On Folktales and conservation: Mararison Island
According to legend, Mararison (also called Malalison) was once a wayward child, cursed to drift away from the mainland due to disobedience. Like many other indigenous tales, this story carries themes of respect—both for authority and for nature. Beyond its mythical origins, Mararison Island today stands as a living testament to the delicate balance between human presence and ecological sustainability.
Rich in biodiversity, the island is home to rolling grasslands, coral reefs, and endemic species, making it a crucial site for conservation efforts. However, like many small islands, it faces increasing threats from climate change.
In April 2024, the youth-led organization Dulungan Youth, based in Culasi, hosted the Blue Carbon: Ocean and Climate Art Camp—a three-day gathering on the island with 19 participants (ages 17–24) from across the province of Antique. The event was the brainchild of Dulungan Youth founder Javie Barcinal, a 2024 grantee of the True Blue Fellowship under the Bow Seat Ocean Awareness Program.
Throughout the camp, participants engaged in various activities and discussions, including presentations on Just Energy Transition and Climate Justice, as well as artistic workshops on cyanotype printing, nature poetry, and a guided day hike around the island.
There is power in storytelling—where collective healing can take place, and where shared experiences build resilience and strengthen the resolve to demand climate action.
I had the opportunity to facilitate a Climate Memory workshop, where participants shared personal experiences of climate change, particularly memories of typhoons that had caused destruction and left lasting climate anxiety. As part of the processing, they were encouraged to recognize their power as young leaders and to envision their roles in future climate and environmental advocacy.
In this way, folktales are more than relics of the past; they continue to shape the narratives of the present. In the reality of a changing climate, these stories must evolve—not just to reflect the struggles faced by communities but to inspire action and safeguard the future.
Raz Salvarita
According to legend, Mararison (also called Malalison) was once a wayward child, cursed to drift away from the mainland due to disobedience. Like many other indigenous tales, this story carries themes of respect—both for authority and for nature. Beyond its mythical origins, Mararison Island today stands as a living testament to the delicate balance between human presence and ecological sustainability.
Rich in biodiversity, the island is home to rolling grasslands, coral reefs, and endemic species, making it a crucial site for conservation efforts. However, like many small islands, it faces increasing threats from climate change.
In April 2024, the youth-led organization Dulungan Youth, based in Culasi, hosted the Blue Carbon: Ocean and Climate Art Camp—a three-day gathering on the island with 19 participants (ages 17–24) from across the province of Antique. The event was the brainchild of Dulungan Youth founder Javie Barcinal, a 2024 grantee of the True Blue Fellowship under the Bow Seat Ocean Awareness Program.
Throughout the camp, participants engaged in various activities and discussions, including presentations on Just Energy Transition and Climate Justice, as well as artistic workshops on cyanotype printing, nature poetry, and a guided day hike around the island.
There is power in storytelling—where collective healing can take place, and where shared experiences build resilience and strengthen the resolve to demand climate action.
I had the opportunity to facilitate a Climate Memory workshop, where participants shared personal experiences of climate change, particularly memories of typhoons that had caused destruction and left lasting climate anxiety. As part of the processing, they were encouraged to recognize their power as young leaders and to envision their roles in future climate and environmental advocacy.
In this way, folktales are more than relics of the past; they continue to shape the narratives of the present. In the reality of a changing climate, these stories must evolve—not just to reflect the struggles faced by communities but to inspire action and safeguard the future.
You might like...
Caves and Falls around Panay Peninsula
The geographic terrain of the northwest Panay peninsula reveals fascinating nooks containing some of the most extensive and highest-quality lowland forests remaining in the Negros and Panay Endemic Bird Area. This makes it a top conservation priority, writes Aklanon photographer, mountaineer and conservation advocate Klyvin June Torres Reyes.
On Higher Altitude: Ascending the highest mountain in Panay
Karen Bermejo describes a Mother's Day ascent of the majestic Mt. Madjaas, the highest peak on the island of Panay in the Philippine archipelago.
From hunter, to guardian: the inspiring journey of Benjamin Tacud and the fight to save the dulungan
Benjamin Tacud is an irreplaceable figure in Panay's conservation community. His transformation to protector of the critically-endangered bird he once pursued, exemplifies the true spirit of conservation.
Paene Insula: The Northwest Panay Peninsula Mountain Range
The Panay Peninsula, a biodiversity haven in the Western Visayas, hosts the Northwest Panay Mountain Range and rare species like Walden’s hornbill. Declared a natural park in 2002, it thrives through PhilinCon’s community-led conservation efforts, including restoring the Sibaliw Research Station to sustain ecological research and preservation.
Newsletter
Sign up to keep in touch with articles, updates, events or news from Kuno, your platform for nature