Boracay Sun | September 2016 Issue by Boracay Sun

SEPTEMBER 2016 | VOL. VI NO. 8 | BORACAY’S MONTHLY NEWS ON RECYCLED PAPER

WWW.BORACAYSUN.COM

COMPLETE LIST What’s in this issue...

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IN THE NEWS EXPAT FILES 7107 ISLANDS CENTERFOLD LIFESTYLE HEALTH ROTARY BORACAY

Puka Beach, eyed to be a wildlife sanctuary Joel James Cubillas

uka Beach, a stretch of untouched shoreline located at Barangay Yapak, Boracay Island, has been declared as one of the best travel destinations by Conde Nast Traveller (cntraveller. com) - an online travel magazine. The magazine cited the beach’s “gorgeous and blindingly white sand” as the spot’s main draw. Included in the said list are Lisbon, Portugal and Barbuda, Carribean. There’s no denying that Boracay and

IN THE NEWS

its stunning little gem, Puka, has been attracting international adoration. Puka, named after the small, beautiful shell, defines its charm as a place of zen -- a spot away from the crowded, sometimes raucous, Manoc-Manoc.

tourist arrival is inevitable.

Not exactly the perfect place for beers and Bloody Marys, Puka, thanks to its laid-back vibe, is rather the perfect venue for coconut water / cocktails served and drank straight from bamboo shacks. The genuine tropical charm of Puka will not remain a mystery to foreigners anytime soon. With magazines and television shows discovering and featuring the place, the exponential increment in the

The Friends of Flying Foxes (FFF) last year has initiated a candle lighting activity that raised awareness on harsh effects of commercialization to flying foxes, the fruit bats endemic to the area.

EXPAT FILES

Boracay is turning into ‘green’ paradise

From Plastic to Fantastic

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With this factor at hand, companies may eye developing infrastructures that may or may not compromise the virginal beauty of Puka.

An environmental summit for Boracay was supposed to be held last year but was postponed due to national poll preparations. Today, stakeholders again

heed for a conference that will discuss environment and wildlife protection and preservation. The exact date of the summit is yet to be determined but Malay Councilor Nette Graf said, “We want it to happen soon. Boracay as an international destination deserves an international standard in environmental protection.” Boracay Foundation Incorporated (BFI), Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry-Boracay, the Aklan Provincial government and Department of Tourism, in an interview with pageone.ph all pledged support for the said conference.

7107 ISLANDS

CENTERFOLD

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El Nido, Palawan Save Philippine Seas

lifestyle

Pokémon Go in Boracay >>> PAGE 13

EDITOR’S NOTE

We were tourists first in the island. Mesmerized by its beauty, we indulge in the magnificent white beach. Survived the underwater helmet diving, Ariel’s point and of course, the beach parties. Our lodging was perfect; we didn’t mind the 5-minute walk to the beach. But if it was beachfront, oh yeah, we would definitely rejoice. The people were always ready to give their best smile. It was a place where you can be anyone or wear anything (let’s limit that to a bikini only). The island vibe seduced us and we began to want more. To explore more. Thus, the discovery of the Puka Beach, which is in our cover story. Aside from the popular White Beach, Boracay has other promising beaches to conquer e.g., Puka, Lapuz-lapuz and Iligiligan. The preservation of these sandy gems has always been the focus of the local government and the island NGOs. The world is changing because of industrial advancement, but Boracay is striving and thriving to become the paradise it was and should be. Awareness is the key to preserve the island’s splendor. And this month’s issue is packed with environmental consciousness to ignite our desire to protect our dearest island. We were tourists once. We fell in love, and we decided to call it ‘home’.

COVER THE BORACAY SUN FAMILY

By Alva Alvarez

WWW.BORACAYSUN.COM Senior Editors BLANCHE BASCO & BETH JALEA Art Director ALVA ALVAREZ

ma. teresa fajilan

6 Life lessons to Help Keep Things Real 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Life isn’t fair, deal with it. Don’t take yourself too seriously. When in Doubt, take the next step. At times its best to agree to disagree. Life is too short to waste being negative. Even though it doesn’t come with a bow on top, life is still a very precious gift.

~ Advanced life skills BE YOURSELF No matter what. Some will adore you and some will hate everything about you. But who cares? It’s your life. Make the most out of it. ~ Simple Reminders Learn to say “NO” WITHOUT EXPLAINING YOURSELF. Setting Bounderies for yourself is key to developing your own SELF ESTEEM. ~ Di Riseborough in “Find your Courage”

Columnists JOEL JAMES CUBILLAS, KLAUS DORING, HOLLY GOLIGHLY, MICHAEL JEROME MADRIAGA, PIA MIRAFLORES Contributors JUN ARIOLO AGUIRRE, Holger Biallas, Bryan Madera, SP01 Christopher Del Rosario Mendoza, Marian castro-ordillo, Rica Velasco, SALLY WALSH Contributing Photographers Jennierose Balili, Isla Grapika, Gelyn Oriola Gareza Publisher THE BORACAY WALLSTREET INC. President & CEO MA. TERESA FAJILAN Sales and Marketing Manager MICHELLE ELIZON Operations Manager JOANN “AJ” BARRIOS Boracay Sun Office Monaco Crossing Tulubhan, Manoc Manoc, Boracay Island, Malay, Aklan 5608 editor@boracaywallstreet.com

For Advertising / Inquiries Telephone: (+63 36) 288 2582 Mobile: (+63 998) 558 2541 Email: ads.boracaysun@boracaywallstreet.com

Copyright © April 2014 Boracay Sun. All rights reserved. Printed in the Philippines. Except as permitted by law, no part of the Boracay Sun may be used, reproduced or distributed in any manner whatsoever without written permission of Boracay Sun. The publisher accepts no liability for the content correctness of any advertisement and reserves the right for editorial freedom of the press under the 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines Article III (Bill of Rights) Section 4. boracay.sun

theboracaysun

BORACAY SUN

IN THE NEWS

bfi corner

he Boracay Foundation Incorporated (BFI) is the pioneer organization in Boracay that conducts regular coastal cleanups. For 19 years, this has been the organization’s main thrust as part of its members’ social responsibility.

