NAVIGATOR by Pamela Cortez

NAVIGATOR NOVE M B E R - F E B RUA RY 2 0 1 3

C E L E B R AT I N G T H E N A U T I C A L L I F E S T Y L E

THE MUSLIM SLAVE RAIDS BY ESTAN CABIGAS

TEA, TRADE, AND TEARS

LAMIA MACDONALD GOES BACK TO

REDISCOVER ANILAO THE ORIGINAL DIVING SPOT

ROY ESPIRITU’S HANDY GUIDE ON

BUILD YOUR OWN BOAT

HOW TO SET SAIL ON YOUR OWN TERMS

PLUS! AN EXCLUSIVE LOOK INTO THE NEW

ALPHALAND MARINE CLUB

NAVIGATOR SEA EXPO STAFF CHAIRMAN

Angelo Olondriz

EVENT MANAGER

Bianca Jison

SENIOR SALES & MARKETING EXECUTIVE MARKETING OFFICER

Rommel Santos

Jennifer V. Enriquez

NAVIGATOR EDITOR CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Pamela Cortez

Estan Cabigas, Ramil Delos Reyes, Roy Espiritu, Lamia Macdonald, Kara Santos

CONTRIBUTING ARTIST LAYOUT ARTIST

Kristine Caguiat

Kim Tomacruz

COVER PHOTO BY

Jose Pinheiro

SEA-EXPO BUILDING 3, 2ND FLOOR JANNOV PLAZA 2295 PASONG TAMO EXTENSION MAKATI CITY 1231, PHILIPPINES TELEPHONE: (632) 729 7747 TELEFAX: (632) 894 2676 EMAIL: SALES@SEAEX.PH

ONLINE PRESENCE: HTTP://FACEBOOK.COM/PHILSEAEXPO HTTP://TWITTER.COM/SEAEXPO

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Welcome to Sea-Ex! A

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MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN

Message from the Chairman

elcome to Sea-Expo 2011 and thank you for your continued support! When we first embarked on this journey in 2009, our vision was clear; to establish the first annual boat show in the Philippines. As a boat builder, I recognized that in a country of more than 7,000 islands, there was no opportunity for us, or other members of the Philippine maratime industry, to showcase our achievements and share our products with the rest of the nautical community. Three years later, our vision holds true and SeaExpo 2011 is now an established annual event that continues to grow and gain traction. Attendance for Sea-Expo 2010 surpassed all of our expectations and attracted more than twice the number of attendees that participated in SeaExpo 2009. Sea-Expo 2011 remains true to the original mission plan – to bring together under one extraordinary exposition all members of the maritime community. The seasoned, the novice, the enthusiast – all are invited to join us in celebrating this vibrant and exciting industry. As such, we are confident that Sea-Expo 2011 will be the most highly attended show yet, thanks to both your

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Your guide in exploring this month’s issue.

s the year comes to a close, we look back on Sea-ex 2012 with many goals in mind. Having countless firsts during the last expo- such as the helicopter display- has spurred us on, ensuring that next year will have more in store for our loyal patrons, and attract new ones in turn. We have plans to expand and create a show that will provide an even better experience and hopefully, will open more doors for the industry we are a part of. Our community has been growing in size and as the only boat show in the Philippines, we seek to accommodate the needs of our clients and friends. I can only say that as our 5th expo approaches, our determination has increased and we are seeing our plans come to fruition, with booths being filled faster than ever before. patronage and the continued support This Navigator, we decided to put a clear focus of all of the marine related vendors and on the Philippines. After the launch of the DOT’s manufacturers that are present and new slogan, we decided it was only fitting that we displaying their products here for you make this the theme of our last issue of the year. today. International on making our marine industry Now on its thirdattention year, we are has grown and this year we attracted a this message very clear: Sea-Expohave is record number visitors wishing to spend their here to stay as theof Philippines’ one and time on our shores. only annual boat showOur andbeaches nautical are consistently lifestyle event. popping up on ‘best of’ lists citing our home as an Thisundiscovered year, we areplayground. very excited for the participation of Simpson Marine of spot Anilao and We rediscover famous diving Hong Kong and the launch of the travel writer Kara Santos brings us to Zamboanga, Suzuki Marine brand. asalso brought home of theOutboard vinta regatta. WeAnd have Sea-Expo welcomes a growing number more focus to the boating industry in the country of attendees each year, both local by having the Philippine Home Boatbuilders Yacht and foreign, we’re coming out with a Club show you how to build your very own boat. magazine to feature all the latest in the This year great the for Sea-Ex, and as the industry. We has planbeen to publish only show of its kind here, we the need Sea-Expo magazine bi-annuallyunderstand in for to the Philippines’ greattospots to be discovered, order address the need extend haveoutside hopefully done in this issue. thewhich expo’swe arms of the yearly Whatevent. a great year it has been for our industrythree-day Thank you once again and we remain optimistic thatenjoy 2013 will only be better. Sea-Expo 2011! Mabuhay!

28/58

TEA, TRADE, AND TEARS

The bloody history of the Mindano slave raids.

ON DECK

12/58 REDISCOVER ANILAO Angelo Olondriz Angelo Chairman

Olondriz

Lamia MacDonald goes back to the original diving spot.

ON DECK

20/58 BUILD YOUR OWN BOAT

Roy Espiritu’s guide on sailing on your own terms.

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THE GUIDE

All you need on your boat this summer are these essentials, which will make your expeditions this year an easy sail.

Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf Contata Machine The best thing about sailing is being one with nature, but it doesn’t mean that your yacht shouldn’t offer the best technology out there. Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf gives you the most advanced coffee and tea brewing machine which combines everything you need to keep you up when you need to sail on the rockiest of waves. The Contata machine has automatic proportioning, easy capsule insertion with automatic ejection and electronic temperature control. It can hold up to ten capsules and has 15 bar maximum pump pressure. It’s pretty compact and would fit perfectly in the galley of your yacht. With a timeless design and functionality, the Contata is probably the best brewer out there, considering it can give you both a cup of tea and coffee. Make sure to buy this machine for your yacht- a cup of joe is essential for the cool sea breeze.

Mosbeau Advanced Food Supplement

Garmin GPSMAP521S Yes, getting lost at sea seems like a wonderful idea- with nothing but the sun and open water to accompany you on your trip away from the city. But you do need to find your way back- eventually. MARNAV Marine Electronics, the authorized distributor of Garmin in the Philippines has their latest GPS system and it is the most advanced yet. A compact chartplotter, it features an ultra-bright 5” QVGA color display along with an improved high-speed digital design for increased map drawing and panning speeds. It even includes a built-in, stellite-enhanced worldwide basemap and an easyto-use interface, which will make your navigation even easier. Everything about this nifty little gadget will make your trip a smooth sail, as it has added Auto Guidance technology, capability for high-resolution satellite imagery and even hightech 3D views. This is the ultimate new GPS for every experienced yachtie out there.

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A good tan is one of the great benefits of being out on open water- but sometimes, too much exposure just isn’t great for your sensitive skin. This is where Mosbeau’s Advanced Food Supplement comes in- its whitening qualities ensures that you don’t get burnt to a crisp out on the deck of your boat. Using advanced skin care technology from Japan, Mosbeau has come up with a product more powerful than your normal whitening tablets. Yes, it does have Horse Placental Protein but don’t let that scare you- its active ingredients translate to effective and more visible results. Not only does it whiten, it has moisturizing, anti-aging and skin cell renewal qualities, which will surely help you in avoiding the effects of those harmful rays.

