BONÈ Issue#3 by BONÈ Magazine

B NÈ 5 Gifts Dad will Totally Love!

ISSUE #3 | June 2018

PRESIDENT & CEO OF CHATA

Miles

Mercera

& The most important man in his life

INSIDE STORY

“Mi mes ta Tata, mi mes ta Mama” It’s all about the island lifestyle

Photography: Achim Dekkers

Welcome to the #3 edition of BONÈ Magazine

orn on the island of Bonaire, BONÈ magazine is made with love and B passion for its people and the visitors. BONÈ is fresh, fun, colorful and ‘dushi’ just like the locals. Every month, BONÈ magazine will showcase the amazing island lifestyle through fashion, dining, nightlife and much more, with fresh content and fun designs. BONÈ distinguishes itself from others by its playful character, passion for its culture, modern look and most important, BONÈ is made for everybody. Just smell the sea, feel the sky and enjoy the BONÈ island lifestyle!

BONÈ

loves

Oxy+

Lifefactors is a line of natural products that help with a healthy lifestyle. One of the most sought-after products, the Oxy+, helps elevate the oxygen in your body and helps your body maintain its balance. It also helps eliminate toxins from the body and boosts your immune system. Available at: Health Store BioConscious Kaya Grandi 67, Unit 2. Tel: +599 7171177

Bonaire Wild Bird Rehab Birds are close to our hearts and Bonaire Wild Bird Rehab is an organization that cares for injured, sick and orphaned wild birds. When the birds have been nurtured back to health, they are released back into their natural habitat. They do admirable work and are surely appreciated.

B NÈLoves.. Bonaire Culinary Team The Bonaire Culinary Team will compete in the Taste of the Caribbean competition in Miami. The competition will take place from June 22nd to June 26th. Bonè is proud to have them represent Bonaire and wishes them lots of luck!

Walk with Miss Bonaire

In an effort to raise funds for her international competitions, Miss Bonaire is hosting a alk. It starts at 6.00 AM on Saturday, June 30th at Te Amo Beach and ends at 10.00 AM at Sorobon Beach. Come support our Miss Bonaire on June 30th!

Photography: Achim Dekkers | Styling: Kingzjan Styling | Location: Floris Suite Hotel

â&#x20AC;&#x153;My father

influenced and inspired me to think big, break the cycle, be different and simply live a positive life.â&#x20AC;? 6

Miles mercera&Dad T

here are not many relationships as sacred as the one between a father and his son. few other relationships will have as big of an impact on a boy, in his journey to becoming a man, than the relationship he has with his father. for this special edition of Bonè, we had the honor to have a sit down with Miles Mercera, the President & CEO of Chata, and the most important man in his life, his father,

miles Mercera

Benjamin Mercera.

HOW IS YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR FATHER NOW THAT YOU’RE 30 COMPARED TO WHEN YOU WERE YOUNGER?

I would refer to my relationship with my father at my 30th year of age as Freedom. A phase in life where your relationship is like a friendship. Best friends taking over the world. The foundation of our relationship is love! HOW IMPORTANT WAS YOUR FATHER’S ROLE IN FORMING YOU INTO THE MAN YOU ARE TODAY?

My father was and is my role model. Especially when it comes to the definition of “how to live life”. Happiness and dreaming big are his go to words everyday. My father influenced and inspired me to think big, break the cycle, be different and simply live a positive life. Law of attraction and the power of positive thinking is something that he taught me since my early days. WHICH ATTRIBUTES DO YOU ADMIRE MOST ABOUT YOUR FATHER?

Can you imagine that I don’t recall my father saying “No” to me ever! Easy going kind of person I would say! I still admire that he hugs me everyday! It’s a great feeling to be surrounded by unconditional love and that is exactly what he gave to me my entire life! IF ONE DAY YOU’D BECOME A FATHER, WOULD YOU RAISE YOUR CHILDREN THE WAY YOUR FATHER RAISED YOU AND YOUR BROTHER?

I would do it exactly the same! Copy paste his passion and style 100%. This is why my goal right now is, to thank him everyday for the amazing childhood he granted me and by giving back my time, energy and resources for him to relax and enjoy his pension. It’s my turn now to give back! My father deserves the world and more!

Fun Facts!!

My second name is BENETHSON. I’m proud to carry my parents name, namely Benjamin & Ethel’s son.

I admire his willingness to help me everyday from the smallest to the biggest favors. He is my helping hand.

BONÈ

locals

“I’ve realized that even when they grow up, you keep on doing your best to help them. They will always be my children, and I will always be their father.”

Benjamin Mercera

WHEN YOU HAD YOUR FIRST SON, DID YOU THINK YOU NEEDED TO RAISE HIM IN A CERTAIN WAY SO THAT HE COULD GROW UP TO BE A SUCCESSFUL MAN?

WHAT’S THE BEST ADVICE YOUR FATHER EVER GAVE YOU?

My father taught me to always respect others, and not to get angry easily.

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT RAISING TWO SONS WHO ARE DOING WELL NOW? ARE YOU HAPPY WITH THE GREAT JOB YOU DID?

When your kids are born, they tell you that you’ll be busy with them for the first 20 years, but I’ve realized that even when they grow up, you keep on doing your best to help them. They will always be my children, and I will always be their father. Like Khalil Gibran, a poet from Tunisia once said: ‘’Your children are not your children. They are daughters and sons of Life’s longing for itself. They came through you but not from you and though they are with you yet they belong not to you’’. They have their own spirit, wants, and ideas. You give your children love, and if they give it back to you, it’s all right, but if you don’t get it back, you shouldn’t complain. That’s how I see it.

WHERE WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE YOUR CHILDREN IN A FEW YEARS?

