24/03/2026
During our visit to Baseco, Manila, the rain fell steadily from a fray and restless sky, yet the community welcomed us with warmth that outshone the weather. Among the many kind faces we met was Sir Dante, the President of the Guardians of Baseco, whose quiet dedication to serving their community was evident in every action he carried out. Along the way, several children tagged along. We met Alfrancis and his friends, whose bright laughter echoed above the sound of the heavy rain.
They guided us through through narrow paths and puddled streets, leading us toward the beach they hold very dearly. With bright eyes and eager voices, they shared stories of afternoons spent by the shore, playing games, chasing one another across the sand, and watching the waves roll in as the sun begins to set.
As we approached the coastline, the beauty of the horizon stood in painful contrast to the reality before us. The sea carried with it a tide of drifting waste, scattered along the shore like an uninvited presence that refused to leave. Yet even with the beach scattered with waste, the children continued to walk barefoot on the sand.
The sunset painted the sky in soft shades of gold and amber, wrapping the community in a gentle glow. In that light, their smiles shone brighter than anything else. They deserve a shoreline where the sand is clean beneath their feet and the water is safe to touch. They deserve mornings filled with possibility and evenings filled with peace. Baseco shouldn’t always carry the image of a place left in waste. It deserves to be remembered as a place nurtured by caring hands and protected by devoted hearts.
This community stands on the front lines of rising tides and a changing climate. To care for Baseco is to care for the people who call it home. Above all, it means honoring their dreams, protecting their future, and ensuring that the shore they run across today will be renewed and preserved for the many tomorrows still waiting for them.
is a series featuring photographs captured by our youth leaders who took part in the National Geographic in Manila last December 2025
