BINHI Jan-Feb 2013, Final - signedWM

Report on the Batanes Integrated Natural History Research Initiative
(BINHI) Fieldwork
18 January to 6 February 2013
National Museum Team

1) Ms Erika C Robis, Project Assistant (18 January – 6 February 2013)
2) Dr Ana P Labrador, Assistant Director (28 January – 1 February 2013)
(Separate reports to be submitted)

3) Mr Virgilio Palpal-latoc, Curator II/Chief, Zoology Division (14 – 25 January 2013)
4) Mr Don Dumale, Researcher II, Zoology Division (14 – 25 January 2013)
5) Ms Ma Josefa Veluz, Researcher II, Zoology Division (18 – 28 January 2013)
6) Ms Evelyn U Mendoza, Technician II, Zoology Division (18 – 28 January 2013)
7) Dr Edwin Tadiosa, Researcher II, Botany Division (18 January – 1 February 2013)
8) Mr Rolly Urriza, Researcher I, Zoology Division (21 January – 1 February 2013)
9) Dr Arvin Diesmos, Researcher II, Zoology Division (25 January – 1 February 2013)
Preparation for the fieldwork

This fieldwork is the last leg of the Batanes Integrated Natural History Research Initiative
(BINHI) Project, in collaboration with the Local Government Units of the Province of Batanes
and the Batanes Heritage Foundation, Inc. (BHFI). In addition to working towards a
systematic and scientific documentation of the flora and fauna of Batanes, the BINHI Project
mainly aims to physically establish the natural history reference collections for the Batanes
NM and generate basic data pertinent for its nomination as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Originally, the NM Natural History researchers’ BINHI fieldworks were scheduled on the
March and September of 2012, with Project Leader Dr Ana P Labrador and Project Assistant
Ms Erika Robis. As indicated in the project proposal submitted for funding, among the main
activities of the NM Natural History researchers is to conduct geological, botanical and
zoological survey and sampling in representative areas around the province. If possible,
identification of specimens was to be conducted in Batanes, and analysis continued in
Manila.
The unique weather system (October – February, winter; March – May, summer; June –
September, monsoon; “little summer” in September) in the province was the primary
consideration for the schedule, since more or less it dictates the accessibility of the target
sites in the province, particularly in the other islands; the availability/obtainability of and
access to supplies; and this also serves as the reference for the appearance and/or
nonappearance of some species, particularly in zoology. As the project progressed,
additional matters were factored in, including the needed data for the executive summary
for the province’s UNESCO World Heritage Nominations, researchers’ schedules with the
implementation postponement due to fund delays, seat availability on the only passenger
BINHI Trip Report/ECRobis & APLabrador 18 January – 6 February 2013 1/84

plane flying the Manila-Basco-Manila route on the second half of 2012, and, during the last
quarter of 2012, passenger plane availability.
Concerned government agencies and offices were contacted earlier in 2012 about BINHI,
mainly to inform them about the project, and to follow through on earlier discussions and
requests about accommodations, permits, assistance, temporary storage and chemical
waste disposal. These offices include the Department of Education (DepEd) Batanes Division
Office, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Batanes Engineering District
Office, Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) Batanes and the
Uyugan LGU, the host municipality of the Batanes NM. Through the office of Batanes
Representative Henedina Abad, BHFI was arranged as the local collaborator in the province,
in terms of fund disbursement and assistance in going around the sites.
An initial team, Assistant Director Cecilio Salcedo, carcinologist Ms Marivene Manuel-Santos

and Ms Robis, proceeded to Batanes on 27 July 2012, mainly to talk in detail about the
expected procedure and results with the UNESCO World Heritage Nomination Local
Documentation Team composed of LGU representatives (Sangguniang Bayan members),
agency and office heads and officials. With BHFI, the members of the Local Documentation
Team would help in informing their respective municipalities about the BINHI project,
particularly the collection of specimens in their respective municipalities. Collection,
identification and preservation of marine and terrestrial crustaceans were conducted until
26 August 2012.
With the funds released to NM on early October 2012, all 19 researchers, scientific
photographer and collections manager were scheduled to go to Batanes within the period of
mid-October to early December 2012, for a maximum stay of 21 days. Airline reservations
were made as early as mid-September 2012, with the only commercial plane flying to
Batanes having only 19 passenger seats and flights limited to twice a week; reservations
were occasionally requested from Sky Pasada to be extended in relation to the release of
airfare allotment from the NM BINHI funds for the researchers. Several supplies and
equipment were transported through Sky Pasada cargo, addressed to BHFI. Fixing and
preservation chemicals were to be shipped to Basco via the Batanes Multi-Purpose
Cooperative, Inc. (BMPCI) cargo ships, pending their loading schedule.
From 16 October to 14 December 2012, only 10 of the 19 NM natural history staff were able
to go to Batanes; 4 researchers from Botany specializing on ferns, seed-bearing plants and
diatoms and pollens; 3 from Zoology specializing on insects, shells and echinoderms; and 3
from Geology. The rest of the researchers were unable to go as scheduled due to a
mechanical problem on the Sky Pasada airplane flying Manila-Basco-Manila. Flights were
cancelled for about a week early November, and only the 8 to 10-seater planes flying to
Tuguegarao were the only means to the province. A 16-seater plane was chartered in place
of their regular plane to resume the Sky Pasada operations. Manila-Basco flights however
were only scheduled on Thursday mornings, and Basco-Manila flights on Friday afternoons,
with flights to and from Tuguegarao between these. Late November, Sky Pasada suspended
their operations and refunded in full the cancelled tickets. Seair, through the BMPCI, began
their operations on 7 December 2012, and SkyJet on 14 December.

Refunds from Sky Pasada were released last 30 December 2012 to Ms Robis at their Manila
ticketing office. These were used to purchase tickets on Skyjet Airline for 7 NM Zoology and
Botany researchers and collections manager for January 2013.
Marine zoological survey was conducted primarily on intertidal flats in Batan, Sabtang and
Ivuhos islands, since it was assumed that the researcher-divers on the team will collect the
subtidal specimens. Terrestrial zoological survey was conducted also in Batan, Sabtang and
Ivuhos islands. Specimens on conchology, echinoderms and entomology were collected, as
well as additional specimens in carcinology.
The survey on ferns and fern allies were done in Batan, Itbayat, Sabtang and Ivuhos islands;
only Mr John Rey Callado was able to go to Itbayat via the faluwa since no commercial
planes were flying to Itbayat at that time. Diatoms, pollens and marine flora, medicinal and
seed-bearing plants were surveyed in Batan, Sabtang and Ivuhos islands. Geological survey
was also conducted in Batan, but more thoroughly in Sabtang and Ivuhos islands.
Collected specimens were deposited at the former RHU building in Barangay Itbud, Uyugan.
Duplicates were also prepared for the botanical specimens and were loaded to a BMPCI
cargo ship last December 2012. Insect samples were taken to Manila for further processing
and identification. Samples of mollusc shells were sent to NM Manila through courier for
identification and deposit as duplicates. Echinoderms specimens were all left at the
temporary storage area. Detailed photographs of the molluscs and echinoderm specimens
were taken for inventory and identification in Manila.
During both July-August and October-December 2012 trips, it was validated that both
cultural and biodiversity behaviors were very much weather/season-dependent; basic
weather observations were also taken particularly during the October-December 2012
fieldwork period. This would affect the results in the then imminent January 2013 fieldwork.
In the aspect of collections management, the complexities of managing and dealing with
natural history collections have been initially assessed in such a setting and seasons. A
preliminary working database was set up last August 2012, and the route map of the sites
visited by the researchers was also documented.
Recommendations for the subsequent BINHI trips, as well as in preparing the next projects
in Batanes, were also made based on both July-August and October-December 2012
fieldworks. General recommendations include separate itinerary for public meetings;
transmission of a copy of the RA 10066 and its approved Implementing Rules and
Regulations (IRR) for reference purposes of relevant offices and agencies; natural history
fieldwork for detailed studies should be scheduled during the summer months to be able to
access the other islands, however, with the pronounced seasons winter and monsoon
months should also be covered to complete the data cycle; protocol for the use of the
collections in the schools and integration of the generated data with the localization of the
DepEd curriculum; and establishment of a Curatorial/Environment Health and Safety
Protocol and Standards, as well as an Emergency, Risk and Disaster Management Plans for
the collections and museum facility, adapted to the local environment and practices.

Relevant to the ongoing BINHI Project include the shipment of specimen duplicates to NM
Manila in terms of risk and disaster management of collections; addition of NM Zoology
Division Collections Manager to the team for specimen registration and reinforce/reassess
the preservation needs in the local environment; addition of NM Zoology Division Scientific
Illustrator, in anticipation of the doubled number of zoology researchers in relation to the
immediate need for specimen color documentation; and training of potential staff should
soon start, considering the funds needed if collections maintenance will be depend on the
NM Manila staff.
Necessary equipment for documentation has also been purchased for each natural history
division through the funds coursed through BHFI. The rest of the equipment were purchased
in Manila, brought by the researchers to Batanes. Supplies for collection, processing and
storage were purchased in Manila and supplemented by purchases in Basco. Ms Robis again
communicated with Mr Chico Domingo of Dive Batanes for the January 2013 fieldwork with
researcher-diver for fish, Mr Don Dumale. Mr Joseph Commendador, sponge specialist,
would not be joining the team since he was still waiting for his Visa to the US for a
conference and training at the California Academy of Sciences. It was also decided that Ms
Anna Melissa Domingo, Zoology Division Scientific Artist, would not join the team, since the
number of researchers would be manageable in terms of photo documentation.
BINHI reports were anticipated to be completed for submission to Dr Florentino Hornedo

and the Batanes UNESCO Local Documentation Team by early to mid-February 2013.
An introductory and basic workshop was also being arranged with BHFI and the
Congressional District Office (CDO) of Batanes through Mr Walter Estamo late in January
2013, to be led by Dr Labrador and two guest facilitators, Ms Maggie May Baybay and Ms
Sam Marcelo of Business World. This was also initially planned to be implemented early in
December 2012, but was also affected by the cancelled flights.
Dr Labrador and Ms Robis met with Mr Estamo early in January about the workshop,
particularly discussing why it is necessary to be conducted as early as this time of the year
and the NM’s working proposal towards the opening of the Batanes NM. A soft launch is
proposed for late June 2013, in time for the 300th founding of the province, through an
opening of an exhibition at the designated exhibition hall in the Batanes NM/LORAN
facilities. The main opening is proposed on 29 October 2013, as the featured program for
the NM’s 112th founding anniversary. Raising the interest among the locals was also one of
the purposes of conducting the Batanes NM Development Workshop. It was agreed during
the meeting with Mr Estamo at the House of Representatives that Ms Robis will work on the
details with the BHFI upon her arrival in Basco.
Architect Nelson Aquino and Mr Nestor Inabangan of the NM Restoration and Engineering
Division were also expected to join the BINHI Team on the last week of January 2013. They
will be meeting with District Engineer Alexander Nola of the Department of Public Works
and Highways (DPWH) Batanes Engineering District, as well as with Assistant DE Rommel
Fabi and Engr Prudencio Valiente, to discuss the progress of the retrofitting of the former
LORAN Station as the Batanes NM facility.

The projected outputs of this fieldwork are the following:
1) Introduce the locals to and cultivate their interest in doing museological work, in
anticipation of the opening of the Batanes NM and in establishing community museums;
2) Systematic survey and documentation of marine and terrestrial flora and fauna of
Batanes, including migratory species;
3) Documented and preserved botanical, zoological and geological specimens, establishing
the Batanes NM reference collections, following the standard international protocols for
collecting and preserving natural history museum collections;
4) Establish a collections management system, to include the aspects of conservation and
specimen maintenance, most appropriate for the local conditions and cultural practices
in Batanes;
5) Published preliminary technical report and survey database containing preliminary
ecological data, inventory and analysis of rock types, fossils, flora and fauna, for use in
the UNESCO World Heritage Site Nomination efforts;
6) Published project report based on submitted field, laboratory and collections
management documentations and reports; and
7) Recommendations for prioritizing and programming of the subsequent projects in the
province, particularly considering its specific weather patterns.

Proposed itinerary
Date/Time Activities
14 January 2012, M
0530H ETD, Manila-Basco flight via SkyJet
Old Domestic Terminal 4, Pasay City
Mr Virgilio Palpal-latoc, Zoology Div Chief/Curator II (Sea worms)

Mr Don Dumale, Museum Researcher II (Fish)
0640H ETA, Basco Airport (to be met by BHFI representatives)
Check in at Ivatan Lodge

Breakfast
0900H BHFI Office (schedule, staff assignment, travel documents)
1000H Courtesy call: Governor Gato's office
Courtesy call at PENRO, BFAR & DepEd
Lunch
1330H Ocular tour around Batan via National & Interior Roads
> Courtesy call: Mahatao & Ivana LGUs
Uyugan Mayor & SBs
> Temporary storage area in Brgy. Itbud, Uyugan
(pick up available materials for collection)
> Former LORAN Station (Batanes NM site)
1530H Meeting with Mr Chico Domingo of Dive Batanes (tentative)
1600H BHFI Office to finalize working schedule

[(Initial target intertidal sites: Chanarian, Mahatao west & east
(Diura), Ivana area (Vatang?), Uyugan (after Kayvaluganan,
Motchong, Songsong-Itbud, Alapad, Imnajbu)]
15 January 2013, Tu
0830H Final preparation of supplies & materials for collection
Final arrangements for local guides, boat and/or van hire
15 - 23 January 2013, Field collection at sites, as arranged with BHFI staff

Tu - W Specimen deposit & processing at the temporary storage
building in Brgy Itbud
18 January 2013, F ETD, Manila-Basco flight via SkyJet

0530H Old Domestic Terminal 4, Pasay City
Dr Edwin Tadiosa, Museum Researcher II (Fungi)

Ms Ma Josefa Veluz, Museum Researcher II (Mammals)
Ms Evelyn Mendoza, Museum Technician II (Zoo Coll Mgmt)
Ms Erika Robis, Coordinator


Breakfast
0900H BHFI Office (schedule, staff assignment, travel documents)

[Ms Robis meets with Mr Estamo, Ms de Mata, SP Imperial
& VM Viola re training program prep]
1000H Courtesy call: Governor Gato's office
Courtesy call at PENRO & BFAR
Lunch
1330H Ocular tour around Batan via National & Interior Roads
> Courtesy call: Mahatao & Ivana LGUs
Uyugan Mayor & SBs
> Temporary storage area in Brgy. Itbud, Uyugan
(pick up available materials for collection)
> Former LORAN Station (Batanes NM site)
1600H BHFI Office to finalize working schedule

(Initial target sites: Mt Iraya, Mt Matarem, cave sites
--- forest cover; places with bat & rat populations; bird
flight trails; nocturnal collection)
19 January 2013, Sa
0830H Final preparation of supplies & materials for collection
Final arrangements for local guides & van hire
19 - 26 January 2013, Field collection at sites, as arranged with BHFI staff

Sa - Sa Specimen deposit & processing at the temporary storage
building in Brgy Itbud
19 - 27 January 2013, Coordination for the Batanes NM Development Workshop

Sa - Su continues, c/o BHFI & Ms Robis
21 January 2013, M ETD, Manila-Basco flight via SkyJet

Mr Rolly Urriza, Museum Researcher I (Birds)

