One interesting spot we passed at Barangay Maasim in San Rafael was a mini-dam built in the middle of the river that runs beside the road.

According to its marker, it was built in 2002 through the aid of Rotary International. It’s a simple enough structure, basically a concrete rampart that traverses the stream’s width. The purpose of the dam entirely escapes me. I guess it might be used to control the river’s flow and the high water utilized as irrigation for the nearby fields, but I’m just speculating here.

What I surely know is the dam is a hang out place for ducks, lots and lots of ducks.

I’m unsure of their exact species, but a quick search shows that they might be khaki campbell ducks, which are common for duck raising livestock industries. These birds are bred for their eggs.

I wonder how their owner herd these guys in, they seemed to be all over the creek and I can’t seem to get near them, they hurriedly take flight whenever they see me coming.

I know this is a pretty ordinary scene in rural areas, nothing to get all excited about. But for us Manileños, it’s not everyday that we see a huge flock of birds (even if they’re just ducks) wading about without a cage.

   

Barangay Maasim
San Rafael, Bulacan
http://www.sanrafael.gov.ph

          PART OF AN OVERNIGHT BULACAN SERIES  
          FARMLIFE AT SAN RAFAEL | PALANAS MINI-DAM