MY
COUNTRY, THE PHILIPPINES, is composed of many islands and it is in both the
“ring of fire” and the “typhoon belt”. Our own eastern seaboard is facing the
Pacific Ocean and is susceptible to rising sea water during climatic changes
and during catastrophes, which could induce tidal waves and storm surges. The
same with our western, southern and northern coastlines.
A
strong earthquake from across the Pacific and from any direction would generate
a tsunami, like in Southern Mindanao in 1977. A Category 5 cyclone, meanwhile,
could overwhelm large coastal cities and communities typified by Typhoon Mike
(Ruping) in 1990 and by Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) in 2013. In fact, these same
calamities have struck many years ago and memories of its magnitude cannot be
appreciated anymore by this present generation.
Coastal
and island communities found in between inland seas, bays and straits are also
not safe anymore. Islands are now experiencing unprecedented great floods,
frequent landslides and massive erosion which we could very well attribute to
large-scale deforestation, unabated quarrying and strip mining. We also have a
long history of man-made disasters, ship collisions and faulty maritime
navigation and a world war which is still in our memories.
Let
us talk about the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan. Communities living along
foreshore areas and to as far as 1,200 meters inland were swept away by
gigantic storm surges with an untold destruction, the likes of which was never
before seen nor felt in our lifetime.
Unbelief and shock were written on the faces of every survivor. For the
first few days, there was no outside help nor contact. Communications and
transportation infrastructures were severely damaged, further isolating
surviving communities.
Food
and water ran low after two days and survivors resort to pillaging stores and
those they thought were stocking vital supplies to feed for their survival. Law
and order broke down as the stench of the dead began to add to the desperate
situation. Government control was totally absent and everyone, including the
dead, were left to fend for themselves on the streets. Anarchy ruled as armed
mobs appeared everywhere even infringing inside the sanctity of private homes.
It
was a hopeless situation for all other survivors who lived in desperate moments
day by day. Slowly, the national government with its limited resources brought
stability to some of the affected areas. The situation became normal only after
six months as international humanitarian organizations poured in billions of
dollars worth of aid, food and housing to give solace and normalcy to the lives
of the affected communities.
The
post-typhoon mayhem on the eastern coasts of Leyte was unexpected. Filipinos
are known for their tenacity and resiliency when it comes to coping with
disasters and other life-threatening moments. In such situations, they would
retrieve and utilize their primitive-living skills which they learned from the
older generations. During those desperate moments, everyone acted like feral
animals. Human decency and respect broke down.
People
seemed to have lost their will to think and resorted on primeval instinct. This
could have been avoided if they have listened to government exhortations to
abandon their homes before the storm came. Casualties would have been mitigated
or avoided. Productive skills like people relations, community mobilization and
communal survival would have lurched positively from the aftermath of the
deadliest storm of the century.
It
is situations like these that spurred me to give up the privilege of owning a
knowledge that had been bequeathed me by my first teacher – my grandfather –
and share it to people, communities, organizations, government agencies and
corporations. Even before these calamities came, I was already teaching people
bushcraft and survival. I have taught just enough and then people realized that
they have to go back to the basics.
This
survival training is prepared and designed for use in a post-disaster scenario
like storm surges and tsunamis, even consequences from a maritime accident.
This course aims to develop the participants of the basics of survival in
island and foreshore setting of sandy beaches, rocky shorelines, limited water
resources and sparse vegetation, without disregarding the proper procedures
that would ensure the chances of survival of an individual.
Preparation
for any survival situation should be given premium by anybody, regardless if
the individual is an experienced one or not. As much as we would like the
serenity and aesthetic joy and the privacy of an island surrounded by an
emerald sea, the fact is that islands present its own hazards coupled by
unpredictable weather conditions which could spawn a calm sea into a roaring
monster in just a few minutes.
I
always emphasized that a person can be an island on his own contrary to the
general idea. I would always encourage that every individual should be
self-sufficient and could sustain his ability to survive alone when facing real
survival situations. He should be able to fend for himself during the most
trying times and, in the absence of equipment, compensate this with knowledge.
Knowledge of survival skills enhances one’s standing in a group of survivors
and, through his guidance, a community could arise from despair.
My
training is designed for island visitors, backpackers, tourists, resort
workers, residents and water sport enthusiasts and would complement experience,
skill, safety and good common sense. Its main purpose is to educate and to give
an idea about what to expect when faced with a situation of survival on an
island and foreshore environment and, consequently, prepare a person for the
worst conditions.