Breakfast
Supply & materials preparation

Mr Urriza joins Ms Veluz, Dr Tadiosa & BHFI staff in

collection activities
21 - 26 January 2013, Ms Mendoza & Ms Robis works on the specimens at the

M - Sa temporary storage site
Processing & maintenance
Registration to the NM Zoological Collections
Bird (and herps, later) & fungi collection activities continue
25 January 2013, F ETD, Manila-Basco flight via SkyJet

Dr Arvin Diesmos, Museum Researcher II/Scientist II (Herps)
Check in for Basco-Manila flight

Basco Airport

Breakfast
Supply & materials preparation
Dr Diesmos joins Mr Urriza, Ms Veluz, Dr Tadiosa & BHFI staff

in collection activities
0710H ETD, Basco-Manila flight via SkyJet
Mr Virgilio Palpal-latoc
Mr Don Dumale
28 January 2013, M ETD, Manila-Basco flight via SkyJet

Dr Ana P Labrador, NM Director III/Batanes NM Project Leader

Ms Maggie May Baybay, Trainor
Ms Sam Marcelo, Trainor
Arch Nelson Aquino, Batanes NM Retrofitting NM Proj Leader

Mr Nestor Ynabangan, NM RED
Check in for Basco-Manila flight

Basco Airport
0640H ETA, Basco Airport (to be met by BHFI & CDO reps)
Check in
Breakfast

0710H ETD, Basco-Manila flight via SkyJet
Ms Ma Josefa Veluz
Ms Evelyn Mendoza
0830H Courtesy calls: CDO, Gov Gato's office, DepEd

Superintendent Gonzales, Uyugan Mayor Blackburn
With Dr Diesmos, Mr Urriza and Dr Tadiosa
Lunch
1430H Meeting & preparation for the Batanes NM Dev't workshop
Arch Aquino & Mr Ynabangan meets with DPWH/goes to

the former LORAN Station
29 -31 January 2013, Batanes NM Development workshop
Tu - Th Arch Aquino & Mr Ynabangan at the site/with DPWH
1 February 2013, F
0530H Check in for Basco-Manila flight
Basco Airport
0710H ETD, Basco-Manila flight
Arch Nelson Aquino

Ms Maggie May Baybay
Dr Arvin Diesmos
Dr Ana Labrador
Ms Sam Marcelo
Dr Edwin Tadiosa
Mr Rolly Urriza
Mr Nestor Ynabangan
1 - 3 February 2013, Housekeeping & specimen maintenance activities at

F - Su the storage site for long-term storage (Ms Robis)
4 February 2013, M
0530H Check in for Basco-Manila flight
Basco Airport
0710H ETD, Basco-Manila flight
Ms Erika Robis

18 January 2013, Friday
Ms Robis arrived at the Manila Domestic Airport Terminal 4 at about 4am, and waited for
the other members of the NM Natural History team scheduled also to leave for Batanes that
day; Ms Ma Josefa Veluz, Dr Edwin Tadiosa and Ms Evelyn Mendoza. The flight to Basco via
SkyJet Air left relatively on time, arriving approximately an hour after.
Ms May Beronque and Ms Katrine Balderas of BHFI met us at the airport with Mr Baltazar
Cariaso, the owner/driver of the hired vehicle. We proceeded to the Ivatan Lodge to check
in at the Ivatan Lodge. This has been arranged previously with the Lodge Staff, through Ms
Jing Mernelo. It was relatively full around that time since it was the preferred billeting place
in Basco, especially by the other government agencies involved in other projects with the
Province.
We arranged our schedule for the day with Ms Beronque and Mr Cariaso, along with Mr
Palpal-latoc and Mr Dumale who had arrived in Basco several days earlier to study and
collect polychaetes and fishes. We proceeded to the St Dominic College Canteen with Ms
Beronque for breakfast, and afterwards met with Ms de Mata at the BHFI Office.
Ms de Mata and Ms Robis made preliminary arrangements regarding the tentatively

scheduled workshop to be led by Dr Ana Labrador, who was set to arrive at the last week of
January. Ms de Mata volunteered to check with Mr Walter Estamo and the Congressional
District Office (CDO) regarding the meeting to finalize the Batanes NM Development
Workshop.
After signing the necessary documents at the BHFI, Ms Veluz, Ms Mendoza, Dr Tadiosa and
Ms Robis proceeded to the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO)
for a courtesy call. We met with Mr Marcelo Reyes who stood as OIC during that time, since
Protected Areas Superintendent and PENRO Head, Mr George Reyes, was on site that time.
OIC Reyes himself came from accompanying members of another project team from a
nearby site.
As arranged, we all met with Ms Beronque, Ms Balderas and Mr Cariaso outside the Lodge
at around 1.30pm for Dr Tadiosa and Ms Veluz’s Batan Island ocular and courtesy call with
Uyugan Mayor Oliva Valiente-Blackburn. Mr Palpal-latoc and Mr Dumale, with Ms Mendoza
will be staying overnight at the temporary storage site in Barangay Itbud, Uyugan to see to
the specimens collected the previous day. We did a detour however to meet with Ms de
Mata and Mahatao Mayor Pedro Poncio between Diura and Racuaydi in Mahatao to
document a burial jar accidentally exposed by a backhoe. Roadwork between the sitios was
being done that time. We arrived to find that they have buried the jar somewhere in the
vicinity, as instructed by Mayor Poncio; Ms de Mata and I just took note of the coordinates
were the jar was found. We also took this opportunity to inform Mayor Poncio of what this
next batch of natural history researchers from National Museum was set to do during the
duration of the fieldwork.
After the brief discussion with Mayor Poncio, we proceeded south via the Interior Road,
stopping at the Racu a Payaman (communal pastureland) to see the northeast side of Batan
Island. From there, we went next to LORAN (a drop line was already installed near one of

the buildings going east to Barangay Imnajbu), then the temporary storage to see what
other materials were needed for the collection and what they could suggest in terms of
specimen maintenance in the site in the long run. We left Mr Palpal-latoc, Mr Dumale and
Ms Mendoza at the storage with several BHFI staff who would be helping them to process
the specimens.
Dr Tadiosa, Ms Veluz and Ms Robis proceeded to Uyugan Centro for the scheduled courtesy
call and project updating with Mayor Blackburn at 2.45pm. In addition to the Batanes NM
project updates, Ms Robis also informed Mayor Blackburn on the tentatively scheduled
workshop to be held in Basco, in coordination with the CDO, to be led by Dr Labrador.
After the meeting with Mayor Blackburn, we returned to Basco to prepare for Dr Tadiosa
and Ms Veluz’s collection activities. With Ms Beronque, it was arranged that they would
leave the following day for Mt Matarem via Mahatao and would stay there overnight. We
proceeded to the BHFI Office to inform Ms de Mata of the tentative schedule of the team,
which would also include Mr Rolly Urriza and Dr Arvin Diesmos, who were scheduled to
arrive separately the following week.
Ms de Mata informed Ms Robis that she just found out from the CDO that Mr Estamo was
with Congresswoman Henedina Abad in Sabtang to attend to constituency matters. They
were scheduled to return to Basco the following day.
Partly overcast skies in Basco; cold winds.
19 January 2013, Saturday

Dr Tadiosa and Ms Veluz left around mid-morning with Ms Beronque, Ms Balderas and Mr
Ryan Robillos. Other BHFI staff would be meeting them in Mahatao.
Ms Robis accompanied them earlier that morning while buying supplies and food for the
overnight stay in Mt Matarem. The rest of the day was spent in Basco, waiting for
developments and updates regarding the workshop from the CDO. It was arranged with Ms
Beronque that Ms Robis would be meeting them the following day at the storage, if there
were still no updates from the CDO and Mr Estamo, who was scheduled to arrive from
Sabtang that day.
Partly overcast skies in Basco; cold winds.
20 January 2013, Sunday

Ms Robis took the 11.30am jeepney to the temporary storage to meet with Dr Tadiosa, Ms
Veluz and the BHFI staff there, to work on the documentation and processing of the
specimens collected the previous night in Mt Matarem. Earlier that day, Mr Palpal-latoc, Mr
Dumale and Ms Mendoza arrived at the Lodge from the storage. There were no
developments and updates yet from the CDO regarding the workshop.
Ms Robis documented the processing of the mammal specimens collected by Ms Veluz. Ms

Beronque and Ms Balderas assisted Ms Veluz. In the process, we also talked about the plans

of the entire team of natural history researchers to proceed to Sabtang the following day,
which would also include Mr Urriza who was set to arrive the following day.
Late in the afternoon, Dr Tadiosa and Ms Veluz left with the rest of the BHFI staff for Basco.
Ms Robis was left to see to the transfer of the mammal specimens to containers with
formalin solution.
Overcast skies in Basco in the morning; partly sunny in Uyugan, overcast skies in the late
afternoon.
21 January 2013, Monday

Ms Robis took the 6am jeep back to Basco to meet Mr Urriza at the airport. Ms Beronque
and Mr Cariaso were also there to meet him.
After breakfast, final arrangements were made for the Sabtang trip with the BHFI staff. They
left for Ivana before 11am for the noon boat trip to Sabtang. BHFI Sabtang staff would also
be there to assist the team.
Mr Dumale, Ms Beronque and Ms Robis also coordinated with Dive Batanes manager, Mr
Chico Domingo, about conducting a dive in the Sabtang vicinity the following day.
Ms Robis was left in Basco to see to the arrangements of the workshop. Alternate plans
were also made with Ms de Mata concerning this.
Meeting with Ms de Mata later that day, Ms Robis was informed that Mr Estamo took the
plane to Manila that morning for a medical emergency. Ms de Mata and Ms Robis arranged
for possible venues and participants which Ms Robis would coordinate with Dr Labrador for
finalization, along with the workshop curriculum.
The letter for Congresswoman Abad, as arranged with Mr Estamo in Manila, was sent to Ms
Robis through email by Dr Labrador, along with the curriculum for the workshop. This was
forwarded to Ms Myla Pisig, also through email. Letters to the municipalities and concerned
agencies were also forwarded from Manila, as call for participants.
Ms de Mata and Ms Robis arranged for the distribution of the letters.
Partly overcast in Basco.
22 January 2013, Tuesday

Ms Robis received the revised details for the workshop, scheduled on 29 to 31 January. BHFI
took the responsibility of distributing the communications to the municipalities of Basco,
Mahatao, Ivana, Sabtang and Itbayat. Ms Robis was responsible for the communications for
Uyugan and the Department of Education Batanes Division.
Regarding the accommodations of Dr Labrador, Ms de Mata agreed that Ms Robis should

check with DepEd Superintendent Wivina Gonzales if Dr Labrador could stay at the DepEd

Guest House. The DepEd Conference Hall could also be a possible venue for the workshop,
since we were only expecting about 70 participants at most.
With Ms Janine Mora, also a staff of BHFI, Ms Robis paid Superintendent Gonzales a visit.
Superintendent Gonzales warmly welcomed Ms Robis back, and was given updates
regarding the progress of the Batanes NM facility and the natural history project. Ms Robis
also informed her of the workshop scheduled by the end of the month, and that DepEd
teachers were, of course, invited. Superintendent Gonzales said that she’ll have a
memorandum issued for the workshop immediately. With regards to the request of venue
and accommodations for Dr Labrador, she informed Ms Robis and Ms Mora that
unfortunately, they were already using the facilities for the students being trained for the
Cagayan Valley Regional Athletic Association (CVRAA) Meet by early February in Isabela. She
suggested that we ask DPWH District Engineer Alexander Nola for the DPWH Guest House
located at the back of DepEd. She would also support our request with DE Nola. As for the
venue, Superintendent Gonzales suggested that we also request the use of the HRTC Hall at
the Provincial Capitol from the office of Governor Vicente Gato.
After thanking Superintendent Gonzales and ensuring her that Ms Robis has her mobile
phone number to facilitate easier communication regarding the workshop, Ms Mora and Ms
Robis left for the BHFI Office to update Ms de Mata and plan accordingly.
The rest of the afternoon was spent finalizing the letters and the copy of the curriculum for
the municipalities, and coordinating with NM Manila. With Ms Beronque, Ms Robis
coordinated with Mr Domingo regarding the scheduled dive with Mr Dumale in the vicinity
of Sabtang, having agreed to move this early morning the following day.
Clear skies; cold winds.
23 January 2013, Wednesday

Ms Robis finished preparing the necessary communication papers for the LGUs and the
tertiary schools at the BHFI Office in the morning. She took the 11.30am jeep to Uyugan to
meet with the researchers at the temporary storage site.
The researchers were already at the site from Ivana, having taken the mid-morning
passenger boat from Sabtang. Collected specimens from Sabtang include fungi, bats, birds
and one snake. The snake was being kept alive for the arrival of Dr Diesmos on Friday that
week, kept inside a transparent plastic bag filled with air and tied with a rubberband. Ms
Robis assisted in taking detailed photos of the bats caught by Ms Veluz; Ms Balderas also
helped out in the documentation. Dr Tadiosa and Mr Urriza were working on their
specimens independently. Detailed photos of the brittle stars being air dried at the storage,
collected from the Chanarian and Naidi Hills vicinity dive sites, were also taken by Ms Robis.
Ms Robis was also informed that Ms Beronque was sick and went straight home to Basco
from Ivana when they docked. Her fever began the previous day and has not been feeling
well on their first night in Sabtang.

Mr Cariaso went off to Ivana around 2pm to pick up Mr Palpal-latoc, Mr Dumale and the
BHFI staff who went with them in the Dive Batanes boat. Ms Robis hitched until Uyugan to
give the letter for Uyugan for the workshop. It was received by Mayor Blackburn’s staff.
While waiting for the 4.30pm jeep back to Barangay Itbud, Ms Robis contacted the NM
Supply to follow up on the order and transport of the ethanol alcohol, formalin and silica
gel, as well as M/V Transcend cargo ship to check their loading schedule for the fixatives and
preservatives in Pier 18, North Harbor.
Ms Robis was also informed by NM Architect Nelson Aquino that he would be unable to go
to Batanes as planned because their flight schedules for the Butuan and Zamboanga
retrofittings were moved.
The team returned to Basco late in the afternoon.
Partly overcast skies.
24 January 2013, Thursday

Ms Robis took the 7.30am jeep back to Basco, and met with Ms de Mata regarding the
logistics of the workshop. We discussed the option of cancelling the activity since we do not
know where the funds will be coming from not being able to talk the details through with
Mr Estamo. Funds cannot be taken from the NM and BHFI funds for the natural history
project since this was strictly intended for biodiversity specimen collection.Other things that
were considered with the cancellation was the time given for the participants from Sabtang
and Itbayat, even Ivana and Uyugan, to prepare for the activity.
Mr Urriza also arrived at the BHFI Office to sign the documents and receive his per diem. He
later fell into talking with Sangguniang Panlalawigan Member Ramonito Imperial about birds
that they have observed, while SP Imperial was growing up in Sabtang and Mr Urriza as an
ornithologist, their behavior and habitats.
Ms Robis spent the afternoon with Ms Mendoza upstairs at the BHFI Office taking detailed
photographs of the insects collected by Mr Venancio Samarita, NM entomologist, last
October to November 2012. They were unable to documents these back then since they
were pressed for time with the specimen collection as well as the processing of these. Ms
Mendoza and Ms Robis were able to finish two sets (food grade plastic boxes) before BHFI
closed for the day. On our way back to the Lodge, we met Mr Palpal-latoc and Mr Dumale.
Mr Palpal-latoc informed me that they have placed the bigger fish specimens inside plastics
bags with formalin at the temporary storage in Uyugan.
The terrestrial team (Ms Veluz, Mr Urriza and Dr Tadiosa) left that afternoon for Mt Iraya for
several days camping to collect specimens. Ms Robis and Ms Mendoza also arranged with
Ms de Mata for Ms Mendoza to work at the temporary storage site the following day with
Ms Moro and Ms Cristine Cervillon. They will be leaving for Uyugan on the 4.30am jeep and
will return to Basco on the 2.30pm jeep. Leaving on a later jeep schedule in the morning
would give them less time to work. Ms Robis would not be able to go with them with Mr
Palpal-latoc and Mr Dumale leaving for Manila the following day, and Dr Diesmos arriving.

