In celebration of World Ocean Day, captivating photos of multi-awarded photographers Anna Varona and Danny Ocampo are set to u veiled at Solaire today, June 8, to highlight the beauty of the Philippine ocean and the urgent need to protect them.
The exhibit showcasesa visual spectacle that will allow the public to see the beauty of Marine Protected Areas such as Marine Sanctuary in Tingly, Batangas, Apo Island in Negros Oriental, Cagayancillo and Tubbataha in Palawan, and Tanon Strait in the Visayas.
Anna Varona, who is a representative tpurism advocate and a marine warrior on top of being a professional photographer, believes that this endeavor is very much aligned with the 2017 World Ocean Day’s theme “Our Ocean, Our Future” because it aims to spread awareness on the role of MPA’s in long-term food security. “MPA’s ensure that our coastal resources are given the chance to regenerate and provide us food now and in the future. Aside from that, our fishermen are given much more stable and sustainable livelihood,”she said.
Danny Ocampo, who also campaigns for the ethical and responsi le diving and photography, hopes to influence tourist to be more responsible when thwy visit MPA’s, especially since Apo Island has been instrumental in his journey towards marine conversation aork. “Apo Island continues to inspire not only me but hundreds if individuals, organixations and policy makers here and abroad who have been there. Sadly, its popularity is beginning to be its bane and measures have to be taken to ensure that tourism and conversation compliment eac other,” he added.
Canon Philippines sponsored the printing of all portraits including the postcard version of select photos that will be sold to help the WorldWide Fund for Nature (WWF) Philippines in their continuous effort to conserve Philippine ocean and the communities that greatly depend on them. WWF-Philippine’s work in protecting the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park inspured the declaration of a one million hectare if MPA by the Municipal Government of Cagayancillo though a municipal ordinance covering its entire municipal waters and surrounding open sea.
The exhibit which is supported by the Department of Tourism, is open to the public until June 22, 2017.
