Since the launching of the Sibale Website in October 2, 1998, we have been using the free web pages offered by an Internet Service Providers. While this allows us to create and develop web pages without charge the problem is that we have to allow them to insert their customers advertising banners to our website. These banners covers a portion of the web page and becomes an annoyance to the web surfer or to the reader especially if they are not interested in those advertising messages. 

     Thanks to Cynthia Fletcher formerly Cynthia Fallarme Labora,  currently residing in Australia who obtain our domain name www.sibale.com  on March 8, 2001 and is shouldering the maintenance cost of the website. It is her desire and our's too to disseminate information about our home island Sibale, its beautiful sceneries, clear water, the warmth and hospitable people and all that lies beneath and within Sibale. Every Sibalenhon is proud of their roots and therefore would like to see and hear what is going on in the island. Through this medium we found that by visiting this website you feel you are visiting home. If you are homesick just visit the site and reminisce the time when you were young, jumping on the water naked, gathering firewoods on the kaingin hills, getting water in Tinigiban (no water flowing now), having picnics on the white beaches and how we travel to neighboring islands by boat or motorboat. 

      As your webmaster we will try to provide as much information about our island and kasimanwas around the globe, provide news of their wherabouts, ongoing developments in Sibale,  about Sibale-style politics, municipal projects, government, technology,  families, individual professional successes and community involvements. The information we are disseminating comes from the help of our fellow Sibalenhon in different places in the Philippines and those in foreign lands that provides news and current events. Since the launching of this media Sibalenhons are making contacts with each other and relatives are getting to know each other better.  Let us tell the world that there is an island Sibale that we can be proud of.

Pelagic Fish Comes to Sibale
By Limuel Cipriano 

       Sibale reef are home to a variety of colored fish species. In addition to local fish species, on various months migration of different species come in formation from the Sea of Japan and the Pacific Ocean. During this season a school of pelagic fish leisurely swims in frolic abundance. The pristine and crystal clear water of Sibale is one of their many favorite aquatic parks. Its cool, refreshing and pollution-free waters are just too good to ignore. This place is a favorite hunting ground for deep sea divers and are source of priceless photography of sea mammals.

     These group of marine creatures have just came from as far the Pacific Ocean. By instinct, they are just following the annual routine migratory pattern. Escaping the high temperature of the Pacific Ocean, in usually large numbers proceed to much cooler waters, which is Sea of Japan. To get there it has to pass the island chain provinces of Samar, Leyte, Masbate and the island province of Romblon. Upon reaching Sea of Japan, spawning takes the centerstage. A few weeks later, with their hatchlings in tow and once the climate changes they go back to Pacific Ocean. And the cycle goes on.

      It is in this season that fisherman appreciates the wonders of the ocean. With its abundance it is also a time when evil-doers thinks of something that endanger various fish species to extinctions. These illegal activities such as dynamite fishing and herb poisoning kills all kinds of marine life.  It is sad to say that while other countries protect the environment from pollution and bad fishing practices our local authorities are ignoring its call for protection. It is about time that the community should be educated on the hazards, danger to health and safety, and the importance of preserving nature and environment to the local inhabitants.

Dynamite Fishing - Still Rampant
By Limuel Cipriano 

      Masadya/Dalajican, Sibale, Romblon -- Offshore in the vicinity of Barangay Masadya and Dalajican, a group of unidentified motor-banca riding fishermen suddenly appeared from nowhere. It was Friday, June 1, 2001 at around 3:30 p.m. Cautiously, they painstakinly surveyed the breadth and width of the municipal waters. Alert and calculating, they closely monitored any movement of maritime activity.

    Their sightings: some local fishermen briskly paddling their worn-out banca tirelessy searching for fish to feed the hungry mouths of their beloved family. Some others are simply riding in their own pumpboat navigating the tranquil waters for reasons they themselves only knew. No patrol boat crisscross the area. For the unidentified persons, the time has come. No immediate danger and therefore the opportunity is perfect.

     From a distance, they made their move towards the shore, to the school of fish. Approaching with great care, their scout pulled out a pair of powerful binoculars. Expert as he is, he spotted the target now in a very definite and fixed position. He motions to the mechanic to speed up the engine. Cruising faster, they closed in to their prey. Still undisturbed, the school of fish remains stationary, unaware of the danger lurking behind them. Its squirming and rippling effect is a sight to behold.