Sunny in Basco, clear skies; cold winds in the afternoon.
25 January 2013, Friday

Ms Robis and Ms Mendoza met with Ms Cervillon and Ms Moro at the jeep's parking area,
Three to four blocks from the Lodge. Returning to the Lodge, she met with Mr Dumale and
Mr Palpal-latoc to leave for the airport for their flight.
The plane was delayed due to the overcast skies in Basco. Congresswoman Abad also took
the same plane to Manila, and Ms Robis was able to introduce Dr Diesmos and briefly give
her an update regarding the project before she entered the pre-departure area. Dr Diesmos
was only able to exchange waves with Mr Palpal-latoc and Mr Dumale since they were
immediately ushered to board the plane after the Manila-Basco passengers deplaned.
After breakfast at SDC, Dr Diesmos and Ms Robis proceeded to the BHFI Office to sign
documents, receive his oer diem, and discuss fieldwork arrangements with Ms de Mata. Mr
Karl de Mata and Mr Kevin Espinosa would be accompanying him to Mt Iraya to join the rest
of the team after lunch. The plan was delayed however since he had to send materials to
NM Manila for the 2012 annual report. With Mr de Mata and Mr Espinosa, he was able to
leave at around 4pm.
Ms Mendoza arrived with Ms Cervillon and Ms Moro at the BHFI Office just before Dr
Diesmos left with Mr de Mata and Mr Espinosa. Ms Mendoza updated Ms Robis regarding
the work that they did at the storage site that day. Since there were no other containers at
the storage site, the bigger fish specimens that they processed were replaced in zipbags
and/or ordinary plastics bags and then sealed with packing tapes that were both available at
the storage. She added that she has grouped the bags according to the specimens'
taxonomical families for easier species level identification later on.
Continuous light rains since mid-morning, overcast skies since early morning and cold winds
the entire day.
26 January 2013, Saturday

Ms Robis took the 9.30am jeep to Uyugan to work at the temporary storage site. This was
mainly to begin securing the specimens for long term storage with minimal checks, since it
was anticipated that it will take some time before individuals working on the natural history
specimens and collections management could return to Batanes, with the preparation of the
BINHI reports, fund constraints and other projects to attend to.
She checked what has been done the previous day to see what else was needed to be done
in terms of long term storage. The trash bag contents were also checked to see if any
fixative/preservative solution waste or plastic used with the solutions were accidentally
disposed in the regular waste bag. It was noted that a brittle star that has its most of its
arms shed and/or the transverse ends severed, which probably happened while it was being
taken and/or while it was about to expire.
The smell of formalin was quite strong between the wooden counter and the tiled counter-
sink area, where one of the plastic bags containing the bigger fish specimens immersed in

formalin were placed. The bag appears either to have been pierced by the sharp ends of the
tail and/or gill of the fish specimens, or was not checked for small holes. Both bags were
placed on a basin, and old newspapers were placed on the tiled counter to facilitate
absorption and drying of the fixative. She decided against wiping the counter with rags,
since it would need to be rinsed, and the waste water may seep into the water table or
adjacent river, however minimal the percentage of the formalin was.
A small crab was also accidentally left inside one of the plastic bags where the specimens
were initially placed. The bags appeared to have been rinsed off and apparently left to dry.
The crab was transferred to a small zipbag with formalin after taking its photos that may still
be used to identify it, and placed beside the polychaete specimens.
Ms Robis also began re-positioning the specimen bottles in the cabinets; bottles with
specimens in alcohol and covered with black seed bags were placed in cabinets which were
curtained with thick brown cloth, while those in formalin were placed in the cabinet spaces
without curtains but would not be in direct contact with sunlight.
Three packs of dried botanical specimens were photographed, re-packed and the packs
labeled. Detailed photos of smaller shell specimens were also taken to help facilitate their
identification at the species level.
Partly sunny, cold winds in Uyugan; overcast skies in Basco.
27 January 2013, Sunday

Ms Robis photographed, re-packed and labeled another pack of dried botanical specimens
and some more small shell specimens.
She took the 2.30pm jeep back to Basco.
Ms Veluz, Mr Urriza, Dr Tadiosa, Ms Mendoza, Dr Diesmos and Ms Robis went to the Naidi
Hills late that afternoon.
With Ms Veluz and Ms Mendoza returning to Manila the following day, additional bat
specimens collected from their brief trip to the Japanese Tunnels in Tukon Basco that
morning with BHFI staff Ms Balderas, Mr Roger Hubayan and Mr Darwin Jesus Nanud were
processed that night at the Lodge to be transferred to the temporary storage later by Ms
Robis. Ms Robis also took detailed photos.
Partly sunny in Uyugan in the morning; cold winds in the afternoon; light rain beginning mid-
afternoon from Mahatao to Basco.
28 January 2013, Monday

Ms Robis accompanied Ms Veluz and Ms Mendoza to the airport that morning. Dr Labrador
was also set to arrive that morning. The plane was again delayed, probably due to overcast
skies.

While waiting for the plane’s arrival, Ms Robis clarified several matters with Ms Veluz and
Ms Mendoza. First was about alternatives to naphthalene balls, to which Ms Veluz told her
that there was none yet found to be relatively as effective as these, and that it is already the
mildest of most insect repellants available. Second was about the registration procedure of
natural history specimens in the NM Collection. Ms Veluz and Ms Mendoza told her that
specimens were only registered into the NM Collections Catalogue when these are brought
to NM Manila. Ms Veluz suggested that a separate accessions system be developed for
Batanes NM if the specimens would not be brought to Manila at all.
Dr Labrador arrived and informed Ms Robis that Mr Estamo was also on the same flight.
While waiting at the departure area at the Manila Domestic Terminal 4, they were able to
talk about the funding details of the workshop. While waiting for the baggage, Dr Labrador
also talked with Governor Gato who was scheduled to leave for Manila on the return flight,
and DPWH District Engineer Nola. Governor Gato endorsed her to his Chief-of-Staff with
regards to the Batanes NM Development Workshop.
We later proceeded to the Ivatan Lodge and had breakfast at Hiro’s. From there, we went to
BHFI to meet with Ms de Mata. We were told by the BHFI staff that she has already left for
CDO and suggested that we should just follow her there.
At the CDO, with Mr Estamo, we were able to finalize the fund source for the workshop. It
was also decided that we reduce this to two days. The Batanes Coast Guards’s order
prohibiting passenger boats from Sabtang, Itbayat, Ivana and Basco to leave has yet to be
lifted. Sabtang and Itbayat participants may miss a day’s worth of workshop. Ms de Mata
and Ms Robis also arranged to communicate the schedule changes to the invited
municipalities, schools and offices. DepEd Social Studies Supervisor Mr Jaime Castillo also
made a timely call to Ms Robis to ask if he could also include social studies teachers to the
DepEd delegation. We agreed to increase the DepEd slots to accommodate both science and
social studies teachers, and Ms Robis also informed Mr Castillo of the change on the
schedule.
From the CDO, we proceeded to the DepEd Division Office for Dr Labrador’s courtesy call to
Superintendent Gonzales, and also to inform her of the now two-day workshop schedule. Dr
Labrador also updated Superintendent Gonzales of the plans regarding the opening of the
Batanes NM facility at the LORAN Station in Uyugan, which included a soft launch on 26
June, to coincide with the Batanes Foundation celebration, and the main opening on 29
October, to coincide this time with the NM’s 112th Foundation. Dr Labrador also informed
Superintendent Gonzales that they plan to turnover the mobile planetarium to Batanes NM
and to open an Ivatan cosmology exhibition at the National Planetarium which is a part of
the National Museum system.
While Superintendent Gonzales and Dr Labrador were talking, Ms Robis received a call from
Mr Castillo confirming the attendance of social studies teachers in the workshop. She was
also contacted by the fixative and preservative chemical solutions supplier regarding loading
the ordered materials to M/V Transcend in Pier 18, North Harbor that day. She contacted
one of the cargo ship’s staff, Mr Allan Barsana, to ensure that the schedule was as it was. Mr
Barsana informed her that this was the last day of loading, and that they were already

prepared to receive the chemicals that day. These would also be placed outside since these
are flammable. Ms Robis thanked Mr Barsana and relayed the message to the chemical
supplier and Ms Divine Poliquit of NM Supply Office.
After the meeting with DepEd, Dr Labrador and Ms Robis met with Mr Urriza, Dr Tadiosa
and Dr Diesmos at the SDC for lunch.
Mr Urriza and Dr Diesmos accompanied Dr Labrador and Ms Robis to Uyugan where they
went to see the temporary storage site in Barangay Itbud and the status of the structural
retrofitting of the former LORAN Station as the Batanes NM facility.
At the former LORAN Station, we were met by DPWH Foreman for Batanes, Mr Jose Facuri,
who briefed us on the slow progress of the retrofitting project, such as simultaneous
implementation of infrastructure projects around Batanes, shipment of supplies, among
others. He also pointed out several unresolved structural issues that Architect Aquino
needed to discuss with him and Engineer Prudencio Valiente, also with DPWH. He also
added that some materials may also have to be changed, such as the solar panels and wind
mill to a generator, considering the acquisition and purchase procedure.
After thanking Mr Facuri, we proceeded to Uyugan Centro for the scheduled 3pm meeting
with Mayor Blackburn.
After introducing Dr Diesmos and Mr Urriza, Dr Labrador updated Mayor Blackburn on the
plans for Batanes NM, particularly the soft launch on 26 June, in the occasion of the Batanes
Foundation celebration, and the main opening on 29 October, as the main event for the
NM’s 112th Foundation. Dr Labrador also reiterated the invitation for Uyugan to the
workshop which would begin on Wednesday that week, 30 January. Mayor Blackburn
informed us that she was planning to have the cogon roof of her traditional house changed
on April. In Batanes, this is a major occasion where work is done similar to the bayanihan
system in mainland Luzon, composing of the members of the community and relatives of
the house owner. Dr Labrador asked if the NM could send over a team to document the
process, to which Mayor Blackburn agreed.
We returned to Basco after thanking Mayor Blackburn. Dr Diesmos and Mr Urriza returned
to their camp site in Mt Iraya. Dr Tadiosa, who spent the day processing his specimens at
the BHFI Office, met Dr Labrador and Ms Robis at Hiro’s for dinner.
Cold winds and light intermittent rain during the rest of the day; overcast skies.
29 January 2013, Tuesday

The early part of the morning was spent at BHFI where Dr Labrador and Ms Robis revised
the workshop schedule for reproduction.
We also dropped by the Provincial Capitol to see the HRTC Hall where the workshop was to
be held. Ms Hegel Ruiz-Valones assisted us in the process.

Around 10am, we proceeded to CDO to meet with DE Nola, Assistant DE Fabi, Engr Ronald
Merin and Mr Estamo to discuss some changes on the retrofitting project of the LORAN
Station. DE Nola reiterated the need to move the purchase of the windmill and solar panels
on the second phase of the retrofitting project to meet the proposed launch on June and
October, and for the meantime, replace this with a higher capacity generator. Dr Labrador
agreed to this, and said that she had already consulted Architect Aquino regarding this
earlier. She suggested that the DPWH write Director Barns and Architect Aquino of this to
formally inform the NM of the changes.
It was also arranged that they would jointly visit LORAN that afternoon with Assistant DE
Fabi and Engr Valiente to further discuss details of the project.
Dr Labrador and Ms Robis had lunch at SDC. Dr Tadiosa has joined Mr Urriza and Dr Diesmos
in Mt Iraya; they planned a hike to the summit that day with some members of the BHFI
staff.
We waited for Assistant DE Fabi at the BHFI office. At around 2pm, we proceeded to the
LORAN Station via the Interior Road. At the site, Dr Labrador discussed what else was
needed to be done with Engr Fabi and Engr Valiente in preparation for the soft launch in
June, which included double wooden walls along the interior of the exhibition hall. They also
discussed details on other technical matters which would be relayed to Architect Aquino.
From LORAN, with DE Nola’s permission, we proceeded to Uyugan Municipal Hall to borrow
the scale model and the exhibition panels used during the groundbreaking from Mayor
Blackburn. Ms Robis sent Mayor Blackburn a text message to ask her permission, but since
there was no mobile phone signal at the LORAN Station, we forwarded our request for loan
to Vice Mayor Jonathan Enrique Nanud instead. Vice Mayor Nanud informed us that we just
missed Mayor Blackburn by several minutes as she has just left for Basco to attend a
meeting and may have not yet received or read her messages. The LGU staff assembled the
materials from their storage, brought down the scale model displayed at the second floor of
the municipal hall and repacked it in the wooden crate, and loaded it to the DPWH vehicle.
We headed back to Basco via the National Road after thanking Vice Mayor Nanud. On our
way back, Ms Robis received Mayor Blackburn’s agreement to use the scale model and the
exhibition panels for the workshop through text. Also through text, Ms Robis informed her
that we forwarded out request to Vice Mayor Nanud and we were now on our way back to
Basco with the materials.
The scale model and exhibition materials were set up at the HRTC Hall that same afternoon.
Occasionally cloudy, mostly sunny particularly in the southern part of Batan; cold winds.
30 January 2013, Wednesday

After breakfast, we proceeded to the HRTC Hall for the workshop. Architect Aquino was
requested to send over the plans for the exhibition hall which would be used later in the
workshop (see program in Attachment 3).