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SET SAIL

REGATTA DE ZAMBOANGA Article and photos by Kara Santos

A fleet of vintas with their colorful sails lined Zamboanga City’s shoreline, transforming the otherwise sandy and rocky coast into a colorful spectacle. The simple fishing boats were embellished with striped sails in vivid colors. The shore was crowded with spectators cheerfully watching and cheering while young children played on the shallow waters of the beach. The whole stretch of RT Lim Boulevard was crowded that Sunday

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morning. Though coast guards had set up a “do not cross” line in the water so people wouldn’t crowd the boats, a slew of photographers carrying their bulky SLR cameras waded in the beach to get closer shots of the colorful boats. Despite the searing heat, everyone was in good spirits. Vendors passed by hawking cold drinks, junk food and even fresh seaweed for sale. The strong breeze that propelled the sailboats blew a strong briny smell towards the crowd.

From afar, the fishing boats with their striped sails looked like rainbows dancing on the waters of the Basilan Strait as the participants raced to claim the top prize. This was the scene that greeted me during the Regatta de Zamboanga, the annual boat race of vintas during the La Hermosa Festival in Zamboanga City last October 2012. Local newspapers reported that 125 participants in the vinta race, mostly fishermen from the

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SET SAIL

SET SAIL ethnic groups that reside in the region. She has since been the city’s patroness, safeguarding the boundary and its inhabitants from foreign invaders. To show their devotion to the Lady, locals celebrate with numerous events throughout festivities, which lasts more than a week. Aside from the regatta, they hold cultural performances, art exhibits, fireworks displays, musical and cultural shows and fashion shows. The event culminates with a grand float and street parade which seems to take inspiration from the vinta as well. Many of the dancers’ vibrant costumes and colorful skirts seem to echo the striped sails of the sailboats. Meanwhile, large replicas of vintas are paraded on the streets aboard trucks and jeeps.

ROMANCING THE VINTA

predominantly Muslim barangays of Sinunuc, Sacol Island, Tictabon Island, Rio Hondo, Mariki and Arena Blanco. During each leg, ten vintas took to the waters and a winner was declared for each group. Those who won their respective legs fought for supremacy during the championship round. Aside from the bragging rights, the winners of the race got P10,000 in cash, a trophy, and a brand new engine for a boat. Fifth to second placers bagged cash prizes ranging from P2,000 P7,000 respectively. Meanwhile, all those who participated, received consolation prize of P1,000 per vinta.

LA HERMOSA FESTIVAL Zamboanga City lies on the western most peninsula of Mindanao and is home to a busy international port strategically located on the Basilan Straight. The City of Zamboanga is a chartered city independent of the province of Zamboanga del Sur in terms of funding, administration, and so on.

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The colorful Regatta de Zamboanga is the major attraction of the La Hermosa Festival, which is held every October in celebration of the feast of Our Lady of the Pillar (La Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Zaragosa), Zamboanga City’s patron saint. The La Hermosa Festival itself is one of the oldest festivals in the country and one of the most awaited in the region. The term “Hermosa,” is the Spanish word for beautiful, and captures the essence of the city’s rich culture and history. Historical documents show that early Malay settlers known as Subanons (“people of the river”) named the place Jambangan or Tambangan (“land of flowers), and the city is still known for its many species of flowers, especially orchids. The Samal and Badjao ethnic groups who came to the city in their vintas or native boats called it Samboangan, referring to the wood poles they used to dock their boats. The early 1500s brought along the Spaniards and their Catholic religion into the Philippine Islands, in search of spices

and riches. Spanish cultural influences still abound in the way of life of the Zamboangueños, giving the city the moniker “Asia’s Latin City.” In fact, almost 70 percent of the Spanish language is still used while the remaining 30 percent is a derivation of a native dialect called Chavacano. As a form of thanksgiving, festivities like the regatta are held over a period of 12-days where locals show their devotion to the miraculous Our Lady of the Pillar, the name given to the Blessed Virgin Mary for her claimed appearance during the start of Christianity in Spain. A Marian shrine dedicated to Our Lady of the Pillar can be seen outside the eastern wall. Also known as the Royal Fort of Our Virgin Lady of the Pillar of Zaragoza, this 17th century military defense fortress built by the Spanish colonial government in Zamboanga City, Fort Pilar is the major landmark of Zamboanga City and a symbol of the city’s cultural heritage. Zamboangueños believe that the Lady was responsible in uniting diverse

The vinta’s vertically striped and multicolored sails adorn numerous postcards and pictures of southern Philippines. In fact, the boat is practically synonymous to Zamboanga City, being the major icon of the vibrant city and a symbol of the Mindanao region. Locally the vinta is known as lepalepa or sakayan. It is a traditional boat made by Bajau and Moros living in the Sulu Archipelago, Zamboanga peninsula and southern Mindanao. Its assorted vertical colors are said to represent the colorful culture and history of the Muslim community. Some say that the name was name coined by the Spaniards. These vessels are mainly used for inter-island transport of people and goods and for short trips on days with normal breezes. Because of their small size, the vinta is not really safe for long ocean travel. Traditionally, the bigger boats used for crossing high seas are the kumpit and sahpit or the Indonesian parao. The sahpit is used as a large houseboat or for transporting cargo. There are also modern fast crafts and Roll-OnRoll-Off ferries that transport people from Zamboanga City to the island of Basilan. The parao is fitted with an inboard Volvo engine and is widely known now as “volvo”. Vintas with very colorful sails still abound along some seashores, especially of seaside resorts, for tourists who want a bit of romance and adventure.

WHERE TO SEE VINTAS While visitors to Zamboanga City could only previously see the vinta during the Regatta de Zamboanga, a new offering now allows visitors to sail on one. Vinta Sailing is now offered at Paseo del Mar, a seafront plaza, every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm as long as weather and wind conditions are favorable. For just a minimal fee of P50 (adults), visitors can enjoy sailing in these colorful sailboats. Vinta sailing was launched by the Department of Tourism Region IX as an added attraction to the city for guests and the general public. Replicas and sails of vintas are also on display in the lobby of the historic Lantaka Hotel by the Sea. This hotel, named after a type or bronze cannon mounted on merchant vessels traveling the waterways of

the Malay archipelago, is among the oldest hotels in the city. The hotel has a commanding view of the wharf and the sea, particularly from its outdoor restaurant and the balconies of the seaside rooms. It is centrally located in the city, a short walk from other tourist spots of interest, including the City Hall, Fort Pilar, Zamboanga Museum, and shopping areas. As expected, vintas are also popularly used as icons in souvenir items for those who want to take home a piece of Zamboanga City. One can find numerous artwork, magnets, mugs, shirts and keychains with vinta designs on them. Miniature vintas are also sold in the bazaars of Plaza del Pilar, a public square just across Fort Pilar. §

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SET SAIL

SET SAIL day and weekend trips, with a wide variety of dive sites and sight-seeing locations for every skill range. From the calm relative shallows of Twin Rocks – perfect for underwater photography – to the sunken cave at Mapating, known for its reef sharks and strong currents, there is something for everyone and plenty of reasons to keep going back for more. There is even a small chance of seeing butanding (whale sharks)! There are over twenty named sites that a dive master could take you to and it’s best to ask a local which sites are best to dive from on a particular day, but here are six diving locations that are not to be missed. Comparing any of the dive spots in the list, you can see just how diverse diving in Anilao can be!