Doing regular coastal cleanups are very crucial in building an environmentallyconscious island community. Oftentimes, it is those people residing around coastal waters who are unaware and irresponsible when it comes to water pollution and its immediate and long term effects to the community. In reality, there’s so much garbage around our waters and a monthly cleanup will not totally eradicate the problem. Nevertheless, BFI continues this monthly routine for several other longterm impacts which are the most important:

SEPTEMBER 2016

Water program for Boracay’s indigenous community adjudged Quill’s top communication management award

FUELING AN ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY LIFESTYLE AMONG ITS MEMBERS Coastal cleanups allow the BFI to fuel a realization among its members, its members’ employees, and the entire community towards the need to examine their lifestyles. After a morning of picking up plastics, it’s hard for those who join to ever go back and litter at their own surroundings. BFI’s monthly cleanups never really end that day. After a couple of hours of picking up trash, BFI members and their employees’ mindsets are totally transformed. They are now more environmentally conscious and more aware that they, too, are part of this community even if their normal routines revolves simply within their own homes and workplaces. They realize that they, too, need to protect Boracay, as they rely on the island for their livelihood and employment. CREATING A SETTING FOR PRODUCTIVE MEMBER BONDING Most of the time, participants are from different Boracay establishments and groups. Participation in monthly coastal cleanups is really a fun way to volunteer. After all, is there anything better than spending a few hours with neighbors and friends while making Boracay a better place? BFI members who join get to unite through community service, social accountability, and shared responsibility in preserving this beautiful paradise which has continuously provided everyone livelihood and great business. Enjoying the beautiful Boracay morning view while working on preserving the island’s natural resources for the next generation is what being part of a community is all about.

Join the BFI Regular Monthly Coastal Cleanups every 3rd Saturday of Every Month. You may call the BFI Secretariat at 2883971 or 2886299 for more details. The BFI Regular Monthly Coastal Cleanups are conducted in partnership with the PCGA Squadron 609.

BORACAY SUN

police desk

IN THE NEWS

SEPTEMBER 2016

Boracay PNP excels in 21st PCR Month Celebration

AKELCO:

SP01 Christopher Del Rosario Mendoza

he Boracay Tourist Assistance Center (BTAC) showed excellence in the field of Police Community Relations (PCR) not only in the whole Province of Aklan but in the entire Western Visayas Region.

winning units for initiating outstanding achievements that promoted and strengthened police-community partnership and which made significant contribution to the over-all peace and development of the community.

Boracay PNP received a Certificate of Recognition for being No 1 during the conduct of Unit Performance Evaluation Rating (UPER) for the period, July 2015 to June 2016, in terms of PCR Accomplishments while PNCR PNCO SP01 Christopher Mendoza was adjudged as Outstanding Senior Police Non-Commission Officer (PNCO) for CY 2016.

The selection was based on the documentations submitted by said police officer as one of the nominees on the following aspects: Crime Prevention/ Public Safety Projects, Forging Partnership with the Stakeholders, Information Operations Management and Contribution in the Units’ PGS Journey.

The awarding ceremony was held last July 30 during the 21st PCR Month Celebration Culmination Program at Aklan Police Provincial Office as part of the “2016 Fiesta sa Kampo” in honor of St Ignatius de Loyola. SPO1 Mendoza also received a Plaque of Recognition last August 1 for being the Outstanding Senior PNCO for CY 2016 in the field of PCR in the whole Western Visayas Region. The award was given by PCSUPT JOSE L GENTILES, Acting Regional Director of Police Regional Office 6 at Camp Delgado, Iloilo City. The awards were conferred to the

Boracay PNP continued to dominate the Unit PER in PCR in the Province of Aklan for 31 consecutive quarterly rating since the last quarter of 2008 up to the latest quarterly rating conducted by Aklan PPO PCR Branch. Meanwhile, 15 Boracay PNP personnel were promoted to the next higher rank. Congratulations to PCINSP Mark Evan Salvo (Chief, Malay PS), PSINSP Jose Mark Anthony Gesulga, SPO4 Danny Eguiz, SP01 Ernie Pietro Sitjar, SPO1 Conrado Espino Jr, P03 Randy De Pablo, PO3 Zaldy Belen, PO3 Christian John Nalangan, PO3 Rodney Dimaisip, PO2 Eman Arguelles, PO2 Jeg Kenneth Tabang, PO2 Jezzery Mabazza, PO2 John Mark Mascara, PO2 Werven Salcedo and PO2 Fridenel Gallano.

Habagat, trees causing power interruptions Jun Ariolo Aguirre

ccording to Engr. Joel Martinez of AKELCO, the southwest monsoon or hanging habagat is causing a series of power interruptions in Boracay Island.

“Throughout the years, we notice an increasing trend of wind being blown during habagat. This maybe due to climate change. The strong wind moves our distribution lines causing power interruptions,” said Engr. Joel Martinez of AKELCO. AKELCO officials were invited by the Malay Municipal Council recently to shed light on the series of power interruptions in Boracay. The council has been receiving complaints from tourists and resort owners affected. Trees along the distribution lines are also causing power interruptions. “Grown up trees become the habitat of lizards, snakes and birds. They also contribute to the power interruptions as they come near to our electrical transformers,” said Martinez. Reports from AKELCO indicate that Boracay, including the entire Aklan province, consumes 36 megawatts of electricity during off peak hours. Around 54 megawatts of electricity are being consumed during peak hours. “We assure the public that there is enough electricity for both Boracay and Aklan province. We have existing bilateral contracts with several independent power producers in Panay and in the Wholesale Spot Market,” said Martinez.

BORACAY SUN

IN THE NEWS

SEPTEMBER 2016

Boracay prepares to host more international events

Boracay is turning into a ‘green’ paradise

Jun Ariolo Aguirre

everal stakeholders are planning their own initiatives and many of them are already being implemented with the hope of turning this resort island into a ‘green’ paradise.

