showed not only sponges but also various marine creatures that are found in the seas of Bolinao and other neighboring towns during their 5-day Open House activity.
I went on the last day of the event as fun games and activities were slated on April 24th. I arrived at the Outdoor Hatchery at 9 AM and kids and college students were already having fun.
There was an exhibit of the different plants and animals thriving along the coastline and under the sea. The UP MSI researchers stood at the booths to explain things and to facilitate games as well.
As a person living in the island town of Anda, a municipality near Bolinao, I am familiar with some of the marine life displayed there. My background as a science quizzer in my elementary days made me confident to converse with the research associate. But, talking with them was a humbling experience. I learned more about the organisms and how they are affected by global warming which has drastic effect on their habitat.
Most of the booths were crowded. There was no one observing at the exhibit area allotted for seaweeds and seagrasses. Some are placed in the aquariums while others are placed in the dishes. They appear in different in sizes and colors. After a few minutes, a research associate went near and asked me to get a zine about the said creatures.
Then, I went to table displaying different mangroves. The cuttings are placed in jars with water. There was also an aquarium placed there with seagrass and common fishes swimming. They are cute.
I had my first lesson found at the sea cucumbers area. The researcher shared us how ‘balat’ (local name for sea cucumber) are propagated and how precious they are in the market especially in food industry. She told us that UPMSI works with LGUs in distributing sea cucumber juveniles in marine protected areas. I got a leaflet about the creature and a sticker about the sea cucumber project of UP MSI as freebies.
Afterwards, I headed to the corals section. The research associate enthusiastically discussed how corals are formed. He even explained the settlement tiles they use in growing young corals under the sea. After his sharing, I asked coral bleaching is. I learned that corals do not die immediately. They have chances to recover when they are aided by macroalgae. Corals also feel stress, and we, human beings are one of their stressors. So, we need to take care of them as some of them just grow 1 centimeter per year.
Inasmuch as I wanted to play games, I was not able to do so
because there was a long queue of players, most of whom were children. I badly
wanted a notebook which is a prize in a game there, but all were already won by
the other visitors.
To console myself, I proceeded to the giant clams and sea cucumbers area. It was my first to see big clams up close. There were also starfishes placed in a water drum container with water.
I was fortunate as Sir Julio Curiano, an expert on clams, gave a lecture about these beautiful yet enormous shells. He introduced me the Tridacna gigas which is known as true giant clams that grow up to 1.4 meters sea length, and they weigh up to 280 kilos. He also showed the Tridacna squamosa. He said that a giant clam can live up from 100 to 200 years. I asked if all giant clams could form pearls. He replied yes for some clams.
There were microscopes installed on a table near the giant clams exhibit. Ma’am Eunice, the researcher in-charge on that area gave a talk about how sea cucumbers and corals grow. She asked me to look for young sea cucumbers and corals through the microscope lens. My geeky self was happy while looking at the organisms enlarged by the apparatus.
Ma’am Eunice really loves her field of research. She was jovial as she shared her knowledge about the marine life observed through the lens. She pointed out the value of doing marine research especially that the number of corals and other sea animals has diminished through the years.
I went back to the other booths that I skipped before. I forgot the researcher’s name, but what I can remember is his curly hair. He asked me about SpongeBob SquarePants. He presented me the yellow sponge inside the aquarium and told me that the iconic cartoon character is based on a sponge. He asked me about the classification of the creature. I said it belongs to porifera. I am correct he said. Whew! I still remember what I reviewed in my Grade 6 science quiz bee contest.
Aside from sponge, he tackled starfishes and sea urchins. I learned that starfishes release a mucus-like substance as their defense mechanism when they feel in danger. He also showed an oblong- shaped creature and asked me what it is. I was shocked that that is a starfish. It has body parts that are like regular starfishes. That is a fun fact.
After the mind-blowing trivia about starfishes, I went to the other table which showcases macroalgae and plankton. I joked that SpongeBob stay besides his enemy, Plankton. The in-charge laughed. He showed a model how macroalgae deals with carbon dioxide. I learned that macroalgae are producers of oxygen. The research associate said that people must take care of our seas as the global warming destroys the system.
Before I made my exit, I bought a key chain with seaweeds coated with resin. I gave it to my mother as my pasalubong to her.
The Open House event gave me a chance to heal my inner nerdy child. The young Carl, who dreamed of being a scientist when he was a little boy, roamed the laboratory curiously one Friday morning. He had up close encounter with the invertebrates he studied and memorized for the quiz bee contest he wanted to win so bad.
Thank you, Bolinao Marine Laboratory for letting me meet
SpongeBob SquarePants and his friends even his ‘enemy’. Thank you for making ‘under
the sea’ experience possible through your hatchery. I said “Aye, aye, captain!”
to their call for open house visit and it was worth it.
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