REVISITING ANILAO By Lamia MacDonald

When one man, for whatever reason, has the opportunity to lead an extraordinary life, he has no right to keep it to himself. - Jacques Yves Cousteau (1910-1997)

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WE have a lot to thank the famous naval officer, explorer, scientist, ecologist and diver Jacques Yves Cousteau for, not least his pioneering research into open-circuit SCUBA technology that we use today. It is thanks to Cousteau that extended underwater exploration is possible without submarines and submersible remote cameras, but perhaps his most important lesson was ‘people protect what they love’. And thanks to Cousteau, Kunzig, my old biology teacher and so many other inspirational people, the sea and the life within in it is what I love. Especially when I’m SCUBA diving. I first learnt to SCUBA dive around four years ago when my family and I moved to Manila from Scotland. It was a rocky start – I couldn’t come to grips with the

idea that humans should feel perfectly safe breathing underwater – but well worth persevering to conquer my fears and fulfil my dream of learning to dive. I now have nearly fifty dives under my belt and the beginning of a degree in marine biology. The Philippines may be the only country where I’ve been able to dive so far, but I hardly consider that a disadvantage. The Philippines has some of the most biodiverse waters in the world, and many people who have been diving for decades agree that it has some of the best dive sites too. Anilao – a barangay on the south west corner of the Philippines island of Luzon – is widely accepted as the birthplace of diving in the Philippines, and for good reason. Anilao is a fantastic location for both

THE CATHEDRAL The Cathedral is one of the most popular diving sites in the Philippines and certainly a personal favourite; it is named for a stone cross and grave placed at around 15m. The story goes that the grave belongs to a diver who wished to be buried underwater in the 80s. The grave is surrounded by a vast coral reef and hundreds of fish; although not allowed, a lot of divers feed the fish at Cathedral, attracting blue triggerfish, moorish idols, angelfish, butterfly fish and wrasse, amongst others. A close inspection of the brightly coloured coral and sponges might lead to a sighting of nudibranchs and lionfish. Blue sea stars and clownfish are a common sight on the reef. The dive is 20-30m deep and the current can be strong, but for divers with experience and a good guide it is a routine dive and close to the shore. SOMBRERO ISLAND Sombrero Island consists of a collection of small dive spots, one of which takes the name of the hat-shaped island. It has a medium slope, and dives are about 10-30m deep, with a relatively shallow wall. If you want a drift dive in Anilao this is the place to go. Sombrero Island is a good place to go to see corals, sea cucumbers, and life on the sea floor. On a typical dive you may see triggerfish and jacks, and if you’re lucky turtles or octopuses. Currents can be strong and change quickly in some of the sites as the island is not well

sheltered, and it is best to surface close to your partners as the water can be very choppy. This is one dive you definitely need a marker for, and though not for absolute beginners it is still an enjoyable dive. KIRBY’S ROCK Kirby’s Rock is a wall dive with very good visibility. The swell is calm but like most places in Anilao the current can get stronger. The rock that the site is named after sticks out of the water, and the shallow slope from the shore down to the reef has very good coral cover and life which makes the site popular for photographers. On a good day you may see feather stars, sea worms, nudibranchs, sea cucumbers, reef fish and sea stars. The bottom of the wall is also known for sheltering moray eels, clownfish and wrasse, as well as the occasional larger visitor, while the seaward side has patches of coral and a large variety of sponges. This is a dive suitable for divers of a wide skill range, with places to dive between 12 and 32m. MAPATING/SHARK CAVE This site is a challenging one for even experienced divers, but well worth it. The submerged cave is surrounded by a few shallow crops of coral drop-offs of 20m or more each, and the site is best

known for the large pelagic fish nearby. If you’re lucky you might see one or two reef sharks in the cave. Look out for fan corals on the way down that might have pygmy seahorses resting on them. The current is usually quite strong but the site is sheltered around the actual cave itself. It’s best to stay on the outside of the cave and to bring a torch so as not to disturb the sharks. The dive site is easy to miss from a boat, so make sure you have a guide or boatman who knows exactly what they’re looking for on the surface. TWIN ROCKS Twin rocks is aptly named – a pair of rocks forming a large underwater chasm of sorts that is known for its batfish, frogfish, and the occasional stingray. Divers are usually dropped off at the wreck of a sunken barge and from there swim can down the gradual slope of the coral reef. The highlight of any trip to Twin Rocks are the giant clams – a protected species in the Philippines, where you can see them in their natural habitat. Dives off Twin Rocks are between 18 and 30m deep, and Twin Rocks is reportedly one of the most popular dives for professional photographers due to the easy current and nature of the site.

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SET SAIL MALAJIBOMANOC ISLAND This is one dive site I’ve not yet had a chance to go to but it comes highly recommended. There is a natural hot spring at 19m, which many believe is caused by activity of the nearby Taal volcano. If you time your dive right you can see a curtain of fine bubbles coming from the seabed. There is a slight chance of seeing reef sharks but the hot springs are best known for their plentiful fish life, including pufferfish, parrotfish, and moray eels. There are also sandy areas where you stand a chance of seeing shoals of jacks, sting rays, eels, and sea stars, as well as a range of coral. The dive site is generally calm but it can get rough, and the depth of the site ranges between 18 and 25m. CHOOSING A RESORT There are a number of different resorts along the Anilao coastline to choose from and they are prominently advertised right along the road. Some places only offer day trips to dive while others offer meals, transport and accommodation. If you’re planning to stay overnight or haven’t visited a resort before, speak to friends or anyone else who has been to Anilao. Ask around! You’re ensured of a

good stay if you go somewhere that a friend has enjoyed and can recommend, where you can fully experience friendly Filipino hospitality. The same goes for live-aboard boats, of which there are a few to find if you look online. EQUIPMENT AND COSTS Many dive resorts will rent you all the equipment that you need to dive, but I find that most people feel a lot more secure on a dive if I have equipment that I am familiar with. Most resorts can rent you a tank cheaply, and you can either rent a guide at the resort or bring along a dive master who knows the area. Visibility, especially on muck dives, can range between 5 and 20m depending on the weather and site. A torch and a dive marker are a good investment in case you get separated from the rest of your group or if the visibility suddenly turns and you need to make a solo or ‘hasty’ ascent. Note that Anilao is a very busy dive site and at least one diver in your group should have a marker to avoid any accidents during ascent. Between December and April Anilao waters can get cold, and it is recommended that you wear a thicker wetsuit. In the summer a 0.5mm or ‘shortie’ is usually enough for

me, but I was definitely too cold in my 0.5mm in late December. A day trip (two people, six tanks (three dives), a boat, lunch, and a dive master) has, in my experience, rounded up to about PHP6,000, with my companion and I taking our own equipment and finding our own transport to the resorts. HOW TO GET THERE Anilao is about a 2-2 1/2 hour drive from Metro Manila. Follow signs on the SLEX and Star Tollway to reach Batangas. When you get to the end of the Tollway, follow signs for Bauan, Mabini, and Anilao. There are jeepneys which travel the route but if you’ve not travelled by bus or jeepney before, or you have expensive dive equipment on you, it’s easier to travel in your own car. Some resorts offer van transport from your point of origin. If you’re driving yourself, leave home early in the morning and set off before 4pm to avoid the traffic on the SLEX. No matter what resort you choose to dive from, the dive sites are never more than a 40 minute boat ride away. Most resorts offer boat transport for a small extra charge. §

ABOUT LAMIA MACDONALD Lamia MacDonald is a marine biology student at the University of Stirling in Scotland, and is a PADI-qualified rescue diver. In her free time she enjoys diving, sailing, and writing about her travels, and is currently working on a thesis on humpback whale song.

