presidents-fish-ludong
by Purita S. Licas
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) is leaving no conservation stone unturned if only to finally embark on the gargantuan task of protecting an endemic fish species of Cagayan Valley, perceived to be at the brink of extinction.
Like the tamaraws of Mindoro and the Philippine eagle of Davao, Ludong (Cestraeus plicatilis) should not be allowed to go extinct as it is considered a national treasure, according to Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala.
“We should not allow it to go the way other species went as it is nature’s gift to us. If we do, it will be a loss to the present and future generations,” Alcala said during the launching of the Oplan Sagip Lusong last year.
It’s a tough job for the fisheries agency even if the present dispensation has approved the 6.5 million pesos initial budget for the project now based at the Regional Fishermen’s Training Center in Aparri, Cagayan.
“This is the second attempt of the government to protect the species,” Oplan Sagip Ludong project leader Evelyn Ame said.
In 2000, BFAR initiated the first Oplan Sagip Ludong which was based in Dagupan, Pangasinan, to conserve the species and breed them in captivity. However, the agency admitted the project did not fully meet the objective considering perhaps the distance of Dagupan from Aparri where most of the spawners are caught.
Efforts to regulate the catch started as early as 1952 with the issuance of Fisheries Order (FO) No. 31. This order prohibits the capture, purchae, sale, preparation and serving of the fish for private and pubic consumption during the months of October to January as these are on their spawning migration.
It likewise prohibits the use of tabukol, tabak or pateng along the Cagayan River and its tributaries including the Santa-Abra river system in the Ilocos. However, the order caused an uproar among the fisherfolk that the government was forced to lift the first FO on Ludong.
In 1982, Director Jovita P. Ayson said Fisheries Administrative Order No. 139 established a close season of five years to catch, take, sell, possess and transport mullets in all inland bodies of water in the Philippines.
The province of Isabela followed suit that in 1997, its Sangguniang Panlalawigan issued an ordinance similar to that of the 1982’s, only that the penalty of 5,000 pesos and imprisonment of not exceeding one year was considered too low.
Under Republic Act 8550, otherwise known as the Philippine Fisheries Coce of 1998, it states that rare, threatened and endangered species shall be protected. The task was given to BFAR through the Department of Agriculture.
During the issuance of these orders and Republic Act, no one was found guilty of violating them, thus conservationists believed the culprits were having their honeymoon.
Director Ayson lamented that while Fisheries Administrative Order 208 was issued for the conservation or rare, threatened and endangered species, only species listed under the Convention on International Trade and Endangered Species were included.
It was a big blow to BFAR as ludong was not one of them.
Even FAO No. 16 of 2001 did not help as its main prohibition was only on obstruction to navigation and does not include disturbance on the migratory path of the fish.
Unfaxed, stakeholders of Oplan Sagip Ludong has proposed for the amendment of FAO 31 where a stiffer penalty of 80,000 pesos and or imprisonment of six months and one day to eight years will be imposed.
“The penalty plus the revocation of the fisherman’s permit will make them think twice,” Ayson said.
Ayson sits as the chair of the Ludong Task Force with the various governors of the region’s provinces as vice chair.
She said that the conservation and protection aspect of the project falls on the shoulders of the provincial local government units as they are expected to enact local ordinances adopting the soon-to-be issued amendments to FAO 31. The Philippine Information Agency remains chair of the Information Education and Communication (IEC)/advocacy committee.
In the next few months, DA-BFAR, the academe, LGUs and other stakeholders will have their hands full as the Oplan is guided by an agreed direction to attain its mission.
Dr. Evelyn Ame said in-depth and thorough research to serve as basis for breeding the species and in the implementation of conservation measures to save the fish from extinction will be conducted.
This early, five proposed research activities have been identified and approved by BFAR for immediate implementation including the Ludong’s taxonomic identification, genetic structure, characteristics, marketing and soil and water assessment.
For the stakeholders, it’s still a long way to go and the road to conservation may be treacherous and dangerous like the 200 to 300-kilometer distance a Ludong takes if only to lay its eggs at the mouth of the Cagayan River. #
abrenian.com 
Comment By Leo Tuason, M.D.
——————
Abra..’Ludong’.
I was very young when my father would bring home from his upland ‘(sursurong) trips a fish, much larger than bunog, palileng or paltat called ‘ludong’ a special treat for the family.
Brother Moises traced the road my father
took during his trip… it includes the municipalities of Tineg, Buneg, Lacub, and Mataragan also called the ‘mining towns’ of the province.
The search for good logging areas took brother Moises and me to these mountain
ranges. Here, in these mountain ranges, we ate more of these succulent, the best tasting fish there was…brother Moises said, “this must be the place
the fish ludong come from”. These words stuck in my mind for years.
To make the story short…I appproached the Purdue University Agriculture Extension Office to identify a certain fish for me. Yes, they could help me if I could bring a picture/ photo of the fish.
In was the year 2002 I went to Bangued to attend the funeral of brother Moises…
It was during this visit that
I took picture of a fozen fish (ludong) I brought out from Cong. Chito Bersamin’s refrigerator who was residing in the Bersamin-Purroganan Ancestral Home at the time when he came to visit Bangued after a grinding schedule at the Congress.
I presented the photo to the Purdue Univ. Extension Office. The photo of the fish they were looking at is a member of the herring fish family…one of the ‘migratory fishes’.
