Tomongtong Mangrove Eco-Trail | Sonny Cabahug reminded me to watch my diet, while Jojo Bayona appeared unaffected.
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Tomongtong Mangrove Eco-Trail: A Captivating Journey into Nature’s Embrace
Introduction: Sonny Cabahug’s Tranquil Retreat Unveiled
Our anticipation soared as we embarked on a journey to explore the tranquil haven that our dear colleague, Sonny Cabahug, had built in Silay City. A testament to years of unwavering dedication and hard work, Sonny’s cherished property sparked joy among us. Eagerly absorbing his plans for the future—a quiet retreat to be enjoyed during weekends after the hustle and bustle of the workweek—we looked forward to celebrating his housewarming, brimming with excitement.
Selecting Tomongtong Mangrove Eco-Trail for a Culinary Escape
Drenched in the festive spirit, Lei Lani, Jojo Bayona, Sonny Cabahug, and I sought a break from our usual lunch spots. In this celebratory mood, we collectively decided to venture into the renowned Tomongtong Mangrove Eco-Trail. Nestled in the quaint Brgy. Tomongtong of the EB Magalona Municipality, my earlier post-pandemic visit had only scratched the surface, leaving me eager to delve deeper into its allure.
Reflecting on Brgy. Tomongtong’s Roots: My Community Development Days
Brgy. Tomongtong holds a special place in my heart, dating back to my days as a Community Development Officer for PACC in the Province of Negros Occidental. Assigned to the City of Talisay while my friend Mylene Monotilla-Gocon covered EB Magalona, we often collaborated for training sessions in Tomongtong. The landscape, vastly different from its current splendor, presented challenges. Our projects aimed at community development and artificial reef initiatives for the local fisherfolks, who welcomed us warmly. Nights spent at Manong Andy Malunes’ house, indulging in generous offerings of big crabs, lobster, and abundant shrimps, are etched in my memory. The absence of mangroves, replaced now by the captivating mangrove trail, was a stark difference. There was a sandy beach and a sandbar where mangroves now stand, adding to the rich tapestry of my memories.
L-R: Sonny Cabahug, Yours truly, Lei Lani Dusaban, and Jojo Bayona at the entrance of the forest
Evolution of Tomongtong: A Joyous Return [Tomongtong Mangrove Eco-Trail]
Returning to Tomongtong today elicited a profound sense of joy, tinged with surprise at the community’s remarkable evolution. The once-familiar faces were replaced by newcomers, and the landscape, adorned with the Mangrove Eco-Trail, testified to the community’s transformative journey.
Arrival and Unveiling Tomongtong Mangrove Eco-Trail
Lei Lani’s vehicle ushered us into an enhanced covered court, a necessary addition due to limited parking near the Mangrove Eco-Trail. A short walk brought us to the entrance, where a reasonable entrance fee of 25 pesos awaited each visitor. Glecenda Caberte, the enthusiastic leader of the women’s group overseeing the site, enlightened us about the purpose behind the entrance fees. Contributing to environmental initiatives and the salaries of dedicated women assigned for the week, with 20% of the total income supporting these women, illustrated a commendable cycle. With around 70 women members, each week ensured income for seven women, completing a cycle in ten weeks. While this might not be sufficient, it provided additional income to these women, contributing positively to the community. Our observations, coupled with an insightful interview with Glecenda Caberte, uncovered the far-reaching benefits of the Tomongtong Mangrove Eco-Trail—ranging from effective waste disposal to economic opportunities for local fisherfolks, contributing to the overall well-being of the community.
Jojo Bayona challenged us to strike our best pose while people were lining up to pass because we were blocking the way.