I would like for them to continue to prosper, and be healthy. I want my children to be able to handle all the challenges that life throws at them. My daily message to my two sons are “it doesn’t matter what happens in life, but most importantly it’s how you react to it”. That is what truly matters.

Love,

Benjamin Mercera [Proud Father of Emory & Miles Mercera]

Photography: Achim Dekkers | Styling: Kingzjan Styling | Location: Floris Suite Hotel

To be honest, I had not given it a thought. I was 28 years old when Emory, my first son was born. At that point I just thought that I would raise him, the way that my instincts told me to. As my sons grew up, I would always tell them: “Listen, it’s my first time being a dad, so help me out, because I don’t know it all either, Haha!’’. I thought to myself, I would raise my kids differently than how my father raised me. I gave them more freedom to do what they wanted to do, and have always supported them in that. I noticed that Miles, for example liked everything that had to do with travelling, and that has become his passion. I will always guide, and support my children in what they love.

Nos Zjilea Local arts, crafts, food and live music by the best local musicians. When: June 30 Where: Mangazina di Rei, Rincon 8 AM – 2 PM

Sunset Happy Hour Cruise Watch sunset while enjoying a drink and finger foods on the boat of Aqua Adventures! When: Every Friday Where: Karels beach pier 6 PM – 9 PM

Taste of Bonaire Experience the culture, local crafts, food and signature dishes of well-known restaurants. When: July 7 Where: Wilhelmina Park 6 PM

Fun

Things to do this month Marvv #Mixed Up Dance the night away on the beats of DJ Marvv! When: June 15 Where: Islander 10 PM

Semii Marten Enjoy live music by the talented Semii Marten! When: June 16 Where: Islander 10 PM

It’s a meezing Sing along with your favorite songs and dance on the beats of DJ Noortje & DJ Koen! When: June 30 Where: Little Havana 10 PM – 2 AM

1st Anniversary Foodies Live music by Junior Tecla & Vibenation! When: June 16 Where: Foodies Restaurant 6 PM

Island Tour Sunset happy hour Bonaire cultural experience takes you to the North side of the Island with a drive through 1000 steps. Afterwards we drives towards the Flamingo sanctuary ‘Goto Lake’ . After ‘Goto Lake’ we will drive through Rincon which is one of the oldest settlement in the Netherlands Antilles with a stop at ‘Mangazina di Rei’ museum. Next we will drive to the south side of the island passing trough the capital to see the slave huts and the salt ﬂats.

4HRS TOUR $35 p.p

Every Friday, you can board our Catamaran to experience an astonishing sunset with delicious ﬁnger food, drinks and great music from 6-8PM. $25 p.p incl welcome drink & ﬁnger food.

Klein Bonaire

Experience Klein Bonaire with us! Every Sunday from 2-6PM. We will station our catamaran in front of the beach so you can enjoy your day at Klein Bonaire. Food and beverages available on board. We ﬁnish the trip with a coastal sightseeing. $25 p.p

BONÈ

eat & drink

Gio’s Gelateria & Caffè For 7 years, Gio’s Gelateria & Caffé has been serving delicious artisanal Italian ice-cream on the island. Our ice-creams are made on location and you can choose from more than 35 flavors! We not only serve the best ice-creams but also cakes, sorbets, bon-bons, fresh coffee, tea and much more! Come visit us! Mon- Sun: 8AM- 10 PM Kaya Grandi 34 +599 717 5700 @giosbonaire

Spice Bar & Restaurant Spice bar & restaurant is a contemporary venue on the beach where you can enjoy delicious food, sipping beautiful cocktails whilst enjoying the modern yet relaxing ambience in an idyllic setting. Bar: Daily from 9 am - 11 pm, Kitchen: Daily from 6 am - 10 pm. Restaurant: Mon- Fri from 7 am - 10 am, 6 pm - 11 pm Sat- Sun from 7 am - 11 am, 6pm – 11 pm. Bulevar Gobernador N. Debrot +599 717 6720 @spicebonaire

Island Lounge & Restobar

La Terrazza

This is the perfect place to enjoy great food and happy hours with your friends and family. We have international and local dishes from arepas, burgers, grill, ceviche and much more. We also have executive lunch for only $10! Come enjoy our daily happy hours, 2 beers for $5, and the best mojito's on the island!

Let us surprise you and wake up your taste with our daily varying menu and different wines. We work with daily changing products and all kind of ingredients from Bonaire and abroad. We invite you to come have a bite with a perfect matching wine on our beautiful terrace.

Mon-Sun: 8 AM-10 PM Kaya Grandi 8 +599 7171012 islandrestobarbonaire

The kitchen opens at: 12- 3 PM and 6 -9 PM Kaya Grandi 7 +599 717 1012 @LaTerrazzaBonaire

Daily

weekend

Are you

BSured?

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Yama 715 5520!

bsurebonaire.com

• Tur Seguro: paga pa luna sin gastu adishonal! (Asta bo seguro di outo) • Seguro di Outo: deskuento di no-claim te 80%! • Seguro di Kas: bo seguro di kontenido GRÁTIS! • Seguro di Biahe: muchanan te ku 12 aña ta sigurá GRÁTIS! • Seguro di Kontenido: seguro di responsabilidat sivíl te $ 560.000,- GRÁTIS ! Sera bo seguro di BSure fásil i lihé na bsurebonaire.com òf yamando 715 5520. Naturalmente bo por pasa libremente na Playa òf Hato Branch.

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Photography: Roëlton Thodé | Text: Joanne Schut

BONÃ&#x2C6;

vibes

WHAT

Festival A Fuego

WHEN May 4

WHERE

St. Dominicus School

LET US SPOIL YOU!