I later learned that most of the on-lookers were incharge of the fishery Department of the University. One of them said, the fish is a ‘SHAD’ At this point, they all agree.. its a SHAD.
I asked them. “If its a shad found in the Atlantic Ocean, would it be the same shad in the Pacipic Ocean?
They all said, “yes”, this family of “herring” are the same all over the world…like seals or whales, the same all over.
Shad are found in the Atlantic Ocean along the East Coast of the United States and Canada.
Shad are also found in the Pacific Ocean
After this encounter with the University
personnel, I found myself in a local Library where I reseached on the migratory fish SHAD…
SHAD is an ANADRAMOUS fish species, they spend most of their life at sea, and migrate into rivers to spawn.
Abrenians, does rivers Tineg ans Malanas
both tributaries of the Abra River ring a bell.
Posted by SysOp | June 10, 2012, 10:42 pmRelated Story: Ban to protect ‘President’s fish’
The government is ordering a ban on the catching the country’s priciest fish known as “Ludong” or “President’s Fish”, to protect the species from becoming extinct, a government officer said.
“Ludong catch has been steadily declining to about less than a metric ton (annually) in recent years,” said lawyer Asis Pere, director of Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. “The conservation management team has decided Monday to implement the order.”
The Fisheries Bureau is expected to issue a directive to halt the fishing of the oversized variety of the banak.
Experts said the species usually spawned during the last quarter up to January of the following year.
Ludong is endemic in the Philippines and can only be found in Cagayan and Abra with reported sightings in Chico River.
Also known as “Northwest Pacific Salmon”, it fetches between P4,000 to P5,000 per kilogram.
The Bureau said continued quarrying for sand near or from the river beds disrupted the spawning habits of Ludong contributing to the steady decline on top of overfishing.
Sand mining has been reported in Lallo and Camalaniugan towns.
What makes it the most sought after table fish among gourmands?
Liberty Baculi, who grew up in Baggao, Cagayan, before migrating to the United States, said the eating quality of the fish is incomparable.
“Besides the unique taste, it has a very appetizing langhap (aroma) when it is cooked,” he said in an e-mail interview.
Baculi said well-heeled connoisseurs usually made use of the grapevine to place orders to avoid being identified and risk being kidnapped by criminal syndicates.
“I would not be surprised if a taipan would want it served steamed for a 14-course lauriat at a very private gated enclave,” he said.
Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala has launched Operation Sagip Ludong that involved research, conservation and protection, along with an information and education drive. Jessica M. Bacud
(Published in the Manila Standard Today newspaper on /2012/June/13)
Posted by SysOp | June 12, 2012, 11:41 pmTOPIC/ ARTICLE DEDICATED TO ABRENIANS & NON-ABRENIANS, PEOPLE WHO WISHES TO LEARN:….
SUBJECT/ ARTICLE: LUDONG, FISH ‘ICON’ OF THE PROVINCE OF ABRA.
Prepared By: Dr. Leo Tuason (Native of Bangued, Abra, Philippines— Now U.S. citizen and residing in Indiana, USA).
There are 2- HOWs that we must and shall be dealt with in this SUBJECT….
1. How the fish Ludong can be ARTIFICIALLY PROPAGATED.
2. How the specie Ludong can be PREVENTED FROM EXTINCTION.
Do we proof that these fish Ludong Specie abounds the rivers of ABRA…
YES in RESOUNDING YES!!!
To be continued:
Posted by Leo Tuason, MD. | August 3, 2012, 5:09 amCorrection:
On previous posting….
Do we HAVE proof that these fish Ludong Specie
Continuation:
The Following EVIDENCES substantiate that the Fish Ludong Exists in Abra Rivers.
1. In the 1930’s, my father Don Mariano Tuason, right-hand friend and confidante of Don Quitin Paredes who was at the time bidding for a seat as an Assemblyman (Reapresentative) in the Philippine Congress during the US Government “tutelage/ guardianship” of the Island Archipelago (the Philippines attained its independence from US in 1946, after WW II which ended in 1945).
Allow me to show you a list of names (I can recall) who represented (Representives) of
their Provinces at the time:…
Abra…… Don Quintin Paredes..a Lawyer..1st Phil. Ambassador-post War Title to US.
LaUnion… Don Camilo Osias… an Educator, who later helped in the development
of the Pilipino Language ‘Tagalog’.
Ilocos Sur. Don Epidio Quirino… Lawyer, who later became President of the Phillipines.
Rizal …. Don Manuel Roxas…Lawyer, who later became the President of the Philippines.
Tayabas .. Don Manuel L. Quezon Lawyer, who later became the 1st Phil. President.
Negros … Don Romualdez.
Let us analyze the Abrenians who wishes to be Candidate for Government Offices with the bane hope to lead the Province to greatness… No names shall be mentioned here, but most are…considered by many as… MEDIOCRE, ORDINARY RUN-OF-THE MILL, INFERIOR with mimnimal education, UNFIT, CORRUPT,(obtained un-explained wealth and undeclared possesions for BIR-Bureau of Internal Revenue to audit), people who are totally without conscience.
Some candidates are ‘politicos’, who have been in office but held their posts inefficiently and showed incompetency. I regret to say, but the truth is disturbing…the Website attests to the validity of the facts.
Dons Quintin & Mariano, went to the up-lands/ sursurung of the Province of Abra during their political campaigning…in the mining towns of Tineg, Buneg, Lacub. My father would bring home to Bangued, died fish which he called “Ludong”.