Traversing the Tomongtong Mangrove Eco-Trail: A Symphony of Senses
Embarking on the journey along the trail, a bamboo bridge weaving through the heart of the mangrove forest toward the seaside dining area, unveiled meticulous efforts to maintain cleanliness. However, certain elements, such as the use of plastic canvas for shelter and an inadequate number of bamboo cottages for visitors, created a stark contrast against the vibrant green backdrop of mangroves. While the use of natural materials like bamboo aligned with environmental preservation, the suggestion to incorporate concrete bases and posts for cottages, coupled with bamboo ceilings or roofing, aimed at enhancing durability and ease of maintenance.
Culinary Delights Amidst Nature’s Embrace | Tomongtong Mangrove Eco-Trail
Our visit secured us a table under a plastic canvas, a necessary refuge given the occupied bamboo cottages. The pleasant weather enhanced our experience until the tranquility was briefly disrupted by an arriving family with a shrill transistor radio. Prompt intervention by the vigilant caretakers swiftly addressed the matter, preserving the serene ambiance.
Obviously, the place is well-maintained. Congratulations to the community for being vigilant in maintaining orderliness. Take a look at this bin specifically designated for used single-use plastic.
Tomongtong Mangrove Eco-Trail | Observations and Experiences
Several observations surfaced during our visit, most notably the sluggish service attributed to cooking being conducted away from the shoreline. Acknowledging the provider’s staff shortage and equipment limitations, it’s crucial to underscore that this critique aims not to disparage but to inspire continuous improvement. While the Tomongtong Mangrove Eco-Trail has undeniably contributed positively to the community, the culinary realm calls for refinement, prompting suggestions for training programs to elevate the community’s gastronomic expertise.
Tomongtong Mangrove Eco-Trail: Enhancing and Sustaining Support from LGU, Tourism, and Private Institutions
The community’s culinary journey necessitates additional training to refine the diverse array of dishes offered. Processes such as cooking speed, the art of serving dishes at optimal temperatures, and ensuring good taste demand meticulous attention. Despite the absence of sophisticated language, the warmth and friendliness exhibited by the customer service, down to the farewell bid by the Brgy Tanod, significantly contributed to the overall positive experience.
Furthermore, recommendations have been made for the local government to contribute to road concreting, ongoing sanitation monitoring, and improved mobile signals—a potential boon for streamlining food orders and preparations. While acknowledging the LGU’s support for the community, we encourage them to further enhance the area by providing continuous training for cooks and food servers. Cementing the parking area outside the mangrove forest will undoubtedly make the place more enjoyable and easier to navigate, especially during rainy days. Improvements in the cooking area of the food providers are also essential for expediting the cooking process, while the addition of concrete cottages will ensure that guests are more comfortable and likely to return, enhancing the overall experience.
The Tourism Department should also play an active role, particularly in accrediting food providers. Their involvement in marketing the place and improving customer service will undoubtedly contribute to the community’s growth. Private institutions, such as schools, are encouraged to extend a helping hand, especially in the area of training, further strengthening the community’s capacity for culinary excellence and hospitality.
Hope Sprouts for Tomongtong Mangrove Eco-Trail
Amid identified areas for improvement, our optimism for Tomongtong’s community remains unwavering. Extended support from local government units, the burgeoning tourism sector, private institutions, and steadfast patrons will undoubtedly propel the area toward sustained growth. As we eagerly anticipate our return shortly, our optimism is coupled with the expectation of witnessing positive changes and an enhanced economic condition for the people of Tomongtong. The collaborative efforts of the local government unit, tourism industry, private institutions, and patrons will be crucial in scripting the next chapter of Tomongtong’s flourishing narrative.
I wish the community all the best in the days ahead. May you persist in self-improvement by consistently focusing on areas where you can enhance yourselves, even without external support.
From my experience, I wasn’t able to do anything at Tomongtong because there were barely any activities. One business opportunity I found at Tomongtong is to create air-conditioned rooms for different types of activities such as karaoke, an area for billiards, a private room for special events, and also to add more areas for picture taking because the place wasn’t really that aesthetically pleasing in my opinion.
