Silaki Island

Silaki Island

Aerial shot of part of the reefs around the island.
Geography
Location	Bolinao
Administration
Philippines
Province	Pangasinan
Municipality	Bolinao
Demographics
Population	376

Silaki Island is a heart-shaped island located in Bolinao, Pangasinan, Philippines. ^[1] The 10-hectare islet has 89 households equal to a population of 376. ^[2] It is tagged as the "Giant Clam Capital of the Philippines" because of the shallow reefs surrounding the island in an almost 16 hectares of the ocean that is home to giant clams locally known as taklobo. The reefs serve as a giant clam nursery and hatchery and is managed by the Bolinao Marine Laboratory (BML) of the University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute (UPMSI). ^[3]

• 
  A part of the Giant Clam Nursery in Silaki Island, viewed from above
• 
  Underwater close-up shot of giant clams in Silaki Island
• 
  Another underwater shot of giant clams in Silaki Island

Tourism

The Legacy of the Sea: A Silaki Island Community-Based Tourism Project

On April 15, 2024, Bolinao mayor Alfonso D. Celeste and Vice Mayor Richard C. Celeste received the ₱20 million award from the Department of Tourism's Tourism Champions Challenge program after Bolinao placed third in the contest for its development of "The Legacy of the Sea: A Silaki Island Community-Based Tourism Project." ^[4] In partnership with the Marine Science Institute, Bolinao tourism officer Mary de Guzman-Suarez explained that the project provides a "fishing village experience, giant clams tour, fossilized giant clams and artifacts mini-museum and birdwatching trail in the island." She further explained that while it promotes Bolinao as the "Giant Clam Capital of the Philippines", the tourist attraction respects biodiversity and nature conservation. ^[5]

References

1. Cardinoza, Gabriel L. (16 September 2022). "Pangasinan's most remote, depressed island gets help" . The Manila Times . Retrieved 5 March 2023.
2. Austria, Hilda (12 September 2022). "Brighter future ahead for Silaki islet's children". Philippine News Agency . Retrieved 17 January 2023.
3. Cardinoza, Gabriel (7 May 2017). "PLAYGROUND OF GIANT CLAMS" . Retrieved 17 January 2023.
4. Adel, Rosette (April 17, 2024). "Tourism Champions Challenge' LGU winners to receive P255M grant". The Philippine Star . Retrieved June 10, 2024.
5. Austria, Hilda (January 31, 2024). "Bolinao eyes Silaki Island as new community-based tourist destination". Philippine News Agency . Retrieved June 10, 2024.

16°26′31″N119°55′23″E / 16.44194°N 119.92306°E / 16.44194; 119.92306