The first ever Drink Like a Fish event was a night of conservation and celebration!
Last November 9, the J Gallery Studio in Pasong Tamo, Makati was transformed into a visual spectacle of over 100 specially curated artworks featuring different endangered marine animal species including a highlight piece from national artist Juan Sajid Imao. Drink Like a Fish successfully raised Php 70,000 for the conservation efforts of the Marine Wildlife Watch of the Philippines (MWWP).
Apart from raising awareness and creating buzz to implement the Shark Conservation Bill, it will also use these funds to fulfill grassroots educational outreaches to local fishing and school communities in Siargao, Albay and Sorsogon.
After the gallery opening, Drink Like a Fish officially kicked off the program with a series of sustainability talks starting with Clean Our Oceans Project (COOP) founder, Anna Varona, who gave her talk “Don’t be Plastic!” on how to live a plastic-free lifestyle. This was followed by the Philippine Reef and Rainforest Conservation Foundation, Inc.’s Sef Carandang and her talk “Danjugan Island Experience” where she shared how the Danjugan Island Nature Tourism Program (DINTP) preserved one island with an eco-tourism mindset. Capping off the talks for the day was MWWP founder and executive director, AA Yaptinchay’s talk “A Great White Lie,” where he presented the beautiful possibilities of the things humanity can do and undo as well as the expectations versus reality when it comes to marine conservation
After the talks, a sumptuous vegetarian dinner buffet was served along with free-flowing marine-inspired craft cocktails courtesy of Destileria Limtuaco (Mango Paradise Rum, Manille Liqueur de Calamansi, Very Old Captain dark rum, Amadeo Coffee Liqueur). Destileria Limtuaco also graciously sponsored the minor raffle draw prizes. With the campaign to promote zero-waste, no plastic stirrers and cups were used and instead guests were given personal cocktail glass which were washed and reused the whole night before they could be taken home.
Everyone enjoyed listening to live vinyl beats courtesy of Groove Nation as the venue became packed with guests and art aficionados. With the partnership of our even venue J Studio, a portion of the artworks’ sales went to benefit the MWWP. Pacific Cross Philippines raffled off a major prize of a pair of one-trip travel to any Schengen Country with a trip stay of 15- 30 days while a pair of annual travel insurance policies went to one lucky guest as the grand prize. What started out as the brainchild of Raroco Insurance Brokers Inc., as part of their maiden CSR program has grown into much more meaningful event thanks to friends and sponsors who helped make the vision come true. The Drink Like a Fish event is envisioned to become an annual event with different chosen beneficiaries every year to help promote advocacies and campaigns to help make the world a better place to live in.
Thank you to all our gracious sponsors: Pacific Cross Philippines, our Exclusive Insurance Partner; Destileria Limtuaco’s Manille de Calamansi Liqueur, Amadeo Coffee Liqueur, Paradise Mango Rum, Very Old Captain Dark Rum for our Drink Partner; J Studio, our Venue Partner; Nitto Printing, our Print Sponsor; and our Major Sponsors, Caravan Black, and Groove Nation.