For me sir my business would be sunblock, since most people go to mangrove eco trail mostly in the morning and afternoon, sometimes people forget to bring their sunblock and in terms of the heat in the Philippines, it will make their skin dry, or they will get sunburn and it will be more expensive to cure it after. So prevention is better than cure.
One business opportunity that I thought of implementing in the mangrove trails is an eco-friendly venue for like weddings, events, or parties. Regarding the trash and garbage after the event, it is included that CLAYGO will be implemented, or else they will have to pay the extra fee for the trash.
As an aspiring entrepreneur, I believe a unique restaurant would thrive in this tourist spot. Through my involvement in coastal clean-ups and mangrove planting, I’ve witnessed the creativity of the locals in crafting art from recycled materials. By combining their artistic talents with the area’s abundant supply of fresh seafood, I see the potential to create an Instagrammable restaurant that not only attracts tourists but also supports the local community. This venture would provide sustainable livelihoods for the residents, promote eco-friendly practices, and contribute to the overall development of the area. With a Good backstory and pleasing atmosphere this restaurant will be a sucess.
I’m planning to introduce a unique zipline experience in the mangrove trail. This idea will not only be exciting but also allow visitors to fully enjoy the natural beauty of the area. The zipline will begin at the beach and stretch towards the entrance. This setup encourages tourists to start with a leisurely walk to appreciate the mangrove plants up close before taking the zipline. The twist is that this isn’t just a single zipline ride, it’s designed for groups with multiple lines leading to platforms suspended in the air. At these sky platforms, visitors can explore exhibits about various aspects of the mangrove ecosystem and take photos at themed photo booths. Each group will have a time limit to enjoy these stops before zipping to the next one. The final zipline stretch will lead them back to the entrance, providing a fun and memorable send-off. This approach will highlight both the beauty of the mangroves and the local craftsmanship of mangrove-based products, all while offering a thrilling and interactive experience.
One business opportunity I’ve come up with is a two-fold venture. First, I would focus on mangrove harvesting, where the mangroves would be utilized for producing fuel, charcoal, wood, and other products. This could tap into the demand for natural resources, but I recognize the need to approach it with sustainability in mind, given the critical role mangroves play in coastal protection, biodiversity, and carbon sequestration. To address this, I would explore regulated harvesting practices that balance environmental conservation with resource use.
The second part of the business would involve establishing a sports bar. This venue would feature entertainment like darts and billiard tables, providing a lively, social environment where people can unwind. By offering a combination of leisure and sport, the sports bar could attract a diverse crowd, complementing the economic benefits of the mangrove harvesting operation.
I think one of the businesses I can open is a souvenir shop that makes chandeliers, lampshades made from different kinds of shells and sells them to tourists.
The business idea that I can think of given with this place, is farm to table dining, in which costumers will be accompanying locals to catch seafoods while enjoying the view of the mangrove forest. Basically the idea is that costumers/ tourist will go on a boat ride with the locals, while the locals are farming for seafood, the travelers will have a view and a chance to explore the mangrove forest, after the tour, the freshly caught seafood would be serve as a meal for the costumers, this deal would be offered as a package, considering the activities involve, costumers would be hungry after the trip, and the best part is the food is serve as fresh as it can be. In addition locals can invest in safety gears such as scuba shoes that the costumers can rent while they explore the mangrove forest.
For Me sir Paluto Is the Best Opportunity Sa Eco trail And Parking Fee Slots Because Pag Kadto Koto sir Gutok ila parkingan And I think many Visitors Will Go there And All of the Visitors Came with a Car 30 pesos for a Parking Fee is Not bad And At the Same Time The Visitors will also Think Of the Safty of their Cars.