To be continued:…
Posted by Leo Tuason, MD. | August 3, 2012, 8:45 pmCorrection on previous posting:
DRIED fish which he called “Ludong”.
CONTINUATION:..
In the year 2002 I went to Bangued during the hot month of the year to attend the funeral of bro Isis.
Posted by Leo Tuason, MD. | August 4, 2012, 8:44 amAfter the funeral, I visited the house of Cong. Chito who was at the time in Manila Congress. To quench my thirst, I went to his refrigerator and found a can of Coke, and my curiousity opened the Freezer and found a frozen fish, which I thouht would be ideal to take a photo of the fish to bring home to the US for identification.
I brought the photo to the Purdue University Fishery Extension Office in Matinsville,
Indiana and three Fishery Biologists saw the photo…. all three said…they were looking
at a fish called “ATLANTC SHAD”… This fish specie abound the Atlantic coast-line from Nova Scotia, Canada to Florida, USA.
My next question to the Fishery Biologists… “Is the Atlantic Shad the same as the Pacific Shad? … their answer was YES… the fish specie SHAD are the same all over the world… but the NAME differs in other nations.
With this gathered information, I went to the local Library and did a research on “ATLANTIC/ AMERICAN SHAD”.
To be continued:..
Posted by Leo Tuason, MD. | August 4, 2012, 6:13 amADDENDUM:
The 3-Purdue Univ. Fishery Biologists said that the ATLANTIC/ AMERCICAN FISH SHAD is the same Specie as the PACIFIC SHAD (I’m reffering to the Fish caught in Cagayan River served
at a dinner honoring the President of the Philippines; the same fish found in the river system of Abra, River systems of the provinces of Cagayan, Isabela, Neuva Ecija . All these rivers empties into the Pacific Ocean…these fishes could be considered as PACIFIC SHAD ).
To be continued:…
Posted by Leo Tuason, MD. | August 4, 2012, 8:25 pmCONTINUATION:
SHAD are anadramous fish specie that spend majority their life at Sea/ Ocean and enters the fresh-water (river) to spawn.
They are water-specific meaning, those rivers that empties into the South China Sea like the ABRA RIVER, the rivers of the provinces of Cagayan, Isabela and Neuva Ecija empties into the Pacific Ocean…whose water-ways is contiguous with South China Sea (Abra) where these fish spawn in the rivers of their birth.
The SPECIE are highly migratory, schooling fish. They are silvery scaled fish, much like
that frozen fish I took a photo from Cong. Chito Bersamin’s refrigerator in 2002. It has dark spots on the shoulder, a saw-like scales “scules’ along its belly.
The female lays eggs into the water 30,000 to 600,000 at the spawning area of fine sand bedding. As the eggs are deposited, the male fish follows and sprays its sperm over the eggs.
Fertilized eggs are carried by the river current and hatched within 7 to 10 days. The juveniles remaining in the nursery eating zooplankton and terrestial insects. They grow to “fingerlings” and now at this stage ready to go the Ocean sea where there is adequate food and they group in ‘school’ to ward off preditors. They mature…sexually matured which may take 4-6 years for females and 4-5 years for males.
When the female fish is ready to spawn, they seek the fresh-water river of birth.
Posted by Leo Tuason, MD. | August 5, 2012, 8:09 amThe search for countries whose river estuary that is connected to the waters of the Pacific Ocean… the provinces of Cagayan, Isabela, Neuva Ecija and Abra has estuary connected to the South China Sea whose water-ways is continguous to the Pacific Ocean.
The country Of Bangladesh located between India snd Burma, has a river estuary which
empties to the Bay of Bengal whose water-ways is contiguous to the Pacific Ocean through the Straigth of Molocas into the South China Sea and finally into the vast Ocean.
To be continued:..
Posted by Leo Tuason, MD. | August 5, 2012, 11:44 amCONTINUATION:..
Bangladesh is a 3-rd World Country located between India and Burma. It has an estuary that empties into the Bay of Bengal whose water-ways is contingious to the South China Sea and finally connected to the Pacific Ocean.
My research have revealed that Bangladesh has a Fish Shad which the local people call “Hilsa Shad”. and it could be similar to “Ludong” Specie of the Northern Philippines…Bangladesh are both countries whose estuaries have water connections with the PACIFIC OCEAN. That means both countries have the PACIFIC SHAD.
To be continued:..
Posted by Leo Tuason, MD. | August 28, 2012, 11:10 amCorrection on previous posting:
through the STRAIGHT of Molocas into the South China Sea …
CONTINUATION:
For several decades since the early 1950’s, the Philippine Bureau of Fishery & Aquatic Resourses (BFAR) and the able help of the Fishery of the University of Darwin, Australia have been baffled by the Fish ‘LUDONG’ Mystery… because neither of these two great Institutions dare to come forward and say…this is the “LIFE CYCLE OF THE LUDONG SPECEI”.
In the absence of the Life Cycle of a specei…land mammal or marine life… the ARTIFICIAL PROPAGATION and PREVEVTION OF THE EXTINCTION of a certain SPECEI makes is IMPOSSIBLE… “Totally IMPOSSIBLE”.
To be continued:..
Posted by Leo Tuason, MD. | August 5, 2012, 6:18 pmCONTINUATION:
At this phase of my “Article”, I’ll try to bring forth my “THEORY” on the subject…”The Life Cycle of the Fish Specie Ludong.