Mr Eduardo Delfin of NCIP graciously took the role of an emcee and introduced Vice
Governor Ferdinand Elica, SP Imperial, Mayor Blackburn and Dr Labrador to the participants,
who each welcomed the participants and the NM researchers who were there. Later that
morning, Dr Diesmos and Dr Tadiosa presented the zoological and botanical points of view
on specimen collection under the NM, placing particular emphasis on the policies that
govern the NM collection activities.
Just before the lunch break, SP Imperial discussed the efforts of the province in working
towards being inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. He also informed the body that
they have recently decided to change the category under which Batanes has applied for
recognition as a natural heritage site only. They may not stand a chance if they apply for the
mixed category of cultural and natural heritage site, since traditional practices have now
been changed.
Mr Urriza was spent the rest of the day in Mt Iraya for his ornithological observations. Dr
Diesmos returned to Mt Iraya after his talk, while Dr Tadiosa returned to the BHFI Office to
continue processing the specimens that he has collected.
The workshop ended at about 4pm. In reference to the distribution of the participants, Dr
Labrador and Ms Robis agreed to propose to Mayor Blackburn that Uyugan host the next
workshop.
Ms Robis went out early evening to look for specialty papers for the certificates.
Sunny throughout the day in Basco, cold winds in the afternoon.
31 January 2013, Thursday

Dr Labrador and Ms Robis proceeded to the HRTC Hall for the workshop after breakfast. Dr
Tadiosa again spent the day processing the fungal specimens that he collected. Dr Diesmos
and Mr Urriza have packed up at the camp site in Mt Iraya, and were preparing their things.
Later that morning, Ms Robis printed out the certificates at the BHFI Office.
At the end of the workshop, SP Imperial and Ms de Mata assisted Dr Labrador in handing
out the certificates, after which we proceeded to the BHFI Office.
Over the phone, Mayor Blackburn and Dr Labrador talked about the plans for the next few
months in preparation for the June 2013 soft launch. Mayor Blackburn was not able to
attend the second day of the workshop due to a previously arranged meeting. She agreed to
host the next workshop in Uyugan which they tentatively set around the last week of May,
after the mid-term elections.
Sunny throughout the day; cold winds in the afternoon; light rains in the late afternoon.
1 February 2013, Friday

Ms Robis accompanied Dr Labrador, Dr Diesmos, Dr Tadiosa and Mr Urriza to the airport for
their flight back to Manila. The flight was delayed due to the overcast skies in Basco.

From the airport, Ms Robis proceeded to the BHFI Office to see to the corrections on some
of the certificates. She later went to the Skyjet office to purchase her ticket back to Manila
for Wednesday the following week, 6 February, having assessed that taking photos of the
remaining specimens to aid their identification, preparation of the storage for long term and
season-change conditions, and conducting the inventory of the deposited specimens would
take at least two days. The local government of Uyugan and Batanes PENRO will also be
furnished with the inventory of the holdings as these are technically left under their care.
Ms Robis finished collating the workshop outputs that afternoon and prepared the
necessary materials for the remaining work at the temporary storage in Uyugan.
Overcast skies in Basco and intermittent light rain throughout the day.
2 February 2013, Saturday

Ms Robis took the 9.30am van to the storage in Uyugan. She continued taking photos of the
shell specimens for Ms Ang to identify, and finished repacking and labeling the dried
herbarium specimens. In between sets of shells and botanical specimens, she also worked
out an inventory system of the bottled specimens that would aid in drawing up a location
diagram of the storage space for monitoring.
Overcast skies in Basco and Uyugan; cold winds in the afternoon.
3 February 2013, Sunday

Ms Robis continued working on the dried botanical specimens and the bottled zoological
specimens that day. She was able to finish taking photos, repacking and labeling the dried
botanical specimens, as well as doing the inventory of the bottled specimens and the bags
of shells.
Sunny but cold winds in Uyugan.
4 February 2013, Monday

Ms Robis took the 6.30am jeep to Basco that morning, mainly to check if the flight will push
through on 6 February. There was a possibility of cancellation due to the small number of
passengers coming from Basco to Manila. She was assured that the flight will push through
since the flight from Manila was more or less filled.
From the Skyjet office, she proceeded to the BHFI Office to receive the reimbursement
documents of BHFI for the supplies used by the natural history researchers and the other
travel documents that would be submitted to NM.
She took the 11.30am jeep back to Uyugan to finish the work. Ms Beronque and Ms
Balderas also came along to help out. They would also be the ones looking after the
specimens while NM have yet to prepare for the next series of trips to Batanes. Ms Robis
left some reminders for Ms Beronque regarding the arrival of the chemicals from Manila via
M/V Transcend. That morning she dropped by the M/V Transcend office and was told that
the cargo ship has docked at Sual, Pangasinan to load additional supplies for Batanes and
would be arriving in Basco in a couple of weeks.

The primary concern regarding the specimens was the alcohol-immersed shrimps, crabs and
fungi. The ethanol alcohol used was commercial grade and was relatively due for
replacement already, though alcohol evaporation has been slowed down with the black
seed bag cover on the bottles. Ms Beronque has learned the process of replacing as she has
worked with Ms Robis and NM researchers Ms Marivene Manuel-Santos (July-August 2012
fieldwork) on preserving and maintaining the crustacean specimens.
Overcast skies, approximately all over Batan Island; partly sunny in Uyugan in the afternoon.
5 February 2013, Tuesday

Ms Robis finished doing the inventory of the dried algae and fungal specimens that morning
and left for Basco on the 10am jeep.
The rest of the day in Basco was spent packing and preparing for the flight back to Manila
the following day.
Light rain in Uyugan; slightly cold winds.
6 February 2013, Wednesday

The Manila-Basco flight took some time in arriving; the Basco-Manila flight was delayed.
Less than 20 passengers were on the Manila-bound flight. Ms Robis arrived around 11am at
the Manila Domestic Terminal 4.

Outcomes of the fieldwork
1) NM has begun to establish its presence in the province, particularly with the Batanes
NM Development Workshop in addition to the meetings and courtesy calls to concerned
offices and agencies, where the general nature of NM’s work was elaborated further;
2) The initial instalment of the NM Batanes Natural History Reference Collection has been
set up;
3) Confirmation of how much weather/season-dependent the activities in the province are,
which would greatly affect future work plans for research and the Batanes NM facility;
4) With BHFI, we were able to ascertain how the collection and documentation process for
natural history collections;
5) During the course of the BINHI fieldwork, locals were also trained to be potential
researchers and museum workers;
6) Assessment of how intricate and consider these intricacies of managing a natural history
collection in such a setting, including and not limited to the following:
a) Disposal of waste materials generated from processing the collected specimens;
b) Storage environment control (fuel supply availability, salt sprays, equipment repair
and spare parts acquisition) versus working towards adjusting specimen
maintenance practices;
c) Access to and availability of preservation fluids, its storage, proper use and
management; and
d) Access to and availability of museum standard materials (labels, bottles, etc); and
e) Plans for being self-sustaining later on; and
7) Observation of the (also based on previous visits) the extreme fluctuations of
temperature and humidity levels in the Province that may affect all types of collections
(natural history, cultural materials and archaeological).
Recommendations for Batanes NM and natural history projects:

1) Development of a Collections Management Plan suited to the local setting and
dynamics, to include, but not limited to, the following details:
a) Acquisitions policy, including a protocols for collecting, acquisition documentation,
and taking specimens to NM Manila for further study and/or as collection duplicates
in cooperation with the local government agencies concerned;
b) Natural history specimen processing and maintenance protocols, including handling
fixing and preservation chemicals and disposal of wastes in terms of both
occupational/curatorial health and safety standards and Batanes as Protected
Landscape and Seascape;
c) Registration of the collected specimens to the NM Collections Registry, including
cataloguing, locations and movement control, and labelling;
d) Documentation of use of collections for exhibitions, research and publications; and
2) Use of basic identification and morphological forms during specimen collection as an
immediate reference to the collection should the researchers do not have enough time
to process the collection while on site;
3) Adoption of a standard procedure of turnover of specimens collected and duplicate copy
of all possible associated data gathered to NM site/branch and main office for purposes
of raw data archiving and use in future research (e.g., identified specimens with data set

composed of collection number with at least site/location name, date and assisting
collectors in list or field notebook form, in situ photos, etc.);
4) Development of a Risk and Disaster Management of Collections Protocol for the Batanes
collections should be considered and planned;
5) Transmission of copies of the IRR of RA 10066 for reference purposes to relevant offices
and agencies;
6) Further documentation and study of the Batanes biodiversity during other seasons in
order to complete natural life cycle data, and later on integrating these with the
local/traditional knowledge of the Ivatan community;
7) Periodic/seasonal workshops and trainings of locals to encourage their interest in caring
for the Ivatan heritage;
8) With the localization (“indigenization”) of the primary and secondary education
curriculum, use of the collection for the schools at the least and integration of the
collected data at the most should later be considered;
9) Public meetings are still recommended to inform the Ivatans about the Batanes NM
Project should be allotted and sufficient time and a totally separate itinerary.
Attachments
1) Track map of sites covered in the January 2013 BINHI fieldwork, generated from the GPS
data processed in ESRI ArcGIS Explorer Desktop;
2) Photos of the structural retrofitting of the LORAN Station as Batanes NM, as of 29
January 2013.
3) Batanes NM Development Workshop
a) Proposed schedule;
b) Revised schedule;
c) Preliminary transcriptions for Day 1;
d) Photos; and
e) List of participants;
4) Collections management report on the specimens collected for the Batanes NM under
the BINHI Project;
5) List of some online resources for basic field collection and identification, and
morphological forms.

Attachment 1
January 2013 BINHI Fieldwork track maps
Latitude-longitude coordinates recorded using GPS eTrex 10 units; data plotted using ESRI ARCGIS
Desktop Explorer.
a) Route maps for fish and polychaete collection; estimate coordinates provided by DTDumale
& BHFI.
Figure 1.1. Boat tracks and dive site in Batan Island vicinity, 15 and 16 January 2013.
Figure 1.2. Boat tracks and dive sites between Sabtang and Ivuhos Islands, 23 January 2013.

b) Route maps for fungi, mammals, birds and herps collection; estimate coordinates provided
by ERTadiosa, RCUrriza & BHFI.
Figure 1.3. Route map of fungi, mammal and bird collection and observation sites, with fish and
polychaetes (intertidal flats), 21-23 January 2013.
Figure 1.4. Route map of fungi, mammal, bird and herps collection and observation sites, 25-31 January 2013.

Attachment 2
Status of the retrofitting of the former LORAN Station as Batanes NM facility
As of 29 January 2013
Figure 2.1. Propped up roof of Building 3 (29 January 2013).
Figure 2.2. Inside Building 4 (28 January 2013) with DPWH Batanes NM Foreman Jose Facuri (left)
and Mr Perseverando Adami (center) (28 January 2013).

Figure 2.3. Inside Building 4, NW corner (28 January 2013).
Figure 2.4. Inside Building 4, NE corner (28 January 2013).
Figure 2.5. Inside Building 5 (Exhibition Hall) (28 January 2013).

Figure 2.6. Inside Building 5, with Dr Ana Labrador discussing details with
DPWH Asst DE Rommel Fabi (right) and Engr Prudencio Valiente (facing Dr Labrador)
(29 January 2013).
Figure 2.7. Roof of Building 6 veranda also propped up by coconut trunks (28 January 2013).

Figure 2.8. Outside wall of Building 6, facing west (28 January 2013).
Figure 2.9. Foundations of the former LORAN powerhouse (encircled), several meters’ walk
from Buildings 5 and 6; Engr Valiente and Asst DE Fabi proposes to re-use this for
the generator set (29 January 2013).

Attachment 3
Batanes NM Development Workshop
HRTC Hall, Provincial Capitol, Basco, Batanes
30 – 31 January 2013
a) Proposed schedule

b) Revised and implemented schedule

c) Preliminary transcriptions for Day 1 (30 January 2013)
Time count
... They have to answer basic information. Is your name how many letters long. Are you using
what last name. So with records management in museums, we also answer certain inquiries.
0.0 Where did it come from, where was it retrieved, if it comes from an archaeological site,
where exactly. Now we have more accurate ways of doing it by using the Global Positioning
System. We could also directly put them in maps.
So we also have to identify exhibition topics and collection catalogs about museum systems.
For instance, when I was managing the university museum of UP Diliman, I was director there
for eight year, I was surprised that there was no accurate catalog of the collection. What they
had was just an inventory which is compliant to government requirements. But the problem
1.02 with that is that they were keeping the collection similar to the office furniture and
equipment. And it should go beyond that. So I had to talk with the Commission on Audit and
say that cataloguing should be done because it is going to yield certain types of information
that may help the management of the museum. And in fact we found out that the Vargas
Museum has about 58 Fernando Amorsolo paintings.
We were able to come up with really good exhibitions as a result of that. So to be able to see
the bigger picture, it is actually very useful to that [collections cataloguing]. I’ll give you more
ideas later on. It also gives us information on how to picture collections. So pwede ring
gumawa ng condition reports, and the condition reports will come up with certain reasons
where we can prioritize, and later on during our exercise, how to give a significance
2.06 assessment of a collection.
So why document also, we have to provide legal ownership. So in museum settings, we have
to put down, if the collection of the museum permanent, or it could be on long-term loan, or
conditional loan, even could come as a gift.
So may mga systems ito. It also gets to describe a stolen item. For instance, something was
stolen from the museum. Something that could be exported. So we can tell the InterPol, or
the International Police, that this National Cultural Property has been taken somewhere and if
in the records of it include pictures and very detailed description of that, we could actually
3.14 retrieve it. It’s happened before.
It also fosters cooperation between museums. You might think later on have exchange
exhibitions. Not just within the Philippines, but also outside the Philippines.
And there is one that would happen in April. In April we will be taking some National Cultural
Treasures, collections from the National Museum, to Paris. They will be part of a Philippine
exhibition in a museum for ethnographic objects. Our Acting Assistant Director, whom some
4.05 of you know, Angel Bautista, will be acting as courier along with a National Museum
conservator, hand carrying them. Because of the information we have about them and they
are published, the curators of the MQB knows about this and this is useful for them also.
It is also important to ensure that information does not die on you. Problem yan in most
museums. Yung mga matatanda dun, pag nag-retire sila, kasi nasa memory lang nila, wala na
rin yung information. That’s why we have to fast track. Ganun din when we interview older
5.01 people about traditional knowledge, it’s a way for them, for the information, not to die with
them. Because it’s a _ some information.
[Pause]

Time count
So this is a picture of Ina _, who is one of my main source of wisdom in Bontoc, Mountain
6.44 Province.
She embodies this kind of information. I don’t know if you see them, but her arms are full of
tattoos. In fact, for the Bontok women, tattoos were used as part of their rite of passage
when they become women just before menstruation, they actually have tattoos. And those
tattoos are also mnemonic devices, it’s to remind them certain types of design for the textiles
that they weave, and eventually like Ina _, she actually use them as reminders of the designs
7.00 she will put on next time. So this is an example of the kind of textile that she weaves. It’s a big
blanket.
It’s those things that sometimes we have to record because once an elder or someone dies,
all that information that was not documented properly dies with them. And it’s really quite
essential.
But I’d like the irony of this photo which I took. She makes the most wonderful textile.
And she usually tells me, when I ask her questions, she will say that I’m very _.
8.08
So the documentation system is quite important. So when you say documentation systems, it
means that you have a way of recording and organizing the information about the collection
for purposes of identification, research, security and easy retrieval.
So you have to have all these things in a system. So what are the phases? One is the Entry
Documentation. So you would acknowledge receipt of objects, and to ensure that information
is not lost, sino kayang donor (for donate), lender, yung nagpahiram sa inyo nung object.
9.12 Pwedeng pinapahiram lang sa inyo; before the whole record is made.
Then you have the Accession. Parang sa libraries, it refers to the formal acceptance of all
acquisition, whether a gift, donation or bequest, into the museum collection.
So that’s where you actually put in yung accession number. So that you will start na with
when it came into the museum.
Then you have cataloguing. We’ll give you a catalog worksheet later on, during the workshop,
10.07 so you’ll know how to do that. And sometimes it takes a particular sense of _. I’ve seen
former students who completely get into the work, enjoy sitting down and cataloguing the
collections. So cataloguing is a complete record about everything that is known about the
object in the museum collection. Information held may be recorded in a system in the form of
cards maybe, minsan index cards lang, or sheets, like this one, a catalog worksheet.
You can have a computer, and that’s more advanced and actually in most museums I’ve
worked with, I use a particular software where you can create categories under the context of
the collection. And then you put the catalog numbers.
th
So this is actually at the back of an old painting, a 19 century painting, that’s made of panel.
11.06 Hardwood. Sometimes, the back of the painting, we should never neglect the other parts of
the collection. Sometimes they yiled more information. So ito merong inscriptions sa likod,
merong mga details, like for instance, what kind of _ was used, and sometimes you would
have the marking where it was first exhibited; sometimes also on the front. It’s quite
interesting.