After reading the article of Tomongtong Mangrove Eco-trail located in EB Magalona, it seems like a great opportunity for them to engage in trending businesses like you put up a small stall and sell a variety of cold drinks, such as iced coffee, smoothies, ice cream, and other popular beverages. This approach can help create a vibrant and youthful atmosphere, which will attract younger generations to visit. Offering refreshing drinks is ideal for hot weather, making the place a perfect spot to cool down and enjoy a treat.
I believe that establishing an eco-friendly gift shop at Tomongtong Eco-Trail in EB Magalona, Negros Occidental would cater to the eco-conscious values of visitors, support local artisans by showcasing their handmade crafts, promote sustainable practices through the sale of environmentally friendly products, offer unique and culturally significant souvenirs exclusive to the area, and enhance the overall visitor experience by providing a diverse range of nature-inspired gifts and keepsakes.
I want to create a bike renting business in this mangrove place. This place has such a good areas and you feel like your be one with the nature to be one with nature my idea is having a bike rental. Bike rental is very eco friendly for me. People want to explore the mangrove and my idea is if you have bikes it will be easily to explore the mangrove area.
clothing brand related to mangrove
i believe the eco trail would be amazing for cheap group activities. As it would give tourists more reasons to go and explore the eco trail. It may be a number of activities. That are family friendly and open to all ages.
At Tomongtong’s Mangrove Eco-Trail in EB Magalona, a photo booth might be a viable business idea. Through this project, trail goers’ memories would be preserved and joyful experiences would be captured. The printed pictures would be cherished souvenirs, in eye-catching frames imprinted with the Mangrove Eco-Trail trademark of Tomongtong. With photography being such a popular trend, there is a great chance that this business will succeed.
I believe a wellness center offering eco-friendly therapies such as massages, yoga sessions, and meditation retreats, set in a serene mangrove environment, could be established in the area. The spa could use locally sourced, organic products like sea salt scrubs and herbal teas. It would appeal to tourists seeking a place to relax after a day full of activities. The spa could also attract people looking for relaxation in a natural setting.
A business opportunity for Tomongtong Mangrove Eco-Trail is offering guided eco-tours focused on birdwatching and mangrove conservation, with packages at different prices to suit various budgets. These could include the services of a professional photographer, so tourists can get high-quality photos of their visit. Partnering with travel agencies that bring tourists to Negros would help promote these packages and draw more visitors. This would improve the visitor experience while supporting local jobs and growing eco-tourism.
As i see it, I would build a souvenir shop. I would create and sell souvenirs such as wooden bracelets, fans made from plastic bottles, leaf wallets, Tomongtong name tags made from wood/magnet, and shell necklaces/bracelets from the sea. They can wear and use these while traveling or exploring the Tomongtong. Through these souvenirs, they will remember their happy memories of visiting the Tomongtong Mangrove Eco Trail.
I believe that a kayak renting would be a good business idea in the Mangrove-Eco trail. Customers or tourists can enjoy paddling through the calm relaxing waters while also learning all about the importance of the mangrove ecosystem. It would be a good environmental friendly and affordable activity for adults and children alike. They can also offer additional services like photography and birdwatching tours with the help of a tourist guide.
An opportunity I noticed while reading about the Tomongtong Mangrove Eco Trail is the lack of parking space. A great business idea is to offer a paid parking lot near the trail. This lot could be paved and spacious enough to accommodate over 30 vehicles. By charging customers ₱20/hr, standard rate for parking, and donating 20% of the profits to support the mangrove eco trail, this project could be both profitable and beneficial to the local environment.
souvenir is perfect business in tomotong eco trail because they can support the local projects and serves as educational tools to people the beauty of tomotong mangrove
a buisness opportunity i can find in Tomontong mangrove Eco-Trail would be a floating obstacle park, since there isn’t much a lot of activities on Tomontong mangrove eco trail. since i think there is no floating obstacle here in negros occidental tomontong mangrove Eco-Trail can try and put one beside their beach. This will attract a lot of locals and also people around negros also. And lastly after people are exhausted they will be hungry and eat at the sugabahans and restos at tomontong.