Malay Councilor Nette Aguirre-Graf, chairperson of the Committee on Environment said high priority are now being given to organize an environment summit for Boracay. “The holding of Boracay environment summit was supposed to happen last year. It failed to materialize because of election fever. We hope to organize it soon,” Graf said. The environment summit aims to discuss various environmental problems in the island and find solutions. It is being supported by the Aklan provincial government, Department of Tourism, Boracay Foundation Incorporated (BFI), Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry-Boracay, and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, among others. The

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Carmen Iturralde, DTI-Aklan chief, said they already met with different stakeholders especially from the hotel and accommodation industry. “We asked several hotels in Boracay to use ‘green’ items. Their response is overwhelming as they expressed commitment in supporting our program,” she said. The DTI has a list of local businesses that manufacture items that are considered ‘green’ or environment-friendly. They asked resort owners to patronize those products. “This is actually our response to the call of President Rodrigo Duterte for environmental conservation,” Iturralde added. The Aklan Electric Cooperative (AKELCO), although being criticized by the series of power fluctuation in the island, is also committed on environment conservation. They are planning to build underwater pipe lines in the next few years.

overnment officials in this resort island are starting to prepare for a series of international events beginning the last quarter of this year.

Rowen Aguirre, island administrator, said that the Department of Tourism has recently informed the local government of Malay that Boracay will be one of the featured destinations in the Miss Universe pageant. Next year, Boracay will also once again host one of the meetings of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). “The National Organizing Committee of the ASEAN Summit already informed us to be ready,” Aguirre said. Aguirre is confident of the successful hosting due to past experiences. Boracay played host to two meetings of the Asia Pacific Economic Conference here last year. The island also served as the main venue of the meeting of the ASEAN Association of Chief Justices.

BORACAY SUN

EXPAT FILES

How long does it take for a plastic bottle to biodegrade in …the Ocean: Up to 450 years …landfill: 450 - 1000 years

SEPTEMBER 2016

You never knew a plastic bottle could look so good… (or be so useful!)

So, rather than just drinking and discarding, why not start to save and collect the nasty things and we’ll show you how to turn them into something fun and useful – even beautiful – instead!

1. Bottle-top mural – why not create a bottle-top bank that your friends and family can add their tops to? Soon you’ll have hundreds just begging to be glued to their new home! Look up designs online or create your own. (Just make sure you have enough for a whole wall or you might have to wait a while – or drink a lot of pop – to cover the rest!) 2. Cute planters – simply gather a few bottles and cut them in half, acrossways (you may save the top half for another project). On some paper, draw the shape of the cute animal face you want, cut it out and trace the outline onto the bottom half of the bottle in marker pen. Then cut the shape out of the bottle. Paint the bottle in your favourite colour, draw in the face detail, et voila! 3. Eco-friendly purse – all you need are two bottle bottoms, a length of zip and a glue gun or superglue, for a stylish, hardwearing, eco-friendly coin purse! For an easy step-by-step guide, check out this website www.bit.ly/2aNIBZL 4. Fairy light flowers – so simple yet so pretty! Cut off the base of your bottles, paint them in different colors, thread the bulb of the fairy light through the bottleneck and instantly the boring white bulbs are transformed into bright, colorful flowers! Or use the domes of the bottle ends to create lovely lanterns as in the picture. Delightful! 5. Jewellery tree – keep all you trinkets safe and organized in this super-cute little stand. Your friends will never know it’s made from your placcy waste! Just visit this website for an easy how-to make guide: www.bit.ly/1ohqn1V

Don’t buy lots of bottles especially for these creations, save money and the environment by asking your neighbors and friends to save them for you. Once you’ve got enough stashed, you’ve got a nice little project to keep you busy on those rainy Habagat days; something for the kids to do, or a few gift ideas, too!

For more ideas and inspiration on how to turn your plastic into something fantastic, check these out! www.boredpanda.com/plastic-bottle-recycling-ideas www.bit.ly/1d8Itzn

From Plastic to Fantastic

5 Fun Things To Do With Your Old Plastic Bottles Holly Golightly

e all know that we need to cut down on buying products in plastic bottles – there are billions dumped in our oceans and in landfills each year, taking hundreds of years to biodegrade thereby clogging our land and waters and, in the process, ruining our beautiful planet.

But it’s going to take years to phase out the obnoxious plastic bottle completely. We’d inevitably come across one or two here and there, especially when living in the heat of a tropical island where a cold water on-the-go is essential.

BORACAY SUN

EXPAT FILES

Do we love our Mother Earth? Klaus Doring

h. Campbell said in his Lochiel’s Warning: “Coming events cast their shadows before.” And here we are again, assailed by super typhoons and floods, after several months of

El Niño.

Already before, most of us learned that prevention is indeed better than cure. Let’s face it, if we don’t try to alter our lifestyle NOW, we may once again come face-to-face with the disastrous effects of typhoons and heavy rain. Much effort has already been undertaken by both local and national governments to segregate wastes properly. But many of us really don’t seem to learn! We are enthusiastic at the beginning but we would give up halfway. Why can I still see so many garbage at innumerable corners? Why is indiscriminate dumping remains as one of the causes of flash floods? Most of our drainage systems are still clogged by wastes of different kinds, rendering them useless. Guys, try to become “intelligent consumers,” meaning to say, be conscious of those products we consume and where they will go after we are done using them. September is actually declared as the National Clean Up Month. On the 17th to 23rd of this month each year is the World Clean and Green Week. It shouldn’t be hard to put this our minds and activities for this one week only! Natural disasters indeed occur all the time. But they are getting more and more worse. It seems, we no longer have control over our beloved Mother Nature, which is suffering to death because of us!

There are a lot of environment destroyers! Four years ago, I really got shocked when informed by then director of the Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) that the havoc wrought by poachers on coral reefs of Southern Mindanao is “much worse” than earlier estimated. How much more now in 2016? The damaged areas could be almost five times the size of Manila and not just almost twice its size as former reports said in 2015. It was reported that poachers damaged a reef complex almost twice the size of Manila when they harvested more than 21,000 pieces of black coral and killed (!) 161 (!) endangered turtles and other marine life. I also learned from Gary Williams of the California Academy of Sciences that the estimated area that was damaged or destroyed could reach up to 190 square kilometers. It makes me happy and satisfied now learning that Environment Secretary Regina Lopez is “vowing to do a Duterte thing for the environment.” Lopez announced she is putting up an action arm in the department and will enter into an agreement with the PNP and military to help in the crackdown of people who destroys the country’s natural resources. Change is coming, indeed.