Time count
So you can put that in. Even the type of stretcher that was used, the kind of support.
So the phases of documentation also involves cataloguing, the cataloguing system, so it

defines the manner of structuring information relevant to each object. For instance at the
12.07 National Museum, we’re having a hard time reconciling, what system would we use for all the
collections. And yet, what we’ve decided was that for each kind of collection, there would be
a sole system. Each its own cataloguing system.
And then there’s the supplementary information card.
So it contains all the documentation relevant to the object. There are stories attached to it, or
for instance, when you have condition reports, kung minsan iyon pa yung nagpapahaba doon
sa documentation. Yung condition report, you can add like three pages.
13.00 And then you would have indexing because indexing is actually, goes hand-in-hand with
retrieval. So it enables easy access to the information in the catalog without reading every
single card. So when you index, say, for instance, these are all objects from a particular,
Merrill or a site. So you have all those objects without reading every card, you must have, for
instance, even the number of objects or specimens taken from the site.
So indexing also gives you the bigger picture. So the system is based on the needs of the
museum.
What questions are often asked about the collection? Usually the questions of the guests are
where are they from, who made them, and what are they for? So three things. Where they
14.00 come from, who made them and what are they for.
When you document, you also control the movement. Hindi pwede yung tinatawag naming _.
They will forget where they put it. Ay, actually andun yun, pero parang kinuha ni... Ay, baka
nasa opisina niya. Nakikita nila kung minsan yung collection nasa personal na collection.
So movement control is important. You record the movement of the object. If they were
exhibited in exhibitions, the you write it down. So it’s for the objects within and outside of the
museum. Even those which we look at for a particular project, we record it. So this is _ for
permanent collections. Actually if you look at the security guards’ logbook, I like their
logbooks, where they write all these details. Sometimes lang, they don’t store it properly.
15.04 Sometimes tinatambak na lang. But those logbooks always show a lot of information. If
someone says that they don’t know where things are, if it has been logged properly, then you
know that it has been taken out.
And then you can also have Exit Documentation.
So it records every movement of the object as it goes out of the museum building. This is
applicable to short term loans and when you do what is called the deaccession of objects. To
deaccession objects, it has something to do with those that don’t fit certain types of
collections, that you feel belongs to certain museums. Kung minsan kasi, you also have to
16.03 write an Acquisitions Policy, sometimes some people would like to donate to the National
Museum, sometimes there’s just _. And it’s an honor for us. But when they donate, they have
to bring in all the other things, that are parang part of their personal collections. For us, if we
start doing that, there would not be enough space in the museum.

Time count
So we have to acquire, we have to seek donations judiciously. We have to ask, why are those
objects in our collections? Because, as museologists, we even calculate the cost of putting an
object in a museum. Even the space that it occupies, tiningnan namin relative to the real
17.01 estate property value. So you can imagine like somebody, in the Manila building, in Ermita,
where our building is, you can estimate how much the real estate property is there. You also
have to think about how these objects are maintained, sometimes the objects are much more
comfortable than we are.
They’re in forever refrigeration, because we also have to be certain.
So in the _ of documentation, we also elicit certain types of information. When objects are on
display, they are being _ by scholars, and this is valid also. So that’s why we always consider
when we put things on exhibit, because it elicits new type of information also.
18.01
So this could be recorded as part of the museum’s program, or valuable heritage program. So
we see for instance an object displayed there, then someone comes in and says something
new and relevant about that object. So that’s something important, and maybe you could
have recording instruments, even do interviews.
And then the data from such an approach can be cross-referenced, so that it could, may go
beyond hearsay. Hindi lang kwento-kwento, pero pwede ninyong i-crosscheck yung
information. It could be the same thing. In a lot of ethnographic museums, there are certain
19.07 things that don’t have provenance, the story or history or the biography of the object. So pag
walang provenance, hindi natin alam kung what is it for, what it’s made up of, and sometimes
if you exhibit them, you can create an open-ended exhibition. Let’s say, “What do you think
this is for?” That’s what the University of British Columbia reveal. It’s a long term project.
Because there are too many objects that do not have information about them. And
exhibitions are one way of getting those information and making them public.
20.02

d) Photos during the Batanes NM Development workshop
Day 1 photos
Figure 3.1. Batanes Vice Governor Ferdinand Elica gives the Figure 3.2. Assistant Director Ana Labrador, Ph.D.
welcome remarks. introduces the National Museum and the Batanes NM
Project.
Figure 3.3. Dr. Arvin Diesmos gives the zoological Figure 3.4. Dr. Edwin Tadiosa gives the botanical
perspective on collecting specimens for the NM. perspective on collecting specimens for the NM.
Figure 3.5. Batanes Sangguniang Panlalawigan Member and Figure 3.6. Dr. Labrador facilitates one of the groups,
Co-Chairperson of the UNESCO Local Documentation composed mostly of teachers, during the workshop proper.
Committee Ramonito Imperial talks about Batanes’
nomination as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Figure 3.7. Dr. Labrador facilitates another group; Uyugan Figure 3.8. One of the groups during the workshop, with
Mayor Olive Blackburn (seated, Dr. Labrador’s right) and NCIP Executive Director Eduardo Delfin (standing, fourth
Ivana Sangguniang Bayan and UNESCO Local from left) and Basco Vice Mayor Ann Viola (standing, fifth
Documentation Committee Member Anastacio Cabugao from left) as members.
(seated, in yellow-orange jacket) are also members.
Figure 3.9. Presentation of Day 1 workshop outputs on identification of cultural and natural history
resources of Batanes.

Day 2
Figure 3.10. Dr. Labrador talks about managing collections in museums.
Figure 3.10. Presentation of workshop outputs regarding record keeping on Batanes cultural materials.

Figure 3.11. Presentation of workshop outputs on exhibition planning for the Batanes NM.
Figure 3.12. Dr. Labrador prepares to hand out the certificates of participation and appreciation with
SP Imperial and BHFI Executive Director Bobbie de Mata.
Figure 3.13. Participants, facilitator and partners of the Batanes NM Development Workshop I.

e) List of participants

Attachment 4
BINHI/Batanes NM Collection Report
a) BINHI Collections Status Report (outline follows National Park Services Museum Handbook I,
Appendix F [1999] on Collections Management Site Report), as of 4 February 2013
I. History of collection
A. Enabling legislation/authorization of collection
• RA 10066 authorizes the National Museum to collect natural history materials for
purposes of research, provided that the NM researcher has the following documents
dated accordingly:
1. Travel Authority signed by the NM Director; and
2. Permit to Collect and Transport Specimens signed by the NM Cultural Properties
Division Chief/Curator II;
• MOA between the National Museum, Batanes Representative Henedina Razon Abad
and the Batanes Heritage Foundation, Inc. (BHFI); and
• MOA between the National Museum and the National Historical Commission of the
Philippines (NHCP) for PDAF disbursement.
B. Purpose of collection at the site and significance to the museum

• Batanes is an outstanding example of an island system developed from submarine
volcanic activity;
• Extensive zoological, botanical and geological surveys are yet to be undertaken in
Batanes, and existence of presently unknown endemic species are highly possible;
• Establish the reference collection for the upcoming Batanes National Museum facility
in the former LORAN Station site in Uyugan Municipality; and
• Generate basic data pertinent to the nomination of Batanes as a UNESCO World
Heritage Site, as well as the activities of other government agencies.
C. Cultural and natural significance of the collection

• Establish the geological, zoological and botanical reference collections for Batanes, as
these represent species occurrence and site biodiversity at this particular time;
• Serves as a documentation of the scientific principles behind the traditional knowledge
in the local cultural practices of the Ivatan community; and
• Help establish standards and best practices for museum collections management in
island environments considering the location and its nomination as a UNESCO World
Heritage Site.
D. Provenance/source of collection
• Fieldwork dates:
1. 27 July – 12 August 2012;
2. 16 October – 8 December 2012;
3. 14 January – 1 February 2013; and
• Sites identified by both BHFI and NM researchers pertinent to their respective
specialization (see Table 4.7 for complete list of collection and study sites).

E. Size of collection
1. Types of objects and specimens already in collection
a. Disciplines
• Zoology
 Crustaceans
 Mollusc shells
 Echinoderms
 Insects
 Fish
 Polychaetes
 Mammals
 Birds
 Herps
• Botany
 Ferns
 Seed-bearing plants
 Fungi
 Algae
 Diatoms
• Geology
b. Classification of specimens in the collection according to material, preparation
and preservation
• See Table 4.1
2. Number and types of archival collections

a. Types of documents and estimated count
• Labels (see Tables for notes)
• Logbook with lists of specimens: 2
• Digital photos in BINHI portable HD, taken in high resolution settings with
low resolution copies, stored off-site
 July – August 2012: 3,740
 October – December 2012: 11,153
 January – February 2013: 4,815
• GPS digital logs and maps
b. Inclusive dates of archival collections
• 27 July to 26 August 2012
• 16 October to 14 December 2012
• 14 January to 6 February 2013
F. Visitation
• NM researchers upon arriving in Batanes & during specimen processing
• Uyugan LGU visits
• Itbud Integrated School Grade 7 Science class
• BHFI staff with NM researchers and between fieldwork dates to check specimens
II. Scope of collection

A. Scope of Collection Statement
• None yet

B. Acquisition strategies
• Natural history specimen collection in situ
• “General” collection implemented in zoology, meaning non-specialists may collect
specimens for other specializations if and when these specimens are encountered
during their collection
 Identification of specimens collected by the non-specialists may be problematic
even if these are fixed and/or preserved, since colors, among other
characteristics, change once the animals expire
 Possible solution may be the development and/or use of a standard protocol for
taking detailed photos that may be used for identification
 Establishment of the faunal baseline data from specimen collections and
interviews, particularly on those that are used economically, may help identify
later which are those that “must” be collected and those that should just be
photographed in situ, etc.
• Archaeological excavations (holdings currently stored off site: BHFI Office in Basco
and Sabtang Island)
• None yet for ethnographical materials
C. Gaps in collection by theme, type of material, association, historical era, geographical

coverage
• Ethnographical materials
• Natural history
 Collections from sites yet to be visited, per biological specialization
 Seasonality data
 Life cycle data
 Coral data
 Sponge data
 Bryophyte specimen & data
 Sea grass data
 Mollusc soft tissue data & specimens of soft bodied species
 Others
• Collections development strategy (cooperative acquisitions planning with other

local/national organizations)
 No comprehensive written plan yet
• Priorities for collecting
 No comprehensive plan/statement yet, but natural history specimens are
currently prioritized in view of Batanes’ nomination as a UNESCO World Heritage
Site
• Status of records management program
 No comprehensive program/process/statement yet
 Initial database already setup using Filemaker Pro Advanced software
 Possible to use Kansas University’s Specify 6.4 natural history database program
for the natural history collection
D. Disposition strategies
• No comprehensive plan/statement yet

E. Identification strategies for collections held outside
• No comprehensive plan yet
• Possible to inventory holdings collected from Batanes in the earlier years stored in
NM Manila and to check corresponding collection records
• Possible arrangements of access and transmittal of duplicates to Batanes NM later
III. Museum documentation (records and information management)

A. Records storage and preservation
• No comprehensive plan yet
• Need to resolve the following issues on digital records:
 Accessibility, including sensitive data, researcher access, public access, etc.
 Transmittal of duplicate files to main storage for Batanes NM
 Format (e.g., high versus low resolution, etc.)
 Migration, in terms of the technology being obsolete
 Quality of storage systems
 Others
B. Accessions records
1. Accession book
• None yet
• Local (Batanes NM) accession system to be established which will be cross
referenced later to NM Manila collections accessions
• Both electronic and manual databases should be used
2. Accession folders
• Not yet established
• Natural history accessions made by NM researchers should be supplemented by
photocopies of their Travel Authorities & Permits to Collect and Transport
• Other project plans & memoranda should also be attached as supplement to the
specimen accessions
C. Unaccessioned objects
• All specimens collected and stored in Uyugan, Batanes have not yet been
accessioned to NM Collections Register
D. Catalog records
• None yet
• Should be in both electronic and manual forms
• Issues that needs to be addressed in the establishment of the system:
 File formats
 Fields
 Software
 Updating of data
 Access and retrievability, including use of standard data fields for data exchange
 Use of scientific standards for calibration, data objectivity, as well as long-term
and data exchange, e.g., Munsell color charts for color calibration, etc.
 Supplemental records, e.g., condition reports, routine maintenance, location log,
treatments, analyses, etc.

E. Inventory records
• Individual count of natural history specimens not yet done (should/can it still be
done?)
• Need of establishing a system for regular/periodic inventory of collections
F. Collections management report

• See Table 4.7
• System not yet established
G. Loan records
• None yet
• System not yet established
H. Deaccessions
• Comprehensive statement/plan not yet established
I. Photographs
• Need to systematize digital photograph storage; classification into
specimens/object/collection, exhibition halls, press materials, access and retrieval,
etc.
• Need to standardize specimen photography protocols/shooting guidelines (e.g.,
angles, maximum light exposure, scale, etc.)
IV. Archival and manuscript collection

• Collections needs to be supplemented by the following:
 Researcher fieldnotes
 Collection field notebook to record sequence of in situ collection, following/adapting
standard international procedures
 Morphological data, following/adapting standard international procedures
 Methodological plan/proposal of study
 Others previously mentioned
• Establishment of a clear file plan, to include consideration of the following:
 Accessibility to researchers, the public, etc.
 Evaluation to identify gaps in collection
 Storage and duplicates
 Others
V. Museum security
• Recommended that the following should be included:
 Security procedures, particularly on the access to the chemicals
 Risk assessments, especially on use and disposal of chemicals in the island
environment of Batanes
 Physical and electronic security
 Fire prevention, detection and suppression
 Emergency management, planning and response
 Transportation of fluid preserved specimens

VI. Museum environment and hazardous materials
A. Temperature and relative humidity
• Highly recommended that systematic recording & monitoring should be
implemented
• Establishment of seasonal baseline data for specimen monitoring
B. Light
• Recommended that systematic measurement should be done
C. Dust and air pollution

• Minimal risk
D. Biological infestation
1. Past infestation
• Mold growths (see October – December 2012 Trip Report) due to extreme
relative humidity and temperature fluctuations in Batanes and deficient
processing of specimens
• Action taken: Digital photos taken, brushed clean, soaked in formalin & air dried
• Damage to collection: Probable loss of specimen viscera
• Evidence of current infestation: Holes, hollow cavities
2. IPM program
• None yet
• Program to be established should include the following:
 Monitoring program
 Periodic inspections
 Written log and analyses
3. Potential attraction and harborage sites

• Temporary kitchen setup at the temporary storage building
• Recommended that storage setup in the Batanes NM facility at the LORAN
Station should consider the relative location of the following areas:
 Kitchen/pantry
 Appliances
 Plumbing/water source
 Cracks and gaps
 Trash removal (overnight)
4. Pesticides
• Anti-termite chemical used inside the building
• Baygon® purchased but remains unused since it may react to the fumes from the
preservation and/or fixative chemicals used on the specimens
E. Hazardous materials and response

• Regular check if plastic bottles containing ethanol and formalin are labeled
• Security check of chemicals & access to temporary storage building to prevent
accidents
• Highly recommended that protocols on using and disposing chemicals during
collection, processing and fluid changes should be established
• Highly recommends strict implementation of use of safety equipment, e.g., gloves,
masks, etc.