One business opportunity that i can think of in the eco trail is guided mangrove tours in tandem with educational workshops regarding the conservation of mangroves. in this way visitors would have more insight into the ecosystem while being involved in hands on activities like planting mangroves. this fits with the ecological vibe of the location and would maximize the visitor’s experience and give environmental awareness. this can attract more tourists and students which can set up a new revenue source.
Wood from mangrove could be returned as value added products for local economic development in tomongtong mangrove eco trail. Mangrove trees could be use to create furniture pieces like tables and chairs which would surely carry the typical character of mangrove ecosystem. Besides that, other items could include like woodwork by skilled craftsmen in our town that serves both functional art and souvenirs for visitors. However, it is essential to implement sustainable harvesting practices to ensure the long term health of the mangrove ecosystem while supporting local livelihoods through these wood based products.
The Tamongtong Eco-Trail may be able to make more money by starting a tour guide nature photography service. This project will serve the tourist and nature lovers who wants to photograph or wants to be photographed by the beautiful biodiversity of the mangrove ecosystem. By being polite and friendly while interacting with tourists and raising awareness of the environmental issues of today might give them a wonderful experience. In other ways to increase and boost the local economy Tomongtong Eco-Trail should also consider working with nearby eateries and restaurants that suits all ages to attract more tourist.
To have an additional income I do believe we can sell tomongtong t-shirts and accessories.Where our guests can have a souvenir and great memories through this product.By this we can use them as our source of advertising and marketing materials. We can save more money for this.
Based on the description of the area, I think a business opportunity I could come up with is a fishing dock area and rental. A fishing dock would be situated in a suitable area or spot with fishing gear and equipment that people can rent. The rent of gear and equipment would be on a per-hour basis, and if they caught fish they could choose to have it grilled and served to them for an additional fee or to bring with them if they want. This business idea would be a great addition to the activities people can experience in the Mangrove Eco-Trail, offering them an opportunity to do something that could be somewhat relaxing.
In my own opinion, I will put up an unlimited seafood restaurant near the shore so that people can enjoy the food while enjoying the view, especially during sunsets. I will also put up a small band during nights to add attraction which will be great for customers’ experience. Moreover, ensuring that there is great customer service and fast service to establish a delightful relationship with the customers. On the side, we can add some souvenirs handcrafted by the locals which I believe could help them gain some extra money for their families.
The business idea that I think to attract tourists to the Tomongtong Eco Trail. Fishing Gear Rental and Guided Tour business offers fishing gear and boat rentals to casual anglers, tourists and families who want to enjoy fishing without owning gear. Guided fishing tours help customers find the best spots and learn fishing techniques, with the option to buy or cook the fish they catch. The business can also provide fishing workshops and a small bait-and-tackle shop for convenience. With an eco-friendly approach and services for all skill levels, it attracts locals and tourists looking for outdoor activities.
In my observation, I would highly suggest a profitable activity or program just like any other tourist spot may have, the only difference is in this activity customers, business owners, and Mother Earth will benefit. This activity or program will offer a good price for a learning experience on Mangrove Planting. This can attract those who have not experienced Mangrove Planting yet. Environmentalists will surely showcase this program and the place to promote this kind of experience and encourage people to learn and experience Mangrove Planting and realize Mother Nature’s importance.
The Tomontong Eco-Trail would benefit immensely from a partnership with an Education Tour Agency. This agency would primarily focus on the improvements and innovations that the Eco-Trail had adopted. The agency would also explain to tourists/visitors the variety of cuisines offered in the Eco-Trail and how the accommodations were initially built. Ideally, a tourism agency will have a profound effect on the revenue of the Community project which can assist in an extra wage for the working women while increasing tourist attraction.
I think they should try to expand their parking area since it’s too small and some vehicles can’t get in and also I suggest that the ground should be cement to avoid a muddy floor when it rains