PHILIPPINES

Saturday was a successful day of travel. We travelled via Hong Kong Airport to Cebu and arrived at our hotel shortly after 2:00 a.m. Everyone went straight to bed to get some much-needed rest.

The real fun begins later in the week, when students will be encouraged to learn how to scuba dive, snorkel at Pescador Island, and go canyoneering among the beautiful waterfalls of Moalboal.

More updates will be provided on a daily basis.

Sunday May 24th 

On Sunday, we woke up and enjoyed a delicious buffet breakfast at the hotel. We then packed our bags and travelled three hours through the countryside to Moalboal. Upon arrival, we checked into Pescadores Seaview Suites.

We took a short walk to a local restaurant for a buffet lunch. Afterwards, some students went snorkeling in the sea, while others played volleyball and badminton in the pool area.

In the evening, we had a buffet dinner at the hotel, played some icebreaker games, and attended a presentation by our tour guides on coral reefs, including how to identify healthy versus unhealthy coral. This session helped prepare us for our scuba diving and snorkeling trips on Monday and Tuesday.

There were also many meaningful conversations about sustainability and the conservation of aquatic ecosystems as part of our CAS and IB programmes.

More updates to come tomorrow!

Monday May 25th 

Today we woke up, enjoyed another delicious buffet breakfast at the hotel, and got the day started. We were fortunate to have great weather as we headed out to snorkel at Pescador Island, visiting two different locations.

We witnessed the famous sardine run, swimming alongside tens of thousands of sardines, and saw several turtles, including Hawksbill and Green turtles. Students acted as citizen scientists, collecting quantitative data on coral health, which will be sent to a local university for analysis. We also observed a variety of tropical fish, hammerhead sea slugs, and starfish.

At lunch at a local restaurant, we celebrated Marco Au’s 17th birthday with some delicious chocolate cake.

After lunch, we spent time at the beach where students participated in a service activity. During our beach clean-up, we counted and categorized the different types of plastics and other debris collected.

The afternoon continued with a variety of beach games, including frisbee and volleyball. We ended the day with a buffet dinner at a beautiful beachfront restaurant.

Another fantastic day, with more adventures still to come!

Tuesday May 26th 

Today we woke up and enjoyed another delicious buffet breakfast at Pescadores Seaview Suites before taking a short five-minute walk to the scuba diving centre.

Students learned the basic skills of scuba diving from experienced instructors, first practicing in both the shallow and deep ends of the pool. They learned how to equalize underwater, use their regulators properly, and clear their masks.

After a buffet lunch, all students headed into the open water and completed dives of up to 10 metres. Many students saw turtles, sea snakes, sardine runs, and a wide variety of fish. Almost all students said they would love to pursue scuba diving further in the future.

Following the dives, students enjoyed some relaxation time in the pool and took in the beautiful sea views of Moalboal. After showering and resting at the hotel, our tour guides led a Model UN–style debate focused on the social, economic, and tourism aspects of Moalboal. Students engaged in thoughtful and meaningful discussions.

After another excellent buffet dinner, students wrapped up the evening with a competitive game of mini golf.

Tomorrow brings another adventure as students head out for canyoneering!

Wednesday May 27th 

Today we woke up and had breakfast at the hotel before checking out and beginning our next adventure. We then took a 30-minute bus ride to the canyoneering site.

During the canyoneering experience, we hiked approximately 6 kilometres, jumped off 5-metre cliffs into the water, went down natural water slides, and swam and relaxed beneath stunning waterfalls in the beautiful Philippines. It was truly a memorable adventure and a completely new experience for many of us.

We do not have many photos to share from the day, as we were not permitted to bring our phones due to the risk of water damage.

After the activity, we enjoyed a buffet lunch at the canyoneering site before taking a four-hour bus ride back to Cebu. Upon arrival, we checked into our hotel and finished the day with a buffet dinner.

Another incredible day of adventure and shared experiences!

Thursday May 28th 

Today students woke up at the City Pods Hotel in Cebu and began the day with another fresh buffet breakfast.

We then took a 45-minute van ride to a local beach, where students participated in a Filipino cooking experience. They learned how to prepare traditional dishes including spring rolls, chicken, and salads. For dessert, they made halo-halo, featuring mango, bananas, and ice cream served in fresh coconuts. Everyone enjoyed eating the delicious food they had prepared themselves.

Afterwards, we visited a studio where students learned basic stick fighting techniques and practiced traditional Filipino dance. It was a fantastic cultural experience and a great way to engage with local traditions.

Following some rest time back at the hotel, we headed out for dinner at a local restaurant and finished the evening with some enthusiastic karaoke performances.

Back home to Macao tomorrow!

The whole crew hanging out and getting refreshed at the waterfalls!