TAGAY!

From Musical Bingo to Solar-Lit Road

How the Bulabog Lighting Brigade Brought Light to Bulabog Beach Road

What began as a simple conversation among residents has resulted in a brighter and safer Bulabog Beach Road.

Frustrated by the lack of lighting in the area, members of the community launched the Bulabog Lighting Brigade (BULB), a grassroots initiative aimed at raising funds for solar-powered street lamps. Leading the effort was restaurateur and community advocate Ronaldo Po, owner of Cathy’s Bistro and president of the Small Players Association of Boracay (SPAB), an organization that represents and supports the island’s small businesses.

“We simply got tired of waiting for action,” Po said. “We took it upon ourselves to raise funds to light up the Bulabog area.”

The group’s main fundraiser was an innovative event at Cathy’s Bistro called Musical Bingo, which replaced traditional bingo numbers with songs. Each game featured 75 tracks organized around themes such as boy bands, girl power or movie soundtracks.

“What would make bingo more fun is to play songs instead of calling out numbers,” Po explained.

The concept proved popular, raising more than ₱35,000 for the purchase of solar street lamps. Organizers also researched lighting options carefully after learning that some units installed elsewhere failed within months or began to dim before the end of the night.

Po credited much of the project’s success to community support, particularly from Barangay Balabag Capt. Jason Talapian and Paradise Cable (PCTV), which assisted with light placement and installation.

“We didn’t have a ceremony,” Po said. “We just put it up and lit the street.”

The initiative was also backed by a long list of local businesses and individuals, including Barkada Boracay, BPH Heart of Boracay, Café Got Soul, Calma Café, Calma Home, Casa Mezcaleria, DiniBeach Bar, Dungaw, Eskinita, Exit Brew, Freestyle Kitesurfing, Greenyard Kitesurfing, Gyukatsu Boracay, Happiness, Hangin’ Brew, Helios Spa, La-Ud Restaurant, Lazy Dog B&B, Lemoni Café, Om Bar, Sip Happens, Totally Bananas Café, Tribu, Two Brown Boys, Zugba Grillhouse and DJ Nikki Pring.

Their collective effort stands as a reminder that sometimes the brightest solutions come from the community itself.

Mangrove Planting at Wetland 6

A community-led mangrove planting and clean-up activity at the Lugutan Mangrove Park or Wetland 6 on June 14 brought together volunteers, environmental advocates, business leaders, and local organizations in support of Boracay’s fragile wetland ecosystem.

The initiative, organized by Desiree Segovia, chairperson of the Boracay Women Producers Cooperative (BWPC) or Pinay Boracay, resulted in the planting of 300 mangrove propagules in the protected area.

In a social media post following the event, Segovia thanked the volunteers and members of AKELCO MCOO District 10 Boracay who participated in the activity. “No less than 300 propagules were planted in the mangrove area at Wetland 6,” she shared, adding with a smile, “Next time, prepare to get wet and dirty for Mother Nature.”

Among those who joined the activity were representatives from AKELCO, the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO), the European Union, environmental groups including Friends of the Flying Foxes and We Are Aware, as well as business and community leaders.

For Djila Winebrenner, president of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry-Boracay (PCCI-Boracay), the event offered a first-hand lesson in environmental stewardship.

“On Desiree Segovia’s invitation, it was my first time planting mangroves and experiencing Boracay’s wetlands up close,” Winebrenner wrote. “A good reminder that sustainability isn't just discussed in boardrooms and meetings. Sometimes it's simply showing up, getting wet, getting dirty, and doing your small part.”

The activity highlights the continuing efforts of local stakeholders to protect Boracay’s wetlands, which serve as vital habitats, natural flood-control systems, and environmental buffers for the island.