Many of you who are reading my Article probably wondering what am I doing to further my point…My intent is to provide a flatform by which one would expound his/her idea of
1. How the Specie Fish Ludong can be Artificially Propagated.
2. How the Ludong Specie can be Prevented from Extinction.
To tackle these 2-How’s head-on… I must present my THEORY on the “LIFE CYCLE OF FISH LUDONG”(LCFL) … on Ludong of the Province of ABRA.
My Theory: The LCFL is governed by three phenomena…
1. GENETIC CODE (G.C.)…. this is a gift from the ALMIGHTY to all living
creatures… Marine or Mammals on earth.
The main purpose is to SURVIVE.
2. MIGRATION (M) …….. Inorder to survive, each SPECIE of Living Things
Animals/ Fishes on earth must migrate to find
food/water.
3. DARWIN’S THEORY OF NATURAL SELECTION : Charles Darwin, a British
Naturalist, in 1858 wrote his famous “The Origin
of Species By Means Of Natural Selection”.
He advocated, that evolution is brought about by
the interpay of three principles, Namely,
VARIATION… present in all forms of life,
HEREDITY…the force that transmits similar
organic form from one generation to another,
STRUGGLE FOR EXISTENCE… determines the
variations that will be advantageous in a
given environment …thus altering the specie
of its external traits through selective
reproduction.
MY FRIENDS, This is my Theory. If you disagree, please bring out your own Theory and share it with us.
To be continued:..
Posted by Leo Tuason, MD. | August 6, 2012, 7:04 amCorrection:
brought about by the INTERPLAY of three principles,
CONTINUATION:…
My friends, the combination all three phenomena allows us to trace the LCFL of Ludong in the Province of Abra.
When sexual maturity of Female Ludong has occured while at sea/ocean for 4 o 6 years,
males for 4 to 5 years, the pregnant female is drawn to the river of birth to spawn followed by the male.
The time of the year, I could only surmise during the rainny season (during monsoon months in Asia)… the estuary (the outlet of the Abra River as (the water of the River meets the South China Sea) at Banauang, Ilocos Sur gets flooded.
How the pregnant female Ludong finds its birth place, scientists only speculates…
they say…instinctively uses the sense of smell or influenced by magnetic force or lastly by Devine force.
Allow me to trace the route taken by the fish as it assends the Abra River from the
Banauang Estuary >>> passing through each municipality >>> San Quintin >>> Laguiden >>> Pidigan >>> Calaba (suburb of Bangued capital Of Abra) >>> at the Barangay of Gaddani Town of Tayum where the Massive Tineg River meets the Voluminous Abra River.
The fish follows the treacherous length of the Tineg River till it reaches the ideal spawning area.
One recalls that the TINEG RIVER receives run-off surface waters/ spring waters from
surounding mountains… Mt. Muji, Mt.Sandig, Mt. Manago, Mt. Macopa.
To be continued:..
Posted by Leo Tuason, MD. | August 6, 2012, 4:34 pmCONTINUATION:
When the Pregnant female Ludong reaches an ideal spawn site in the RIVER TINEG … it deposits its eggs in a smooth/sandy area with minimal water curent movement and the eggs are sprayed with the sperm of the male Ludong…fertilization takes place… the fertilized eggs hatches into larvae in 7-10days.
The larvae grows into “fingerlings” (finger-size)…they consume the available food in the vicinity…the time has come when they yearn for more food… the time of the year for them to MIGRATE to the ocean sea where there is abundance of food.
The young fingerlings joins the older fishes and forms a grouping called ‘school’ a precautionary measure to ward-off preditors. They remain in this group for 4-6 years to a stage of MATURITY.
The above biogical transformation from fertilization..eggs being hatched ..larvae formation..fingeling stage is obtained from American Shad fishery records.
Posted by Leo Tuason, MD. | August 6, 2012, 7:01 pm>ADDENDUM:
My friends, Karruba, Madalaga, and many more… Insti, Barrag, Carlos The Jackal, Engr. Eric Bringas, etc; … are you with me?
Your comments please.
SYSOP: Is there a way that my ARTICLE is brought to the ATTENTION of Ms.Purita S. Licas, writter of MANILA STANDARD TODAY NEWSPAPER who reported on “Preserving the Presidents’s Fish”…Ms.Licas Article reported on November 28, 2011.
Many thanks.
Posted by Leo Tuason, MD. | August 8, 2012, 2:36 pmFRIENDS: ABRENIANS/ NON-ABRENIANS and people who wishes to learn…
The subject or TOPIC for discussion is a continuation of an ARTICLE called “LUDONG, FISH
“ICON” OF THE PROVINCE OF ABRA.
In my previous postings I have made mention that the fish LUDONG abounds the Abra River.
The three (U.S.)Purdue University fish Biologists have identified the fish from the photo
I showed them. Their conclusion was the fish in the picture was a “SHAD”… ATLANTIC
SHAD, a fish that belongs to the MIGRATORY FISH SPECIES. The Biologists are familiar
with the fish Shad that abounds the east coast of the USA… from Nova Scotia, Canada to
Florida, USA.
The Biologists further asserted that the “SHAD” Family Fish Specie is the same all over the
world…meaning, those SHAD found in the Pacific side of the World are called “PACIFIC
SHAD”.
To be continued:..
Posted by Leo Tuason, MD. | August 14, 2012, 6:58 amContinuation:..