SEPTEMBER 2016

BORACAY SUN

7107 ISLANDS

SEPTEMBER 2016

Why I Fell In Love with El Nido, Palawan Rica Velasco

l Nido is that place that always seemed to be out of my reach but was also that one place that I always dreamt of going to. I somehow thought that it was quite costly to go there and only recently found out that it is just as easy to go there on a budget. It was a breeze to find accommodations in the town itself, there are lots of choices for all price range. For a relatively cheap price, I was able to check in to an eco-friendly accommodation with a breathtaking view of the limestone cliffs that El Nido is also famous for. From the hotel, it’s a little effort to walk around the charming yet busy town. I especially enjoyed the close-knit community, and it was noticeable how many foreigners have settled in this area with their businesses – living that tropical dream as they say. There is so much to do in El Nido. The moment I got there I headed excitedly to the pristine white sand of Nacpan Beach, about 45 minutes away from the town. I was instantly struck by its heavenly beauty. I loved that it was virtually untouched and did not have many establishments, save for some rustic beachfront restaurants that served some scrumptious seafood. The beach strip is lined with coconut trees and the water was expectedly divine. The first tour I signed up for was Tour A, an island hopping experience highly recommended by most tourists. I just couldn’t get enough of the spectacularly clear and blue waters as our boat went from one island to another. We were supposed to stop by Seven Commandos beach first but as it would have been full of tourists at that time so we proceeded instead to the adjacent Papaya Beach, for which I was glad. I was able to see a turtle just by snorkelling a few meters from the shore!

The tour also included a visit to the stunning Big Lagoon with limestone cliffs as a backdrop while the boat sliced through pool-like aquamarine colored waters. Them we kayaked to the Small Lagoon, which had such a tiny opening that we had to lie on our backs just to get through the hole. We could hear and see dozens of monkeys crossing through the rock above that small opening. And as if that wasn’t epic enough, the moment we enter the lagoon, we were awestruck by its beauty. It’s like we were transported to a natural saltwater swimming pool where the waters are so blue and so calm and surrounded by the magnificent limestone cliffs. Right after the tour I headed to the famous white sand Marimegmeg Beach, more popularly known as Las Cabanas, to catch the sunset. As I have been spoiled by years of Boracay sunsets, it is really quite hard to find anything that will top that view. The sunset at El Nido, however, is in a class of its own. Once the sun dipped behind cliffs and radiated with different colors, it made a spectacular sight. I also went on Tour C, another highly recommended excursion. On the itinerary is Helicopter Island, which got its name from its shape, for some snorkelling; and then Hidden Beach, a beautiful, serene beach concealed behind some cliffs; and also Secret Beach, which can only be reached by swimming underneath a tiny rock opening. The highlight of my day though was going to Star Beach. We did not dock on the beach itself but rather stayed afloat and snorkelled for hours seeing the most abundant and colorful marine life in some of the clearest waters I have ever seen. Visibility may have been more than 30 meters that day.

To take a break from the flurry of activities, I spent some time in the tranquil and picturesque Corong Corong Beach, reading my book and taking a dip in the calm waters. I am staying in this part of El Nido, in a hotel known for its environmentally friendly practices. The hotel has this recyclable drive where guests are encouraged to save bottle caps, wine corks, and plastic spoons. They also have a natural filtration system made of charcoal, gravel, and pebbles for their shower and toilet. They make use of solar panels and use upcycled products such as decorations made from fallen tree branches and lanterns made of plastic spoons. It is also good to know that they support the local community by employing locals to work at the resort or make some of the fixtures on display, as well as, utilize locally sourced materials such as pebbles and stones from Puerto Princesa. I wanted my last day to be memorable and so I decided to kayak to Cadlao Island, known for having the highest peak in El Nido. It was probably a good 45-minute workout, and well worth it to have the beaches there almost completely to myself with just a few other adventurous kayakers. I once again snorkelled to my heart’s desire for hours on end and explored the diversity of the ocean with colourful fish and corals. What I took from this trip, aside from validating that El Nido is indeed part of the most beautiful islands in the world, is a newfound love for snorkelling (which I think was directly attributed to the perfectly clear and calm blue waters, along with the abundant sea life), made some newfound friends, and I have once again fallen in love with a paradise destination, one that I cannot wait to go back to. El Nido has my heart, and with very good reasons.

BORACAY SUN

7107 ISLANDS

SEPTEMBER 2016

+ altitude

Taal Heritage Town:

A reflection of grandiose yesteryears Joel james Cubillas

o imagine that there was a horse-drawn calesa where a Yamaha Mio now sits calmly is pretty cool.

Being in Taal, Batangas is a blast from the past, so to speak.

Lipa ,is only an hour away, but it is only now that I am experiencing the historic charm of the place for I am now taking up a Master’s degree in Rizal College of Taal – a gracefully aged academic institution situated just beside the majestic St. Martin de Tours Basilica.

Barangay Poblacion, Taal, is declared a heritage community by the National Historical Institute (NHI).

I once photo-walked around the town, and to cut the disappointing story short, my memory card failed me.

Once you get past that welcome arch, you might as well are entering a new world.

Albeit the images of a young lady peddling colorful balloons in front of the Basilica, the long-line of pinya-Barong (one of the many cultural prides of Taal) boutiques, the portraits of locals enjoying their everyday lives and the curious mix of brand new cars adjacent to Spanish period architecture have been digitally corrupted, the joy of personally seeing those things will be etched on my memory for a very, very long time.

