Key members of Brokenshire College Toril’s Project Baka-One including founder and president Matias John Mercado, project head James Benedict Mendoza, and other executives took part in a turtle releasing activity dubbed as ‘PawiCamp’ held last July 29, at Aboitiz Cleanergy Park, Punta Dumalag, Matina, Davao City.
Along with Senior High School (SHS)Principal Cristina Pusta and guidance personnel Carla Gacus and Glydel Sevilla, the team was invited by Junior Chamber International Davao Inc. (JCI), Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. to join the release of two sea turtles ‘Ecoland’ and ‘Dumalag’, named after the places where they were rescued.

“It was my third time visiting Aboitiz Cleanergy Park, yet the “feels” do not change. I am very fortunate to have been invited by the Aboitiz Cleanergy Park officers through JCI Davao and even more blessed and grateful for them allowing me to bring the new executives of Project Baka-One Organization in BCT,” said Mercado.

Mercado also disclosed the plan for project expansion of Project Baka-One from ssolel being environment-focused to a “Youth Volunteer Network.”

“This turtle releasing experience that I got to share with the team is one of the many activities and projects the new executives will be implementing this school year. In fact, we are already in talks about coming back to Cleanergy Park to let their new organizational members experience the park’s turtle awareness activity and coastal clean-up project,” Mercado stated.

The PawiCamp is an annual activity led by JCI and Aboitiz Foundation along with other charitable institutions since its initiation last 2018.

Story by Yuri Xavier Lozada, The Spark

BCT Faculty and Staff Participated in the Barangay Dumoy Coastal Cleanup.
May 14, 2024

Project Baka-One headed by Matias John Mercado brought its award-winning initiative to Island Garden City of Samal and planted 500 mangrove seedlings in the coast of Peñaplata last January 20, 2024.
Participated by the organization’s executives, members, volunteers, alongside Brokenshire College Toril (BCT) faculty and other student organizations, the event was mainly sponsored by Greenheart Impact.
Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) representative Katherine Ranay expressed her appreciation lauding the efforts of young people in the said environmental conservation activity.
“To see the efforts [in conserving the environment] of such young leaders like you guys, I am very thankful that maybe our future is brighter than we think,” Ranay told THE SPARK.
The CENRO official also expressed her hopes for future environmental projects to be focused on planting threatened mangrove species such as the aegiceras corniculatum or the saging-saging.
Baka-One’s Mercado revealed that the organization is set to launch other environmental projects besides mangrove planting soon.
Mercado also serves as THE SPARK’s editor-in-chief.

LOOK: BCT-Community Extension Head, Dr. Arthelo P. Palma and the team, together with the group of students, faculty and staff, participated in the said cause by planting another batch of mangrove tree seedlings in the designated mangrove areas in Toril District, Davao City. 

The Research and Community Extension Office is active in supporting community engagements and activities for social and environmental welfare like the project Baka-one of Brokenshire College Toril as an initiative of student affairs and organization.

​Last October 20, 2022, the team, together with the group of students, faculty and staff, participated in the said cause by planting another batch of mangrove tree seedlings in the designated mangrove areas in Toril district, Davao City. The goal is for environmental restoration and sustainability after human social and economic activities cause threats and harm ecology and natural balance.

Mangroves are trees or shrubs that are supposed to decorate the coastal intertidal zone. These groups of flora have an affinity for the saltwater environment, which is why they are mostly blanketing areas near the shore or delta river. At this point, seawater and freshwater from the river meet, forming brackish water.

Various studies linked mangroves to an array of ecological and economic importance. From the Journal of PNAS, mangroves were found to increase fishery yields. Mangroves can be a breeding place for some aquatic organisms like fish, molusks and crustaceans. In addition, lately, to a study published in Nature, mangroves have significant global flood protection benefits. The study reveals that 15 million more people would be flooded worldwide if mangroves were lost.
Now is the time to take action. Be part of the cause of Brokenshire College Toril and its Research and Community Extension department.

Dr. Arthelo P. Palma , BCTORIL RCE

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​WOW BROKENSHIRIANS!

LOOK: BCT-Community Extension Head, Sir Gilbert Roma, and BCT-Highschool SC Moderator, Sir Joshua Lorenzo, have delivered the first batch of Donations to the victims of Fire incident happened on March 9, 2021 at Brgy. V. Duterte, R. Castillo Agdao, Davao City.

We would like to thank all of the Brokenshirians especially parents, guardians, faculty and staff, and the people who offered their help and shared kindness.
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As of now, the donations are still on going for the second tranche of delivering help to the victims. Aside from clothes and other necessities, what they need most is food. You may offer canned good, rice, noodles, and other foods that they may consume. You can still drop your donations for the second batch at Brokenshire College ToriI, Purok 10 Pagkakaisa, Lubogan Toril, Davao City.