Monitoring Page

The Vision Petron national student art competition opened its exhibit at the ground floor of the Museum of the Filipino People of the National Museum last 17 January 2012. To run until April 2012, the three-month exhibit will include the winning artworks of students and related images by the judges of the photography category of the 2011 Vision Petron National Student Art Competition.

Themed Lakbay Pinoy: Journeys to Remember, Pathways to Rediscover, the exhibit is divided into three sub-themes that identify life journeys as expressed symbolically by roads, highways and byways. It can be a mountain path representing a journey to success, or a zigzag lane symbolizing seasons of change.  It can be a forest trail sparking childhood memories, or a nostalgic route conjuring reminiscences of student life.

Kapalaran (Destiny) relates to the hopes, dreams and aspirations of Filipinos.  Pathways may be hard—as depicted in Dale Erispe's Lakbaying Walang Katapusan, or rocky like Mark Benitez's Lakbay Aral—but with determination and faith, one can reach one's goals. Other examples are Success Begins Here by Alexis  Gapal; Gareta by Gim Sam Salak; and Joyride by Eden Joy Cruz.

Kaginhawaan (Lightness of Being) expresses the "emotional experience" encountered in a journey such as fun or lessons learned along the way. The happy faces in The Path of Life by Michael Froilan, and Kaya Mo, Kaya Ko, Kaya Natin by Esmeraldo Montero are part of this sub-theme. Other artworks included here are Sa Tamang Destinasyon by Dave Cruz; Yu-Pi, Yumapak sa Pinitak by Amadeo Cristobal; Living on a Prayer by Karl Albais; Juan Ride by Katleen Joy Gonzales; Pamanang Alaala by Meredith Gualberto; Byahero by John Mark Saycon; Promdi by Don Bryan Michael Bunag; Little Help for Mom by Lydel Buenconsejo; and Energy Saver by Reu Dawner Flores.

Katotohanan (Truth) features roads as venues for growth and progress. These roads reveal our character and the values we imbibe as we constantly traverse them everyday. Winning works exhibited here are San Juanico Bridge by Erick Salon; Ing Dalan Ning Visitas Iglesia Queng Palengqui Ning Apu by Neil Bryan Urbano; Dugtungan ng Lahi by Arnold Lalongisip; Ride Under the Rain by Kirk Gideon Buenconsejo; Blur by Mark Henrich Go; Shadows of the Past by Reu Dawner Flores; Pasada by Kiss Thrill John Demetita; Which Way by Mari Rose Angeline Lim; Trip to Happiness by Renz Marrione Bautista; and Lakbay Pinoy! Patungo sa Pag-Unlad by Emil Aldrine Alarcon.

Some of the country's leading photographers who served as Vision Petron judges have contributed two images each of their interpretations of the Lakbay Pinoy theme. The master photographers include Wig Tysman, George Tapan, Romy Vitug, Denise Weldon, Scott "Gutsy" Tuason, Edwin Tuyay, and Sonny Yabao. This interaction between masters and budding artists is a significant dialogue for them and the audience as well. By encouraging students to creatively discover their talents under a master's guidance, Vision Petron is inspired by the belief that free artistic expression is intrinsic to nation-building.

Vision Petron was a most eagerly awaited national student art contest and the Lakbay Pinoy contest theme garnered the biggest number of entries and number of school participation. As an adjunct to this banner year, Petron is sharing these winning works to a wider audience by holding the exhibit at the National Museum until April 2012.

With its coral cover assessed to be in alarmingly poor condition, proponents of the Boracay Beach Management Program (BBMP) have undertaken coral reef restoration efforts as part of its coastal resources management program.

Through the initiative of the BBMP-Technical Working Group, reef rehabilitation activities consisting of the establishment of coral nurseries, transplantation of coral nubbins on degraded reefs, and deployment of reef domes, were launched in September 2010. Monitoring reports by the coastal and marine resources team headed by Mike Labatiao have reported encouraging results.

Earlier studies revealed that Boracay's live coral cover had seriously deteriorated to only about 15-20%. In 2009, the Coastal Conservation and Education Foundation Inc. (CCEFI) reported that coral conditions on the western side consisted of about 23% live coral, while about 77% were non-living. A Xavier University assessment of the eastern side in 2010 recorded 42% live coral cover, while a 2011 study of the southern side by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) indicated an alarmingly low 9% live coral cover.

Through the initiative of the local government of Malay, Aklan, under the leadership of Mayor John P. Yap, and in close collaboration with Boracay Foundation Inc., Petron Foundation, San Miguel Corporation and other stakeholders, the Boracay Beach Management Program (BBMP) focused on coastal resources management as one of its priority areas.

In particular, Petron partnered with Boracay Foundation Inc. to champion the reef rehabilitation program. In September 2010, a coral nursery using PVC nets was established near Crocodile Island.  Another coral nursery, made of biotech screens, was planted at the Balinghai snorkeling area in May 2011. Coral nubbins from the nurseries were then transplanted and attached to dead coral to encourage regrowth and eventually restore live coral cover.

Multi-functional reef domes were deployed about 100-meters from the Boracay shoreline. Aside from serving as nurseries for coral regrowth, they are also fish sanctuaries and help increase fish density. At the same time, they act as wave breakers during the typhoon season. Because of their utility, the BBMP-TWG is building more reef domes to be deployed along Boracay's main beach area.

With its previous experience in the United Nations Development Programme's Integrated Coastal Management (ICM) framework, Petron coordinated the local government initiatives of Mayor Yap to target seven priority areas under the BBMP.  These include coastal resources management, water and waste water management, solid waste management, watershed protection, hazard prevention, local governance, and information, education and communication. With a strong partnership among stakeholders under the leadership of the local government unit, other partner agencies who actively contribute to the BBMP include the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), local agencies, non-government organizations, youth groups, and the business sector.