A first out of seven: Tales from the coasts of Mindanao

09/09/2008

The weatherman might tell us that this is not the perfect time to frolic in the sea or lie on the sand. But for 24-year-old nurse and beach lover Raya Cardenas, summer is a state of mind and that you can enjoy the beach all year round — rain or shine.

“It’s quite ironic that I love going to the beach because I don’t know how to swim,” says Raya jokingly. “But every time my family or my friends want to go on a vacation, I’m always the first one to suggest the beach. Maybe because I’m an Aquarian so I have a natural affinity with water,” she continues.

Raya’s sunny disposition and obvious passion for the beach captured the attention of Havaianas Philippines and made her one of the seven winners of the Havaianas Flipping for the Beach contest. This is an initiative undertaken by Havaianas in partnership with the Department of Tourism and Studio 23’s News Central to underscore the inherent coastal beauty of the country via an endeavor that invites locals to share the unique activities that one can do to immerse in the diversity that the Philippine coast has to offer.

“In the Philippines, the choices for summer escapes are rich indeed. There is a lot to be explored in a country made up of 7,107 islands. In fact, the opportunity to discover something new is limitless. And this is exactly why Havaianas, being a brand that mirrors the easy vibe of the tropics, is giving Filipino beach aficionados the chance to indulge in summer bliss all year round,” explains Glen Macadaeg, assistant brand manager of Havaianas Philippines.

Out of more than hundreds who joined, Raya’s entry was chosen because of her creative and vivid narrative of her one-of-a-kind experience in Misamis Occidental Aquamarine Park (MOAP). And just recently, Havaianas flew Raya back to this coastal gemstone for her to re-experience and rediscover the beach experience that carved a special place in her memory.

“I went there with my friends last year to celebrate our achievement in passing the Nursing Licensure Exam,” recounts Raya. “And even though I’ve been there before, it still has the same magical effect on me.”

Dolphins, tortoises and more

Located in Sinacaban, Misamis Occidental, MOAP started out five years ago aiming to accomplish three goals: aquaculture production, protection and conservation of marine environment, and eco-tourism promotion. Today, through the efforts of Gov Loreto Leo Ocampo, MOAP has become a strong economic enterprise and one of the well-known tourist attractions in the region.

At MOAP mainland, Raya and the Havaianas entourage toured the hatchery facilities of the place and explored its wildlife park featuring native Philippine animals. Afterwards, the team crossed approximately half a kilometer of wooden bridge. The trek was scenic with the area framed by mountains, mangroves and the azure Mindanao Sea.

From the mainland, the team took a 15-minute ferry ride going to the main attraction of the aquamarine park — the Dolphin Island. For someone who doesn’t know how to swim, Raya gamely dove into the water to swim with the dolphins. “They are such gentle and amazing creatures. They look as if they are always smiling,” she says.

After playing with the dolphins, Raya was again transported to another world as she snorkeled in MOAP’s Giant Clam Garden. The giant clam is locally called taklobo. The Giant Clam Garden is an initiative to restore the coral reefs and the clam sanctuary in the area that were damaged because of rampant dynamite fishing in the past.

Aside from these, MOAP also holds a host of other activities such as scuba diving and open water snorkeling. For those who opt for confined waters, the place has a fresh water pool. It even provides sanctuary for an estimated 90-year old sea turtle or pawikan.

From history to adventure

The Havaianas Flipping for the Beach contest also wants to add something new to the winner’s beach experience. In the case of Raya, Havaianas also brought her to the historical Rizal Shrine in Dapitan where Jose Rizal stayed when he was in exile, the pristine shores of Dakak, and finally, to the adventure sites and raging rapids of Cagayan de Oro where she bravely took on white water rafting, an endeavor of growing popularity.

A beach lover’s message

“When I’m in the beach, it feels that I’m in a world of my own, far from my hectic schedule and from the noise and demands of living in the city. Going to the beach triggers all these happy emotions and I feel that I can let go and just have fun and be my carefree self,” shares Raya.

And speaking like a true ambassador of Philippine beaches, Raya urges other Filipinos to explore the beaches in the country. “When I browse through travel magazines and I see other beaches around the world, I can’t help but feel proud of our own. I commend Havaianas’ efforts to pay tribute to these destinations and make people appreciate them more.”

Told through the voices of Filipinos like Raya who have chosen to explore what this country has to offer by taking the road less traveled, Havaianas hopes to provide a venue where local coastal tales can be shared.

Flipping for the Beach is a partnership between Havaianas and Studio 23’s News Central, supported by the Department of Tourism, and sponsored by David and Goliath, T-Box, and Dakine. Flipping for the Beach: Ozamiz Leg is the first of the seven-beach series.

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