Reef, a surf and lifestyle brand known worldwide, continues to promote responsible travel and environmental conservation with a fun-filled weekend in Baler for the Free the Sea Movement recently.
In partnership with WWF Philippines, Free the Sea Movement 2 was set in Baler, Aurora, one of the country’s top hotspots for surfing. The exciting three-day event treated guests to a slew of fun activities that had them experience the waves and beauty of Sabang Beach.
Free the Sea Movement 2 opened with a coastal cleanup and talk from Ruel Barte of WWF Philippines on sustainable tourism, a cause near and dear to Reef’s heart as it is in line with Reef’s global humanitarian outreach campaign “We Heart.”
“As travelers, we may be just passing through other beaches and cities but through our We Heart campaign, we want to educate people on the importance of leaving a positive impact on the local communities we visit,”
“With more and more travelers discovering the beauty of our islands and with the rise of local tourism, now is a good time for us to educate people on the environmental impact tourism has and how we all need to work together to maintain our beaches so people can continue to enjoy them for years to come,” Marnelli Gaerlan, Marketing head for Reef, shared.
Reef spearheaded the coastal cleanup together with WWF, Surfari Philippines and, volunteers to remove wastes and objects not naturally part of the beauty of Sabang Beach. Afterwards, guests enjoyed what Sabang Beach is famous for – surfing on its amazing waves.
Volunteers had the chance to reconnect with nature and learn to ride the waves from lessons conducted by Nalu Surf Camp.
In the evening, Reef presented WWF a donation to benefit the organization’s environmental programs. Soundcloud Philippines’ Ann Clerigo and indie band Banna Harbera filled the night with amazing music as volunteers enjoyed drinking.
The next day opened with even more to offer surfing enthusiasts, as they witnessed the Surfari Beginners’ Competition. Shan Alejos won a customized surf board as she bagged first place for the Tandem category, followed by Mikaela Alde, with Joana Valencia coming in third place. In the singles category Juan Carlos Angeles won first place, Marcus Dieter and JP Pang, second and third place, respectively.
A festive after party with musical performances by Eazyhead, and new and classic party remixes by DJ Doms Badwolf and DJ CC capped the weekend.
“Baler was the perfect setting for us to promote responsible travel and environmental conservation, while at the same time, giving everyone a taste of what they can enjoy if we remember to care of our beaches – which is delicious local food and music, white beaches, clear water and of course, gigantic waves and surfing like no other!” Gaerlan said.