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ON DECK

Trevally Ad.pdf

10/10/12

12:34 AM

THE EDUCATED

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The team behind Alphaland has come up with a design that could rival yacht clubs in Singapore and around Asia.

BUILT FOR THE UNCOMPROMISING MARINER

With boats 16feet to 33feet you have options ranging from inshore utility craft all the way to Blue water Deep-V power boats that can take you to any of our far flung Philippine Islands.

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or a country with such beautiful coastlines, we only have a few premium yacht clubs to our name. The team behind Alphaland has recognized the demand for such a club and has come up with a design that could rival those in Singapore and others around Asia. The Alphaland Marina Club, scheduled for the second quarter of 2014, is a members-only marina club located in Paranaque. Located along the Western coast of Alphaland Bay City, right between SM Mall of Asia and the Solaire Casino and Hotel,

Manila Bay will provide a fabulous setting, offering views and fresh air while remaining close to the city. The breakwater will enclose about 10 hectares of marina area, with 300 berths for boats of all sizes. It will include a clubhouse with a design based on nature, built on pilings right in the middle of the water. This three-level clubhouse will include a scenic elevator and will offer several dining and entertainment options with five private dining roomsperfect for providing privacy for social or business gatherings.

Rather than being merely a yacht club, the Alphaland Marina Club will be a full-featured country club on the water, centered on the romantic sport of yachting. Members however donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t need to own a boat to be part of this exclusive club- Alphaland will maintain its own fleet of boats so that they can enjoy the nautical lifestyle. Boat-owners however, will enjoy the facilities for their vesselsAlphaland ensures that entrance to the marina is strictly regulated but convenient for members and crew.

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ON DECK The Marina Designed by Joe Goddard Marine Pty. Ltd. of Australia, a firm that has designed and managed marinas all over the world, the marina is sure to be state-of-the-art. A 900 meter long breakwater will enclose 8 hectares of water, creating a secure, tranquil and well-protected basin for members’ vessels. All berths will be reachable on foot, however golf carts will also be provided at the members’ convenience. Each berth will have both a pedestal and finger pier, which provides the boat with both power and water. Security is of the utmost importance to those at Alphaland Marina and access from land is limited by guarded electronic gates operated by keycards, available only to members and their crew. The clubhouse will have a floating dock convenient for boarding, and two service docks located at the Northeast and Southeast corners of the marina where boats may refuel and take on water and cargo.

The Clubhouse Everything about the clubhouse’s design is unique- designed by renowned Filipino architects Carmelo Casas and partners; its iconic design suggests sails and wind. The 3,000 square meter clubhouse will stand at three storeys while a graceful, swooping canopy will protect the glass-walled structure from the sun. This canopy embraces both form and function, providing an arresting focal point while helping reduce energy use. The structure will have generous view decks encircling it at all levels, with full height glass walls, ensuring a beautiful view all around the clubhouse. Built on piles in the center of the marina, the clubhouse is surrounded by water and only accessed from land via a carriageway. Everything from a tabacalera to a marine chandlery will be at the members’ disposal.

ON DECK quantities of fuel, potable water, sewage pumpout, washing, and other services. Boats that need substantial quantities of fuel or water may load at one of the two service docks, which will also provide sewage pumpout. Boats in the marina must have their overboard sewage valves taped shut, as they will not be allowed to discharge waste within two nautical miles from shore, in accordance with international law. Guests may board boats at several designated areas, including selected berths right at the clubhouse, as well as the service docks. For security reasons, there will be no live aboard crew on the smaller boats. Alphaland will arrange facilities for crew outside the property. 24/7 roving staff will ensure that if any problems develop overnight, boats will be promptly attended to.

Support Services The club will build a team of qualified marine professionals who can maintain members’ yachts to their standards, crew the boats for trips, and regularly check on the boats when they are on standby. The club will maintain several support vessels in addition to the service barge. It will provide emergency services, such as rescue towing, crash pumping and firefighting. Small service boats will be available to assist with mooring. A fast rescue boat will be on standby for boats that encounter problems within Manila Bay. Traffic in and out of the marina will be regulated 24/7 by a Port Captain’s office.

Club Fleet The Alphaland Marina Club will maintain a small fleet of boats available for their members’ use at concessional rates. All boats are crewed, of modern design and will feature many conveniences. The fleet is perfect for members who may enjoy time on the water without concerning themselves with maintaining and managing a boat.

Boat owners The Marina Club aims to be the safest, most secure, most convenient, cleanest and most comfortable place to keep a yacht in Manila. It will have facilities for about 300 boats of all sizes. All berths will have floating piers not accessible to the public. Secured by piles, the piers will be guarded 24/7. For boats over 30 meters long, there will be berths available which can be reached on foot, and golf carts will also be provided. These berths will be supplied with electricity and water via approved marine fittings. There will be a boat ramp for trailerable boats, up to 9.5 meters (31 feet) in length. A service barge, provided by the marina, will supply small

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Boat sales Alphaland will partner with different manufacturers, dealerships, brokerages and suppliers, to make sure that both brand new and pre-owned boats will be available. The marina will also have demo boats available for trial and will create a one-stop shop that provides all items and services necessary for boat ownership, including after-sales support. Soon, buying a boat will be as easy as buying a mobile phone, and could be no more expensive than a second car. Alphaland’s plans for their exclusive Marina Club mean a great deal for both tourism and business in our country. With such an elegant design and services never seen in this country before, it will be more than a great addition to the yacht clubs we already have built on our shores. §

NAVIGATOR

ON DECK

NO BOAT? WHY NOT BUILD ONE? Article by Roy Espiritu. Illustrations by Kristine Caguiat.

lot of people have thought of getting into boating or sailing but are put off by the expense of purchasing a factory-made boat, as the cheapest boats on the market usually have price tags equivalent to that of second hand cars. This can be an acquisition that’s difficult to justify especially if it’s something that you don’t intend to use every day. So why not build your own boat? Undoubtedly, building your own boat is the most economical way of getting into boating or sailing. People have built beautiful boats for less than a price of a cellular phone. Boats aren’t complicatedthey’ve been around for thousands of years, and are arguably the oldest man-made modes of transportation. So, how hard can it be to build your own? For most folks who have never picked up hammer or a saw their entire life, the idea of building a boat can seem intimidating, but it’s actually easier than you think. In this article we’ve put together 6 simple steps to building your own boat.

