Melo Villareal
Pico de Loro Cove at Hamilo Coast recently welcomed to its shores candidates of Miss Earth 2011 for its fourth annual mangrove-planting activity at the Pico de LoroBeach and Country Club (PDLBCC).
Miss Earth 2011 Delegates Planting Mangroves
Candidates representing several countries including Guatemala, US Virgin Islands, Northern Ireland, Estonia, Netherlands, Panama, Slovenia, Puerto Rico, Madagascar and Hungary went to Nasugbu, Batangas to participate in the activity put together with the help of World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF) and several local communities.
Miss Earth 2011 Contestants in Hamilo Coast
Mangrove-planting is part of Hamilo Coast’s commitment to Coastal Resource Management. Star Tuason, senior assistant vice-president for Property Management of Hamilo Coast shares, “we really are devoted to the protection of our environment from reef to ridge.
Miss Earth 2011 delegates in Nasugbu Batangas
In addition to coastal clean-up, solid waste management, tree-planting, and use of renewable energy, we have been doing mangrove reforestation and rehabilitation for several years now.” Tuasonadds,“wedo not stop at planting; we make an effort to take care of the saplings and seedlings by doing monthly checks to make sure most of them grow to be mature mangroves.”
Miss Earth Delegates at Pico De Loro Beach & Country Club
Mangroves are tropical trees and shrubs that grow in intertidal areas. They are highly productive ecosystems which are not only able to provide a range of valuable forest products, but also play crucial roles in the life cycle of many commercially important species of fish and prawns. Paolo Pagaduan, WWF Philippines project manager says that “mangroves provide sanctuary and breeding grounds for some fauna. They are also natural barriers that protect the banks from storm surges and tsunamis.”
WWF has been working with Hamilo Coast since the beginning of the development projectin 2004 to make sure it is sustainable; and since Miss Earth continues to build its reputation as the most relevant and worthwhile beauty event in the world by celebrating beauty and environmental responsibility, the activity spearheaded by Pico de Loro Beach & Country Club is in perfect synergy with the pageant’s emphasis on environmental protection programs.
The candidates were very happy to be able to do their share in preserving nature and all of them look forward to actively promoting and getting involved in the protection of Mother Earth.The winner of Miss Earth will serve as the Ambassador to environmental protection campaigns worldwide.
Pico de Loro Beach & Country Club at Pico de Loro, Hamilo Coast is for members only. For reservations please call 02-8580333 or visit www.hamilocoast.com.
