BUYING a shirt in a home-grown souvenir shop will now help fund an advocacy for the protection and appreciation of Cebu’s coastal and marine resources.
Islands Souvenirs, a subsidiary of The Islands Group, partnered with the Save Philippine Seas (SPS) Foundation to support the latter’s community project, the Malapascua Arts-Science Festival, which helps educate children about the importance of marine resources.
At least 15 percent of all sales of “The Philippines is Worth Diving For” shirts will be given to SPS to fund its festival, said The Islands Group Corporate Communication Group Head Josh Eballe.
Eballe said the T-shirt for the campaign costs P229.
SPS co-founder Anna Oposa said this move of The Islands Group in helping educate children about the value of protecting marine resources will have a significant impact on their future.
“By educating children on the value of our marine resources, we can be confident that they will become responsible citizens. With this program, the children will help sustain the things that we in Save Philippine Seas believe in,” said Oposa.
Festival participants, she said, will be encouraged to draw, paint and immerse in other art activities that will put into visuals what they learned about marine resources and protection.
The festival will be held in April 2014 in Malapascua, one of Cebu’s most famous dive sites.
“The Philippines is Worth Diving For” is a play on a quote attributed to the late senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr.: “The Philippines is worth dying for.” This Wednesday, Aug. 21, marks the 30th year since Aquino was gunned down at the Manila airport, as he arrived from exile.
The campaign’s shirt collection uses designs that are centered on the conservation, protection and restoration of marine biodiversity. At present, there are four designs available.
“We partnered with Save Philippine Seas because we believe in what they are doing. We feel that being part of protecting the environment is not only beneficial to the environment alone but to the entire community as well,” Eballe said.
Aside from educational activities centered on marine resource protection, SPS is also involved in marine research watch and lobbying for the amendment and enforcement of environmental laws.
The Islands Group describes its ventures as travel-support products and services. It currently has eight subsidiaries, which include Islands Souvenirs, Islands Stay Hotels, Islands Banca Cruises, Islands and More, Islands Design and Merchandising, and the Islands Pasalubong, Inc.