It was 7AM after our short stay at Dos Flores Hotel & Resort, we decided that before we get breakfast we should at least go first to UP Marine Science Institute (MSI).
We got a tricycle in front of the resort and asked to take us to UP Marine Science Institute and wait for us so we could have a ride back. According to the people I talked earlier in the bus stations, there were only a few tricycles going to the UP Marine Science Institute that’s why it is best for the tricycle to wait for us. The fare is P50/tricycle/one-way and we had to pay P100 for a round trip.
I did not know what to expect from the UP Marine Science Institute. It was my first time there and I only heard stories about it from my friends. We paid 10 Pesos each and the guard explained that it was for the entrance to the Outdoor hatchery. It was still too early for visitors, 7:30AM but they still accommodated us. The guard then called someone who can tour us around the hatchery. At first site of the hatchery, my eager-interested-geek mode turned on!
I remember my Marine Science 1 class when I was in college, I learned about how people destroy the seas through different methods. Though the class was interesting, I somehow found it boring because we were not seeing anything tangible. But here in Bolinao Marine Laboratory, lessons of my previous subject flashbacked.
Have you ever thought about how small a giant clam is when it was still a baby? The answer to that question can be found here in UP MSI Bolinao because they culture giant clams from it being a juvenile to a big enough giant clam to be transferred to the sea.
Baby giant clam
1 year old giant clams
They also culture sea cucumbers, sea urchins, corals and seaweeds.
Cultured Corals
If you’re in UP MSI Bolinao, try talking to your tour guide and other people inside the facility. It was amazing to learn how they provide livelihood to the island baranggays of Bolinao.
A staff of Bolinao Marine Laboratory telling us how they grow Sea Cucumbers
Small pools are filled with sea water
Bolinao Marine Laboratory
UP Marine Science Institute
Contact Number: 0908-527-0677
Visiting Hours: 8AM to 5PM
Entrance Fee: 10 Pesos per person
Ride a tricycle from the town proper of Bolinao and tell the driver that you want to go to UP Marine Science Institute. Fare is P50/tricycle/one-way, 4pax/tricycle.
Tell your tricycle driver to wait for you as tricycles in UP MSI is scarce. According to the tricycle driver that we got the usual waiting time is 30 minutes, more than that it is highly advised to give an additional tip to the driver.
- Tour of their Outdoor Hatchery
- You can also arrange a boat to their giant clams garden located in one of the islands in Bolinao. According to the tour guide the boat minimum budget for the boat is P700/boat. I don’t know the capacity and the duration though. Contact the UP MSI for more information on this activity.
Additional Note
You could hire a tricycle to tour you on different locations in Bolinao including the caves, museum, lighthouse and Abrac Beach in Patar, Bolinao Church and UP Marine Science Institute for P800/tricycle.
This is a part of my 12 for 2012 Travel Project that aims to document 12 local destination in the Philippines in 2012 to help travellers plan their trips faster.
Follow my Bolinao and Alaminos, Pangasinan Series
- My Bolinao & Alaminos, Pangasinan Expenses (Helpful)
- Bolinao – Alaminos, Pangasinan Budget & Itinerary (Helpful)
- How to get to Hundred Islands National Park from Bolinao, Pangasinan (Helpful)
Bolinao
- Tricycle Tour Around Bolinao, Pangasinan (Helpful)
- Abrac Beach in Brgy Patar, Bolinao, Pangasinan
- Cape Bolinao Lighthouse in Pangasinan
- 3 Caves of Bolinao, Pangasinan
- UP Marine Science Institute at Bolinao, Pangasinan
- 2 Restaurants that you should know when in Bolinao, Pangasinan
- Pasalubong from Bolinao, Pangasinan
- Lodgings in Abrac Beach in Patar, Bolinao, Pangasinan (Helpful)
- Short-Time in Dos Flores at Bolinao, Pangasinan
Alaminos
waaah! nagounta rin kami dyan last 2010,
ang dame ng baby giant clams!
Isa palang slab yan. meron pa silang iba pang mga slabs ng puro baby giant clams. 🙂
It is much bigger now! I was here in the early 90s and discussed with them for partnership in Santiago Island
Wow! Ang tagal na pala ng Bolinao Marine Laboratory. I hope your partnership with them went well Ding. 🙂
i remember a friend actually inviting me to that area. really impressed at seeing how they are working hard for this project.
Amazing talaga! Almost 80% of livelihood in Bolinao is actually dependent on them. 🙂
I agree mas masaya nga kung nakikita at nararanasan ang pinagaaralan….. it is good to know na may ganitong facility ang UP…. something the public could learn from… =)
Sana at dumami pa ang maka-appreciate sa mga ganitong mga projects. 🙂