Bluewater
Resorts, a Filipino company operating the world-renowned Bluewater Maribago
Beach Resort in Lapulapu City, the Bluewater Panglao Beach Resort in Bohol and
the Bluewater Sumilon Island Resort in Oslob, Cebu – all “green” resorts – took
a good step forward by encouraging their resort officers and staff to actively
participate in a three-day BASIC ISLAND SURVIVAL COURSE this writer had offered
for May 23, 24 and 25, 2017 at Camp Bermejo of the Bluewater Sumilon Island
Resort.
Camp
Bermejo is named after Fr. Julian Bermejo, a Spanish priest who was the
architect of the construction of a series of watchtowers in Southern Cebu that
fended off Moro raids early in the 19th Century. One of these surviving towers
is found on the eastern part of Sumilon Island. Its stone masonry withstood the
test of time as well as a few hardwood buttresses. Gone is the wooden platform
that would have supported the defenders and their instruments of warfare.
Beside
the old Spanish structure is a round concrete tower that supported a navigation
light. It is about 75 feet tall. It is not a lighthouse. Vegetation dominating
the interior of the island is a forest of white leadtree (Local name: ipil-ipil),
introduced many years ago as sanctuary for birds and to prevent erosion. Along
the edges of the island are bare rocks and pocket forests of indigenous coastal
hardwood varieties and mangroves.
A
network of paths was established by Bluewater management to access the interior
and Camp Bermejo and along the fringes to approach isolated beaches and hidden
nooks. The campsite, the lecture area and the kitchen are located near the
man-made structures of Camp Bermejo. Seven Bluewater staff attended this
training, which is geared for traditional outdoor and casual setting.
Introduction
to Survival was the first chapter of the first day, May 23, and
it is where the survivor’s mindset were explained thoroughly, along with the
hierarchy of needs and of survival nutrition. Next was Water Sanitation and
Hydration which is very important since islands and foreshore areas always
bore the brunt of abrupt changes of weather from uncomfortable warmth to
lashing sea sprays and wind chills. These places rarely host natural springs
and fresh water sources.
Knife
Care and Safety came next after lunch and siesta; and the
participants learned our country’s knife law, ethics, safety carry and use,
sharpening and proper storage. Then they get to test their dexterity with a
knife through the practical chapter of Survival Tool Making where they
carved spoons and drinking jugs from bamboo. Lectures ended at dusk.
Participants helped each other out to cook their dinner. The campfire became
the social hub of the yarns and storytelling episode which ended at around
nine.
Second
day, May 24, was a test for the participants and also was the most exciting.
They fasted that day. Their concentration were challenged by hunger, thirst,
humidity, drowsiness, annoying insects and the warm sun. First part of the
morning was the chapter on Notches. It was another practical session with
a knife but aided this time by a batoning stick. Five different notches had to
be carved from a stick with the last one needed to hold another object like a
rock or metal.
After
that, everybody relaxed to listen to the section on Foraging and Plant Identification.
They were shown photos of harmful plants and samples of simple traps and
snares. Then we proceed to Fire, Tinder and Campfire Safety. On this
episode, the participants were taught how to identify and chose the best
firewood and kindling, manufacture tinder and test their skills on the ferro
rod and the flint and steel. Later, they witnessed how fire is made through the
bow drill.
Last
lecture for the day is Food Preservation and Cooking. Their appetite for
food which were denied them became possible by cooking rice in improvised
bamboo pots. When that done, they proceed with Nocturnal Hunting. They
caught five big land crabs with bare hands and sticks. They now have food to
pair with their rice. However, we decide to release the crabs and eat food
provided by Bluewater Sumilon. They had proven their worth and the campfire was
now more lively.
Third
day, May 25, the participants packed their things and, once finished, they sat
around and listened to the lecture on Customizing the 72-Hour Bag.
Different kits and items are shown to them of what it looked like and how does
one design it to the type of environment and activity one is engaged in. Then
came Traditional Navigation. Floating on seas, constellations, the sun
and moon matter very much. Last one for the day was Outdoors Common Sense.
It talked about protection, safety, wildlife encounters and well-planned
travels.
The
day wrapped up with giveaways courtesy of Mr. Jose Neo of the Camp Red
Bushcraft and Survival Guild. A Seseblade Sinalung was raffled out and it went
to a lucky Bluewater staff. This blogger is thankful for Mr. Erik Monsanto of
Bluewater Resorts for making possible this training in a protected marine
sanctuary of Sumilon. My thanks also goes out to Mr. Neo and Camp Red; and to
my patrons whose names I carried and endorsed: Seseblades, Silangan Outdoor
Equipment, KnifeMaker, Derek’s Classic Blade Exchange, Titay’s Liloan
Rosquillos, Pacing’s House of Barbecue and Tingguian Tribe.
Document
done in LibreOffice 5.3 Writer
1 comment:
Very thouughtful blog
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