Angelique Morato Songco: ‘Mama Ranger,’ protector of Tubbataha Reefs
PUERTO PRINCESA CITY—What began as a hobby soon turned into a career, a passion, and ultimately, a lifelong advocacy to protect the ocean and its fragile ecosystems.
Angelique Morato Songco, protected area superintendent of the world-renowned Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park (TRNP), recalls how a dive shop in this capital city of Palawan introduced her to the underwater world and its urgent need for protection.
“My then future husband’s dive shop, Island Divers, showed me how fragile the ocean is,” she told the Inquirer.
Back in the 1980s, illegal fishing methods, such as blast fishing, locally called “bungbung,” were rampant, destroying marine biodiversity.
As a dive professional, Songco frequently visited Tubbataha, which was then virtually unknown.
She and her team regularly encountered both local and foreign fishing vessels conducting unregulated activities.
“We would see fishing vessels from Quezon province, other parts of Visayas, and even Taiwan and China,” Songco recalled.
“We also observed people collecting sea turtle eggs and shells, and using cyanide and dynamite for fishing. I knew something had to be done.”
Advocacy starts
Songco and her colleagues sent letters to local and national authorities, though early efforts seemed ignored. Over time, however, government attention was drawn, and studies revealed that more than 50 percent of Tubbataha Reefs had been destroyed by illegal fishing.
The provincial government eventually requested then President Corazon Aquino to declare Tubbataha a national marine park. Through Presidential Proclamation No. 306 on Aug. 11, 1988, 33,200 hectares of coral reef atoll were protected, preserving diverse marine life, turtles, and water birds.
In 1993, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization recognized Tubbataha as a World Heritage Site for its exceptional universal value.
A turning point came in 1998 when the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development approved a management plan, establishing the Tubbataha Protected Area Management Board (TPAMB). Yet, initial implementation was slow. “There were no personnel, no funds, nothing,” Songco said.
Support from friends, nongovernment organizations (NGOs), and dive operators helped push the conservation agenda forward. The Tubbataha Foundation, together with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, initiated educational programs and capacity-building for park rangers.
In 1996, then President Fidel Ramos created Task Force Tubbataha, headed by the Department of National Defense, to enforce regulations.
Songco served on the TPAMB representing Saguda Palawan, a local environmental NGO. When a management office was finally created, she seized the opportunity to apply for park manager, turning her advocacy into a full-time vocation.
“My dream was to stop cyanide and dynamite fishing and save such a beautiful place,” she said. “Being a diver taught me to understand and respect the ocean.”
Local challenges
Early efforts also faced resistance from local communities. Residents of Cagayancillo town, whose traditional fishing grounds included Tubbataha, were initially angered by the restrictions.
“It was a place for rites of passage for boys. Suddenly, they were no longer allowed,” Songco shared.
Through dialogues and consultations in the late 1990s, locals were included in park management. Today, the municipal government receives a share of tourism revenues, funding livelihoods and other marine conservation projects.
Songco earned the nickname “Mama Ranger” for her hands-on care of park rangers, attending to their welfare while ensuring the smooth operation of the park.
“I always look after the rangers because I know their struggles. Being in the park for two months is not easy. They need someone who takes care of them,” she said.
Despite decades of progress, Songco acknowledges that the future remains uncertain. Yet she is confident that the next generation will continue her work.
“We must conserve nature into perpetuity and find new champions for Tubbataha,” she remarked. “We have done so much, and our rangers have sacrificed a lot. We cannot stop now.”
Through passion, perseverance, and collaboration, Songco transformed a personal love for diving into a legacy of ocean conservation—ensuring that Tubbataha remains a sanctuary for marine life and future generations.