Further research on the fish “SHAD”. I found that it is highly ‘ADOPTABLE’ fish specie,
as discovered by Fishery Biologists in many Universities in in the EASTERN SEA BOARD OF
USA (ATLANTIC SIDE-OCEAN)…Shad in these places are called ” American Shad or “ALOSA
SAPIDISSIMA”. These fish specie is well studied in Fisheries in many Universities along the
East Coast of the United States…STUDIES made on the Delaware River, Susquehanna River,
both rivers empties into the CHESAPEAKE BAY.
Research further shows that these two large rivers drains signicant portions of the states
New York, Pennsylania, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland.
Historically, both of these rivers… Delaware and Susquehanna had large runs of AMERICAN
SHAD. FISHERIES in all of these STATES have EXTENSIVE records of the AMERICAN
SHAD RESEARCH.
To be continued:..
Posted by Leo Tuason, MD. | August 15, 2012, 3:34 amFRIENDS: Abrenians and Non-Abrenian folks… & people who wishes to learn…
In my previous postings, I made mention that the Fish Ludong exists in the Abra
River and its tributaries.
And that the Ludong Specie is a Migratory Fish SHAD of the Pacific Ocean… counterpart
of the American Shad of the US Atlantic Coast.
Finally, I theorized the “LIFE CYCLE OF THE LUDONG FISH SPECIE OF THE PROVINCE OF
ABRA”.
The theory revolves on three PHENOMENA; Namely…
1. GENETIC CODE (G.C.)… This is handed down by the ALMIGTHY to all living things…
Animals/Mammals; Marine/Fishes…with an instinct to live.
2. MIGRATION (M) … Inorder for the living things… Fishes/ Animals, to survive
they MUST migrate to seek for food and to complete their
LIFE CYCLE…
Examples: 1. Monarch Butterfly…migrates to North America and
back to Mexico to complete its life cycle… to
complete its development from larvae to
maturity/ sexually… reproduction… birth..then
followed by Migration…the cycle repeats it self.
3. DARWIN THEORY OF NATURAL SELECTION: througth the process of ADOPTATION.
Accordingly, the Theory claims the Specie of Animals,
Fishes, Birds, has the inherent capability of
adopting to the prevailing environmental changes…like
in fishes, alterations in the river’s salinity or pH.
temperature, oxygen content, pollution of river
causes changes in the external characteristics of
FISH…color of scales, fins but its “GENETIC CODE”
never changes.
To be continued:..
Posted by Leo Tuason, MD. | August 17, 2012, 7:13 amFRIENDS: BOTH ABRENIANS & NON-ABRENIANS, people who wishes to LEARN.
We have come to the end of my Article and we shall bring forth the answers of the
two HOWs (I previously mentioned at the beginning of the Article).
1. How to articially propagate the Fish Ludong…My friends, you can not duplicate in
an artificial manner the “LIFE CYCLE OF THE LUDONG SPECIE”.
Consider the following:.. the fish requires the RIVER for SPAWNING and the
OCEAN/ SEA for development into Adulthood-Sexual/ Maturation.
Therefore, my friends, forget about raising Ludong in your ‘backyard’. You will
surely fail… wasting your investments, labor and money.
However, the Shad Fish Specie in the Philippines like those “LUDONG” found in
the rivers of Cagayan, Abra, Isabela, Neuva Ecija… can be genetically enhanced by
introducing the same shad specie from other country much like the ‘Texas fighting roosters’
introduced to the Philippines in the early 1950’s.
Historical background, the Pacific Coast of the US never had the SHAD Fish Specie but the
Atlantic Coast from Nova Scotia, Canada to Florida, the fish abounds these areas and they
are known as “AMERICAN SHAD or ALOSA SAPIDISSIMA”.
In 1871, a visionary Fishery Biologist from Albany, US by the name of Mr. Green
transfered/ introduced hundreds of Adult Atlantic Shad into the Sacramento River,US.
This was followed by another enterprising fellow whose name was Mr. Stone transfered
adult Shad fish in 1873 from the Hudson River, US to the Sacramento River, US.
By 1876, the Atlantic American Shad had established in the Pacific Coast from Fraser
River (B.C). to Stikine (Alaska) down to the Columbia River of Washington and Oregon.
To be continued:..
Posted by Leo Tuason, MD. | August 18, 2012, 8:03 amCONTINUATION:… MY PROPOSAL is for the
Phil. BFAR with the initiative of the Philippine President establish a “Experimental
Fish-Hatchery” in each of the following provinces of the Philippines where the Specie Fish
Ludong is believe to exists… ABRA, CAGAYAN, ISABELA, NEUVA VISCAYA.
All of these “HATCHERIES” shall be under the control/ management of the Phil. BFAR.
Each of these Hatchery Station must have its own ‘Head’ a graduate Fish-Biologist from the
University of the Philippines (U.P.).
When ‘Funding’ or money is available, the Phii. BFAR shall send the ‘Heads’ of Hatchery
Station as scholars to the USA to learn on the care… propagation and prevention of
extinction of the Fish American Atlantic SHAD. as applied on the Specie PACIFIC Shad
Ludong of the Philippines.
To be continued:..
Posted by Leo Tuason, MD. | August 19, 2012, 8:32 pmADDENDUM: On the Scholarship of the ‘Heads’ of each Hatchery Station… the ‘Funding’
could come from CONGRESSIONAL APPROPRIATION of the provinces of ABRA, CAGAYAN,
ISABELA, NEUVA VISCAYA.
