HMUA Myke Legaspi: May 2009

Thursday, May 21, 2009

APOLOGY

To all concerned,

Jun and I would like to apologize for the misspelled word of BENEFIT on the T-shirt. Hope this will not change the level of your support to the Pola, Oriental Mindoro Reef Management Project. Rest assured that the proceeds would go directly to this cause.

Thank you very much!

A SUCCESSFUL DIVER'S NIGHT PARTY!

In behalf of Mayor Alex Aranas, we THANK YOU for sharing your valued time for Pola, Oriental Mindoro Reef Management Project. Please let us continue to support this cause.

Pictures are available at http://picasaweb.google.com/instructorneil/DiverSNightMay202009# courtesy of NEIL V. CASTAñO.

Thank you also to all our sponsors!

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Everything is ready for tonight!

DIVER'S NIGHT PARTY Organizers Jun Reynales & Myke Brazil-Legaspi

Pola Oriental Mindoro Mayor Alex Aranas

ScubaOne.net PADI Dive Instructor Norman Garcia

Sulo Hotel, Quezon City • May 19, 2009

By Jun Reynales

It was a long tedious day today for me and Myke Legaspi. Last day preparation before the Divers Night Party tonight. First in our agenda was to have a breakfast briefing at Sulo Hotel, Quezon City with Mayor Alex Aranas, ScubaOne.net Norman Garcia, Myke Legaspi and me. It was a light discussion that evolved in the preparations and plans for the event, schedule of program, and expectations of guests to come – both divers and non-divers alike. We informed Mayor Alex Aranas that everything is set and prepared, and our valued sponsors are as follows: Jagermeister (for the free shots the whole night), Pacific Blue Dive Center, 7101 Island Cruise, Vistamar Beach Resort, 300 Bar Dive Shop, Halcyon Dive Equipments, Mares Dive Equipments, Fun Dive Asia, Mayumi Resorts, Beauty & Wellness Options and Beyond Paper Company together with our media partners Business Mirror, Philippine Graphic, Inquirer Sports, PhilStar.com, Yehey.com and WaterBoy.ph. This event is also supported by The Municipal Government of Pola, Oriental Mindoro and Reef Check Philippines.

Pledge Coupons will entitle you to join the Raffle Draws and for your UNLIMITED JAGER SHOTS! Please buy the Limited Edition T-shirt to support POLA, ORIENTAL MINDORO REEF MANAGEMENT PROJECT. Please look for Myke or Jun at the party venue for details.

See you all tonight!!!

Friday, May 15, 2009

WORKING FOR THE DIVER’S NIGHT PARTY 2009

By: Jun Reynales

First it was just one crazy plan. Myke Legaspi and I have known each other some few years back. We have common dive buddies and friends so it was not much of a surprise that it was like a reunion of sorts for two friends to meet up. We have been both in separate business industries – me in advertising and marketing while Myke was in events and operations. We have had the same background in advertising so it’s easier to work and communication was not considered the problem.

We started almost three weeks ago this idea in the offing: why don’t we come up with an event that we both are passionate on – scubadiving. We hatched our plan together like a well-oiled machinery of a big shot events company, but the real fact is, its actual just the two of us who thought of and execute this plan. We laid down all our cards on the table. Checked and assessed both our capabilities, connections, skills and expertise. We both agreed that, although our common denominator would be our experiences in our previous stints in the advertising world, we get to slice the operational pie: Myke gets to work on the events & marketing and the likes, while I get to work on the advocacy side of the pie. The formula works! It is a the right timeframe that I just came from our dive exploration in Pola, Oriental Mindoro and wanted to help the programs by this town to help save their coral reefs. What better way to gather the scubadiving community but by having to invite most if not all of them that are based here in Manila to meet up and talk about the project – over a divers night party!