VII. Storage
A. Existing storage condition
1. Location of storage
• Temporary loan of the Former RHU Building, Barangay Itbud, Uyugan, Batanes
by the Office of the Provincial Governor through the Uyugan LGU
• Adjacent to river and residential community; faces the sea and National Road
• Space not measured; no electrical facilities
• Specimens to be transferred to the Batanes NM facility at the former LORAN
Station, Uyugan, less than 1 kilometer from the current temporary storage; no
target date set
• Batanes NM facility is only several meters from the sea; architectural plans
indicates “sealing” the areas relevant to exhibitions and storage from the
environmental conditions of the area
2. Accessibility
• Two sets of keys: BHFI and Barangay Itbud Chairman & Council
• Limited access of locals, usually only when BHFI and ECR were present
3. Exclusively curatorial functions

• Approximately 85% of collected specimens in storage
• Mainly natural history specimens
• Specimens are organized according to type of preservation:
 Dry: In boxes, plastic bags, food-grade containers
 Fluid: Ethanol-preserved bottles covered by black seedbags and kept on
curtained areas of cabinet; formalin-preserved bottles in open cabinets, but
minimally exposed to sunlight
• Range in size of objects stored:
 Small vials to 500g glass bottles
 Reused boxes that can be easily and safely carried by an individual in terms
of size, also packed lightly
 Fossil(s) have not been moved
4. Storage equipment
• Refer to Figures 4.1 and 4.2; Tables 4.2, 4.3 and 4.4.
• NM conservator and researcher recommendations regarding storage equipment
in the Batanes NM facility at the former LORAN Station
5. Storage methods
• Cabinets elevated off floor approximately 3 inches
• Limited stacking per cabinet
• Approximately 75% of specimens with labels
6. Curatorial/processing workspace
• Currently also in the temporary storage building
• Work table installed
• NM supervision for purposes of training during post-collection treatment
processes during fieldwork duration;
7. Off-site storage
• NM Manila may be considered as “off-site” storage for specimens shipped as
duplicates

B. Condition of objects, archival and manuscript materials and specimens in storage
1. Collection condition survey needed
• Establishment of condition reporting protocol and frequency
• Establishment of condition reporting forms
• Specimen condition needs to be assessed due to the following:
 Periods of extreme fluctuations in temperature and humidity conditions;
 Irregular preservation fluid changes and maintenance schedule; and
 Accessibility and immediate availability of preservation and fixative
chemicals, and their shelf/storage life
2. Storage materials
• Refer to Figures 4.1 and 4.2; Tables 4.2, 4.3 and 4.4.
3. Proper storage to maintain condition

• Establishment of a system of a relatively “proper” storage suited to the island
environment of Batanes, particularly to the location of the temporary storage
facility and the Batanes NM facility in consultation with the NM conservator and
natural history researchers
• Storage of digital media still needs to be checked
VIII. Exhibits
• None yet
IX. Housekeeping and cyclic maintenance

A. Existing conditions
• Salty residues from wind
• Extreme temperature and humidity fluctuations
B. Written housekeeping manual

• None yet
• The following should be included:
 Cleaning methods
 Cleaning materials
 Schedule
C. Proper handling of museums and archival objects

• Training on proper handling should be conducted with future staff
D. Cyclic preventive building maintenance

• Batanes NM facility: To be managed by future staff in coordination with NM
Restoration and Engineering Division and Batanes DPWH
E. Personnel
• None yet
F. Storage of cleaning supplies and equipment

• Located near the sink area and back door of the temporary storage building
• Yet to be identified in the Batanes NM facility

X. Access and use
A. Procedures for evaluating museum collection use
• None yet
• Highly recommended to include the following materials for purposes of records:
1. Forms
 Access procedures and rules governing use statement
 Researcher registration form
 Copyright and privacy restrictions statement
 Researcher duplication form
 Researcher log
 Checklist: Evaluating a request to use museum objects
2. Standard operating procedures
 Access procedures
 Research and reference standard operating procedures
 Handling procedures
 Monitoring research space
 Duplicating and reformatting
B. Research space
• None in the current temporary storage building
• Allotted in the Batanes NM facility at the former LORAN Station
• Recommended that the following conditions should be considered:
 Dedicated space
 Security
 Adequate space
 Location adjacent to work and storage space
 Adequate equipment and utilities
 Disabled access
C. Restrictions and legal issues

• Recommended that restriction issues should be discussed and minimum and
maximum conditions should be set, particularly regarding donor accessibility,
accessibility to sensitive data, etc.
• Compliance to legal bases and museum and associated standards, both national and
international; should also be listed/enumerated for reference purposes
D. Publications
• Will be coordinated with NM Manila regarding in-house publications
• Highly recommended to include the following materials, particularly in terms of
Batanes’ nomination as a UNESCO World Heritage Site:
1. Forms
 Intellectual property permission request
 Assignment of copyright by contractor
 Cooperative publishing agreement
 Model release form
 Memorandum of Agreement of contract with publisher
2. Standard operating procedures
 Publication project checklist
 Digital publications project checklist
 Museum Management Program editing checklist

E. Reproductions
• Standard operation procedures, copyright, and restrictions should be formulated
F. Special uses
• Highly recommended to include the following materials, particularly in terms of
Batanes’ nomination as a UNESCO World Heritage Site:
1. Forms
 Special use permit
 Hold harmless or liability clause to be included in a special use permit
 Conditions included in special use permit for spaces housing museum
collections
2. Procedures
 Filming and photography in spaces housing museum collections
 Special events in exhibit spaces
 Keeping objects in working order
 Museum objects used in performance, sound production or demonstration
 Museum objects used in educational and interpretive programs
G. Research
• Recommended that the future staff should be trained in the following:
1. Knowledge of library research techniques
 Basic research
 Special sources on archives
 Special sources on museum objects
2. Knowledge of museum research techniques
3. Knowledge of web searching technique
4. Knowledge of how to interview potential researchers
XI. Staffing
• Staff training needs should include, but are not limited to, the following:
 Basic curatorial training: Object handling, accessioning, cataloguing, storage
assessment, condition reporting
 Archives management knowledge: arrangement, description, handling, deterioration
identification, reformatting, reference services and research, cataloguing,
intellectual property rights (copyrights, privacy and publicity) and restriction issues
 Collections database maintenance
 Conservation management training: identifying deterioration and treatment needs,
project planning, working with a conservator
 Others
XII. Planning, programming and funding

A. Planning documents
• Recommended that planning for the Batanes NM facility should include preparation
of the following documents:
 General collections management plan
 Strategic collections plan
 Annual performance plan
 Resources management plan

B. Funding sources
• Funding source of current collection activity:
 Batanes Congressional District PDAF for the Batanes Integrated Natural History
Research Initiative (BINHI) Proposal coursed through the National Historical
Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), for NM, and the Batanes Provincial
Government, for BHFI
• Funds for the succeeding years, once the Batanes NM is operational, will come from
the NM budget
• Fund allotment/sourcing should be made for the following:
 Backlog cataloguing
 Electronic database startup and maintenance
 Exhibitions maintenance
 Cyclic maintenance of facility
 Resources preservation programs
 Collections preservation and protection programs, including fixative and
preservation chemicals
 Staff skills development workshops

Table 4.1. Collection specimen & preservation classification, with notes on preparation & associated archival materials.
Biological Specimen
Collected Specimens Preservation Preparation Associated Archival Materials
Classification
BOTANICAL Dried, stored in folded newspaper, Field number labels
Algae Dry
stored in boxes Notes with LTE
Diatoms/phytoplanktons Dry In dried soil samples
Water samples in re-used bottles Field number labels
Wet Samples taken for further analysis in Notes with LTE
NM Manila
Cuttings for DNA bagged with silica Digital photos in situ & of cuttings taken by
gel JRCC; with ECR & BINHI portable HD
Field numbers on standard tags tied on

Dried, stored in folded newspaper,
specimens, folded newspapers & taped on
stored in boxes
Ferns Dry plastic bag packs
Economic use noted Notes with JRCC
Duplicates in folded newspaper, Digital photos of dried cuttings w/ ECR
soaked in denatured alcohol;
shipped to NM Manila
Fungi Printed, uniform labels: information fields
Dried, stored in individual zipbags
Dry printed on ink-based computer printers;
per species
data written on pencil
Smaller fungi immersed in Notes with ERT; digital photos in situ taken
Wet commercial ethanol in small bottles by ERT & BHFI, with ECR; dried & packed
& vial photos taken by ECR; in BINHI portable HD

Biological Specimen
Classification
Field numbers on standard tags tied on
Dried, stored in folded newspaper,
specimens, folded newspapers & taped on
stored in boxes
plastic bag packs
Notes with DNT; digital photos in situ with
Cuttings for DNA bagged with silica
Seed-bearing Dry DNT; some digital photos corrupted; no
gel
backups
Duplicates in folded newspaper,
Digital photos of dried cuttings with ECR &
soaked in denatured alcohol;
BINHI portable HD
shipped to NM Manila
ENTOMOLOGICAL Beetles
Bugs
Butterflies & moths Pinned specimens with naphthalene 50% of digital photos taken by ECR; in BINHI
Dry
Centipedes balls portable HD
Flies
Grasshoppers
INVERTEBRATES Corals Dry Air drying inside building
Consists of moults & shells washed

onshore
Digital photos taken by ECR; in BINHI
Crustaceans Dry
portable HD
Air dried & place in semi-transparent
food grade plastic containers Field number labels

Biological Specimen
Classification
Fluid-preserved: commercial ethanol Notes with MMS
List logged at temporary storage site
Several fluid changes for ethanol Digital images in situ taken by MMS; with
preserved, bottles also covered with ECR & BINHI portable HD
Wet
black seedbag against exposure to
Digital images while processing & scaled
light
closeups taken by ECR & BHFI; with ECR &
BINHI portable HD
Fluid-preserved: formalin
Boiled, kept frozen; brought to NM Digital images of stored specimens with ECR
Frozen
Manila
Echinoderms Magnesium sulfate used as relaxant

during collection, also Vicks® and
Digital photos in situ, during collection and
White Flower®
processing taken by ZDS & ECR; with ECR &
Brittle stars Urchins & starfish immersed in BINHI portable HD
Dry
Urchins formalin then air dried
Digital photos during post-collection
Crinoids Mold infestation on brittle stars days treatment & in storage with ECR
after air drying; cleaned, immersed
Starfish in formalin & air dried Labels handwritten on tracing paper
Sea cucumbers Wet Fluid-preserved: formalin

Biological Specimen
Classification
Buried on sand inside seedbag to

accelerate soft tissue decay; cleaned
after two to three weeks; shells air
Digital photos in situ, during collection and
dried & bagged in transparent
Dry processing taken by ZDS & ECR; with ECR &
plastic bags
BINHI portable HD
Molluscs Sampled (species number & type & Digital photos in storage with ECR
collection site) for identification in
NM Manila Few labels handwritten on tracing paper
remain; eaten by maggots while buried
Several species also preserved in
Wet formalin; soft bodies with shells
Not all identified
Magnesium sulfate used as relaxant Digital photos taken by DTD; with ECR
Polychaetes Wet during collection Notes with VSP
Fluid preserved: formalin Handwritten labels on tracing paper
VERTEBRATES Notes with ACD
Amphibians & reptiles Wet Fluid preserved: formalin Digital photos in situ taken by ECR, BHFI &
JRCC; with ECR, ACD & BINHI portable HD
Both study & mounted skins, dried; Field number tags on specimens
buffered with cotton in plastic box Notes & measurements with RCU
Birds Dry
Digital photos in situ taken by RCU
Digital audio recordings taken by RCU

Biological Specimen
Classification
Fluid preserved: formalin Notes with DTD
Digital photos in situ & during preparation
Fishes Wet taken by DTD; with ECR & BINHI portable
HD
Handwritten labels on tracing paper
Fluid preserved: formalin Field number tags on specimens
Notes & measurements with MJV
Mammals Wet
Digital photos in situ taken by ERT, RCU,
MJV & EUM; with ECR & BINHI portable HD
GEOLOGY & Rocks In transparent plastic bags Handwritten labels on plastic bags
PALAEONTOLOGY Soils List logged at temporary storage site
Dry
Fossils Digital photos in situ & while processing
taken by RdO & BHFI; with ECR & BINHI
portable HD

b) Map/diagram of specimen location for monitoring and movement control; NM Temporary
Storage Site, Former RHU Building, Barangay Itbud, Uyugan, as of 4 February 2013.
Figure 4.1. Location map of collected specimens during BINHI Project.

Figure 4.2. Relative location of NM Temporary Storage, former RHU Building in Barangay Itbud, Uyugan.

c) Inventory and location log of specimens deposited at the former RHU Building, Barangay Itbud, Uyugan, Batanes, as of 4 February 2013.
Table 4.2. Inventory and log of specimens, as indicated in Figure 4.2.

