Last January 24, 2025, the UP Ichthyophilic Society (UPIS) and Oceanus Conservation joined forces in Guimaras, an island province in the Philippines located in the Western Visayas region, for a meaningful event dedicated to raising awareness and deepening young people’s understanding of coral reefs.

Hosted at the Fiscal Jose M. Zambarrano Sr. Memorial School, this storytelling and donation drive brought together a diverse group of participants. This includes UPIS members, local government representatives, teachers, and, most importantly, 59 enthusiastic students! All were eager to learn about and connect with the wonders of coral reef ecosystems.

A Collaborative Effort

The event saw the active involvement of 24 UPIS members, who served as both storytellers and organizers. Their commitment ensured the event ran smoothly, and their passion for marine conservation left a lasting impact on the students. Evidently, the UPIS members not only brought coral reefs to life through creative and interactive storytelling but also organized a donation drive of school supplies for the students.

The event was further supported by the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) representatives and the dedicated teachers of the host school. All of them played a crucial role in preparing the venue and ensuring the overall success of the activity. Indeed, their collaboration made the event a well-rounded and enriching experience for the students.

A Magical Journey of Ocean Adventures with Cory

At the heart of the event was a storytelling session featuring Ocean Adventures with Cory. This bilingual ocean storybook introduces young readers to the importance of coral reefs and their ecosystems in their local language. Especially for this event, the storybook was translated into Hiligaynon, ensuring that the story can be appreciated in the community’s mother tongue.

Through the character of Cory, a curious and adventurous young coral, the students embark on an educational journey through vibrant coral reefs, underwater caves, and encounters with diverse marine life.

Significantly, the storybook was carefully crafted to present complex marine ecological concepts in a way that was accessible and captivating for children. As Cory navigated the wonders of the underwater world, students learned about essential topics such as the role of zooxanthellae, coral growth, and the significance of coral reef conservation.

Furthermore, UPIS members went beyond traditional storytelling. They incorporated gestures and chalkboard drawings into the narrative, bringing the story to life in a highly interactive manner. This approach captivated the student’s attention and fostered a deeper connection to the material, ensuring the message was enjoyable and memorable.

Overall, the positive feedback from students, with the majority giving the event a 5-star rating in post-event surveys, attests to the success of this storytelling event in capturing the students’ interest and ensuring a memorable educational experience. Not to mention the fun coloring book and dance activities in the program!

Raising Awareness of Coral Reefs

The storytelling event proved to be a valuable opportunity for students to gain essential knowledge about coral reefs. Post-event surveys highlighted significant improvements, about a 30.86% increase in their understanding of coral reefs and their biology. These results demonstrate the effectiveness of the storytelling activity in enhancing students’ knowledge of coral reef biology and their understanding of the importance of these ecosystems.

A Positive Shift in Attitudes Towards Conservation

In addition to increasing knowledge, the event also had a profound impact on the students’ attitudes toward coral reef conservation. There was a 12.50% increase in students understanding the value of preserving coral ecosystems!

This shift in attitude suggests that the storytelling event successfully fostered a sense of responsibility and urgency among the students regarding marine conservation. We hope we have provided them with the tools to become future advocates for the protection of coral reefs.

Partnerships in Coral Reef Stewardship

This collaboration between Oceanus Conservation and UPIS highlights the profound impact that community-driven educational initiatives can have in raising awareness about coral reef ecosystems. This year was their first time to incorporate storytelling into their donation drive. By engaging young minds and fostering a sense of environmental stewardship, the event contributed significantly to the development of a generation more aware of the importance of marine conservation.

Events like these underscore the power of storytelling and creative engagement in promoting environmental education. With continued efforts such as this, we are one step closer to cultivating a future generation of passionate marine conservationists who will advocate for the preservation of coral reefs and the broader marine environment.

We look forward to many more successful events that continue to inspire and educate communities about the importance of marine life and coral reef conservation!

Continuing Cory’s Adventure Together

It is essential to realize that despite having a right to such information, Filipinos have limited access to information on marine conservation. With this in mind, Oceanus Conservation actively spreads Ocean Literacy across communities.

We would love to collaborate with you if you belong to a youth organization or community group interested in hosting a storytelling event for young learners! Together, we can inspire the next generation of ocean stewards and raise awareness of the importance of protecting our coral reefs.

Contact us today to explore how we can bring Cory’s reef adventures to your community!

Photos by UPIS