Established by the Augustinian friars in fifteen freakin’ seventy two, and through the provisions of the NHI proclamation, Taal is a home to Spanish period villas and genuine adobe infrastructures. I’m born and raised Batangueno, and my hometown,

Aside from the Barong – the Philippine National attire – Taal is also known for the EL PASUBAT which stands for Empanada, Longganisa, Panutsa, Suman, BAlisong, Tamalis, Tawilis and Tulingan. EL PASUBAT is a festival that is celebrated annually. Now, realizing that this relatively small community boasts of eight delicacies is a proof that the place is a reflection to a culture and heritage driven character. Again, imagining that, a lifetime ago, there was a horse-driven calesa and maybe traditionally refined lovers (donning their camesa de chinos and all) where a Yamaha Mio now stands calmly like a doorknob makes one appreciate our evolution and transition to this age. Thanks to Taal’s valiant efforts in preserving not only its infrastructures, but a culture that now stands as a stern reminder to the millenials that Filipinos once lived a grandiose life despite the absence of technological advancements.

BORACAY SUN

CENTERFOLD

SEPTEMBER 2016

Save Philippine Seas On Saving Seas and Marine Life

Photo by : Gelyn Oriola Gareza

ave Philippine Seas (SPS) began as an online movement. It aims to protect and restore the country’s abundant but threatened marine life through education, information, and communication activities and community-based projects. It was founded in May 2011 as a response to the large-scale, illegal extraction of marine life in Southern Philippines. What began as an online movement is now a non-stock, non-profit organization with the legal name Philippine Seatizens, Inc.

s t c e j o r P

The Sea and Earth Advocates (SEA) Camp

Shark Shelter Project (SSP)

Pawikan Watchers

The Sea and Earth Advocates (SEA) Camp aims to build the capacity of young Filipinos to be leaders in conservation. It is a project in partnership with the U.S. Embassy Manila and Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI). The participants undergo an intensive leadership program that includes fieldwork, workshops, and panel discussions, culminating in the implementation of conservation projects. The 2015 SEA Camps were held in Batangas, Negros Oriental, Tawi-Tawi, and Palawan and the 2016 SEA Camps were held in Zamboanga, the National Capital Region and just recently, in Boracay.

Founded in 2012, the Shark Shelter Project (SSP) is a multi-stakeholder, community-based initiative in Daanbatayan, Cebu to protect the thresher shark and other coastal and marine resources. Activities under the SSP fall under three themes: Education, Enforcement, and Empowerment. The SSP has implemented the ArtsScience Festival (2012-2015); Teachers’ Training on Marine Science and Sustainable Living (2013); Coastal Law Enforcement Training for the Bantay Dagat (2014); and Leadership Training and Empowerment Workshops for people’s organizations (2013). Activities for 2016 include the collection of baseline data in coastal communities and three marine protected areas.

Pawikan Watchers is a training program where local and international volunteers are trained on the biology and ecology of sea turtles and government-approved guidelines for handling sea turtles in various situations to support and enhance the capacity of local partners. It also aims to instil a sense of responsibility and stewardship among locals by actively participating in the conservation and protection of our marine resources. The pilot program was held in La Union in 2015.

vulnerable (IUCN, 2016). Threats to marine turtles spans from human-made such as poaching, egg collection, by-catch and habitat degradation to naturemade like climate change, earthquake and temperature (for sex determination) (MWWP, 2014).

To join, just follow these steps...

Citizen Science Project: Boracay Turtles

Bryan Madera

n December 2015, in a span of one week alone, there were nine (9) dead marine turtles found in different sites of Boracay Island. In March 2016 there were two (2) marine turtle strandings -- one was found dead and the other weak. Another dead marine turtle was found and already in a state of decomposition with broken carapace in April. And last June another marine turtles was found with shuttered carapace and later on succumb to injury. Anthropogenic threats to turtles are detrimental to marine turtle population. The International Union of Conservation of Nature (IUCN) listed Green Turtle as endangered, Hawkbill Turtle as critically endangered, and Loggerhead, Leatherback and Olive Ridley as

Marine turtle conservation in the Philippines is hard work given that marine turtles are spread across the archipelago, divided by seas and different coastal areas and communities. The marine turtles are exposed to threats such as hunting, pollution and habitat destruction. The Citizen Science Project initiated this project, Boracay Turtles, to monitor the individual marine turtles in Boracay. The island has an active diving community which can definitely help in the project’s marine turtle photo ID initiative, an alternative technique for identifying individual marine turtles through visual identification or photo identification (photo ID). In contrast to tagging, the photo ID method used to visually identify the individual turtles through scale patterns is non-invasive to animals since the animals are not physically captured and not attached with tags minimizing the chances of stressing the animals (Schofield et al. 2008).

BORACAY SUN

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VOLUNTOURISM:

Travel and Make a Difference

SEPTEMBER 2016

One can volunteer in a day care/ school is just one example of voluntourism i.e. four weeks program

SALLY WALSH

olunteering has various meaning in the dictionary, but generally, it means giving off of someone’s time or offering their skills and working in an organisation without getting paid.

Volunteering can be traced back over a hundred years ago, started by the British Red Cross during World War 1. Volunteering then spread out around the world. In the Philippines, volunteering have long been started by the Philippine National Volunteer Service Committee. Established in 1964, the committee later became the Philippine National Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency (PNVSCA), a government agency mandated to advocate, promote and coordinate volunteer programs and recognize the contributions of volunteers to nation-building. The recent ‘Haiyan’ typhoon have shown that volunteering is very much alive in the Philippines. Having lived in Scotland for more than a decade, one that I mostly admire about the country is their generosity and the presence of charitable organisations which mostly were started by ‘volunteers’. The country encourages and supports an individual or group of people who may have ideas that would help the community. This is the reason why I have been involved with various volunteering groups and started an environmental group about nine years ago in Scotland and over the years I continued to volunteer in many areas where I can make a difference. At present, I am setting up a ‘voluntourism’ project here in Boracay Island and also in Aklan, with a base in the UK. Voluntourism (volunteer while on tour or travel) is not a new concept. The idea of combining volunteering and travel have been done by various cultures and religious groups in the past such as explorers, missionaries to name a few. I believe Boracay Island can offer the volunteers some R & R after a few weeks of volunteering on the island and in the nearby

towns of Aklan. The volunteers can choose their volunteering programs, preferably one where they are skilled at such as in medical response for those with first aid training/certification. Others may volunteer to teach kids at a local day care center or school, participate in beach clean ups and coral planting – activities that would certainly make any holiday or travel experience more meaningful. Anyone can make a difference in their community, all one has to do is the willingness and openness to give their time, skills and friendship. For any organisation or establishment interested in this project, please don’t hesitate to contact me @ salwalsh4@gmail.com or Globe (09054237782) or TNT (09071990212).

