A good number of Baclayon residents especially those who are partial to exotic seafood must be salivating in secret upon knowing that a bottle nose dolphin instead of being allowed to be slaughtered for its succulent meat was ordered buried by Baclayon Mayor Alvin Uy. It weighed almost a hundred kilos and measured 2.2. meters. Baclayon residents along the coastal villages know for a fact that dolphin meat is superb for its “nilabog”, a favorite concoction for sea mammals like manta ray or “sanga” and stingray or “pagi”. As would have been the case if not for the environmental advocacy of Mayor Uy, the dolphin should have ended up in many fishermen's frying pans if it was allowed to be butchered and cut it into pieces to interested nilabog lovers. With the death of the sea creature, nature lovers mourn for another loss to the dwindling dolphin population of Baclayon which has become a source of income to many Pamilacan island residents. It was the second recorded death of the well-loved sea animal.

Subsequent investigation made by personnel of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) showed that the dolphin was beached lifeless along the shoreline of barangay Sta. Cruz in Baclayon. Then, concerned coastal residents reported the sighting of the dead mammal to Mayor Uy. The young mayor then ordered its burial maybe to the consternation of barangay residents who were thinking of having a grand feast of dolphin nilabog. This culinary dish is a concoction of sea creatures meat usually belonging to the dolphin family and is a favorite viand of coastal inhabitants. The cuisine is usually flavored with coconut milk with a generous dose of hot pepper.

According to DENR personnel, the dolphin died after it suffered cuts in the different parts of its body possibly from shark attack, the creature's known predator in the high seas where they are pandemic. The seas between Baclayon and Pamilacan have become the playground of the harmless dolphins so much so that a thriving industry was built around it. The Ayala Foundation through Bea Zobel de Ayala and Joel Uichico have partnered to develop a cottage industry out of manta ray hunters in Pamilacan. Together they provided livelihood to the island folks through a whale watching activity which has since become a tourist attraction in Baclayon. Through the generosity of the cash-rich foundation, it lent money to islanders without interest to give them livelihood in the whale watching business after they were deprived of their earnings as a result of the ban in the hunting of manta rays. Now, it has become a common sight in Baclayon's lighthouse area that boats have been outfitted with tour seats for use in the whale watching enterprise manned mostly by former manta ray hunters. They have since been deputized as whale spotters. (With reports from SEN GUINGGUING)