The Island and Its Characteristics

There is nothing dramatic or peculiar about the island except for its rocky shores and small size. Marangas Island is just a few acres in size with sparse growth of trees growing on the higher elevations. There are many crevices on the steep, low lying cliffs. The island lies within a bay but rough waters carried by the west wind pound on it especially during typhoons. This explains why the coasts are rough and rocky as these portions are always eroded by the pounding waves.

The enchanted island of Marangas.

A Multitude of Snakes

Fishers and local folks started to avoid the island a few years back when a fisherman landed on the island to rest. As he was about to put his foot on the rocky beach, he saw a multitude of snakes making their way towards his direction. The snakes apparently are attacking him. He frantically boarded his boat and paddled with all his might.

It was a horrific incident that spread like wildfire among the wide-eyed fisher folks amazed and intrigued as the fisherman recounted his experience. It would have been forgotten had not another incident added to the queer event. Somebody left his herd of goats in the island to take advantage of the limited patch of vegetation in the low lying areas. These goats disappeared without a trace.

Nobody really knew if these stories are true or not but since then people avoided the island. There may be occasional fishers fishing around the island but they maintain a certain distance.

Coral Reef Assessment Project

I had the opportunity to visit the place in line with a coral reef assessment project in the bay. We explored the different islands with the assistance of a local boatman to find out the condition of the coral reefs. Then, I noticed the boatman advertently ignored Marangas Island as we passed alongside it.

Islands are normally surrounded by coral reefs and I thought we should also explore Marangas Island to find out if indeed coral reefs are thriving around the island. I asked the boatman if we could possibly go there and do our coral reef assessment. He was hesitant at first and told us about the story but finally, upon convincing him that we will just keep a distance from the island as we will be diving around to see the coral reefs underneath. He obliged and brought us to the island.

A few minutes later, we donned our scuba diving vests and tanks and dove underneath the waters. Water depth is less than 10 meters so we got a clear view of the coral reef. What we found out amazed us as there it was – colorful, wide tabulate corals surround the island with numerous butterfly fishes swimming amongst them. Butterfly fishes indicate that the coral reef ecosystem is healthy because corals are able to provide the food needs of the fishes. It was one of the best underwater patches of coral reef I’ve seen. The pristine condition of the coral reef was preserved.

This pristine condition was maintained despite the once rampant illegal fishing that destroyed most of the coral reefs in other islands within the bay.

People’s Beliefs Serve as Institutions

This experience led me conclude that people’s beliefs, whether those are well-founded or not, can influence their behavior significantly. In the viewpoint of conservation, supernatural beliefs can help preserve the environment. People’s beliefs serve as institutions that guide their actions toward disposal of natural resources. In this case, supernatural beliefs helped preserve the coral reefs.