Posted by Leo Tuason, MD. | August 19, 2012, 8:50 pmCONTINUATION:..
THE PHIL. PRESIDENT and the Bureau of BFAR whom I have ENVISIONED to have created and
established the ‘Hatchery Stations’ in 4-provinces, namely; ABRA, CAGAYAN, ISABELA,
NEUVA VISCAYA (provinces where in past the Fish Ludong have been sighted).
CORRECTION ON THE PREVIOUS POSTING:..
the ‘funding’ could come from Congressional Appropriation SPONSORED by THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 4-PROVINCES.
It is most imperative therefore, that the President and the BFAR must continue their
initiative in ensuring the maintenance and continuance of the “LIFE CYCLE OF THE FISH
LUDONG SPECEI”.
What can they do to continue the ‘Life Cycle’? They must promulgate stringent/
requirements, strict laws on river water -ways to make it safe for marine life (fish) to
survive. Certain ‘Parameters’ to consider… water temperature, right pH or salinity
right water contents of of dissolved oxygen, amount of nitrates, ammonia for the fish to
SURVIVE.
The above ‘Parameters’ are directly related to the “Natural Integrity” of water-ways of the River and Tributaries. All these are reflected by the amount of ‘pollution’ from wastes… human, animal and industrial. The US EPA considers Mining snd Logging the most destructive industries (due to wastes-sediments in the rivers) in the US.
After all the main objective of Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala’s
“Operation Sagip Ludong”, it’s about the conservation and protection of the Ludong Specie
which he further said “the fish Ludong is a ‘national treasure’ must not go extinct.
BIG WORDS from the Secretary and HUGE TASK for the President of the Philippines and his
Bureau BFAR to accomplish.
To be continued:…
Posted by Leo Tuason, MD. | August 23, 2012, 6:04 amCONTINUATION:..
The gargantuant effforts/ initiatives of the Phil.President and the Bureau of BFAR in
creating a decent popolation of Fish Ludong and preventing the extinction of the Specie by
providing the correct and healthy “Parameters” in the River water-ways for the
survival of the Fish Specei… both the Anadromous (Ludong) as well as the Catadromous
(Migratory Abra Igat or Eel).
Parameters includes… River water-ways temperature, right pH or Salinity, total amount of
Nitrate, Ammonia and dissolved Oxygen in the water. All of these are directly related to
the ‘Integrity’ of the River… that is the amount of “POLLUTION” the River water-ways
has.
Pollution may come from:.. different sources..
1. Human wastes
2. Animal wastes (confined/caged chichen, hogs, sheeps)
3. Industrial (automotive, paper making, Hospital wastes, etc.).
Mining and Logging are the most destructive industries in USA claimed by the EPA.
All kind of wastes from HUMANS, ANIMALS, INDUSTRIAL are disposed into the water ways-
leading to nearby creeks or ‘waigs’ which finally drains into the River. These wastes
by ‘LAW’ must be ‘TREATED’ and made safe to humans before the effluents from these
sources are safe to be discharged into the River.
To be continued:..
Posted by Leo Tuason, MD. | August 24, 2012, 7:32 pmKeep posting Doc! Just to let you know your posts are getting a lot of hits on this site looking for information about Ludong.
thank you!
SysOp
Posted by SysOp | August 29, 2012, 10:33 pmTo SYSOP: Please do me a big favor…bring my ARTICLE/ POSTINGS to the attention of:
1. Ms. Purita S. Licas
Writer: of the Manila Today Newspaper
Author: June 13, 2012 “Operation Sagip Ludong of Secretary Proceso Alcala and
Acis Pere, Director of Bureau of BFAR”.
2. Dr. Anna Marie Leung, SPOKES-PERSON of the STARM ORGANIZATION.
3. CONVENORS of STARM.
Both Dr. Leung and all Convenors will be glad to know that the Philippine President’s
desire to prevent the Extinction of the Fish Ludong Specei by maintening and preserving
the “LIFE CYCLE OF LUDONG” will INDITECTLY make the RIO GRANDE DE ABRA safe for the
people living by the river, animals/birds/fishes making use of the water of the river.
MANY THANKS, SYSOP.
To be continued:..
Posted by Leo Tuason, MD. | September 1, 2012, 6:39 amCORRECTION: on the previous posting…
Philippine President’s desire to prevent the Extinction of the Fish Ludong Specei by
MAINTAINING and preserving the “LIFE CYCLE OF LUDONG” will INDIRECTLY make the RIO GRANDE
DE ABRA safe…
Posted by Leo Tuason, MD. | September 2, 2012, 6:53 amCorrection: on previous posting…
bring my ARTICLE/ POSTINGS to the ATTENTIONS of the following:..
1. Ms. Licas
2. Dr. Leung
3. COnvenors of STARM Organization
ADDENDUM:
Sysop has encouraged me to write more on the Fish Specei Ludong.
The topic is some what extensive in scope…as it involves the “Life Cycle of the Fish
Ludong”, the fish “Migration” from birth in the River to the Ocean/ Sea…traced from
South China Sea Banaoang Estuary to Tineg River, spawning site of Ludong of ABRA… back
to the Ocean…to complete its Life Cycle. Both the Life Cycle and Migration has been
discussed.
To increase a decent population of the Fish Ludong and the prevention of its
extinction, I have envisioned a constructive initiative taken by the Philippine
President and the Bureau Of BFAR towards the Ludong Specei.
To be continued:..