STEP TWO: BUY THE MATERIALS

You didn’t think that you had to design your own boat, did you? Plans for boats are readily available on the Internet from reputable boat designers. Some plans are free, while some you have to pay for; these range from $30 to a few hundred depending on the size and complexity of the design. With thousands of plans to choose from, most find this to be the hardest part of the process. Most boat plans come with full instructions, as well as pictures on how a boat is supposed to come together.

While you can build your boat out of laidup fiberglass, steel or aluminum, the easiest to build are made of plywood and lumber and the good thing about building a boat in Philippines is that we have an abundance of these raw materials at really affordable prices. You would also need epoxy resin and fasteners (either screws or nails) and fiberglass cloth especially if you are building with the stitch and glue method. Building your own boat also means that expenses are spread out over the build period, so you only need to buy what you need when you need it. process. Most boat plans come with full instructions, as well as pictures on how a boat is supposed to come together.

TIP! In choosing a boat, figure out what your intentions are for it: how many people will you be taking on rides, for leisure, or sport? Sail, motor or human power? If you are new to boating, it’s a good idea to start small; you can always build something bigger later on.

TIP! It is important to choose the best quality wood and genuine marine plywood that you can get your hands on for this project. For fasteners it is important that you use that do not rust like stainless steel, copper or bronze.

STEP ONE: Choose a boat or rather a boat plan

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STEP THREE: GET YOUR WORK TOOLS & WORK AREA READY A pencil, a saw, a hammer or screw driver and a drill is usually all you need to build a small boat- power tools like a circular or jig saw, or a cordless screw driver are also nice to have but not essential. It goes without saying that you need space to build a boat, though I know of someone who built his in the living room of his condo. Just make sure you can bring it out when it’s done.

STEP FOUR: START THE BUILD “Measure twice, cut once” is the best tip you can get at this point; this prevents a whole lot of material wastage and head scratching afterwards. When working with epoxy resin it is important to clean up the drips and sags before the epoxy fully cures, otherwise you’ll have to sand it off later. The other nice thing about building a boat in the Philippines is that it’s easy and affordable to hire a carpenter to help you out, especially if it’s your first time.

A new boat won’t just happen overnight in your backyard, especially If you just get to work on it on your free hours or the weekends, that’s why it’s important to keep the vision in your head of what you want her (yes boats are ladies) to be, to keep yourself motivated. Work on the boat every day, even if it’s just the little bits. Believe it or not, a large portion of this step involves just sitting around, daydreaming, looking at what you’ve done, admiring your work and thinking of what to do next. TIP! Next to an experienced boat builder, Internet forums like www.pinoyboats.org/forum are best the places to ask questions about boatbuilding and members there are always willing to help out boatbuilding newbies.

STEP FIVE: FINISHING You can paint, varnish or just leave your boat encapsulated in epoxy, it’s all up to you, since it’s your boat you can make it look as good or as bad as you want. Making a boat look pretty requires a lot of work and patience, sand paper would be your best friend at this point, in order to get that nice smooth finish.

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ON DECK

A PHOTOGRAPHIC MANUAL ON BUILDING YOUR OWN BOAT

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Roy is a musician, sailor and amateur boat builder who learned to sail on his own homebuilt boat. Having no more than carpentry experience gained from practical arts class. In high school, he built his first boat in 2006 in his garage with the help of his neighbor Andrew. Roy is also one of the founding members of the Philippine Home Boatbuilders Yacht Club (PHBYC).

Easy ways to build your own boat.

STITCH-AND-GLUE

ABOUT PHYBC Plywood panels are cut according to the plans then stitched together with wire or plastic ties.

Seams are joined by epoxy fillets and fiberglass tape.

Core Sound 17.

PLYWOOD-ON-FRAME

STEP SIX: LAUNCHING & HAVING FUN This was really our objective right? Don’t forget the champagne! Though I’d probably hold off smashing the bottle on your brand new boat, unless you want to ruin the paint job. Take her to your nearest beach and take turns having fun, just make sure that everyone in the boat wears a life vest and young kids are supervised accordingly.

FINAL TIP: UPKEEP With the new techniques developed for building, wooden boats can last a real long time with proper care and maintenance, and can provide you with decades of service. When not in use, keep your boat protected from the elements, a simple tarp over your boat can go a long way in preserving it and keep it looking as nice as when you first launched her. §

The Philippine Home Boatbuilders Yacht Club is the country’s first and only virtual yacht club. The group’s primary objective is helping Filipinos get back their love of the water through sailing, boating and boat building. As an introduction to boatbuilding, the Club occasionally holds their signature event, the Family Boat Building Weekend (FBW), wherein families and friends build a complete boat from a PHBYC developed kit over the course of one weekend.

Frames are set up on a temporary stand.

Panels are shaped and attached to the frames.

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Glen-L Zip.

A COMBINATION OF METHODS

In 2009, in the aftermath of typhoon Ondoy, members of the Club with help from generous volunteers and sponsors designed and built several easy to build wooden boats called bahangkas that were used by LGU’s and relief organizations to shuttle people and relief goods to and from flooded areas. Plans for the bahangka are available for free from PHBYC’s website at www. pinoyboats.org.

Many plans use a combination of building techniques to simplify the building process.

Finishing details can be simple or elaborate.

Stevenson Weekender.

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#GQAMTCP QMKCRFGLE LCU BGQAMTCP "C@S

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TEA, TRADE, AND TEARS The Muslim Slave Raids in the 17th-18th Century Philippines. Article and photos by Estan Cabigas www.langyaw.com

Churches were burned and sometimes towns were abandoned. This was what happened in Mindoro, where many ruins can still be seen. These coastal settlements became ghost towns.

IF not for the strange confluence of events in the middle of the 18th century: a volcanic eruption in Mindanao and a shift in the food and drink preferences in China and Britain, respectively, Sulu wouldn’t have risen into an international emporium and thus become the center of Euroasian trade. The Muslim slave raids that engulfed the country and most of maritime Asia wouldn’t have been as wide and as devastating as before that time. It has precipitated one of the darkest histories in the region and all because of the insatiable need of the British for a mildly addicting beverage, tea. As early as 1590, Spanish chroniclers have already recorded a major Muslim raid in Northern Mindanao and the Visayas. But the raids from the late 16th to the middle of the 18th century were not as extensive when compared to the succeeding decades. This period, especially the latter part, was tied up with the rise of the Maguindanao Sultanate that employed the unique raiding talents of a sea/river dwelling people, the Iranuns (also called the

