Way back college days, I was more inclined and interested in learning about marine plants, specifically seagrass and marine macroalgae.. more with marine macroalgae, i believe. Then, I was so fascinated with seagrass and macroalgal biology and ecology -- their chemical defense mechanisms, significance to the marine environment, and commercial importance to human. I was so into marine plants that my undergraduate thesis was focused on the review of the chemical ecology of three seagrass species that are found here in Sarangani (eleven seagrass species are found to be present in the Bay), namely, Thalassodendron ciliatum, Syringodium isoetifolium, and Thalassia hemprichii.
It was when I started to work for the Center that my field of specialization was altered. To an extent that I could hardly believe. Here, I was intoduced to the rather complex and intricate world of corals, more specifically, coral taxonomy. In fact, it was along this field of specialization that I've found one of my dearest friend: Ate Bhebz, who's also a coral specialist. She was the one who informed me that the GEF Coral Taxonomy Project, which is based at UP Marine Science Institute's Bolinao Marine Lab (BML) have been conducting coral taxonomy training. It was last year, around October, i suppose. Sadly though, I wasn't included to the approved list of participants because along the screening process, it was learned that I've also applied for the Sea Cucumber Ranching Project Research Assistantship. Conflict of interest. It was a complete heartbreaker, i really cried hard. Really hard. But then again, I have to move on. Though I was left wounded, I gathered myself up and started to do my own research for a more precise identification of corals. I've actually done this months before the said training. But the denial for my attendance on the said training gave more fuel to drive. However, my identification of corals is limited only to genus level. Can't help it. I've only meager resources. Assuredly, I won't stop studying and learning.
Porites sp.
Foliaceous Pachyseris sp.
Fire coral, Millepora sp.
Turbinaria sp. with extended polyps.
Mycedium sp.
Pectinia sp.
Foliaceous Pectinia sp. (yellow) and tabulate Acropora sp.
Euphyllia sp. with polyps retracted and extended.
Submassive Acropora sp. (although I've heard it's re-classified into Isopora sp.) 