Posted by Leo Tuason, MD. | September 2, 2012, 9:27 pmCorrection on the previous posting:..
will INDIRECTLY make the….
Thanks,
Dr. Leo
Posted by Dr. Leo Tuason | November 18, 2012, 9:20 pmCONTINUATION:..
Friends/Kababayans…allow me to take you back thru a view-mirror of a ‘Time -Machine’…
There are more learned peple who are interested in making the Abra River SAFE to humans,
animals and birds.
…the year 2005,an ARTICLE posted in the Abrenian Website written by an Abrenian by the
name of SALACNIB entitled “Lepanto Corporate Mining Co. must stop putting the Abra River
to slow death”. Mr. Salacnib based his contentions/ arguments on the EIM findings
…the year 2002 ENVIRONMENTAL INVESTIGATIONARY MISSION (EIM), headed by Engr.
Josephine Dulay, Saint Louis University (SLU), Officer-in-charge, Chemistry Engineering
Laboratory, and SAVE THE ABRA RIVER MOVEMENT (STARM) headed by Spokesperson Dr. Ann
MArie Leung of the Dept. of Preventive and Community Medicine.
The Lepanto Corporate Mining Co. is being blamed for the POISONING OF THE ABRA RIVER.
QUESTION: Are there other sources of POISONS /synonymous to POLLUTION?… YES!!!
Here is a list of other sources:…
1. WASTES.
a. Human
b. Animals (caged or confined… chicken, hogs, cattle)
c. Industrial (automotive, etc.)
2. CORPORATE MINING CO. in places like…
a. Benguet Province… Lepanto Corporate Mining Co.
b. Abra Province…Abra Mining & Industrial Corporation
c. Ilocos Sur Province …
d. Mt. Province …
3. SMALL SCALE MINING ( do these mining places uses MERCURY in gold extraction
from ore? ).
To be continued: Next… Further explanation on the different sources of
Pollution.
Posted by Leo Tuason, MD. | September 3, 2012, 10:46 pmFRIENDS/ KABABAYANS:..
I have 2 related Topics to discuss with you and both possses a question.
Topic No. 1: The Prevention of Extinction of Fish Ludong (as Abra’s ICON Ludong).
Topic No. 2 : The Prevention of ABRA RIVER’s demise.
Posted by Leo Tuason, MD. | September 7, 2012, 2:19 pmADDENDUM:..
Question…
How can one prevent the Extinction of Ludong and RIO GRANDE DE ABRA’S Demise?
Please allow me to expound my point of view on the subject matter… Assuming that
the THEORY of “Life Cycle of Ludong” I proposed is right and acceptable to the people
of the Bureau of BFAR, other Fish-Biologists, People of the STARM Organization and its
many CONVENORS….it is most logical way to prevent extinction and demise would be to
keep the River water-ways ( River main flow, tributaries, Creeks and Waigs) free of
Poisons /Polutions thus ensuring completion of life cycle of both Anadromous (Ludong)
and Catadromous (Abra-eel)…do away “FISH-KILL”.
To be Continued:..
Posted by Dr. Leo Tuason | September 9, 2012, 7:50 pmCONTINUATION:..
SYSOP: The continuation of the TOPIC is very important…entitled, “How the differrent
sources of POISONS/POLLUTANTS contaminates the RIO GRANDE DE ABRA”… THIS illustration
or DRAWING VIVIDLY SHOW how the Abra River gets polluted.
I must send this drawing/illustration to you by US Postal Mail for you to post.
(Apparently, earlier letters containing Map of Abra with TMC location/distribution never
reached you due to faulty 1st Ininiliw Las Vegas Affair address… please send me your
current address via the A.com WEBSITE or my Email address… Thanks).
To be continued:..
Posted by Dr. Leo Tuason | September 10, 2012, 3:17 amCORRECTION ….on previous posting..
earlier letter containing Map of Abra with TMC location/
distribution never reached you due to faulty address (I USED
YOUR ADDRESS GIVEN TO ME by our friend Engr. Vic Baula during the 1st L.V.
Ininiliw Affair.
Please send me via eMail or Postal Service your current address, so I can mail you via
POSTAL SERVICE an important drawing entitled….”ABRA RIVER and POTENTIAL SOURCES OF
POLLUTION”.. by knowing how one can stop polluting the Rio Grande de ABRA… one can
promote completion of the ‘Life Cycle of the Fish Ludong…thus preventing the extinction
of the Specei Ludong…for you to post on the Abrenian.com Website.
Many thanks.
To be continued:..
Posted by Dr. Leo Tuason | September 12, 2012, 9:20 amDr. Leo I will send you my home address via email. thanks
Posted by SysOp | September 12, 2012, 10:29 pmDr. Leo,
Please confirm you got my mailing address via email?
thanks
Sysop
Posted by SysOp | September 15, 2012, 12:12 pmSYSOP;..
I received your current mailing address. I’m mailing to you tomorrow a copy of
“ABRA RIVER and POTENTIAL SOURCES OF POLLUTION”.
Please post it on your Website.
Is it posssible that my Articles/ Postings specially 1. Fish Specie Ludong
2. CHITS and TMC brought to the desks and attentions of the following…
1. Ms. Purita S. Licas, writer of the Manila Standard Today Newspaper.
2. Dr. Ann Marie Leung Chairperson, STARM.
3. Members Of the CONVENORS of the STARM Organization.
4. People of the BUREAU of BFAR.
It could be an interesting ‘read’ to these people.
