Image courtesy John Smart

By Captain Pugwash

Following the Top of the Gulf Regatta, in Pattaya, Thailand, in April, a meeting was held that brought together the organizers of most of the Asian Yachting Grand Prix Circuit regattas. The regatta organizers were joined by members of the yachting press, race officers, media practitioners and other interested parties. The Philippines was represented by (international racing champion) Jun Avecilla and (international race officer) Jerry Rollin.

As outlined by the meeting convener, Mr Bill Gasson, the purpose of the forum was to discuss the Asian Yachting Grand Prix Circuit and ways to increase the number of boats that can be included in the AYGP Championship. Currently 13 boats are eligible but only two compete for the champi

Image courtesy Max Makowski

The Manila Boat Club – The Philippines' oldest water sports club - will offer eight people the chance to go moonlight rowing on the Pasig River in support of Obscura Day – a somewhat obscure day of international participation where people offer insights into the World's local wonders, curiosities and esoterica.

Moonlight rowing on the Pasig River is your chance to obtain a visual perspective on Manila that very few people know exists. It is a most striking experience to travel through one of the busiest and noisiest cities in the World, yet hear only the sounds of lapping water, children laughing on the banks nearby and the occasional evening stroller throwing you their

Image courtesy Samal City Mayor's Office

The two-month long Visit Samal Island Festival kicks of in March with the intent of bringing Samal Island to the notice of beach-goers and adventure tourists from around the Philippines and from farther afield. The festival has all of the ingredients for a smorgasbord of fun in the sun.

The festival will showcase the beauties of Samal with a beauty pageant to find Miss Tourism Samal Island 2011, talent show, fire dancing, jingle writing and photographic exhibitions. There will be frisbee championships and the search for Miss Body Beautiful. Kite-flying contests and beach-volleyball competitions. And finally, (my favorite) culinary competitions, where the abundant native fruits (thanks to the fruit bats) and seafood are the centerpiece. Enjoy tuna? Come f

Image courtesy Dylan Uy

The Mayor's Cup in Mati, Davao Oriental, is the premier skimboarding and surfing event in the South of the Philippines. Held every year at Dahican Beach the Mayor's Cup offers skimboarders and surfers the chance to compete for prizes and trophies at one of the most beautiful Philippine water sports venues in Asia.

The hosts of the event are the Amihan Boys of Mati, lead by their “father” and mentor Jun Plaza. The Amihan Boys are all orphans of the Davao Region who have been brought to Mati to be given a purposeful life under Jun's tutelage and guidance. They are funded by the Mayor's office and local business interests, and by the fees paid by skimboarders and surfers who rent the equipment and knowledge offered by the Amih

Image courtesy Broadwater Marine

Sea-Expo 2011 - the largest public exhibition promoting nautical lifestyle in the Philippines – will open its doors on 1st through 3rd April at One Esplanade, Mall Of Asia. Also dubbed the “Philippine Boat Show”, Sea-Ex 2011 is a showcase for national and international manufacturers of yachts, boats, water sports equipment and nautical lifestyle accessories.

Now in its third year, and growing in leaps and bounds in terms of both exhibitor and visitor participation, the Sea-Expo 2011 / Philippine Boat Show is without question the best nautical lifestyle event in the Philippines to educate the Philippines' burgeoning water sports community and to provide networking opportunities for buyers, distributors and su

Image courtesy Villa Malasimbo

The Malasimbo Music and Arts Festival is a two-day festival aiming to blend traditional and contemporary arts & culture with musical performances. At the same time the Malasimbo Music and Arts Festival will highlight the need for us all to work towards the protection of the diversity and sustainability of the natural environment in the Philippines and around the World.

To be held at Villa Malasimbo, at the foot of Mount Malasimbo – the predominant mountain whose extent provides pictorial splendor to the most beautiful bay in the World – the Malasimbo Music and Arts Festival is an all-outdoors event, set in one of the World's rare, natural amphit

Image courtesy The Bat Camp

Monfort Bat Cave's, Bat Camp 2011. This Bat Camp event will educate and inform people of the unique role that bats play in our everyday lives and why it is important to protect & preserve bat habitats around the country. The Monfort Bat Cave was chosen as the venue for the start of Philippine Year Of The Bat activities because it is recognized as the location of the largest colony of fruit bats in the World (see “Samal Island Fruit Bats Into Guinness World Records”).

The Monfort Bat Cave Conservation Foundation (MBCCFI) in conjunction with Philippine Bat Conservation (PBCI) will organize a series of activities including research, exhibits, lectures, interactive learning experiences for kids plus special bat-emergence viewing and a dono