Dolphin Dreams and Conservation
Portia first encountered LAMAVE at the start of their whale shark project in Cebu. They gave a lecture on identifying whale sharks. She looked them up on the internet and discovered they studied whale sharks and also dolphins.
She absolutely loves dolphins and wants to be a Cetologist, so she was instantly curious about the organization.
“Bata pa lang ako gusto ko na yung dagat (As a kid, I already loved the sea).” According to her dad, she could swim before she turned 1 year old. As a kid, she always asked about fish and sea animals. “In elementary school, I came upon a book about dolphins. I read a story about people being saved by dolphins, and I fell in love with them. I really wanted to study dolphins.”
She saw the opportunity to study and encounter dolphins with LAMAVE. “So, I wanted to volunteer. I wanted to be assigned to Bohol for the project on dolphins. Di ako pinayagan ng pamilya ko (I wasn’t given permission by my family), so in the end I went to volunteer in Cebu. It was more convenient. It is close to where I live.”
She was in the middle of university when she volunteered, 18 or 19 years old, studying Marine Biology. Her education in college widened her knowledge and intensified her passion for marine animals and science. And that’s when she started taking conservation more seriously.
“LAMAVE is a place where young marine conservationists can kickstart their careers... a place for dreamers, marine biologists who want to achieve their goals. It is a great stepping stone.”
- Portia Antig
“Most people would want to conserve something because it is cute. Ganun din for me before (It was the same for me before).” She knew that for a young child, dolphins are adorable and easy to love. “Pero para sa akin (But for me), there was suddenly something more. I came to realize they (dolphins) are hunted. People think they are competition for fish, but they actually balance the ecosystem. I wanted to protect them, because I was learning more about them.”
And that’s what she sought out to do by working with LAMAVE. She wanted to gain more knowledge about marine research and conservation work.
“It was my goal to volunteer with LAMAVE. I thought, ‘This will be my training ground. And then I will work to become a Cetologist.’”
She enjoyed the work and all its challenges and opportunities. Learning from the other researchers about whale sharks and understanding the animal behaviors were some of the things she really valued.
“I really loved the people (in LAMAVE). That was one of the best things. I was with fun, interesting, helpful people. They really educate you. If you have questions, they will answer you and share their knowledge about anything regarding their experiences working in the field. LAMAVE is very welcoming. Parang pamilya (Like a family). You feel at home when you work with LAMAVE.”
According to her, LAMAVE provided new perspectives and new motivation for her passions.
“They tell you their experience as researchers. You get information on how these animals behave. They give you information that you don’t get from books but from real experience. They have inspired me towards my goal of studying dolphins and their behavior.
More than just educating her, she said that LAMAVE also always worked on educating others like the community. “We had community activities to teach the local people about whale sharks and the importance of proper whale shark interactions.” Portia enjoyed helping conduct these educational activities for the community and this is where she started honing this skill in community engagement.
After volunteering, she worked as a Research Assistant in the University of San Carlos. Then, she took her Master’s degree in Marine Biology during which she was a Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Thesis Grant recipient.
After a couple of months, she started working for the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) as a Coastal Extension Officer for their provincial office (PENRO) in Negros Oriental. “I was assigned to the coastal and marine projects. We collated rapid assessment of coral reefs.”
She was first stationed in Dumaguete and is now in Cebu where she handles requests for technical assistance in different provinces, as well as DENR’s citizen science activities. Her work with DENR allows her to educate people and continue promoting conservation.
Though on her way now in terms of her career in conservation, becoming a Cetologist is still her main dream, and she still remembers what helped her build this goal.
“LAMAVE is a place where young marine conservationists can kickstart their careers... a place for dreamers, marine biologists who want to achieve their goals. It is a great stepping stone. You can get firsthand experience... They gave me one of the most magical moments of my life.”
Professional Profile:
Occupation: Coastal Extension Officer - Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)
Education: MS Marine Biology
Relevant skills/interests: Photography