BORACAY SUN

LIFESTYLE

Ho Chi Minh Fed Me Coffee Beth Jalea

SEPTEMBER 2016

rainforest-alliance.org

kitchenconfidante.com

hen I travelled to Vietnam four years ago, my idea of the country was that of Vietcong, the river cruises and Northface (Vietnam is home to the famous outdoor brand’s many factories). With seven of my friends, we toured around Ho Chi Minh, discovered the city’s culture and history and, of course, its shopping centers. But instead of Northface and Mango and Zara, and the myriad of cultural expositions and Vietnamese delicacies, what stood out for me about the country, surprisingly, was coffee. I could smell the aroma everywhere, mingling with the smell of incense (incense offering is a cultural tradition for the Vietnamese). I can still remember (and even taste) the coffee we ordered at a roadside café on our way to a temple tour at the outskirts of Ho Chi Minh. The coffee was served in a tall glass, stuffed with ice – the liquid was incredibly dark - with condensed milk at the bottom; the sweetness of the condensed milk perfectly balanced the strong coffee taste. That was Vietnamese coffee for me, known locally as cà phê sua da. Here’s a confession: I love coffee – black, latte, cappuccino, black with cream or milk (just no sugar, please). Thus, roaming around Ho Chi Minh with the coffee aroma filling up my nostrils was simply heaven. I was on a new high! Stalls along the streets are serving coffee, iced or hot, milk flavored or just plain black. It seemed to me that coffee is a Vietnamese staple, maybe next only to Pho. Yet, there was not a Starbucks in sight, at that time. That was when I did some reading. Vietnam is a country of 90million people. Over the

The traditional ca phe sua da of Vietnam – coffee with sweetened milk and ice

Women from the Dao ethnic community pick ripe, red coffee beans during the harvest season, which runs from late October to early January in Vietnam’s central highlands.

years, it has grown into a coffee producing country, and lately the second producer of coffee in the world, next to Brazil. The country decided to become a major producer after the Vietnam war. Before the war, the country only produced less than 0.1 per cent of the world’s coffee. It was the French who introduced the beans to Vietnam in the late 19th century. The country began to grow its own coffee in the highlands. The ancient volcanic soil coupled with an ideal climate of wet/dry seasons nurtured the coffee beans and has helped the country become a major coffee producer and exporter. The northern mountains of Vietnam are home to many small coffee growing communities but just around Ho Chi Minh, you can already smell and follow the coffee trail. Trung Nguyen is the most successful coffee chain in Vietnam, it is known as the country’s very own Starbucks but better. It is one of the most soughtafter pleasures of tourists and some locals alike when it comes to coffee. They have perfected the style of serving Vietnamese coffee, offering a blend of Vietnam’s

robusta or arabica beans and serving them artfully. Just outside our hotel we can find Vietnamese people drinking coffee morning, noon and night. There are cafes at every turn, the proper ones or on street side stalls where servers are constantly unstacking stools for people to sit on and gather, and stacking them thereafter. Most of the proper ones are serving cappuccinos and lattes but all are serving the classic, cà phê sua da. Of course, in my experience, nothing could beat seating on those plastic chairs in a casual street-side stall, sipping the traditionally served, cà phê sua da while listening to the locals prattling about their day with my non-existent Vietname ear (I know nothing of the Vietnam language except for the word cà phê). And, other than the famous “coffee, sweetened milk and ice” blend, you could also find eggs and yogurt in Vietnamese coffee. They say, however, that the best experience to be had especially for one wanting to be on a coffee trail is in Da Lat (I am making notes right now for my next visit). Da Lat coffee farms offer tours for those who want a “from-the-tree-to-coffee-beans” experience.

BORACAY SUN

LIFESTYLE

SEPTEMBER 2016

michael everywhere

Pokémon Go:

Catch ‘em all in Boracay! Michael Madriaga

Pokéstops – there are a lot of pokéstops in Boracay but most of them are concentrated in D’Mall area, namely, DMall Water Fountain, Hobbit House, I Love Boracay, I Love Barbecue Grill. If you want to join a lure party, the one in D’Mall Ferris Wheel is on lure most of the time. Our favorite though is the one at Coco Bar (Red Coconut Beach Hotel) as you can enjoy the sunset with your favorite cocktail while catching these Pokémons.

o celebrate its 20th anniversary, the developers of the game Pokémon (Pocket Monsters) created the game, Pokémon Go. It became a worldwide hit when it was first released last July and it was only until August that Filipinos get to enjoy the game. With its goal of people getting more familiar with their surroundings, the game (which can be played using a smartphone) incorporates reality with the world of Pokémon. This augment reality (AR) uses a phone’s camera to make it seem like these Pokémon are just around us and enables the trainer (that’s you!) to catch them by “throwing” the poké balls, using the app. Kids and kids-at-heart are playing this game which also encourages people to travel as there are some Pokémon that are available or can be caught only in selected regions -- Mr. Mime, for instance, can only be found in Europe, Tauros in North America, Farfetch’d in Asian countries, and Kangaskhan in Australia and New Zealand. A recent news tells how a person got to collect all the 145* Pokémon by traveling to these places, so if your goal is to list all of these pocket monsters in your Pokédex, you better update your bucket list now as you’re in for a world tour. (*As of this writing, Legendary Pokémon is still not yet released) While you’re at it (saving for that “world tour”, that is), let us first enjoy catching the Pokemons available here in Boracay.

