CEBU–After successfully holding the first-ever underwater photography contest of the Asian Underwater Federation last year, the Philippines is again taking center stage in underwater activities.
This time, it will be a world event. More than 200 officials and members of underwater associations will gather in Cebu from April 17-23 next year for the World Underwater Federation quadrennial assembly.
The decision to hold the meeting in Cebu was made following a visit last Saturday by Alessandro Zerbi, secretary general of the Confederacion Mondial des Activites Subaquatiques or the World Underwater Federation. This is a Europe-based organization founded by Jacques Yves Costeau, father of SCUBA diving.
Zerbi met the organizers from the Philippine Association of Underwater Activities and toured the proposed conference venue at the Shangrila Resort in Mactan Cebu.
As a first-time visitor to the Philippines, Zerbi, 49, said coming to the Philippines was a great surprise. “I had fears before coming over because I did not know what to expect and that the PAUA was a relatively young federation.”
After visiting the Italian consul upon his arrival, Zerbi was accompanied by Dr. Dante M. Velasco, PAUA’s partner for sponsorship, marketing, and promotions, to meet with Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa at Malacanang Palace. He then met with the PAUA officials and toured the facilities of the Shangrila Resort in Mactan, Cebu.
Zerbi, in an interview with the MetroPost over the weekend, only had good words to say about his visit, saying he was very impressed. “The organizers were absolutely prepared and the knew all our needs. All my questions were thoroughly answered,” he added.
The Philippines won the bid to host the event over St. Petersburg in Russia, Malaga in Spain and Rome, Italy.
“We were up against other beautiful and exotic sites but we knew we had a chance because diving, after all, is regarded as the number one product of the Philippines, though is not as well-promoted,” said Karen Chan, executive director of the Philippine Commission on Sports Scuba Diving.
Benedict Reyes, PAUA president and director of the Asian Underwater Federation, was also confident that the Philippine presentation catch the attention of the CMAS officials. “When you really think about it, our beautiful dive spots are the thing that separates the Philippines from other countries. We are proud of our churches but the churches in Rome are much more elaborate. Other countries have aborigines, beaches, caves and other natural attractions that are also found in the Philippines.”
As far as diving is concerned, Reyes said, the Philippines is regarded by many foreign divers as being at the “center of the center” of diving in the world.
Chan and PAUA President Benedict Reyes showed audio-visual presentations about the Philippines during last year’s CMAS general assembly in Rome. They also showed a video of last year’s underwater photo championships in Cebu and “they wanted more of it,” Chan said.
Each of the delegates was given a kit with Philippine souvenirs and –the clincher–dried mangoes.
The World Underwater Federation conducts its general assembly once a year and elects its 70 officers during the quadrennial assembly, which will happen in 2013.
The WUF quadrennial assembly will be held in three parts. There will be a scientific discussion handled by Gary Cases, there will be leisurely and technical activities and there will be sporting events, Reyes said. Aside from scuba diving, the PAUA is also the agency that regulates and promotes fin swimming, apnea (breath-hold diving), Aquathlon and underwater hockey, among others.
Reyes said that aside from holding exhibits which will feature the latest and never-before-seen scuba diving gadgets, local dive operators will also have a chance to showcase their facilities and services through a dive expo which will be open to the public.
“You have all these leaders of dive federations under one roof and it’s up to you to do your thing,” said Chan. The dive expo will be held from April 18-21 also at the Shangrila Mactan.
These activities are assured of the full support of the Department of Tourism. “The DOT wants to highlight marine tourism as the number one tourist draw for our country and we need to step up as our Asian neighbors have stepped up,” Chan said.
Reyes, meanwhile, also paid tribute to the important contribution to the diving industry of Ramon Magsaysay Awardee Dr. Angel C. Alcala, former Environment secretary who, in 1984, established the world’s first community-based marine reserve in Apo Island, off the coast of Dauin in Negros Oriental.
This marine reserve has made Apo Island one of the world’s best dive sites, according to some international dive magazines.
