Subic Bay, Philippines — Silent Anchors, a collaborative work by photographer Dr. Dolores “Dolli” Angeles-Bustamante and poet Noraida “Jen” Velarmino–van der Heijde, has officially launched, offering readers a quiet yet powerful tribute to the mangrove ecosystems of Subic Bay and the human stories entwined with them.
The book began as a shared fascination with mangroves — a landscape shaped by tides, tangled roots, and silence. Through Bustamante’s photographs, the mangroves appear as meditations on strength, stillness, and the natural rhythms of life. Paired with van der Heijde’s haiku, the images gain a lyrical voice that reflects the resilience and grace found in nature and in ourselves.
Created during a period marked by personal loss, a global pause, and renewed environmental advocacy, Silent Anchors emerges as a testament to staying rooted when everything else is in motion. The work documents a specific place but evokes a universal truth: that connection, memory, and quiet understanding often speak louder than words.
The Creators
Dr. Dolli Angeles-Bustamante, a pediatrician and formally trained photographer, describes her work as “poems that never got written.” Her photographs in the book were captured during sunset trips to the Subic Bay mangroves with her late husband, making the collection both an artistic study and a personal tribute.
Noraida “Jen” Velarmino–van der Heijde is a journalist, environmental advocate, and president of the Subic Bay Freeport Chamber for Health and Environment Conservation (sbfCHEC). Her haiku blend her lifelong passion for poetry with her commitment to protecting Subic Bay’s biodiversity.
About the Publisher
Silent Anchors is published by Casa San Miguel, a multidisciplinary arts center in San Antonio, Zambales founded by cultural advocate Alfonso “Coke” Bolipata. Known for its rigorous artistic vision and award-winning publications, Casa San Miguel’s imprint champions works rooted in craft, cultural memory, and social conscience.
A GLIMPSE INSIDE
From the Photographer:
“Grief is a fog that drains all color, and for a time, I truly wondered if I would ever be able to see a photograph again. But the mangroves, and the deep need to honor those quiet mornings and his unwavering belief, eventually called me back. Returning to them was an act of profound courage. My camera became my grounding force—a familiar tool to help me navigate an unfamiliar world.”
From the Poet:
“The words arrived in moments of stillness, as I gazed at sunsets from our hilltop home overlooking the forest that borders the El Kabayo Wetlands—a landscape intimately tied to the mangroves of Pamulaklakin. I feel blessed each time I pass these living landscapes. What began as simple drive-by moments became a form of communion—a quiet dialogue between my world and the vibrant life thriving there.”
Poem No. 15 in “Silent Anchors”
HOW THE SACRED PAINTS
Silence filled with grace,
a prayer without words spoken—
a quiet amen.
In that deep stillness—
the world holds its breath in trust—
waiting for the brush.
Light swept through the dark—
colors laughed, lines leapt with joy—
dawn sings, “Let there be!”
Gold, azure, and green—
the sky clapped, the earth embraced;
all echoed with bliss.
How the sacred paints—
not with haste, but gentle light,
each stroke, a blessing.
— Noraida “Jen” Velarmino van der Heijde