Brgy. Nagbalayong, Morong, Bataan
The Pawikan Festival is an annual festivity for the province of Bataan. Conceptualize in the year 1999 to promote the conservation center and how to educate the locals and the whole nation. Then the The Pawikan Festival was born. Started on 2001, now after 9 years the people of Bataan is proud to say that they are the new defender of the environment.
It is now one of the main sightseer attractions of Bataan. The weeklong celebration is highlighted by a ceremonial releasing of Pawikan hatchlings in the blue waters off South China Sea , street dancing competition where participants are dressed gaudily in turtle-like clothing, walk for a cause, trade fair, beach volleyball, graffiti painting contest, sand castling contest, coastal clean-up project, seminars and other activities
For the past years, the Bantay Pawikan, Inc. and the Morong local government unit have been conducting the PAWIKAN FESTIVAL during the last week of November. For the past years, the Bataan Tourism Council Foundation, Inc. in cooperation with the Provincial Government and the Provincial Tourism Office, had organized series of activities that aims to generate awareness and gather funds for the continuous development and rehabilitation of the conservation center. This symbolic celebration, usually held at the end of November, will hopefully bring sustainable progress to Bataan in terms of safeguarding the natural environment and unify people from all walks of life under the preservation program.
Montemar Beach Club Inc., a privately owned beach resort in the town of Bagac also celebrates the Pawikan festival yearly. This is part of the corporation’s thrust to conserve and protect these endangered animals which are also present in the coasts and pristine beaches of Bagac.
These two “pawikan” projects clearly showcase the efforts and importance of marine turtle conservation in the whole province of Bataan, how private commercial establishments do it in Bagac, and volunteerism of the community in the Morong Pawikan Center.
Source:
http://www.localphilippines.com/events/7988/pawikan-festival
http://goingaroundasia.com/index.php/2010/12/morong-bataan-pawikan-festival/
http://www.mybataan.com/content/view/264/96/
http://www.bataan.gov.ph/ragingpeninsula/festivals.html