Earth Hour is coming near and as mentioned last year, we will be having a special Earth Hour at the beach this year. For one solid hour, the practically whole world stops consuming electricity and turn to candles and good company and great conversations.

Last year, the Philippines had the most number of participants with private homes, businesses and buildings turning off their lights to make a statement for a greener earth. Let’s vote once again for earth on March 27, Saturday at 8:30 pm.

Welcoming Anni with a birthday song by the staff

Once again, best of friends Rikke Cumberland and Anni Andersen visited Coco Beach within a year’s time. Rikke was on her 4th visit and it was the 3rd visit for Anni. This time around they spent 18 days relaxing here in paradise.

They were here only last August 2009 and were back again just this February 2010 to celebrate Anni’s 31st birthday.

Birthday girl Anni with tropical flowers

On Anni’s birthday last February 26, the staff of Coco Beach sang birthday songs to her during breakfast. They also prepared a special table with a bouquet of beautiful flowers decked with tiny Danish flags. After breakfast, the Activity guys made her go wild as she screamed out loud doing the Coco Jump.

Anni shares her cake with the staff and Rikke tops it with a Danish flag

At 3 pm, Anni shared her birthday cake with the staff at the Carabao Restaurant. It was a banana-chocolate flavored cake complete with yellow butter and sugar icing and decorated with Danish flags. Our baker, Jun, made it in our very own bakery. Again, the staff sang happy birthday to Anni as she passed around slices of the beautiful and delicious cake. According to Anni, it was one of the happiest birthday moments she had…with her best friend Rikke and her new family…the Coco Beach Family.

Anni screams as she shoots up on the Coco Jump

They are planning to come back this coming August to watch the Coco Sports Fest… Anni and Rikke, we hope to see you soon!!!

Enjoying the stars and moon while having unlimited food and drinks

Last week, on March 1, was yet another successful Coco Beach Full Moon Party held by the beach

Around 5 in the afternoon, the waiters and bartenders started to prepare the cool set-up using native woven mats, mattresses and animal carvings for the tables, complete with colored lights and dance music.

Getting another round from the pica pica spread

By 9pm, the party was in full swing. Around 30 guests joined in and had local drinks mixed with Red Bull and lots of finger foods to feast on. It was an eat-all-you-can, drink-all-you-can party and reggae music played all night long. Even the children could not help it and joined in the dancing and had great fun with the waiters and waitresses and bartenders who also took to the dance floor.

Willy and Christian enjoying their full moon drinks

The party lasted way past midnight and for those who still didn’t want to call it a night went to the Barracuda Bar where Willy, one of our chief bartenders, served them more drinks and music.

This month’s Full Moon Party was extra special as there will be another full moon in the same month of March on the 30th to be exact. This phenomenon is called a “Blue Moon” which is quite a rare occurrence and we hope to see you there when this happens!

Benigno, Maciano and Mariano waves with their new glasses on

Last February 22, the 6th batch of patients for Mangyan Medical Mission was brought to JRMMC for cataract operation.

The first operation was scheduled last February 23 and the second was done on March 2, 2010. Only 7 Mangyans qualified for the cataract operation but two did not qualify. Melissa Senduraan had no cataract but the doctors detected Pterygium and an operation was made to cure both eyes. Pedro Takuloy had normal eyes.

Benigno Vidal, Marciano Vidal and Mariano Tarnate who were operated on before were given follow-up check-ups and given eyeglasses for better vision.

Mangyan Medical Mission Batch Six

List of 7 Mangyans operated on for this batch include:

1. Rosalina Takuloy – left eye
2. Mio Asinduraan – left eye
3. Mariano Pandayo – left eye
4. Talina Senduraan – right eye
5. Sinaida Sinduraan – both eyes
6. Rodolfo Ricana – both eyes
7. Urbana Manalo – both eyes

They were discharged last March 5 and in-house physician Dr. Ariel conducted a follow-up check-up on them at Coco Beach. Food and drinks were also given to them before they were sent home.

As always, the mission was a success and the recipients would like to extend their gratitude to all our sponsors who have been sustaining the Mission.

More updates on the coming Medical Mission Batch VII.