Jen and Robbie on their sunset cruise

American couple Jen Claypool, a lawyer aged of 26 together with her husband Robbie Yata, a mental health counselor and 27 years old chose the honeymoon package for their stay here in Coco Beach. Jen and Robbie have been together for 4 years now and decided to tie the knot last August 7, 2010. A friend recommended that they come to Coco Beach for their honeymoon. After their long stay, with us and with all the activities they did, Jen and Robbie just could not wait to come back to Coco Beach. Asked how their they stay went, all the couple could say was “FANTASTIC” as they beamed happily.

Awaiting the Chef's Special dinner for the newlyweds

Planning for the best place and price for a romantic honeymoon??? Coco Beach offers a very special package for honeymooners who would like to make this occasion a most memorable one. The Coco Beach's Honeymoon Package offers an unforgettable experience of a lifetime with your love and special someone. It consists of a 7 nights and 8 days stay in the Honeymoon Suite, our unique room special for more intimacy. Or you can choose to stay in one of the Hilltop with its magnificent view of the sea or in one the Heritage Rooms with its ethnic theme inspired by the diverse indigenous tribes of the Philippines.

Masseurs Joe and Layah rejuvinates Robbie and Jen at the Jewel of Mindoro Spa

Our honeymoon package also offers a special Sunset Cruise and Chef’s dinner at Haligi Beach, one of Puerto Galera’s secluded beaches. One can also choose between a dinner at the Doña Lina Revolving Restaurant, the only one of its kind in the entire island of Mindoro or a romantic dinner by the beach with your own personal waiter. To invigorate honemooners, pamper yourself at the Jewel of Mindoro Spa with a choice of Coffee Scrub, Brown Sugar Scrub, Papaya Wrap or Honey Wrap. And to complete the package, we also offer a beach and cove exploration with picnic and a fun dive.

The de Boer Family during their whole day adveture

The de Boer family from Holland had an exciting whole day adventure in Puerto Galera when they availed of the Pajero Trip with Elian as their guide and driver. They visited the famous 80 meters high Tamaraw Falls where they enjoyed the panoramic beauty of Puerto Galera’s coastline. They also rode on a wooden cart pulled by a very strong carabao as they made their way through trees, vegetation and rivers until they reached Tukuran where its clean and clear lagoon beckons visitors to swim. Lunch was at Ponderosa Golf Club where they enjoyed an even more magnificent view of Puerto Galera from 2,000 feet above sea level.

The de Boers also went around the town of Puerto Galera and visited the Excavation Museum to look at some artifacts and historical items. They also visited the church and the town market and went shopping for souvenir items before heading back to Coco Beach.

Mike, with his lovely wife Monique and children Frederique, Jasmyn and Chris are all first timers at Coco Beach. According to them, they had such a wonderful holiday at the resort. They found the staff very friendly and kind and always ready to assist them. They so much enjoyed their stay here that the de Boers extend their vacation with us for two more days of relaxing in the resort and with a promise to come back.

Isabelita and Corazon wearing their new glasses can weave their intricate baskets better

Once again, the staff of Coco Beach visited other Mangyan settlements in Puerto Galera and distributed reading glasses to villagers who need them the most. Enrico and Connie’s objective was simple, provide glasses that would help the Mangyan see better.

The recepients of new glasses from the Talipanan Mangyan Village

The group visited the Talipanan Mangyan Village, Baclayan Mangyan Settlement and Bangko Mangyan Village, wherein at least 60 Mangyan villagers received reading glasses.

Dr. Ariel, Rikke, Anni (at the back) with just a handfull of the 60 people who have new eye glasses

Doc Ariel also found 6 more patients with cataracts. They are Menes Garcia, Menisia Alagao, Analiza Lalong-isip, Charrise Bisa, Lorenso Cabilogan and Fortunato Silaan. This week, these cataract patients will be brought to Manila for treatment and operation at the Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center (JRMMC). They belong to the 7th batch of recipients of the Medical Mission Cataract Operation that Coco Beach facilitates. The previous batch of 7 Mangyans were successfully operated on last Feb. 22, 2010 and now have clearer and better vision than before.

Clownfishes, or nemos as they are called, are fishes in the family Pomacentridae. 29 species are recognized in this family. In the wild they all form symbiotic mutualisms with sea anemones. Depending on species, clownfish are overall yellow, orange, reddish, pink or blackish, and many show white bars or patches. The largest adults can reach a length of about 18 centimeters, while some can be as small as 10 centimeters.

2 clownfishes in a heteractis anemone.

Clownfish are native to warmer waters of the Indian and Pacific oceans, including the Great Barrier Reef and the Red Sea. While most species have restricted distributions, others are widespread. They are generally highly host specific, and especially the genera and the tip anemone (quadricolor), are frequent partners.

A Clark's anemonefish in a bubble-tip anemone.

The clownfish feeds on small invertebrates which otherwise potentially could harm the sea anemone, and the fecal from the clownfish provides nutrients to the sea anemone. Clownfish are eating both algae and small fishes while the algae accounts for around 20 to 25 percent of its diet. It has also been suggested that the activity of the clownfish results in greater water circulation around the sea anemone. In addition to providing food for the clownfish, the sea anemone also provides safety due to its poison.

A beautiful shot of a family of Western clownfishes in an anemone.

Clownfishes and certain damselfishes are the only species of fishes that can avoid the potent poison of a sea anemone. There are several theories about how this is accomplished but the most common one is:

The mucus coating of the fish may be based on sugars and this would mean that anemones fail to recognize the fish as a potential food source and do not fire their sting organelles.

A Pink anemonefish hiding in her anemone.

The spawning season of the clownfish, a time when they breed, is year round in tropical waters. Males attract the females by courting. Courting behaviors include chasing, biting and extending fins. Clownfish lay their eggs in batches on coral, rock or next to the sea anemone that they call home. The male clownfish will build a nest on the rock or coral near the anemone in order to provide protection from predators. Breeding starts with the male chasing the female to the nest where the eggs are released. Depending on the species, one hundred to one thousand eggs are laid. The male clownfish guards and protects the eggs until they hatch. They hatch within 4 to 10 days.

A Bridled clownfish watching out for her anemone.

In a group of clownfish, there is a strict hierarchy of dominance. The largest and most aggressive female is found at the top. Only two clownfish, a male and a female, in a group reproduce through external fertilization. The clownfish are hermaphrodites, meaning that they develop into males first, and when they mature, they become females. Also, as mentioned earlier, more than one clownfish is able to live in a sea anemone. If the female clownfish is removed from the group, such as by death, one of the largest and most dominant males would become a female. The rest of the remaining males will move up a rank on the hierarchy.