Kitang tanan may gahum nga momugna sa atong kaugalingong paraiso sa usa ka sangtuwaryo diin and kinabuhi ug malinawon, luwas gikan sa tunglo sa kawad-on ug kakuyaw. Gihuptan nato ang bugtong hinagiban: gugma ug pagpakaba ning kalibotan nga atong gipuy-an.

The Law of Nature Foundation and its Seaborne arm, the Visayan Sea Squadron (VSSq) has been in the forefront of the campaign for the preservation and restoration of marine life in the Visayas seas. It has established several marine protected areas and helped communities help themselves. The School of the SEAs, an experiental training center on Environment, has trained more than 4,000 student's, fisherfolks, teacher, and other professionals on the importance of conserving our marine ecosystems.

Although the popular response to the effort has been quite positive, full success has yet to be attained. The lack of attention of local governments, and the challenges in reaching the hearts of the locals in the language that they can understand, has allowed the continuing destruction of the Visayan seas marine environment. This takes the form of everfishing, dynamite fishing and other illegal fishing methods. This complex problem requires a holistic approach which hinges on making the local community see and understand the problem in a wider context.

It is in this light that the VSSq to educate the communities surrounding the Visayan seas - especially fisher folk and youth. A full-length features film has been produced and is one very potent tool in achieving this goal. It is with great hope that this film will convey the message across the hearts of fisherfolk, through dramatized true-to-life events that they can relate to. It highlights our relationship with the seas and the concept of marine protected areas and their role in restoring reef health and productivity. The film will be used as tool in forcing the issue into public discussion through organized film-showing events in various coastal barangays. This is also a helpful tool for training activities, to entertain and emotionally condition viewers for succeding technical learning.

It is very difficult to change a mindset calloused through time with misconceptions and incorrect practices. But through "Sangtuwaryo" we may be able to touch hearts by telling a story that hits a chord in the soul of humanity.

Duyong is a poor fishing village on a islet. Lito is a native of the place. He's a decent young man who attended high school in the town across their place, but had to stop schooling when his father died. The old man lost his life in a dynamite blast. Lito is married to Gaya, another native of Duyong, whose own parents died from eating a poisonous kind of fish. They have three small children.

Lito has dreams for his family. But in their small world, dreams rarely come true. Fishing is the only means of livelihood, and catch from the sea has been on a constant decline.Dynamite blasting is rampant. Lito, who has frequently attended seminars on marine-life protection, is aware of the vast destruction that what the elligal fishing method can cause. Despite the utter hardship his family is experiencing, he sticks to traditional and ideal fishing practices.

His mother Sayong, a woman hardened by a difficult life, nags him constantly to do what all the other fisherman are doing. She often tells him that he can do better than them since he is better schooled and undoubtedly smarter.

One day, Lito's youngest child, Inday, contracts dengue and is taken to the hospital in town. Paying the bills is a big problem among the people in the village. Having no other possible means of raising money for the hospitalization, Lito tries dynamite fishing and brings along his eldest son Junjun to help him.

Being a first timer, Lito is clumsy in handling the explosive, and is nervous with the prospect of betraying his own principles. The dynamite explodes in his hand, but he survives with a badly burnt leg and arm. His teenage son is not as lucky.

Gaya says nothing, but her eerie silence is torture to Lito. He feels the blame and the pressure and is so angry with himself and God. The eight-year-old Dodong, their remaining child, is caught in the growing animosity in their home. Gaya soon decides to leave their shattered home to seek work elsewhere, hoping to bring back a better life for her family. She leaves her child and husband to Sayong.

In Gaya's absence, Lito is more consumed in self-blame and often roams around aimlessly or stares blankly at the sea. One day, Dodong confronts his father and blames him for Gaya's departure. Lito comes to his senses, like waking up from a terrible dream. He realizes that, after everything, he still has at least one more reason to live for - his son Dodong.

To make peace with himself, Lito begins attending fisherfolk meetings, where a community organizer discusses how to establish a marine sanctuary in their area. When the organizer asks for volunteers are crucial task ahead, Lito is the first to raise his hand. Lito explains to the group that he is unlucky enough to have had lost a father and a son to dynamite. But he is, at the same time, just so fortunate to have escaped imminent death himself. He tells everyone what he has come to realize - that you don't have to throw it all away just because you have lost love ones, among other important things in you life. You can still do something to nurture what is left, of family, love and your natural resources. During this discussion, Gaya reappers.

With Dodong at her side, Gaya's head bends from self-guilt. Before Gaya is about to turn away, Lito comes to her. He holds her and is thankful she has returned. In turn, Gaya tells him what she has come to realize that while she was away from their village - she found that there wasn't a need to go searching for a better life when all the blessings were overflowing in her own home. Ultimately, paradise is not a place that you find, but a place that you make.