Actor-diver Richard Gutierrez topped two categories in the fourth Anilao Underwater Photography Shootout sponsored by the Department of Tourism.
Gutierrez, who for 10 years has made diving his escape to find peace and quiet, topped 100 competitors in the marine behavior (open class) category and placed third in the fish portrait category.
“It’s really great meeting divers from all over the world and Filipino divers from the Visayas and Mindanao. I love exploring nature and seeing the beauty of the marine life here in Anilao, just two hours away from Manila. I can’t wait till my children go diving with me,” said Gutierrez.
Tourism Secretary Wanda Corazon Teo is now pushing for the active promotion of the Philippines’ scuba diving destinations.
According to a statement from the DoT, Teo directed Tourism Undersecretary Kat de Castro to aggressively promote the Philippines’ scuba-diving destinations, as well as advocate environmental conservation.
“There’s an entirely distinct world to be discovered in deep-sea diving which is very enlightening and challenging,” said De Castro, who is also a diver.
“We want to offer our visitors a Philippine experience beyond the usual fare of sun-and-beach,” the Tourism Undersecretary added.