It has been more than three years when the last gathering of the scubadiving community really happened, and it was high time to do it again. We’ve sent out feelers in the different e-groups and got a very good response. Every scubadiver who have heard of our plan for this event started to talked and discussed it on their respective bulletin boards online. Some are even sending us text messages of inquiries whether there would be some prebooking preferences and even asking if there would be entrance fees to be collected. Myke and I agreed that in lieu of charging for entrance fees, we would rather waive it and instead would request that those who would be attending this party pledge their Php100.00 for our advocacy in support of the Pola, Oriental Mindoro Reef Management Program. This pledge money albeit small (we are in a worldwide recession, remember?) would help create a seed of hope to those damaged coral reefs in Pola, Oriental Mindoro. This would enable the volunteers later on to be able to help re-install the former beauty of that side of their underwater paradise.

This pledge (please get a copy of Business Mirror today for your Raffle Coupon, additional Raffle Coupons will be available at the party venue starting 6:00 PM on May 20, 2009, the more pledge you can give, the more you can help revive the coral reefs) would be your ticket to some exciting prizes that we will be raffling off on the duration of the party. From a 3d/2n island cruise for two persons inclusive of full-board buffet meal and accommodation, to overnight accommodation for two persons from our dive resorts sponsors to dive gears, and other novelties. Would it not be a good party wherein you feel that you have helped save our environment and also would get the chance to get these wonderful prizes as rewards? Not only that, we would also be selling the events t-shirts with the logos of all our valued sponsors who believed in our advocacy.

Day by day, the cast has been set, the schedules are doing okay, the deliverables are just on the right time, and the interests of every scubadiver now focused on this wonderful activity. What makes it more special this time around is that we have also opened the doors to non-divers who are also passionate in doing their part in protecting and saving our planet. This DIVER’S NIGHT PARTY will be one fun activity to start 2009 in gathering all those who love our planet – divers and non-divers alike – who are similarly determined and believed in the cause that we want to express.

So this coming May 20, 2009, starting at 8:00pm at one O three Bar in Ortigas Home Depot Complex, Julia Vargas Avenue, Pasig City all those coming and partying with us are those who believes that saving Pola, Oriental Mindoro Reefs would be a fun thing to do. All of you who wanted to join us, we’ll see you there! There would be no entrance fee charge so everybody is welcome! The Php100.00 pledge that you will make would serve as your chance to win all of our exciting prizes, and your unlimited shots from Jagermeister. Let’s all see each other and have fun. Remember, life is good!

Thursday, May 14, 2009

LIMITED EDITION T-SHIRT for only Php350.00

Please support POLA, ORIENTAL MINDORO REEF MANAGEMENT PROJECT by buying this LIMITED EDITION T-SHIRT for only Php350.00 each. We are raising funds for enable us to acquire and install proper mooring bouys for the designated spots, giant clam seedlings, mangrove seedlings, and other materials in its conservation efforts.

For reservations, please contact Ms. Myke Brazil-Legaspi at +632.387.9553 or e-mail myke1976@gmail.com or Mr. Jun Reynales at +63.906.509.8299 or e-mail diverjun23@yahoo.com.

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

THE REASON WHY WE’LL PARTY THIS MAY 20, 2009

by Jun Reynales, May 13, 2009.

Last April 6, 2009, Norman Garcia and myself went spent a weeklong vacation in the municipal town of Pola, 78 kms. from Calapan, Mindoro Oriental.

Our objective, as per previous invitation by no less than Mayor Alex Aranas, the municipal town mayor of Pola, for us to do some exploration dives to check the status of the town’s marine protected areas thay they started just three years ago. The intention was to get a first-hand account of the actual information of the town’s marine protected areas. After the briefing on our objectives for the dives, we prepared our dive equipments and head for the outrigger boat.

Off we went diving. Norman and I agreed to do simple visual observations and get some underwater photographs of the dive sites. So we did. Our first dive was a very deep dive. We’re already at depth of 100ft. with 0-15ft. visibility, and a very strong current. Bad combination. Strong current and bad visibility, Norman and I were being feathered around, likened to two rag dolls clipped in a clotheslines on a strong typhoon! We agreed and signaled each other to abort this dive lest we get lost in the vast area of Tablas Strait or get plucked as cold meat in Marinduque Island instead -not a very entertaining idea. We ascended safely to 15ft. and after more than 10 minutes, we’re already bobbing up the surface, and had to creatively exit off from the water as the strong waves battered us both back and forth to the side of the boat.

