Seasoned television reporter and documentarist Kara David visited Suyac Mangrove Eco-park in Brgy. Taba-ao, Sagay City, Negros Occidental on December 2, to explore the island’s seafood bounty.
David and her team visited the island to feature it in one of the episodes of her weekly television show “Pinas Sarap” aired on GMA.
David explored the biodiversity of the island’s mangroves by touring the forest and the newly renovated Eco-Tourism Park, and gleaned various sea shells that were cooked with the island’s cook, Vanjie Arceo.
Vice Mayor Leo Rafael Cueva and Councilor Arthur Christopher Marañon met with David on behalf of Mayor Narciso Javelosa Jr.
Cueva said “we are honored of David’s visit as she shares the narratives of the eco-tourism’s gain linking bio-diversity and protection of the mangrove forest to sustainable tourism and highlighting the gains of Sagay Marine Reserve.”
Meanwhile, Councilor Marañon shared the city’s flagship program on marine conservation which started in the 1970s and how the late Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. began mangrove reforestation which shielded Sagaynons during the onslaught of typhoon Haiyan in 2013.
Apart from the visit to the island, David also tried to cook a seafood black pasta with Mangrove Restaurant’s Manager Junine Vistar, and she also tried a homemade delicacy of the city, pastil, a dessert pie.*