MANY THANKS, SINCERELY,
Dr. LEO
Posted by Dr. Leo Tuason | September 16, 2012, 7:05 pmWhile waiting for the Posting of the “ABRA RIVER AND POTENTIAL SOURCES OF
POLLUTION”… I want to emphasize few things:
First… There are four Provinces that are physically connected with the ABRA RIVER.
The Provinces must be responsible for the integrity of the RIO GRANDE DE ABRA.
1. Benguet
2. Mountain Province
3. Ilocos Sur
4. Abra
Second… Each province must see to it that they do not POLLUTE the River.
Third… THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN ORGANIZATION WHICH I CALL “FRIENDS OF THE ABRA RIVER”
SHALL HAVE A VIEW / ON SITE CHECKING THE WATERWAYS FOR NON-COMPLIANCE
OF GOVERNMENT’S “REGULATORY MEASURES”.
FOURTH … STARM ORGANIZATION TO HELP IN THE MONITORING OF THE RIVER’S NATURAL INTEGRITY.
I must forewarn the GOVERNORS of the 4-provinces that POLLUTION might be originating from
your province… your province shall be held accountable…penalty imposed.
To be continued:..
Posted by Dr. Leo Tuason | September 21, 2012, 4:50 amRIO GRANDE DE ABRA (Grand ABRA RIVER). CAN IT BE SAVED.
The 4th largest river in the Philippine Archipelago , considered Class III of
Rivers by the Philippine Government… meaning….Navigable, using bamboo rafts for
travel and trade. In trade, people from up-land (sursurong) take their products (tobacco
grown well in the high regions of the province, bamboo products, bee wax for candles of
Churches, and many more.
The water of the River is being used in irigating farms, a source of food… fishes,
Posted by Dr. Leo Tuason | December 17, 2012, 3:55 amADDENDUM;.. Correction on previous posting….
The water of the River is being used in IRRIGATING farms. People who reside by the river
take their animals… carabaos, cattles for a bath, and people to swim.
Bunog, Palileng, Campa are plentiful and are indigenous fishes in the River. Shrimps are
plentiful and my favorite (before I left for the USA in 1956, I visited Calaba Abra River
where I was served freshly caught shrimps eaten raw with juice of freshly squeezhed
Calamansi).
Folks, its not safe NOW to eat anything raw -shrimps from the river.
To be continued:..
Posted by Dr. Leo Tuason | December 17, 2012, 4:52 amCORRECTION ON PREVIOUS POSTING:..
shrimps eaten raw with juice of freshly SQUEEZED calamansi.
CONTINUUM:..
A RIVER is safe and healthy when it (river) can sustain aquatic life (fishes/shrimps/plants).
Dr. Leo
Posted by Dr. Leo Tuason | December 17, 2012, 9:49 pmKABABAYANS and FRIENDS:..
You have read my postings on the ‘Specie Fish Ludong’…from its
1. LIFE CYCLE (my theory).
>>..Based on three Phenomena..
>>..(a) Genetic code … (b)Migration … (d) Darwin’s Natural Selection
EXPLAINATION OF…
a) Genetic Code (G.C.).. ALMIGHTY’S gift to each specei on earth….whose main purpose
is to survive.
The same G.C. is given to Fish Shad of… USA- ATLANTIC SHAD and PACIFIC SHAD.
PACIFIC SHAD on record INCLUDES ‘hilsa shad’ of 3rd world country BANGLADESH and
POSSIBLY ‘LUDONG’ of the provinces of Abra, Cagayan, Isabela, Neuva Ecija of Northern Luzon , Philippines.
b)Migration..
For each SPECEI, in order to SURVIVE they must MIGRATE to find food-water for some, specei to CONTINUE maturation – mating (reproduction) and attain ‘gestational stage’.
Land-Mammals..(example)…CARIBAO–animal, native of NO. America, herds of these animals migrate seasonally between winter-spring-summer to lush green pasture region for food-grass/water to complete the stages of Maturation -reproduction-mating, Birth.
Marine-AQUATIC (FISH)..(example)… PACIPIC-SHAD (LUDONG)…adhering to MY THEORY of
Ludong’s Life Cycle, which is the exact opposite to the Article written by Ms. Maria Teresa B. Banas on Nov.5, 2012 at a meeting held at the Baluate Zoological Park in Vigan City, attended by people of the Bu. of Fishery and BFAR.
Folks, and my friends I submit to you (following my theory of Ludong’s Life Cycle I have proposed)… I’m not a marine biologist nor graduate of school of Fishery. I know my limitations. However, unless the people who have degree on Fish-biology, can disprove my THEORY and have a more convincing theory and challenge me that I am wrong, then I’ll continue to stand behind my theory.
To be continued:..
Dr. Leo
Posted by Dr. Leo Tuason | December 20, 2012, 6:11 amI have read your full research on Ludong and I find your report most comprehensive, educational and entertaining. I have a lasting memory of enjoying the Ludong fish in Manila served by an Ambassador host at his home and in Los Angeles gifted by a special friend who flew this fish direct from Manila in frozen stage to my kitchen to cook into sinigang.
Would you please find time to research what happens to the life of the female Ludong after she has spawned her eggs. My guess is she dies moments after she spawns, much like what becomes of the salmons.
Thank you for the enjoyment your writing has given me.
Posted by Roberto de Jesus | January 5, 2018, 5:07 pm