The Wonderful West Philippine Sea

• TAND
• ENT OF E RESOURCES
• BAGONG PILIPINAS

The Wonderful West Philippine Sea with PAWI

The Sea Turtle

We are grateful to the University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute for its science, guidance, and steadfast commitment to understanding and safeguarding our seas; to the Philippine Coast Guard for its vigilance and tireless work defending the waters that sustain our people; to the DENR Biodiversity Management Bureau for leading conservation of the Philippines' rich marine heritage and for guiding the DENR Strategic Communication and Initiatives Service in bringing the idea of this book series into fruition.

This publication constitutes an original work product of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and is issued solely for informational and non-commercial purposes. No part hereof may be sold, resold, licensed, or otherwise commercially distributed without the prior written authorization of the DENR.

Certain graphic elements, illustrations, design assets, and other materials incorporated herein have been sourced from third-party licensed content made available through Canva and are utilized strictly in accordance with the applicable Canva Content License Agreement and related terms and conditions. All rights, title, interest, and intellectual property rights in and to such third-party materials shall remain exclusively vested in their respective copyright holders. Nothing contained in this publication shall be construed as granting, transferring, assigning, or otherwise conveying any ownership, proprietary interest, or intellectual property rights in third-party licensed materials, except to the limited extent expressly permitted under the applicable licenses. The inclusion and use of such materials are subject to the terms, conditions, and limitations of the applicable licenses, and the DENR makes no claim of ownership or proprietary interest therein.

This book is for every child who looks at the sea with wonder; may it inspire them to explore the life beneath the waves, cherish our oceans, and remember that even the smallest acts of care help protect what is ours.

Come swim with me!

Hi! I'm Pawi, a sea turtle. I have a very special home called the West Philippine Sea. Would you like to explore it with me? Hold my flipper.... Let's dive in!

Welcome to My Home!

The water is warm and blue. Sunlight dances on the waves.

Everywhere I look, there is something amazing to discover. This is the wonderful West Philippine Sea-my home and the home of thousands of ocean friends.

Come, come, let's walk on the beach to meet friends that protect my home!

My friends help keep my home a safe place for marine animals to eat, grow, and rest.

Let's visit my amazing friends!

Meet Mangrove and family!

Mangroves

Nature's Nursery

They sure are nature's nursery as baby fishes stay here until they are ready to swim into the sea.

Now, let's go further down where seagrass meadow also give protection to young fishes. Wow, this is also a special place where dugongs eat and live!

Seagrass Meadow The Ocean's Dining Table

"Come closer!"

Can you see the colorful coral reefs? Corals are tiny living animals that build giant underwater homes. Fish, crabs, sea stars, and many other creatures live here.

"Wow, what a beautiful blue garden! Can you see the blue corals swaying with the waves?"

Blue corals are strong reef builders that create underwater homes for many fish and sea creatures. They can live in places with strong currents, but they still need healthy oceans to survive.

Fun Fact! Blue corals are one of the oldest groups of reef-building corals and help create habitats in the sea.

A huge shadow swims above us. Don't be scared!

It's a whale shark-the biggest fish in the world. Even though it is very big, it only eats tiny plankton. What a gentle giant!

Look up!

The West Philippine Sea is filled with o colorful reef fish including:

Clownfish Butterflyfish • Angelfish Parrotfish

• Wrasses

Many of these species live among coral reefs.

Meet Nemo's Cousin!

The clownfish lives inside a sea anemone. The anemone protects the fish. The fish helps keep the anemone clean. They make a great team!

Parrotfish use their strong beaks to nibble algae from corals. As they eat, they help keep coral reefs healthy.

Some of the white sand on beaches even comes from parrotfish!

Butterflyfish swim among colorful corals. Their bright colors help them find friends and stay safe. There are many kinds living in the West Philippine Sea.

Not all sea animals are fish! Sea stars crawl along the ocean floor. Sea cucumbers help clean the seabed.

Everyone has an important job!

An octopus is very smart.

It can squeeze through tiny spaces. It can even change color to hide from danger.

"Look down! Can you see the giant clam resting on the ocean floor?"

The Giant Clam's Colorful Home

Giant clams have beautiful shells and help build safe homes for many small sea creatures. But these ocean treasures need our help because some are collected for food and decorations.

Just like me, other sea turtles travel far across the ocean.

very

When we grow up, many return to the same beach where we were born.

Whew! That's one big adventure, a great tour!

The West Philippine Sea is truly A Sea Full of Wonder! "I love my home because it is full of life!"

The West Philippine Sea gives us: Food to eat

Clean air to breathe

Jobs for many Filipino families Beautiful oceans to enjoy

Every wave tells a story. Every sea creature has a home. Isn't our West Philippine Sea wonderful?

I hope I've given you enough ideas about my home, the West Philippine Sea, my friends, and family.

• Now let's see how well
• Coral Reef
• Mangrove
• Seagrass

Ocean you remember and their special places.

• ocean friends my
• Baby Fish
• Whale Shark
• Butterfly Fish
• Sea Turtle

• Let's Count!
• Can you
• 3 clownfish
• OS butterflyfish find?
• 2 sea turtles
• I whale shark

Add more colors to our lives!

I hope you noticed that every little thing connects to another thing on top of and under the sea - the mangroves, seagrass, fishes, and other sea creatures. We even provide food to people.

That is why we need to care and help each other.

I promise to: Love the ocean. Keep it clean.

Protect marine animals. Share what

I learned.

Many Filipinos work hard every day to protect the West Philippine Sea.

• Community volunteers
• Scientists
• Fish wardens
• Divers
• Park Rangers
• Coast
• Guards
• They help keep marine life safe.

Be an Ocean Hero!

Small hands can make a big difference.

• Protect our oceans.
• Protect our wildlife.
• MENTAN
• BAGONG PILIPINAS
• Protect our future.