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Ilanun, Lanun), in the coasts of Ilana Bay in Western Mindanao and upstream to the banks of Lake Lanao. Captured slaves were made to work in the forests, fields and seas to fulfill the need for manpower to support trade with regional markets especially centered in Batavia (now Jakarta). After the Maketering Volcano erupted, it signalled the decline of the sultanate when the once verdant farmlands and rich rivers and lake were affected by the cataclysm. As a consequence, the Iranuns dispersed region wide with many relocating to Sulu due to hard economic times. Tea has been consumed in China for centuries, and when it was introduced in Britain in 1610, it took about 115 years to become popular. In 1750, the demand was so high that estimates of legal imports were around 40 million pounds and displaced ale as the national drink. The commodity was imported by the English East India Company paid with silver from its colony in India, but in the long term, it was economically unviable. The British didn’t have trade items that interested the Chinese and thus, they set

their eyes in other parts of Asia. Beyond this point, most western accounts are silent on the pivotal role of Sulu in this trade. Muslim Mindanao has always been a challenge for the Spanish colonizers. It was here that their hold was tenuous and shaky, if not unsuccessful and have been despised by the Muslims. After the British Invasion of Manila in 176264, a consequence of the Anglo-Franco Seven Years War with Spain dragged into the conflict by reason of an alliance with the latter. The Muslims of Sulu and the British found a more or less common ground. Fortunately, Sulu was at the right place, and with the relocation of the Iranuns, at the right time. Its strategic location made it the conduit of the Chinese-Indian/ British trade. Britain, by way of the East India Company, traded with the Sultan of Sulu providing rich fabrics, utensils and other items, and in succeeding decades, English manufactured steel products from knives to even the Mindanao kris (from Sheffield) to opium in exchange for camphor, pearls, bird’s nest, tripang (sea

The lone sentinel at Obong, Dalaguete, Cebu. This watchtower was one of a chain of telegraphic structures built by the soldier-priest Fray Julian Bermejo that stretched from the coastal town of Carcar all the way to the south in Santander. Once marauders are sighted by the guardians, smoke/ fire alarms were set off to warn the next watchtower. Within minutes, this effective alarm system ran the whole stretch of southeastern Cebu to warn the townspeople.

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Punta Cruz in Maribojoc, Bohol, dated 1796. The triangular watchtower, a rarity in the country was used as a lookout for raiders along the coast facing Cebu.

cucumber) and other forest and marine products that were highly coveted in China. These they traded for tea. With skyrocketing demand for trade, the need for manpower to harvest the countryside, mountains, forests and seas became critical. And thus, with the Iranuns’s talent, they were once again deployed to harvest people not only in the Hispanized islands of the Visayas and Luzon but it spread across a wide swath stretching from New Guinea in the east to as far as the Andaman Islands in the West.

A Natural Enemy The pirate wind, locally called the habagat or the southwest monsoon, blows between May and October. It intensifies in August and September of which the Iranun and later, the Balangingi (Iranun and their captives who were integrated into their community living in the island of Balangingi) took advantage. These were the months that communities across Southeast Asia were afraid of. In the Philippines, the prahus, sea vessels of the raiders, can number at an average of 40 - 50 with 2,500 - 3,000 armed

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raiders. In some years, the number of these boats reached 70-80 or at one time, 100! In the entire Southeast Asia, or where the slave raidings stretched from New Guinea to even as far as the Bay of Bengal, the brunt of the pillage and destruction was directed in Hispanized Philippines. The prahus usually traveled from their base in Sulu and Balangingi and crossed the Sulu Sea to Balabac in Palawan. They then followed the coast up until the Calamianes in northern Palawan and crossed to the Cuyo Islands to stock on food and other provisions. From there, they travelled to the Sibuyan Sea and Romblon, Marinduque, Mindoro; other Visayan islands and southern Luzon were easy pickings. These areas suffered the most of all places in the country. The slave raiders even had forward bases in Masbate, Burias and Mindoro where they launched their raiding activities venturing up to Cavite and at a time, even rowed up near the capital, Manila. Sometimes, in search of captives, they would head up north into the Ilocos, round off Cagayan and then to Bicol.

During December to March, the amihan or the northwest monsoon would take over and the raiders would now use it for their return to Sulu with their captives. Samar and Leyte were frequently raided. Bohol, Cebu and Negros weren’t spared. Because of these slaving activities, much of maritime trade collapsed. In Leyte and Samar, trade with Manila was at a virtual standstill for decades. Churches were burned and sometimes towns were abandoned and the people fled to the interior. This was what happened in Mindoro, where many ruins can still be seen. Where the population had collapsed, these coastal settlements became ghost towns. In the Visayan Islands, with not much to go inland, fortifications were built. The slave raiders really were not picky. Fishermen and men from trading vessels were “fished” out at sea. Town fiestas and other major religious activities were favorite times since the people, lost in the revelry, were easy to capture and at a great number. Families were torn asunder. Men, women and children of different ages, from as young as 6 to as old as 50, were captured. Spaniards,

One of Bermejo’s telegraphic watchtower in Boljoon, Cebu which is now part of a private property has been refurbished and used as a resthouse by the owners.

foreigners and clergy were ransomed at great cost. When the captives arrived in Sulu, they were sold to work or bartered off to other merchants for other Asian markets. That’s why a captive from Bicol can be brought to Borneo or to Indonesia where the chance of returning to one’s home was almost impossible. The sickly and elderly, unfortunately, were traded to some fierce forest tribes in Borneo, specifically the headhunting Dayaks who used human sacrifices for their many rituals.

A DIFFERENT TRADE One unique thing about the slaves, specifically those deployed in Sulu was that, unlike slaving in the rest of the world, they enjoyed relative freedoms, as long as they converted to Islam. Most of the time, their masters treated them well and if they didn’t find their present master good, they could request to be sold to another. They can even win their freedom or purchase it. Women slaves were treated better and some even became concubines of high ranking

Muslims. Because many of the captives were literate, oftentimes surpassing their masters, they were highly valued because of their skill and were given high status in the household and most of the time, given a bigger role in the business. That’s why, at the peak of the raidings, integrated captives made up more than 40% of the population of Sulu. For most, their lot was better there than suffering under the yoke of Spanish abuse, backbreaking labor and taxes. Consequently, those captives were also employed in the raiding, often leading the prahus to their former communities and with their knowledge of timing during religious celebrations, proved to be devastating. The Muslim slave raids had its peak during the early 19th century. By 1848, the beginning of the end of these piratical raids started with the introduction by the Spaniards of gunship steamboats that attacked the raider’s main base, Balangingi, where many were captured and kept in Zamboanga. By the 1860s, these prisoners and their families were exiled to Isabela province where they worked the tobacco fields in the hope

that, with their dispossession and conversion to Catholicism, they will eventually abandon their slaving way of life. The Muslim slave raids in the middle of the 18th to the middle of the 19th centuries were indeed one of the darkest years of colonial Philippines. It is estimated that during this period, around 200,000 natives were abducted. Because of the ineffectiveness and lack of political will of the governing colonial power to stem these raids, prior to 1848, the navy vessels were often outrun by the faster prahus, or, in the case of Bicol, the many requests of the mayors to arm their towns were refused for fear that the townspeople will revolt against them. These depredations dragged on for more than a hundred years. The social and economic costs were incalculable as town populations were affected and during the habagat months, no one ventured out into the open for fear of being captured. Like every situation, it also brought something good out of it. As coastal towns were abandoned, new ones were formed inland. Roads were

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FEATURES

FEATURES This town, now popular with hand fed whale sharks was, up till the early 19th century centered in Bolocboloc, within the walls. It was only after the defeat of Sultan Goranding in 1813 off the waters in Sumilon Island by the fleet comprised of local defenders who were alerted by Fray Bermejo’s telegraphic watchtowers that relative peace pervaded in the area. Soon after, the town was moved to its present location and the cornerstone of the current church was laid in 1830.

The ruined watchtower of Luna in La Union.

