Firefly watching

DONSOL, Sorsogon — It is not the nightlife as we know it. There are no techni-colored lights. No noisy bars. No drunk, gyrating party people. It’s more of the still of the night, the calm of the river and the fascinating blinking lights of the fireflies.

After a day of whale shark interaction, tourists are left with nothing to do in the evening. So when this new attraction was discovered three years ago, it has become a must-see, especially among foreign tourists. It has given a totally new meaning to the word "nightlife."

NIGHTLIFE

Firefly watching along the Ogod and Donsol rivers is no ordinary tourist attraction, as the magic only happens at night. When darkness descends, its beauty is revealed.

Thousands of these nocturnal insects inhabit the two rivers and provide glow around the mangrove trees along the banks. The flicker of lights takes the shape of the tree, as if it is bedecked with Christmas lights.

It is a visual feast as you go from one lighted tree to another. The trees are teeming with fireflies dancing and circling the branches. There are probably thousands of them in just one tree, rivaling the stars at night in number. You could even see its lights reflecting on the water.

It is impossible to photograph them using an ordinary camera as the flash tends to wipe out the fireflies’ flickering luminescence.

Tourism Regional Director Nini Ravanilla revealed that there are only three countries in Asia offering a firefly tour, and the Philippines is one of them.

Fireflies may be a common sight in remote provinces but what is extraordinary is the huge population of these species found along the province’s two rivers.

Since the tour was created, the influx of tourists has increased considerably that a group of bangkeros (boatmen) has been organized by the Department of Tourism (DoT) to take charge of offering guided tours. With a minimal boat fee rental, one will be able to avail of a guided bangka tour of the firefly sanctuary and enjoy the scenic view of countless fireflies along the river.

A local fisherfolk said that the earnings he gets from the guided tours provide his family additional daily income. Ravanilla said that firefly watching and butanding interaction have indeed increased the income of fisherfolk in the area.

SUSTAINING NATURE

Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano said that the challenge lies on bringing in the tourists and at the same time, educating them on how to appreciate nature’s gifts and take care of it.

Firefly watching is becoming an important nature-based destination here.

The rivers of Donsol is host to a number of mangrove and mangrove-associated species and freshwater fishes, which is believed to contribute nourishment to planktonic food of whale sharks.

Durano intimated that respecting nature and sustaining them is actually the most gratifying part of travel.

"This will ensure that our children, our grandchildren, and so on, will have the same opportunity to see and experience God’s grandness," he added.