Counter Description / Contents Quantity Date collected / Collector Notes
Section A
Corals, shells, echinoderms and January 2013 / VSPalpal-
Approx. 30 pieces
sponges (air drying) latoc & DTDumale
1a-1b
January 2013 / VSPalpal-
Coral snake and slugs 2 bottles
latoc & DTDumale
1c Supplies NA NA NA
1d Chemicals NA NA NA
1e Chemicals and containers NA NA NA
Labeled 17; 22; 30; 31; 43; 47; 49; 53a;

12 small bottles January 2013 / ERTadiosa
2a Fungal specimens on ethyl alcohol 56; 64; 71; and 75.
6 big bottles January 2013 / ERTadiosa Labeled 46; 50; 51; 57; 73 and 77.
Snakes in formalin 1 plastic containers January 2013 / ACDiesmos
Crustaceans and algae in ethyl Sorted in small plastic zipbags; approx.
1 pail August 2012 / MMSantos
alcohol (?) 13 algae
2b
Bats in formalin 1 pail January 2013 / MJVeluz
November-December 2012 /
Water samples for diatoms Approx. 30 plastic bottles 2 sets: 1 in used box and 1 in tray
LTEvangelista
July-August 2012 /
Crabs in formalin 2 pails Sorted in small plastic zipbags
MMSantos
Holothuria in formalin 1 pail December 2012 / BHFI
2c
July-August 2012 /
1 pail Sorted in plastic zipbags
Fish in formalin MMSantos
1 pail January 2013 / DTDumale Sorted in plastic zipbags

Counter /
Description / Contents Quantity Date collected / Collector Notes
Cabinet
3a None NA NA NA
3b None NA NA NA
3c-3d Supplies & equipment NA NA NA
Section B
July-August 2012 / With field numbers 41, 45, 47, 49, 50, 55,
9 bottles
1 Crustaceans in formalin MMSantos 60, 61, and 62.
3 bottles August 2012 / BHFI
July-August 2012 / With field numbers 42, 48, 50, 51, and
5 bottles
MMSantos 52.
July-August 2012 / Zipbags inside, with field numbers 48, 49
2 Crustaceans and fish in formalin 1 bottle
MMSantos and 50A visible
1 bottle August 2012 / MMSantos “Raele shrimps”
1 bottle August 2012 / BHFI
5 bottles 4 bottles with small zipbags
latoc & DTDumale
3 Crustaceans in formalin
2 plastic zipbags
latoc & DTDumale
July-August 2012 /
2 bottles With field numbers 18 & 22
MMSantos
October-November 2012 /
4 Crustaceans in formalin 3 bottles
VDAng & ZDSalazar
microwaveable October-November 2012 /
1
container VDAng & ZDSalaza

Cabinet Description / Contents Quantity Date collected / Collector Notes
1 bottle
latoc & DTDumale
5 Molluscs in formalin 1 plastic zipbag On open microwaveable container
latoc & DTDumale
August-September 2012 /
4 bottles
BHFI
October 2012 / VDAng &
6 Crustaceans in formalin 1 pail Ivuhos & Sabtang specimens
VDSalazar
1 bottle July 2012 / MMSantos Itbud specimen
5 bottles August 2012 / MMSantos Diura specimens
7 Fish in formalin November 2012 / VDAng &
1 bottle
ZDSalazar
1 bottle September 2012 / BHFI Radiwan specimen
Mahatao lizard, 2 snakes; covered with
3 bottles August 2012 / BHFI
black seedbags
November 2012 / NM &
8 Reptiles & sea eel in formalin 1 bottle Uyugan specimen (lizard)
BHFI
microwaveable October 2012 / VDAng &
1 Sabtang specimen
container ZDSalazar
October 2012 & January
food grade
9 Fish in formalin 1 2013 / VDAng & ZDSalazar
plasticware
and DTDumale
July-August 2012 /
10 Shrimps in commercial ethyl alcohol 8 bottles Covered with black seedbags
MMSantos
Crustaceans in commercial ethyl July-August 2012 / Covered with black seedbags; 1 bottle
11 7 bottles
alcohol MMSantos without label
July-August 2012 /
Crabs in commercial ethyl alcohol 1 pail
12 MMSantos
Fish in formalin 1 pail January 2013 / DTDumale 13 fish specimens

Section C
13 None NA NA NA
14 None NA NA NA
15 BR 001-007 7 plastic bags RdOcampo, PAOng & Geology collection
BNaungayan
16 Dried echinoderms 11 plastic bags September 2012 / BHFI On blue tray
October-November 2012 / Brittle stars on tissue layers, sealed with
1 tray
ZDSalazar plastic cover
17 Dried echinoderms
2 plastic bags Starfishes
ZDSalazar & VDAng
BNaungayan
19 None NA NA NA
20 None NA NA NA
BNaungayan
Seagrasses in commercial ethyl
4 bottles August 2012 / MMSantos Covered with seedbags
alcohol
22 3 bottles
latoc
Polychaetes
6 small bottles Lab grade bottles
latoc
Slugs in formalin 7 bottles Discolored formalin due to ink
VDAng
23
January 2013 VSPalpal-latoc
Polychaetes & crab in formalin 1 bottle Zipbags inside
& DTDumale

BNaungayan
3 bottles
VDAng
Molluscs in formalin
microwaveable October-November 2012 /
25 1
container VDAng
microwaveable October 2012 / VDAng &
Seaworm in formalin 1
container ZDSalazar
26 Slugs in formalin 8 bottles
VDAng
BNaungayan
Racuaydi shells 6 plastic bags November 2012 / VDAng Sorted according to type
28 Diura shells 5 plastic bags November 2012 / VDAng Sorted according to type
Chatapuyan shells 4 plastic bags November 2012 / VDAng Sorted according to type
Motchong shells 7 plastic bags November 2012 / VDAng Sorted according to type
29
Kayvaluganan shells 2 plastic bags November 2012 / VDAng Sorted according to type
BR 048-049 2 plastic bags November-December 2012 /
30 RdOcampo, PAOng & Geology collection
Hornblende 1 piece BNaungayan
Itbud shells 5 plastic bags November 2012 / VDAng Sorted according to type
31
Vatang shells 5 plastic bags October 2012 / VDAng Sorted according to type
32 Imnajbu shells 11 plastic bags November 2012 / VDAng Sorted according to type
33 Fossil specimens 9 plastic bags RdOcampo, PAOng & Geology collection
BNaungayan

Iraya shells 3 plastic bags November 2012 / VDAng Sorted according to type
34
Sinakan shells 10 plastic bags October 2012 / VDAng Sorted according to type
35 Ivuhos shells 9 plastic bags October 2012 / VDAng Sorted according to type
36 None NA NA NA
37 None NA NA NA
38 None NA NA NA
39 None NA NA NA
Section D
microwaveable July-August 2012 /
Shells 9
40 containers MMSantos & BHFI
(Tridacna) 1 piece August 2012 / MMSantos
July-August & October-
microwaveable
Dried echinoderms 10 November 2012 /
container
41 MMSantos & ZDSalazar
Dried echinoderms 6 plastic bags
latoc & DTDumale
42 None
43 None
44 None
45 None
46 None
47 None
48 None
49 None
50 None
51 None

Cabinet top
Fossils Approx. 5 pieces RdOcampo, PAOng & Geology collection
BNaungayan
30 Bottles Microwaveable & Approx. 36 Pieces

25 (23 + 2)
Total 10 Pails plastic containers 1 Tray
145 Plastic & zip bags 112 Plastic bottles

Table 4.3. Inventory of botanical specimens deposited at the former RHU Building, Barangay Itbud, Uyugan, as of 4 February 2013. Herbarium
(pteridophytes, seed-bearing plans and algae) specimens are stored in 6 boxes; dried fungal specimens and soil samples are placed on top of
Sections B and C cabinets (see Figure 4.1). These however have not been mapped in Figure 4.1.
Pack Description / Contents Quantity Date collected / Collector Notes

5 boxes of seed-bearing and pteridophyte specimens
DNT-400; 402; 403; 404; 405; 407; 410;
November 2012 /
(1) Dried seed-bearing plant specimens 18 specimens 411; 412; 413; 414; 415; 416; 417; 418;
DNTandang & WFVendivil
427; 546; and 550.
November 2012 / DNT-401; 419; 590; 594; 597; 599; and
(2) Dried seed-bearing plant specimens 7 specimens
DNTandang & WFVendivil 603.
DNT-406; 408; 409; 420; 421; 422; 423;
November 2012 /
469; 474; 476; and 483.
DNT-435; 436; 437; 438; 439; 440; 441;
November 2012 / 442; 443; 444; 445; 446; 447; 448; 449;
DNTandang & WFVendivil 450; 451; 452; 453; 491; 492; 496; 508;
510; 520; 521; and 522.
DNT-454; 457; 464 (4 pieces); 465; 466;
November 2012 /
480; 481; and 482.
November 2012 / DNT-456; 458; 459; 460; 484; 486; 487;
DNTandang & WFVendivil 488; 489; and 490.
DNT-493; 494; 499; 502; 506; 507; 513;
November 2012 / 514; 515; 516; 517; 534; 535; 538; 542;
DNTandang & WFVendivil 543; 544; 545; 547; 548 (2 pieces); 551;
and 554.
DNT-493; 497; 498; 500; 501; 503; 505;
November 2012 / 509; 518; 519; 523; 524; 529; 530; 531;
DNTandang & WFVendivil 534; 536; 537; 539; 540; 541; 553; 583;
591; 607; and 629.

DNT-524; 525; 526; 527; 528; 531; 555;
November 2012 / 556; 557; 558; 559; 560; 561; 562; 563;
DNTandang & WFVendivil 564; 565; 566 (2 pieces); 567; 568; and
569.
DNT-570; 571; 572; 573; 574; 575; 576;
November 2012 / 577; 578; 579; 580 (2 pieces); 581; 582;
DNTandang & WFVendivil 584; 585; 586; 587; 588; 593; 594; and
596.
DNT-589; 600; 601; 602; 604; 605; 606;
November 2012 /
619 (2 pieces); 620; 632; 634; and 635.
DNT-621; 622; 623 (2 pieces); 625; 626;
November 2012 / 627; 628; 630; 631; 636; 638; 639; 640 (2
DNTandang & WFVendivil pieces); 641; 645; 646; 647; 648; 649;
650; and 651.
JRCC-996; 997; 998; 1002; 1003; 1004;
October-November 2012 / 1004?; 1005; 1006; 1007; 1008; 1010;
(13) Dried pteridophyte specimens 23 specimens
JRCallado 1011; 1012; 1013; 1014; 1016; 1017;
1019; 1020; 1021; 1022; and 1023.
JRCC-1024; 1025; 1026; 1027; 1028;
1029; 1030; 1031; 1032; 1034; 1035;
1036; 1039; 1041; 1042; 1043; 1045;
(14) Dried pteridophyte specimens 41 specimens 1046; 1063; 1064; 1065; 1066; 1067;
JRCCallado
1068; 1069; 1072; 1072; 1073; 1074;
1075; 1076; 1077; 1078; 1079; 1080;
1081; 1082; 1083; 1084; 1085; and 1086.
Box of algae specimens
(1) #2 dried algae 6 specimens NA
LTEvangelista
LTEvangelista

LTEvangelista
LTEvangelista
LTEvangelista
LTEvangelista
LTEvangelista
LTEvangelista
LTEvangelista
LTEvangelista
LTEvangelista
LTEvangelista
LTEvangelista
(14) 31 specimens NA
LTEvangelista
#18 dried algae
mounted November-December 2012 /
(15) 6 NA
specimens LTEvangelista
LTEvangelista
LTEvangelista

LTEvangelista
(19) #? dried algae 3 specimens NA
LTEvangelista
Dried fungal specimens
(1) Dried fungal specimens 7 specimens August 2012 / BHFI
ERT-1021; 1022; 1023; 1025 (2 pieces);
1027; 1029; 1031; 1034; 1035; 1036;
1037; 1039; 1040; 1044; 1052; 1053 (2
pieces); 1055; 1058; 1059; 1060; 1061;
43 specimens January 2013 / ERTadiosa
1063; 1065; 1066; 1067 (2 pieces); 1068;
1069; 1072; 1074; 1076; 1078; 1079;
(2) Dried fungal specimens 1080; 1081; 1084; 1085; 1087; 1088;
1089; and 1090.
1 specimens January 2013 / ERTadiosa Field number covered by specimen
January 2013 / ERTadiosa MMMB-001; 002; 003; 004; 005; 006;
16 specimens 007; 008; 010; 011; 012; 013; 014; 016;
019; and 020.
Soil samples
(1) Dried soil samples Approx. 20 plastic bags With numbers
LTEvangelista
Estimated number of specimens Approx. 649

d) Specimens deposited at the Batanes Heritage Foundation, Inc. (BHFI) office in Basco.
Table 4.4. Estimated count and inventory of specimens deposited at the BHFI Office, Basco
(with RCUrriza).
Quantity Description Notes
Brown shrike (“valichit”), 2 skins;
chestnut-eared bulbul (“pyek”), 3
1 Plastic box Dried bird specimens skins; brown-headed thrush, 2
mounted skins; grey wagtail, 1 skin;
common sandpiper, 1 skin.
Food grade plastic Dried insects (bugs,
1 16 pieces
container centipede, butterflies)
Food grade plastic
1 Dried insects (bugs mostly) 67 pieces
container
Food grade plastic
1 Dried moths and butterflies 15 pieces
container
Food grade plastic
1 Dried moths and butterflies 20 pieces
container
Total 5 plastic containers

e) Initial list of identified geological specimens deposited at the Former RHU Building, Barangay
Itbud, Uyugan; encoded from collection logbook, logged 6 December 2012 by RdOcampo,
PAOng and BNaungayan.
Table 4.5. Batanes NM Rock Reference Collection

Assigned Field
Specimen Quantity Locality/Date Collected
No.
Motchong, Uyugan / 18 November
BR - 001 Lahar deposit 1 bag
2012
Alapad, Itbud, Uyugan / 18
BR - 002 Lahar deposit 1 bag
November 2012
Basaltic and andesitic Alapad, Itbud, Uyugan / 18
BR - 003 10 pieces
clast November 2012
BR - 004 Limestone 4 pieces
November 2012
BR - 005 Matrix and clast 4 pieces
November 2012
Malagaw, Malakdang, Sabtang / 20
Matrix 1 bag
November 2012
BR - 006
Aschip, Malakdang, Sabtang / 20
Limestone 6 pieces
November 2012
Limestone with Morong, Malakdang, Sabtang / 20
BR - 007 7 pieces
manganese November 2012
Morong, Malakdang, Sabtang / 20
BR - 008 Manganese oro 2 pieces
November 2012
Clast 4 pieces Chinay, Savidug, Sabtang / 21
BR - 009
Matrix 1 bag November 2012
Lavak, Sinakan, Sabtang / 21
BR - 010 Matrix 1 bag
November 2012
Lavak, Sinakan, Sabtang / 21
BR - 011 Clast 6 pieces
November 2012
Mayuray, Savidug, Sabtang / 21
November 2012
Tinyan, Chavayan, Sabtang / 21
BR - 013 Andesite 5 pieces
November 2012
Avuvi, Chavayan, Sabtang / 21
November 2012
Morong, Malakdang, Sabtang / 22
November 2012
Mayawma, Nakanmuan, Sabtang /
22 November 2012
Naraypan, Nakanmuan, Sabtang /
22 November 2012
Clast 3 pieces Katawan, Sumnanga, Sabtang / 22
BR - 018
Matrix 1 bag November 2012
Katuvang, Sumnanga, Sabtang / 22
November 2012

Assigned Field
No.
Mt. Chanatuan, Sabtang / 23
BR - 020 Clasts (andesite) 4 pieces
November 2012
Along road-cut, Chavatuan,
BR - 021 Limestone 4 pieces Malakdang, Sabtang / 23 November
2012
Along road-cut, Chavatuan,
BR - 022 Calcite 5 pieces Malakdang, Sabtang / 23 November
2012
Tachiraw, Sinakan, Sabtang / 23
November 2012
Savang, Sinakan, Sabtang / 23
BR - 024 Basaltic rock 3 pieces
November 2012
Naguat, Sinakan, Sabtang / 24
BR - 025 Clast 7 pieces
November 2012
November 2012
Ibaud, Savidug, Sabtang / 24
BR - 027 Beach ridge deposit 1 bag
November 2012
Taluktukan, Savidug, Sabtang / 24
November 2012
Taluktukan, Savidug, Sabtang, 24
November 2012
November 2012
Chamayan, Tinyan, Chavayan,
Sabtang / 26 November 2012
Naratayan, Chavayan, Sabtang / 26
BR - 032 Beach sand 1 bag
November 2012
Asked, Chavayan, Sabtang / 26
November 2012
Naratayan, Chavayan, Sabtang / 26
BR - 034 Columnar jointing (basalt) 4 pieces
November 2012
Clast 4 pieces Chuhangen, Ivuhos Island, Sabtang
BR - 035
Matrix 1 bag / 27 November 2012
Chuhangen, Ivuhos Island, Sabtang
/ 27 November 2012
Chadiditan, Ivuhos Island, Sabtang /
27 November 2012
BR - 038 Calcite 5 pieces
27 November 2012
Alapad, Sinakan, Sabtang / 28
November 2012
Babal, Imnajbu, Uyugan / 30
November 2012
Babal, Imnajbu, Uyugan / 30
November 2012