A walk at the beach in Oslob is pleasant- fresh and salty air, pristine waters and the beautiful sound of the waves crashing at the shore. Several meters from the church grounds, less than half of a massive, two storey watchtower still remain standing, proud, despite its other half already swallowed by the sea. Like most fortification ruins and watchtowers across the country, it is in a sad state, abandoned and left crumbling. Many years from now, these unheralded monuments to our ancestors’s struggle to live will all be gone and forgotten, forever.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

The fortress-church of Cuyo, one of the small islands located in the northern Sulu Sea between Panay and the Calamianes. The church was important in the defense of the settlement as Cuyo is the jump off point of the slave raiders to the islands in central Philippines

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opened instead of depending solely on waterways. With the Spanish friar the only Spaniard representing the colonial government, he became not only the priest but the town’s leader and captain. During this period, several so called friar-soldiers rose of which Fray Julian Bermejo of Boljoon in Cebu is known for the “telegraphic stations” he constructed running the whole length of southeastern - southern Cebu starting in Carcar down to Santander. These watchtowers were manned by appointed native sentries who, upon sighting the dreaded prahus of the raiders signaled the next station with flags, smokes, horns or fires triggering an alarm system down the coast and telling the local fighters to prepare and arm themselves. There were other reactions to these slave raidings of which several fortifications were built. We have the fortress-churches (usually churches surrounded with thick protective walls and bastions) of Miag-ao in Iloilo which relocated to its present site when the original church by the coast was

destroyed by a raid; Danao, Argao, Boljoon and Bantayan in Cebu; Boac in Marinduque; Guiuan, Laoang and Capul in Samar; Agutaya, Cuyo, Cagayancillo, Culion in Palawan. Cagayan de Oro had a fortress-church too but long gone when it was destroyed during World War II. Major and minor forts were constructed to complement established ones. In Cebu, there are small fort ruins in Carmen, Madridejos and Sta. Fe; Bohol has Pamilacan Island and Maribojoc; Palawan, especially the Calamianes have several ruins in Linapacan, Magsaysay (in Cuyo to complement the main fortress church in Cuyo town), and Dumaran. In many coastal municipalities, there are still several watchtowers that can be seen in Ilocos (San Esteban and Narvacan), La Union (Luna), Samar (Capul), Leyte (Leyte town), Biliran, Negros (Amlan), Iloilo (Miag-ao, Guimbal), Cebu (several towns all over the island) and other Visayan islands. Fortified settlements also cropped up with thick walls to drive out invaders like the one in Daanglungsod, Oslob in Cebu.

Estan Cabigas is a freelance photographer, writer and awardwinning blogger based in Makati City, the Philippines. A true blue Cebuano, he makes beautiful images and meaningful photo stories. With a passion for photography especially on travel, architecture and documentary, he documents old churches and fortifications whenever he’s out on the road. His extensive travels around the country and the region are well documented in www.langyaw.com.

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THE ILOCOS CHRONICLES Article and photos by Pamela Cortez

I’ll make a confession to you Although I am an avid traveler, most of my adventures are rarely in the Philippines. I’ve ridden across the Moroccan desert on a mule (my camel gave up), sailed in the caldera of Santorini and found myself severely off trail in a Chiang Mai jungle. But in my beautiful country, blessed with over 7,000 islands and landscapes ranging from endless coastlines to mountain ranges, I have only been to what have been deemed as your standard tourist spots: Bohol, Cebu, Boracay. I am ashamed of this fact. I don’t think you can call yourself a traveler if you haven’t been spoiled by the riches your own home offers, and I have rarely ventured out of Luzon, let alone Manila. So when I got a chance to venture to Ilocos Norte and Sur for a long weekend, I decided this could be the start of a long love affair with my native islands. We started off in Ilocos Sur, stopping in Vigan, which has become a recent favorite of a lot of tourists, ever since it was crowned as a World Heritage site by UNESCO. The famed Calle Crisologo offers a rare peek back into Spanish colonial times and it sure is a breathtaking sight. Forget taxis, kalesas are the ride of choice here, which only adds to the atmosphere. I could describe

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it as Intramuros without the smog, but that wouldn’t be a fair comparison. I’m a sucker for old-world charm and that’s exactly what Vigan offers. Going around this relatively small town will probably take you two days at most, but the history lessons you get whilst doing so remind you of the rich culture that shaped our present day. We made a quick trip to the compound of Padre Burgos, whose birthplace is now a small museum. The Pagburnayan was also worth a visit; although my attempts to create my own little clay jar proved to be futile, it was a rare experience. My favorite sight in Vigan however was the Bantay Belfry, whose red brick structure proved an arresting sight. Built in 1591 it provides the best views of the province, overlooking a beautiful

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FEATURES

cemetery, whose piled-on white crosses looked like a ghostly Santorini, and even far across the mountain regions of Abra. What made me even more excited was finding out that Diego Silang used this as an outpost- being the history geek that I am, it made me excited to think that I was stepping on the ground he once fought on. Everyone that had visited Vigan recommended the cuisine, and the empanadahan in the town square did not disappoint. The vigan empanada is like no other- in fact the dough that encases the filling can be likened more to a crispy, taco shell made of tempura batter rather than the thicker, bread-like casing we’re used to. The igadu is also their provincial version of bopis- porky bits sans the orange-y sauce. We moved further along, ending

up in Currimao, Ilocos Norte, at Sitio Remedios. Built and refurbished in a style reminiscent of the Ilocano houses in the mid-50s, this private resort gave us a bespoke experience- dinners were private and held by the beach, and tours were privately arranged. The best bagnet of my trip came from their kitchen. The rest of Ilocos Norte was just as unforgettable- we decided to take a road trip all the way down to the viaduct, which connects Ilocos to the nearby provinces of Abra, Benguet, and Cagayan. Our first stop was the Cape Bojeador Lighthouse whose view rivaled that of the belfry. The structure, which marks the northwestern-most point in Luzon, was built in 1892 but still functions today.

On our way to the next town of Bangui, we stopped by a little salt factory along the roadside, which was the place that I’d been anticipating most. The foodies in my office often talked about the salt in Ilocos and I was eager to see how they made it and what made it taste so different. The crystals were bigger than that of your ordinary rock salt and the heat in the little shack was incredibly unbearable. Seeing the process was fascinating- they would get salt water from the sea and combine it with pure salt crystals, cook it over a hot fire until the water evaporated and smaller crystals were formed. The taste was so pure and definitely unlike the salt we are so used to on our tables. With my new haul of salt in hand, we went down to Bangui for another

spectacular sight- the Bangui Wind Farm, which is the biggest of its kind in Southeast Asia. The giant turbines are always a huge cause of debate in other countries, where those who live near the farms claim it ruins the natural beauty of their towns. However here in Bangui, its location by the beach somehow adds to the whole setting and the turbines facing the South China Sea seem more like serene giants. There is definitely nothing like it anywhere else on our shores, which makes the Windmills one of my top destinations in Ilocos Norte. At this point, I had already fallen in love with the place. In less than three days I had seen so much that it felt like I had visited more than just two neighboring provinces. Our guide decided to take us somewhere off schedule and I couldn’t

wait to see what else this place had in store for us. We made our way up to Kapurpurawan and were told to trek quite a distance away. Travelling blindly, I had no idea what to expect. Once we reached the destination however, I immediately decided this was the place I would be recommending to future travelers. The white rock formation our guide brought us to was one of the most breathtaking sights I’d ever come across in the Philippines- without exaggeration. Jutting out into the sea, the rocks had become almost a pristine white thanks to the salt water. It looked more like a sand dune than a small, carved cliff. It looked almost alien and I was glad we’d gone off course. I love my history, my museums and my old buildings, but nothing is better than something so natural.

