The International Ocean Station concept and scale model currently exhibited at the Mind Museum in Taguig City showcases the dreams and solutions of coastal communities of La Union with artist-scientist Cesar Jung Harada.
The architectural project is also supported by Emerging Islands, among others. Emerging Islands, which was born during the pandemic, is a bi-annual artist residency in San Juan, La Union, providing much-needed space and support for Filipino creatives to develop their talents and skills while fostering a culture of contribution and collaboration.
Just like the ocean itself, the ocean station is a playground that's open to all, a place where anyone can explore, enjoy, and protect the sea.
It harks to the spirit of adventure that drove the international race to the moon, and is being designed by those who dwell by the sea, fisherfolk and surfers, children and elders, conservationists and artists in the province.
Samantha Zaradin, co-founder of Emerging Islands, said their team invited coastal communities and environmental advocates to add their imagination and stories to the ocean station.
Since the country, including La Union, is surrounded by water, she said it should have an international ocean station.
“Because the Earth is 75-percent water, we need to have a better understanding of how to preserve our oceans, the marine life, how to better predict certain weather patterns, all of those things and communities like La Union which are at the front line of the climate crises need to better understand to protect the oceans,” said Zaradin.
During the creation of the ocean station replicas, various communities from San Gabriel, Bacnotan, Bauang, San Juan, and San Fernando City, among others had built models using discarded materials found on the beach such as any old containers, scrap wood, and unused junk from their own home.
To Zaradin, building the model was a difficult one as they were working with collected recycled materials from the beach like driftwood and dirty plastic which should be used to build the model.
“But what’s great about that is it encourages creativity like how trash turns into something that will help save the ocean,” said Zaradin.

There were different perspectives from each community they worked with about what an International Ocean Station would be like and how would it be helpful for their livelihood.
After coming up with their models, they build samples of their versions of their International Ocean Station.
Replicas of their models were formed into an International Ocean Station which comprised a livelihood center, dormitories, transportation of bancas, a school, a laboratory, and a social center, which were displayed in the Mind Museum City permanently.
The raw architectural model which was crafted by local communities, was displayed on October 29, 2023 at the Curma in San Juan, La Union and was transferred back to the Mind Museum.
Said replicas shall amplify the communities’ stories due to their varying perspectives and problems, genuine problems that they wanted to solve.
“The replica of the ocean station in La Union doesn’t require expensive technology, instead it should be sustainable and resilient to have a better life, and sustainable tourism and by engaging with the community, we can better understand how much knowledge the frontline of the climate crises have,” said Zaradin.
For his part, Atty. Reginald Nang, information officer of the municipal government of San Juan, reiterated that the local government continues to help the local communities like the surfers, fisherfolks, and the youth imagine a place where they can explore, enjoy, and protect the ocean in a fun and enjoyable way.
“As the ‘Surfing Capital of the North’, it is high time that the local government listens to the fisherfolk, and environmental advocates in matters related to ocean conservation,” said Nang.