Assigned Field
No.
Maytalin, Imnjabu, Uyugan / 30
November 2012
Paderes, Mahatao, 1 December
2012
BR - 044 Limestone 4 pieces Mahatao / 1 December 2012
Maychang, Uyugan / 2 December
BR - 045 Conglomerate 4 pieces
2012
Rolling Hills, San Antonio, Basco / 4
BR - 046 Pumice clasts 10 pieces
December 2012
Rolling Hills, San Antonio, Basco / 4
BR - 047 Tuff 5 pieces
December 2012
Songsong Bay, San Antonio, Basco /
BR - 048 Basalt 3 pieces
4 December 2012
Table 4.6. Batanes NM Fossil Reference Collection

Assigned Field
No.
Havay, Malakdang, Sabtang / 20
BF - 001 Coral 1 piece
November 2012
November 2012
November 2012
November 2012
November 2012
November 2012
Coral 3 pieces Mahat, Savidug, Sabtang / 21

BF - 025
Gastropod 1 piece November 2012
Mahat, Savidug, Sabtang / 21
November 2012
November 2012
November 2012
Chinay, Savidug, Sabtang / 21

BF - 30 Clam 1 piece
November 2012
Chinay, Savidug, Sabtang / 21
November 2012
1 piece Chinay, Savidug, Sabtang / 21
BF - 32 Coral
November 2012

Assigned Field
No.
BF - 33 Coral
November 2012
BF - 34 Coral
November 2012
BF - 35 Coral
November 2012
BF - 36 Coral
November 2012
BF - 37 Coral
November 2012
1 piece Katuvang, Sumnanga, Sabtang / 22
BF - 38 Coral
November 2012
Katuvang, Sumnanga, Sabtang / 22
BF - 39 Coral 2 pieces
November 2012
Mt. Chanatuan, Malakdang,
Mt. Chanatuan, Malakdang,
Rasayan, Malakdang, Sabtang / 24
BF - 042 Coral 3 pieces
November 2012
November 2012

November 2012
November 2012
November 2012
Tavuyik, Savidug, Sabtang / 26

November 2012
27 November 2012
BF - 057 Coral 1 piece Gisded, Ivana / 30 November 2012
BF - 058 Coral 3 pieces Gisded, Ivana / 30 November 2012
Songsong Bay, San Antonio, Basco /

Hornblende (mega-crystal) 1 piece
4 December 2012

f) Collections Management Report (follows NPS Collections Management Report Form [2000])
Table 4.7. Batanes NM/BINHI Collections Management Report Summary
Year 2012-2013 Museum Batanes NM/BINHI Project
I. Total Collection Summary from Previous Year

Archaeology Ethnology History Archives Biology Paleontology Geology Total
A. Objects catalogued NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
B. Cataloguing backlog NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
C. Total catalogued NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
II. Collection Summary for Current Year

A. Entries Gifts Exchanges Purchases Field Collections Transfers Incoming Loans Total
1. Objects deposited NA NA NA 1,400* NA NA 1,400*

2. Objects deposited NA NA NA 20,000** 1,300* 35* 48* 21,400
Notes
*Estimated number only: approximately 600 zoological specimens collected and deposited; 700 botanical specimens collected and deposited; 35
paleontological specimens collected and deposited; and 48 geological specimens collected and deposited in Batanes (Itbud RHU, Uyugan & BHFI,
Basco).
**Estimated number only: approximately 19,900 are digital archives; stored off-site
B. Accessions Gifts Exchanges Purchases Field Collections Transfers Incoming Loans Total
1. Objects accessioned NA NA NA 0 NA NA 0

2. Objects accessioned NA NA NA 0 0 0 0 0
Notes

C. Deaccessions Loan Involuntary Voluntary
Return to
Destructive
Exchanges Transfer Losses Theft
return
Conveyance
destruction destruction
rightful
analysis Total
owner
1. Objects deaccessioned NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA

2. Objects deaccessioned NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
D. Cataloguing Archaeology Ethnology History Archives Biology Paleontology Geology Total

1. Objects catalogued NA NA NA 0 0 0 0 0
2. Total Number of 4. Total Number of 5. Total Number of

1. Total Number of 3. Total Objects in
E. Use of Collections Outgoing Loans
Objects in Outgoing
Exhibits
Research Requests Research Requests from
Loans within Institution Outside Institution
NA NA NA NA NA
III. Total Collection Summary for All Years

A. Objects catalogued NA NA NA 0 0 0 0 0
B. Cataloguing backlog NA NA NA 20,000** 1,300* 35* 48* 21,400
C. Total collection NA NA NA 20,000** 1,300* 35* 48* 21,400
IV. Noteworthy Accessions, Deaccessions and Others

g) List of sites visited, July-August and October-December 2012, and January 2013.
Table 4.7. Collection and study sites and stations, Batanes Province.
Covered dates Site Team Members
M. M. Santos, E. C. Robis, C. de Mata and BHFI;
28 - 29 July 2012 Itbud, Uyugan
B. V. Cobico and R. C. Adami
Jimbak, Diura and Racuaydi, M. M. Santos, E. C. Robis, C. de Mata and BHFI;
3 - 5 August 2012 Mahatao A. Mina
M. M. Santos, E. C. Robis and BHFI; Brgy.
7 August 2012 Radiwan, Ivana
Chairman A. Cabugao
M. M. Santos, E. C. Robis, R. N. Robillos, J. P.
9 August 2012 Raele, Itbayat Castillo and BHFI; J. Villa, R. Gonzales, J. N.
Robillos, S. Intervalo & J. Castro
17 October 2012 Mt. Matarem, Mahatao traverse J. R. Callado & BHFI

19 - 23 October 2012 Ivuhos & Sabtang Islands J. R. Callado & BHFI
24 October 2012 Mt. Iraya foothills, Basco J. R. Callado & BHFI
25 October 2012 Racuaydi & Itbud J. R. Callado & BHFI
J. R. Callado, V. U. Samarita, V. D. Ang, Z. D.
28 October 2012 Mt. Iraya foothills, Basco
Salazar & BHFI
Itbayat J. R. Callado, R. R. Nobleza & J. P. Castillo
29 - 31 October 2012
Ivuhos & Sabtang Islands V. U. Samarita, V. D. Ang, Z. D. Salazar & BHFI
Mt. Iraya foothills, Basco
1 November 2012 Salazar, R. R. Nobleza & J. P. Castillo
San Antonio, Basco D. N. Tandang & W. F. Vendivil
V. D. Ang, Z. D. Salazar, E. C. Robis, M.
Motchong to Itbud, Uyugan Beronque, P. K. Balderas, D. J. Nanud & D. N.
2 November 2012 Tandang
Mt. Iraya foothills, Basco D. N. Tandang, J. R. Callado & BHFI
V. D. Ang, Z. D. Salazar, E. C. Robis, M.
Radiwan & Diura, Mahatao Beronque, P. K. Balderas, D. J. Nanud, D. N.
3 November 2012 Tandang & W. F. Vendivil
Mt. Iraya foothills, Basco J. R. Callado, V. U. Samarita & J. P. Castillo
V. D. Ang, Z. D. Salazar, M. Beronque, P. K.
5 November 2012 Imnajbu, Uyugan
Balderas & D. J. Nanud
6 November 2012 Mt. Iraya peak, Basco J. R. Callado, R. R. Nobleza & J. P. Castillo
5 - 9 November 2012 Ivuhos & Sabtang Islands D. N. Tandang, W. F. Vendivil & BHFI
8 November 2012 Itbud, Uyugan
Salazar & BHFI
10 November 2012 Mt. Matarem, Mahatao traverse D. N. Tandang & BHFI
D. N. Tandang, J. R. Callado, R. R. Nobleza & J.
12 November 2012 Mt. Iraya peak, Basco
P. Castillo
13 November 2012 Itbud, Uyugan D. N. Tandang, W. F. Vendivil & BHFI
Motchong & Itbud Alapad, R. de Ocampo, P. A. Ong, B. Naungayan & BHFI

18 November 2012
Uyugan
19 - 29 November 2012 Sabtang Island R. de Ocampo, P. A. Ong, B. Naungayan & BHFI
27 November 2012 Ivuhos Island R. de Ocampo, P. A. Ong, B. Naungayan & BHFI

Covered dates Site Team Members
30 November 2012 Imnajbu, Uyugan & Ivana R. de Ocampo, P. A. Ong, B. Naungayan & BHFI
1 December 2012 Mahatao R. de Ocampo, P. A. Ong, B. Naungayan & BHFI
2 December 2012 Maychang, Uyugan R. de Ocampo, P. A. Ong, B. Naungayan & BHFI
3 December 2012 Motchong, Uyugan R. de Ocampo, P. A. Ong, B. Naungayan & BHFI
4 December 2012 San Antonio, Basco & Diura, R. de Ocampo, P. A. Ong, B. Naungayan & BHFI
25 - 28 November 2012 Sabtang Island L. T. Evangelista & BHFI

27 November 2012 Ivuhos Island L. T. Evangelista & BHFI
29 November 2012 Basco & Mahatao L. T. Evangelista & BHFI
30 November 2012 Racuaydi, Mahatao & Imnajbu, L. T. Evangelista & BHFI
1 December 2012 Songsong, Itbud & Imnajbu, L. T. Evangelista & BHFI
3 December 2012 Ivana L. T. Evangelista & BHFI
5 December 2012 Ivana to Mahatao L. T. Evangelista & BHFI
15 January 2013 Subtidal area in Naidi Hills V. S. Palpal-latoc, D. T. Dumale, BHFI & C.
16 January 2013 Subtidal area in Chanarian, Basco V. S. Palpal-latoc, D. T. Dumale, BHFI & C.
17 January 2013 San Antonio, Basco V. S. Palpal-latoc & BHFI
21 - 22 January 2013 Sabtang V. S. Palpal-latoc, D. T. Dumale, M. J. Veluz, R.
23 January 2012 Subtidal areas of Nakanmuan, V. S. Palpal-latoc, D. T. Dumale, BHFI & C.
18 - 20 January 2013 Mt. Matarem, Mahatao traverse M. J. Veluz, E. R. Tadiosa & BHFI
23 - 27 January 2013 Mt. Iraya foothills, Basco M. J. Veluz, R. C. Urriza, A. C. Diesmos, E. R.
24 January 2013 Tunnels, Chanarian, Basco M. J. Veluz, E. U. Mendoza, D. J. Nanud, R.
29 January 2013 Mt. Iraya peak R. C. Urriza, A. C. Diesmos, E. R. Tadiosa & BHFI
30 January 2013 Mt. Iraya foothills R. C. Urriza, A. C. Diesmos & BHFI
31 January 2013 Mt. Matarem, Mahatao traverse R. C. Urriza, A. C. Diesmos & BHFI

Attachment 5
List of some online resources for natural history specimen identification, morphological and
collection management forms, protocols and guidelines
1) Artefacts Canada Natural History Dictionary Data

2) Field Notebook. Australian National Herbarium, Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research website.
3) Cook, FEM. 1995. Economic Botany Data Collection Standard. Prepared for the International
Working Group on Taxonomic Database for Plant Sciences (TDWG). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
http://www.kew.org/tdwguses/index.htm. Accessed 22 May 2013.
4) Info-Muse Network Documentation Guide: Documenting your collections.
http://www.smq.qc.ca. Accessed 15 June 2011. (Section on natural history)
5) National Park Service Museum Handbooks I, II and III (sections on Natural History, Paleontology
and Geology)

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Report on the Batanes Integrated Natural History Research Initiative

National Museum Team

(Separate reports to be submitted)

Preparation for the fieldwork

BINHI Trip Report/ECRobis & APLabrador 18 January – 6 February 2013 1/84

An initial team, Assistant Director Cecilio Salcedo, carcinologist Ms Marivene Manuel-Santos

BINHI Trip Report/ECRobis & APLabrador 18 January – 6 February 2013 2/84

BINHI Trip Report/ECRobis & APLabrador 18 January – 6 February 2013 3/84

BINHI reports were anticipated to be completed for submission to Dr Florentino Hornedo

BINHI Trip Report/ECRobis & APLabrador 18 January – 6 February 2013 4/84

BINHI Trip Report/ECRobis & APLabrador 18 January – 6 February 2013 5/84

Mr Virgilio Palpal-latoc, Zoology Div Chief/Curator II (Sea worms)

0640H ETA, Basco Airport (to be met by BHFI representatives)

Check in at Ivatan Lodge

0900H BHFI Office (schedule, staff assignment, travel documents)

1000H Courtesy call: Governor Gato's office

Courtesy call at PENRO, BFAR & DepEd

1530H Meeting with Mr Chico Domingo of Dive Batanes (tentative)

1600H BHFI Office to finalize working schedule

15 - 23 January 2013, Field collection at sites, as arranged with BHFI staff

18 January 2013, F ETD, Manila-Basco flight via SkyJet

Dr Edwin Tadiosa, Museum Researcher II (Fungi)

BINHI Trip Report/ECRobis & APLabrador 18 January – 6 February 2013 6/84

0640H ETA, Basco Airport (to be met by BHFI representatives)

Check in at Ivatan Lodge

0900H BHFI Office (schedule, staff assignment, travel documents)

1000H Courtesy call: Governor Gato's office

Courtesy call at PENRO & BFAR

1600H BHFI Office to finalize working schedule

19 - 26 January 2013, Field collection at sites, as arranged with BHFI staff

19 - 27 January 2013, Coordination for the Batanes NM Development Workshop

21 January 2013, M ETD, Manila-Basco flight via SkyJet

Mr Rolly Urriza, Museum Researcher I (Birds)

0640H ETA, Basco Airport (to be met by BHFI representatives)

Check in at Ivatan Lodge

Supply & materials preparation

BINHI Trip Report/ECRobis & APLabrador 18 January – 6 February 2013 7/84

Mr Urriza joins Ms Veluz, Dr Tadiosa & BHFI staff in

21 - 26 January 2013, Ms Mendoza & Ms Robis works on the specimens at the

Bird (and herps, later) & fungi collection activities continue

25 January 2013, F ETD, Manila-Basco flight via SkyJet

Dr Arvin Diesmos, Museum Researcher II/Scientist II (Herps)

Check in for Basco-Manila flight

0640H ETA, Basco Airport (to be met by BHFI representatives)

Check in at Ivatan Lodge

Supply & materials preparation

Dr Diesmos joins Mr Urriza, Ms Veluz, Dr Tadiosa & BHFI staff

0710H ETD, Basco-Manila flight via SkyJet

28 January 2013, M ETD, Manila-Basco flight via SkyJet

Dr Ana P Labrador, NM Director III/Batanes NM Project Leader

Arch Nelson Aquino, Batanes NM Retrofitting NM Proj Leader

Check in for Basco-Manila flight

BINHI Trip Report/ECRobis & APLabrador 18 January – 6 February 2013 8/84

0710H ETD, Basco-Manila flight via SkyJet

0830H Courtesy calls: CDO, Gov Gato's office, DepEd

1430H Meeting & preparation for the Batanes NM Dev't workshop

Arch Aquino & Mr Ynabangan meets with DPWH/goes to

29 -31 January 2013, Batanes NM Development workshop