Types of Pokémon – Since you’re in a resort island, don’t be surprised to catch water-type pokémon most of the time like Poliwag, Staryu, Goldeen and Magikarp. Electric type pokémon are also common like Voltorb, Electrode, Magnemite and the very rare Pikachu! (Credits to Jennierose Balili for the screenshots and additional information.) I wouldn’t actually call myself an expert when it comes to this game but I still managed to reach Level 25 in a span of 12 days (allotting at least 6 hours of my day catching and evolving Pokémons and doing gym battles). Based on experience, here are some useful tips to maximize the game: Catch ‘em all – no matter how many Pidgeys or Rattatas you already have, as long as you still have

a lot of Pokéballs in your bag, catch each and every Pokémon you encounter. Remember that each of them still costs at least 100 XP (experience points) which are needed in order to level up. As you progress, Pokémons with higher CP (Combat Power) will appear - do save your great balls and ultra balls for those with CPs higher than 500. Lucky Egg is best used when evolving by batch – don’t evolve your Pokémon as soon as you complete the needed candies for each type. Better save them and evolve them altogether while using a Lucky Egg to gain double XP. A Lucky Egg’s power lasts for 30 minutes and you can evolve up to 45 Pokémon in that time, that’s at least 45000 XP added to your level! Incense while walking - Also based on my experience (and from other people’s advice), you get to catch more Pokémon when you are walking than you’re just stationary. You may also use incense to stop your Pokemon target from running away, especially those with CPs higher than 1,000 and those in their final evolution. Try walking from Station 1 to Station 3, for sure you’ll catch a lot of Pokémon and you’d probably hatch those in your incubator. Get to know the island more – probably the best part in getting “addicted” to this game is you get to notice spots in the island that you’d normally just pass by. As with those in other countries, the pokestops are normally located in different landmarks in each area. To catch all of the available pokemons in the island, take time to re-familiarize yourselves in these landmarks or if you’re new, give yourselves a pat on the back for learning about that landmark (or pokestop). Who knows, you’ll be able to come up with your own “Go To” or “To Do” list in Boracay. Turn off the AR – yes, it is fun to see a Magikarp floating in the waters of Bulabog or a Staryu sunbathing on the white sand but for those that are hard to catch (like Zubat), turning off the AR stabilizes the Pokémon at the center of your screen. It also helps you save your mobile’s battery life as you’ll be needing the juice to catch more Pokémon.

BORACAY SUN

HEALTH

SEPTEMBER 2016

Battling PCOS and Infertility Marian Castro-Ordillo

here is nothing more painful than finding out that you have a hormonal disorder causing your inability to conceive… especially when you just got married.

This was one of my biggest dilemma a few years back. Before my husband and I tied the knot, I was a single mom. My daughter was already six years old then, so, I thought that getting pregnant would just be a breeze. But, oh I was so wrong. For years after settling down, I’ve spent an awful amount of effort, time and money for pregnancy test kits, hoping that it would show two lines on the indicator strip. Unfortunately, it never did for a long while. I started to become more anxious and irritated with the littlest things. I get irritable oftentimes and easily become depressed even for the shallowest reasons. I was not like that before. I used to be cheerful and optimistic in all things. All of a sudden, I’ve become a stranger, even to myself. Whenever the ‘emotional storms’ hit me, I would lash out at my husband. From this, I developed a fear that I might lose him along the way. Thank God, I have the most understanding spouse in the world. He never ran out of patience and has always been supportive despite my anxiety and ridiculous behavior.

nyfertilityandivf.com

period, obesity, excessive hair growth, fatigue, high cholesterol and triglycerides, pelvic pain, depression, anxiety and the worst, infertility. Whenever I visit my OB, I hear the same thing: Lose weight. Modify your diet. Take pills.

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, also known as SteinLeventhal Syndrome is the most common endocrine disorder among females. It is a type of hormonal imbalance which causes insulin resistance and high levels of testosterone in your system. Hence, the symptoms of this disorder would include irregular

Today, my eldest daughter is already twelve years old and my youngest is turning three in a few months.

Sounds simple, but it never gets easier. At present, I still have PCOS and I am still struggling. For a long while, I have been dealing with a Yo-Yo diet. I lose weight, I gain it back. I lose weight, I gain more. It was exhausting. Taking pills to normalize my period is such a burden because of the side effects. My mood swings worsened and my anxiety heightened. It’s frustrating. Planning your diet isn’t easy, especially if you have a limited budget to stretch. Oftentimes, I would shrug it off and just eat what I want, though in small proportions, just to keep off the guilt. People with PCOS are not raving lunatics. Though, most of the time, it seems that they are not themselves. Most people do not understand what they are going through and just settle with what they see externally. Deep inside, they are clueless of how broken and shattered they’ve become.

Lesson learned? You can never do it alone. Trust your doctors. Try to communicate, so that when you attend the next get-together, people will be more sensitive with humoring you down. Take control. Educate yourself about it and join discussion forums. You’d be surprised how it could change your perspective that you would be able to inspire others who suffer the same condition. Do not lose hope. Be brave. No one will be able to help you but yourself. Do not become in denial of your condition, instead, take action. Lastly, never forget that with a little prayer, patience and courage, PCOS will just be another foe that you will be able to conquer.

It’s the hormones. The disorder.

Eventually, I have decided to consult a specialist regarding my condition. I knew that there was something wrong. That was when I have found out that I have PCOS. The worst thing is—I have them on both ovaries. Hearing about this nearly crushed my dreams of being a Mom again. But at least somehow, I got acquainted with the silent enemy that’s trying to kill my feminity.

One morning, it’s time to take the test. Finally, TWO blue lines appeared! I jumped in joy while tears stream down my face as I show my husband the results. It was one of the happiest days of our lives.

The destroyer they never chose to contain. After another visit with my OB, I was advised to undergo medication again. I ran through a series of tests once more. My husband and I were given a mating calendar to follow and a list of some supplements that we both have to take. I felt hopeful about the situation. I was so happy to see how my husband was an eager participant in the process. We worked it out together and followed the doctor’s prescription religiously along with tons of prayers from friends and family, hoping that this time it would really work--- that we will finally have a second child.

Marian Castro-Ordillo Marian is a mother of two wonderful girls, a preteen and a toddler. Her husband, Mikey, is Bogart the Explorer’s doppelganger. A former offshore financial analyst from a multinational US based bank, she has now committed herself to mommyhood. She keeps a mommy blog, a baby blog, a cooking blog, and other popular social media accounts. Currently, she is writing her first Wattpad novel under the pseudonym @arrowsandsparrows28.