Our second dive came, after spending a couple of minutes doing our surface interval time, we approached the designated dive site. Backrolled and down in the water one after the other, we descended down to 75ft. Better visibility and lesser current this time. Good. We moved towards the contour of the dive site. There were nice thermoclines. I love the cold current rushing in. Nice!

What we saw and noticed was appalling and disheartening. The conditions of the coral reefs and its fish population was bad - almost decimated to bits.

Through years of unabated irresponsible fishing methods such as dynamite fishing, cyanide fishing, compressor diving, fine mesh net entanglements, and unmindful deployment of anchors directly to the corals, have resulted to vast area of destruction.

After surfacing from the dive and both disheartened, Norman and I talked and decided on how and what efforts we can do to help this beautiful place and lovely community to make them more aware, and responsible toward their own environment.

Through our discussions with the local leaders they realized the damages they’ve done and now wants to make amends. The realization was a surprised to them really. Like a bitter pill, now they are all willing to help bring back what was lost. They have set up their own support system as spearheaded by their barangay captain. With limited resources, they have started to proactively guard their reefs and protect it.

As the saying goes, the rest is history. With the idea in mind on how to help bring back alive the coral reefs and those wonderful fish communities in these sites, we have decided to gather all the concerned individuals in the diving industry and those who loves to protect our reefs and coastal environment.

This coming May 20, 2009, starting 8:00 pm, in one O three Bar, Ortigas Home Depot Complex, Julia Vargas Ave., Pasig, will be the place where all those who really care for the Pola Oriental Mindoro Reef Management Project will do their part and pledge their Php100.00 as support to help bring the reefs back to life. Also, the Limited Edition T-shirt will be available on sale at the party venue for only Php350.00 each.

Let us all have fun as we help pledge support this worthwhile endeavor. See you all there. Life is Good!

Thursday, May 7, 2009

POLA, ORIENTAL MINDORO REEF MANAGEMENT PROJECT is now Accepting Donations

Please come and join the DIVER’S NIGHT PARTY with a CAUSE on May 20, 2009 at one O three Bar at Ortigas Home Depot Julia Vargas Avenue, Pasig City. We are now accepting Donations for the Pola, Oriental Mindoro Reef Management Project. Please contact Myke at +632.387.9553 or Jun at +63.906.509.8299 for details.

Pledge Tickets/Raffle Coupons will be available at Business Mirror on May 15, 2009.

Limited Edition T-shirt will be available at one O three Bar starting 6:00PM. We are also accepting reservations.

Your support is greatly appreciated.

SPECIAL GUEST:

Pola, Oriental Mindoro Mayor Alex Aranas

Events Mangement, Photo and Video Coverages

• Terry Larrazabal Bike Festival
• POLA, Oriental Mindoro Reef Management Project (Series)
• Adventure-One Scuba’s 1st International Coastal Clean-up Activity in Anilao, Batangas
• Aqua-One Dive Shop's Diver’s Nights
• Aqua-One Dive Shop's International Coastal Clean-up Day Activity in Anilao, Batangas
• ESPN
• Nestlé Philippines - Nestea
• Philip Morris Group of Companies' Diana Krall Concert
• Wellcom Telecom Supermarket - KingCom Launching
• Wheels, Inc. – BMW 7 Series Unveiling
• Young President's Organization - International Chapter

Creative: Concept, Layout to Printing, Kiosk/Booth Designs and Construction

• Venrod Food Corp. – Chillers Fresh Fruit Shakes & Juices
• Aqua-One Dive Shop
• Citra Mina Seafood Market
• Country Style Bakery, Cafe & Pastry
• DEV Int’l Pure Resources Inc.
• Kalinawa Art Foundation
• Mommy Gina Tuna Resources
• Novartis
• Pacific Hub Corporation
• Primatex Fibre Corporation
• Real Bank – A Thrift Bank
• Splash Manufacturing Corporation
• Wellcom Telecom Supermarket Merchandising Materials
• Yakult Philippines
• Z Games Productions, Inc.