Manila Bae was once the “most beautiful and safely- situated bay in the world.” The Manila South Harbor in its fringes, which spans six provinces (Bataan, Pampanga, Bulacan, Metro Manila, and Cavite), was considered the best harbor for its depth and its location. It was protected from weather disturbances by land surrounding it, one of the few “inland bays” in the world. Today, the bay has become the dirtiest and biggest garbage dump, after years of human abuse and neglect. Fishes, shrimps, crabs, lobsters that were once plentiful have disappeared, and those left are no longer fit for human consumption. Swimming is prohibited, and thousands of tons of muck and debris, floating and sunken, are waiting to be collected.

Ilarde, E. (2018, August 3). The bay, the river, the lake: abandoned and dying. The Manila Times, pp. A1, A8.