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Ilocos Norte kept surprising us little by little. The spectacular Paoay Church was a unique blend of Eastern and Spanish architecture, different from the cathedrals around Ilocos, which were purely Hispanic. The shores in Blue Lagoon, Pagudpud reminded me of a photo of Boracay in the 70’s, which decorates my dad’s room- this says a lot about the powdery sand of this beach. The Paoay sand dunes were also a favorite, with our little adventure in our 4x4 giving us some of the most exciting stories of our trip. The food in Ilocos Norte was just as good, with the Batac empanada near the Marcos Mausoleum giving those of Vigan a run for their money. I had my best poqui-poqui here too, in a little place called La Preciosa, where 6 people managed to devour almost 12 dishes. At the end of my trip, I felt a little dejected. Working for a travel magazine has made me encounter many adventurers who have opened my eyes to journeying around our islands. However, they are a community and as much as I’d hate to admit it, the tourists that come over rarely get to see all that they do. We should be inviting more guests to come over, or even encouraging locals to eschew plane rides to other countries and make their way up or down our coast. Heck, as a Manilena, even I rarely venture out and explore everything that we have to offer. I’m glad my previous arrangements fell through and we decided to take a chance on Ilocos. The trip made me realize- if this is what merely two provinces have to offer, what about the rest that haven’t even been discovered yet? Lucky for me, I’ll keep discovering more.

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Rayomarine

Scanmarine

Stoked

BIGGER, BETTER With catamarans docked in the bay- courtesy of East West Building Tech- and tons of marine exhibitors ready to showcase their wares, the 4th annual Sea-Ex opened its doors to the public on March 2-4 2012. Bigger and better was the only way to go for the event’s organizers, and this year, the minds behind the country’s only boat show and nautical expo made Sea-Ex an event to remember. In addition to the usual displays of premium boats and watercraft, cruises open to the public and fantastic nightly entertainment- this year courtesy of the Philippine Navy Band,

Tropical Depression and DJ Paco- Sea-Ex added a helicopter and Nissan car display, paddle-surfing demonstrations, raffles with even bigger prizes, and fun challenges to their tome, which all proved to be a hit with those who visited the expo. You can always expect the best of the marine industry to be at Sea-Ex, and this year certainly did not disappoint. Planning for next year’s expo on March 15-17, 2013 is already underway and there’s no doubt that this year’s event was only the beginning of what Sea-Ex is doing for the burgeoning industry.

Rona Torres, SVP of Costa del Hamilo, Sea-Expo Chariman Angelo Olondriz

Simpson Marine

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Aero-Tour

Nissan Motors

Simpson Marine

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Philippine Navy Band

Aquaventure

E2Door

Solanda

My Isla Yacht

Starboard

Mini-regatta

Broadwater Marine

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Luigi Villanueva, Apa Ongpin, and Stevie Martinez

Joanna Duarte and Peter Angliongto

Alphalandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Chairman Roberto Ongpin and Honorable Vice President Jejomar Binay welcome guests of the Marina Club launch

THE MARINA

Marco Diaz and Robert Sehwani

VJ Esguerra, Jab Ongpin, and Noli Salud

On Thursday, November 8, 2012, the Alphaland Corporation launched their upcoming Alphaland Marina Club, their latest upscale project in Manila. Realizing the need for high-end and fully equipped yacht clubs in the Philippines, the team behind Alphaland collaborated with Joe Goddard Pty. Ltd. Of Australia and renowned Filipino architects Carmelo Casas and partners to design what will become one of the premier yacht clubs in the country. The launch of the Marina Club was held at the Alpha Tents in Alphaland Southgate Tower and was graced by the Vice President Jejomar Binay among others. Cocktails were served and it was the perfect, glamorous way to introduce what will undoubtedly be a glamorous new club.

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Marina Club Scale Model

Victor Benavidez and sons

Andy Gomez, Susan Acuna, and Manette Inocencio

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VP Jejomar Binay, Soc Benavidez, and Victor Benavidez

SNAPSHOTS

Itong Torres and Janelle Squires

PUT YOUR RECORDS ON Deanna Recto, Maribel Ongpin, and Luis Ongpin Jr.

Heart Evangelista and Alphaland representatives

Nowadays, with everyone being so eco-conscious, there’s a drive behind industries and their engineers to find better alternatives. You’ve got everything from hybrid cars to windup torches all in a last ditch effort to save ourselves from global warming. The geniuses behind PlanetSolar did one better- by involving the marine industry whose importance to ecological causes is pretty massive, they made the first boat powered purely by solar energy. The catamaran, with tricked-out photovoltaic panels, took two years of design and development and has broken so many records just with its construction. But indeed, none of that matters if the beauty is without merit, and the yacht completed its first tour around the world early this year, with plans for another expedition in the summer of 2013.

Senator Francis Chiz Escudero, Heart Evangelista, and Alphaland’s Chairman Roberto Ongpin at the Alphaland Marina Club launch.

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This remarkable feat meant that, in all modes and means of transportation, the MS Turanor PlanetSolar was the first vehicle to have achieved a trip around the world running on just solar energy. It took 19 months but on May 4, 2012, it finally crossed the finish line at the Hercule harbor in Monaco. The 4 eco-adventurers who underwent this record-breaking task were welcomed with a huge crowd and reunited with their loved ones in a colorful weekend of celebration. The expedition went on a route close to the equator, stopping over in 28 countries, going through both the Panama and Suez Canals. These stopovers allowed the team to promote solar energy- after leaving Monaco on September 2010, they never once used a drop of fuel, which showed the international community just how powerful and reliable solar

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energy can be. The project was a risky one but was supported fully by the Swiss government, whose representative, Didier Burkhalter, was in Monaco at the finish line to see their efforts successfully realized. According to the Swiss Federal Councilor, “The whole country is represented through this innovative project. The technology, the project PlanetSolar and the pioneer spirit of Raphael Domjan and his crew are a reflection of Switzerland and its efforts in favor of the environment.” Upon disembarking, expedition leader Raphael Domjan claimed: “We are extremely happy to have achieved this first world tour with solar energy! We have shown that we have the technologies as well as the knowledge to become sustainable and safeguard our blue planet!”

Their efforts were even recognized by the Guinness World Records, who presented them with 4 awards: ‘longest journey by solar powered boat’, ‘first circumnavigation by solar powered boat’, ‘fastest crossing of the South China Sea by solar power’ and ‘fastest crossing of the Atlantic by solar power’. What’s even more remarkable were the celebrations planned for their docking- a Solar Light Show and a concert by Swiss band Sonalp all powered by the batteries of the MS Turanor PlanetSolar. Now that they’ve achieved such a tour, what’s next for PlanetSolar? Well, Immo Stroeher, the main investor of the project, believes that they can use their reputation, contacts and know-how in implementing concrete and practical solutions in new solar projects, especially for scientific and commercial use. One small step for mankind, right?

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