because it takes more than a village (and a couple of miracles) to write a thesis

From the start, when I was weighing my options and knew I didn't have enough time to do what I wanted to do but still went ahead with it, I said this would really be a testimony of faith if I managed to come out alive. Instead, I came out with a distinction :D I am posting here the acknowledgements page of my thesis to broadcast my thanks to everyone who walked with me on this journey.


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Heartfelt gratitude is due to all who have helped made this leap of faith possible within four months:

• the key informants, Mr. William Ablong, Hon. Rodrigo Alanano, Dr. Angel Alcala, Dr. Hilconida Calumpong, Hon. Amado Diaz Jr., Dr. Mundita Lim, Mr. Mario Pascobello, Mr. Diosdado Suan, Mrs. Mercy Teves and Dr. Alan White for generously sharing their time and experience;

• CRM Officer Rosabelle Sanchez, Police Environmental Desk Officer Richard Elma and the PNP of the Municipality of Dauin; Manric and Anabelle Barillo, and Joaquin dela Peña of the ENRD, and Provincial Fisheries Officer Dr. Leonardo Aro of Negros Oriental; AIPLS PASu Viernov Grefalde and staff; the staff of SUAKCREM, SU Salonga Center and SU IEMS; and Dr. Porfirio Aliño and Hazel Arceo of ECOGOV 2, Evangeline Miclat of Conservation International-Philippines, Elline Cañares of CCEF, Dr. Enrique Oracion of the SU Sociology Department and Mar Guidote of CRMP for invaluable information and assistance;

• Inocencia Catadman and the Catadman Compound residents in Dumaguete, and RV Escatron and the Kalikasan Center staff in Valencia for accommodations;

• the LOICZ project and the staff, especially Dr. Juergen Weichselgartner, at the International Project Office, GKSS Institute for Coastal Research, and GKSS Library in Germany; and Celia Oliveira and the Mobility Office staff at the University of Algarve in Portugal for logistical support and for being helpful in so many ways;

• Liz Herbert, Ester Auxiliadora and Yahoo! Babelfish for the kind assistance in translation;

• my supervisors Dr. Laurence Mee and Dr. Alice Newton, and my unofficial adviser Mr. Roy Olsen de Leon for their wisdom and guidance;

• my unofficial external readers Dr. Porfirio Aliño, Mr. Patrick Knight, and Dr. Alan White for their time and insightful comments;

• my ever-supportive family in Davao City and New York, my Skype consultants Jong Rojas, Rich Herbert and Jemi Aquino, all other family and friends who have offered assistance, encouragement and prayers on this last leg, and Skype, because the best things in life are free.

Ad majorem Dei gloriam.