Make a splash at Celebrate the Sea Festival

MANILA, Philippines – From June 12 to 14, marine conservationists, nature lovers and eco-warriors will be making a big splash at the Manila Ocean Park, as the Philippines hosts the 8th Celebrate the Sea Festival 2009, the biggest ocean event in the Asia-Pacific. Showcasing the beauty and richness of our planet’s marine life, the festival is the highlight of “Celebrate the Sea” month, officially proclaimed by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo for the month of June.

This year’s festival features an exhibit of the best entries from an art and imagery competition that has attracted over 5,000 entries from 39 countries. Award-winning films showing the wonders of the ocean will be screened. There will also be a world premiere of Into the Abyss, a documentary from National Geographic that reveals for the first time the deep sea animals of the Celebes Sea, home to one of the greatest marine biodiversity on earth.

Revelers can also delight in the first “underwater Mardi Gras,” with participants from different provinces from all over the Philippines parading along Roxas Boulevard. “This is the first-ever Mardi Gras-like event devoted to the sea that will be filled with the rhythmic beat and unique soul of the Filipino people,” says Cynthia Carrion, Undersecretary of the Department of Tourism.

Forums and seminars about different topics concerning the sea will be held, with key presentations to be made by David Doubilet of National Geographic and Peter Scoones of BBC’s Blue Planet, both world-renowned ocean luminaries. A special coffee-table book entitled Philippines: Heart of the Ocean will be launched, a handsomely produced volume that depicts vivid portraits of magnificent sea creatures found in our waters.

Produced by OceanEnvironment Australia, sponsored by the Department of Tourism, PCSSD, Rolex and Manila Ocean Park, and supported by the Public Relations Society of the Philippines and HIM Communications, Celebrate the Sea Festival is a non-profit event that provides education and entertainment to create greater awareness of our ocean environment. “As stewards of our natural resources, we invite everyone to be part of this timely and worthwhile event that encourages the conservation and protection of our marine ecosystems,” says Juris Soliman, Advisor of PRSP’s CSR Committee.

A Day Pass for the festival costs P650 while a Master Pass packages start at P1,300.

For more information, visit www.CelebrateTheSea.com or e-mail cts@oneocean.com.