Reef promotes responsible travel through ‘Free the Sea Movement 2’ in Baler

International surf and lifestyle brand Reef once again promoted responsible travel and environmental conservation in partnership with WWF Philippines as it hosted “Free the Sea Movement 2” this September 29 until October 1, 2017.

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This year it’s set in Baler, Aurora, one of the country’s top hotspots for surfing, the exciting three-day event treated guests to a slew of fun activities that had them riding the waves while helping to preserve the beauty of Sabang Beach.

Free the Sea 2 opened with a coastal clean-up and talk from WWF Philippines on sustainable tourism, a cause near and dear to Reef’s heart as it is in line with Reef’s global humanitarian outreach campaign “We Heart.”

“As travelers, we may be just passing through other beaches and cities but through our We Heart campaign, we want to educate people on the importance of leaving a positive impact on the local communities we visit. With more and more travelers discovering the beauty of our islands and with the rise of local tourism, now is a good time for us to educate people on the environmental impact tourism has and how we all need to work together maintain our beaches so people can continue to enjoy them for years to come,” shared Marnelli Gaerlan, marketing head for Reef.

Together with WWF, Surfari Philippines, and volunteers, Reef spearheaded the coastal clean-up that aims to restore and preserve the beauty of Sabang Beach. Afterwards, guests then got to enjoy what Sabang Beach was famous for: amazing waves and surfing!

Volunteers got the chance to reconnect with nature and learn how to surf with free surfing lessons conducted by Nalu Surf Camp.

In the evening, they were also treated to laidback beachside music with performances from Soundcloud Philippines’ Ann Clerigo, the soulful music of Banna Harbera, and an open mic show which include the turnover of Reef’s donation to WWF, amounting to P30,000, which would go towards WWF’s environmental programs.

The next day opened with even more to offer surfing enthusiasts, as they witness the Surfari Beginners’ Competition, followed by a festive After Party which capped the weekend.

Aside from receiving their well-earned awards, surfers alongside the volunteers jammed to the sound of indie rapper Eazyhead, party-starter remixes and originals from DJ Doms Badwolf & DJ CC—the perfect end to a beautiful beach day in Baler!

“We are really excited for this year’s Free the Sea Movement. Baler is the perfect setting for us to promote responsible travel and environmental conservation, while at the same time, giving everyone a taste of what they can enjoy if we remember to care of our beaches—which is delicious local food and music, white beaches, clear water and, of course, gigantic waves and surfing like no other!” said Gaerlan.

Reef’s “Free the Sea Movement 2” was sponsored by Juan Light Studio, Bike King’s Kitchen, Madison’s Cafe Baler, La Patricia Hotel, Baler and The Shack, Baler with music partners Ann Clerigo, Banna Harbera, Eazyhead, DJ Domes Badwolf, and DJ CC.