Pawikan Festival 2025 highlights Bataan’s conservation efforts

The province of Bataan is once again gearing up for its much-awaited Pawikan Festival 2025, a month-long celebration dedicated to the protection and preservation of marine turtles, locally known as pawikan. With the theme “Pag-aalaga sa Pawikan, Tagumpay ng Kalikasan!”, the event aims to raise awareness on environmental conservation and the vital role of these sea creatures in maintaining ecological balance.

The festivities will feature a series of engaging and educational activities throughout November, starting with the Pawikan Reels Competition on November 10 via the Behold Bataan Facebook Page.

This will be followed by a provincewide Environmental Forum from November 17 to 21, the Pawikan Quiz Bee on November 24-25 at the Bataan Tourism Pavilion in Balanga City, and a Creative Dance Competition on November 26 at the Bataan People’s Center. The highlight events include Balik Pawikan and the Pawikan Night Patrol on November 27 in Morong.

The grand culmination will take place on November 29 at the Pawikan Conservation Center in Barangay Nagbalayong, Morong — home to one of the most active turtle conservation sites in the country.

Organized by the Provincial Government of Bataan through its tourism office and partner organizations, the festival continues to serve as a powerful reminder that protecting the pawikan is also protecting the future of the environment.