     In a choreographed fashion, one man stand up. His hands up in the air holding to a cylindrical object, the dynamite. He now shifts his movement to a striking position ready to throw the lethal package. But he noticed something is lacking in his deadly arsenal. The blasting cap is nowhere to be found. Without the blasting cap explosion is hardly possible.

     Disappointed but he maintains his composure. He replaces it with complete fittings. Moving with surgical precision, and in one sweeping and continuing motion the man throws the dynamite exactly in the middle of squirming school of fish. Initially, they swims away from the object but seconds later they make a 360 degree turn and come back. The attitude of the fish is to converge on the object thrown. They tend to gravitate towards it.

     The dynamite is now ready for all intents and purposes. It is tethered with thin electrical wire and controlled by the man on board. Then they safely veered away from the danger zone. Safe as they are, the man man clicks the button. Click that triggerred thunderous underwater explosions. Its deafening sound reverberated all throughout the entirety of nearby barangays. The school fish is now history. At the blink of an eye, majority of them were dead. Others were too stunned and disoriented to swim away to safety. Most likely they will end up in the hands of the voracious and heartless fishermen.

     Collateral damage is even worse. Its immediate effects are merciless. Coral reefs formation were uprooted and turned upside down. Fish habitats were destroyed that maybe it will take many, many years before it is restored to its former glory. Other fish were also annihilated in the process. To sum it up: Its results are unforgiving!!!

     Moving quickly, their divers fitted with air compressors scoop the fish that littered the ocean floor. With their fish baskets in tow, they were able to haul the illegal catch by the thousand kilos. A quantity that for a moment they will be guaranteed a good income for the day.

     The frightening sound created by the explosions served as an invitation to local fishermen. As fast as they can, they raced towards the blasting site. They too, savored in picking up the mutilated fish laying motionless in the bottom of the sea. Instead of condemning the bastardly act, their unanimous action suggests approval. They do not know that such dreadful and disastrous explosions will to a large extent affect the source of their livelihood.

     In the police headquarter in the town proper four kilometers away, local policemen are whiling away their precious time. They are unaware of what is happening in that area. That whole day or maybe the last few days, weeks or maybe months, they never conducted a random patrol around the island. Their only concern; to guard and stare at the cold and lifeless municipal building. A task that should be left to the concern of barangay tanod. Seldom did they ever increase their area of patrol coverage. True, they made a visit to all barangays, but only when they are invited during fiesta celebration and some social gatherings.

     Luckily, one man riding in a motor-banca passes by the area. His name is Teddy S. Marino. He noticed that many persons were swimming. He observes that their heads are alternately popping out above the water. Although he did not witnessed the actual blasting incident, he knew very well that a dynamite fishing has just happened. Instead of sharing the illegal catch he proceeded to Barangay Masudsud.

     Wasting no time he immediately reported the incident. Fortunately, in that barangay a communication system is in place. No, it is not a government project, but it is a private-inspired initiative, courtesy of Mr. Diosing Atillano. The blasting incident was reported to the headquarter down there. Again, courtesy of another private individual, Vicente Fadri the operator of the communication system in barangay Masudsud.

     Surprised and maybe annoyed by the report, the police lazily reacted. They commandeered a motorboat to probably conduct a hot pursuit and if they can, apprehend the bombers. But their snail-paced motorboat will spend at least 30 minutes to reach the crime scene. More than enough time for the blast fishermen and the conniving local fishermen to enjoy the picking spree. And at a moments notice, the arrival of the police was signalled local fishermen enjoying the catch.

     And soon enough, the culprits scampered away to a safe distance. Instead of pursuing the culprits, the local police force, opted a cold pursuit. They are no match to the sleek, silent and fast-moving pumpboat. To elude arrest,the local fishermen shied away from the area. They hide in the crevices of the craggy cliff of the shore. The local police returned to their barrack empty-handed with no arrest made. But maybe, a handful of illegal fish catch.

     Since the blast incident happened in the deep portion of the sea, many fish remains uncollected. With dusk is fast approaching local fishermen finally abondoned the area. Thus, the following morning the uncollected and decomposing fish were washed ashore. For a moment its fishy and stenching odor spoils the beautiful morning of barangay Masadaya and Dalajican.

     As with other destructive fishing techniques, the habitat for the fish is destroyed, preventing them from breeding. The end result is an unhealthy, devastated reef with many fewer fish for future catches. A cycle is created, with increasingly desperate fishermen willing to resort to any method to catch some of the dwindling fish- methods that only yield short-term gains in return for much larger
long-term losses.