BORACAY SUN

What you give is what you get Holger Biallas

ll of us have heard the saying, “We reap what we sow” which is actually derived from a line found in the Bible: “God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap“ (Galatians 6:7). Wise men of the Indian spiritual tradition have a single word for describing the very same dynamics – karma. It is definitely one of the most commonly misinterpreted concepts in eastern philosophy, since it is being misused to indoctrinate us with guilt and justify punishment from a higher authority, especially in western adaptations. What it really means is quite simple and totally mechanistic, not based on morals or judgments. It is just the “what you give is what you get“ thing. Take a tennis player, for example and watch him practice alone, facing a wall and hitting the ball. The way in which the ball is coming back is telling him everything about the preceding strike. He will realize immediately every change of angle in holding the racket or force being used. Fact is, that everyone is hoping for a good outcome, for a positive result of our efforts, no matter what we are dealing with in life. I suggest to move from hoping to scoping here, because a certain frame of actions provide us with a quite predictable outcome, if we are honest with ourselves. Throw a piece of plastic away at the beach and the next day you might step on it. Dispose a bag of garbage at the side of the road and watch your own rusty nail damage your tire a week later. Throw some paint thinner away in the wilderness and you will probably

HEALTH have its taste on your tongue in a month’s time because it already affected the underground water – and, consequently, maybe the well in your own barangay. Is that what we really want? For sure you will yell, “NO” for a lot of reasons, but the real questions are: How can we train ourselves to get more conscious about the subject? How can we educate especially our youth to walk the right path? How can a community thrive for the best, facing the overwhelming problems of environmental destruction? It is simple. Decide to act in a responsible way and find out how to do it. Let me, please, introduce you to some basic examples: 1. Oils, chemical liquids and batteries – Ask the local government if they have programs about the proper disposal of toxic waste. Make it a community thing and work together, creating consciousness. Please keep in mind that these three are the most hazardous of all the garbage we produce. Find a solution or work with your local authorities. Make an effort – it is not only essential but also existential. Again, this is toxic waste. As for your cooking oil, do not dispose them through your water pipe! 2. Plastic and metals (here, mainly aluminum) – These materials do not decompose. It is easy to separate and place them in two different bags, Afterwards, bring them to the junkshop to sell. The few pesos you will get out of it could be invested in a little treat for your kids – how about that? You would be doing something good for the environment and at the same time putting a smile on the young lads’ faces. 3. Organic waste – How precious this is, indeed. Learn about composting and practice it in your yard. You will be rewarded with the most excellent fertilizer imaginable. It is better than anything you can buy at the store. Eating the vegetables you harvested will even give the nutritional values back to you, a perfect circle of life.

SEPTEMBER 2016

Talking about greens, by the way, do you even fully realize the big variety of treasures growing around you? These are nutritional and medicinal jewels of highest potency. I would just like to mention a few: Guyabano - highly effective against cancer Okra and Ampalaya - excellent treatment for diabetes Ginger root - a great benefit for your stomach and many intestinal illness Malunggay - a real superfood! The leaves of this locally growing tree will definitely have more of it – much more! Just crush three to five dried seeds and turn dirt water into drinking water within an hour. Hagonoy or Siam Weed - as you might know, it grows almost everywhere, and so quick. Since it spreads like a weed, some even condemn it. Not made for regular human consumption, it is still a good measure against bleeding wounds, has huge antibacterial, antimicrobial, anti inflammatory and anti carcinogenic properties, especially if you are suffering from a prostate tumor. The output is defined by the input, as we already stated. This goes for our bodies, too. On a physical level we are definitely what we eat. Imagine, what immense power for change this is granting us! There is no disease in the world that mother nature doesn’t provide a healing plant for. There are so many reasons for you to develop a feeling of deep appreciation for our wonderful planet earth and the countless miracles surrounding us. You might want to really start preserving it and tell others about what you found out. The nest step is: walk your talk. Do not preach - it doesn´t work at all. Start being an example and the world, including yourself, is going to change.

BORACAY SUN

ROTARY BORACAY

SEPTEMBER 2016

It wasn’t our intention but our hearts simply melted. Hope yours, too. ROTARY CLUB OF BORACAY

he plan was just to turn over the two volleyballs requested by the SPED teachers of Malay Elementary School. It was even unfortunate that the kids were not there when we visited, we were told that the school is being used by the DSWD for a local government project. A teacher was good enough to lead us to a classroom where we could properly turn over the volleyballs. To our surprise, there was one SPED student around, 14 year-old Jenelyn Absalon, who was sitting on a very outdated and evidently well-used chair with an equally well-used writing desk. As we looked around, we noticed more of those old chairs and desks, old toys, improvised school materials that we gather were made by the kids. The sight was so heart-wrenching and there was not even an electric fan in place. We were already sweating, and we could only imagine how those kids with special needs thrive every day when they are in school without the added ventilation. Let alone

think how the kids and their teachers manage to learn with the meager, close to nothing, learning resources. We added two new stand fans to our donation but we know that we, the Boracay community, could do more. The kids could do better with additional SPED-approved learning resources – books, visual aids, posters, etc. They can also learn better with new, ergonomic chairs and desks. Learning materials such as work books, pens for writing and coloring could certainly add fun and color to the kids’ daily school activities. Let’s do more! You may bring your donations, in kind, directly to the school or contact our Facebook account (www.facebook.com/rotary.boracay) for a drop off area. For cash donors, you may send your deposits to Rotary Club of Boracay’s BDO Account No. 008380063118. Your donations, big or small, in cash or in kind, will certainly make that difference.

INTERESTED TO BECOME A ROTARIAN? The Rotary Club of Boracay welcomes prospective members. A prospective member must be a person of good character and is a current or former professional, proprietor, executive, manager or community leader and, more importantly, a member who is committed to service with a record of personal involvement. The Club meets regularly, every Tuesday at 7:00 PM, Sea Wind Boracay Resort. Check out or contact us in our Facebook account (www.facebook.com/rotary.boracay) should you wish to learn more about our club.