#38 28th. May 2004

Moalboal May 2004

Hi, Friends of Moalboal!!

We have had fiesta, both Basdiot and Moalboal, here and now things
starts to calm down. Both fiestas were good, eat pig and rice with
friends and drink beer at the disco. Same old same old but still
fun. This year they had a Bikini contest in Moalboal. The church
organized a big show with 12 girls. Really nice and professional.
There's some nice pictures on the Chili notice board.

We have had election here as well. There is still weeks until they
know the final result, but it look like Gloria Magapagal-Arroyo will
win. I personally think that is the best for this country. Moalboal
still have the same mayor, Titing Gabaron, and Nelson got elected.
The going price to buy a vote for mayor was around 100 Php and
Councilor 30-40 Php this year.

The peso is still low, around 56 to the US$ and 67 to the ?. Now is
the time to visit. In mid May when they declare the outcome of the
election, I'm sure that the Peso will get stronger.

Most foreigners have left the beach now. I think that there's only a
handful homeboys here now. Most have gone home to make some money so
they can afford to stay here the next season. Still a lot of
tourists though.

WEATHER:
About 29 degrees, sunshine and blue skies today, but we have had a
typhoon go through here. Typhoon Dindo did some damage in Northern
Cebu and then went towards Luzon. Weather is strange these days.
Typhoon season is normally August to the beginning of November.

ACTIVITIES:
Volleyball at white beach every Sunday around two O'clock.
No more soccer until high season.

BIRTHS, SOCIAL AND GOSSIP:

Mark Harman and Ai-Ai had a son yesterday. Both mother and son are
healthy. Name: Murray Leslie. The Moalboal news letter just want to
say: Welcome to the beach dude!

Coos and Letty had a nice combined 50 year party in the beginning of
this month.

According to the World Bank, 51 % of the Phil. population lives on
less than 2 US$ / day.

Nisa and Bob (terrible Bob) has opened an Indian restaurant next to
Chili. They, off course, serve Cordon Bleu and other dishes as well.

A new hole in the wall beer joint have opened close to last filling
station. It must be hard to open a bar just when the real low season
starts.

Jochen (German, planet Action) have opened an internet café. He has
a 128Kb line and it goes a lot faster there than in Moalboal where 6
people share a 33 Kb line. He has even promised me that I can send
this news letter for free at his café'

Jesper (owner Neptune Dive shop) wants this added:

At Neptune Restaurant, also called Lantau restaurant, you can borrow
books, deposit only. Make your own MP3 Cd from Jespers vast
collection of music. They also have DVD rental.

WHALE SHARK SIGHTINGS:

Plenty, over 10 whale sharks spotted during May. Some might have
been the same one.

Abe, Uncle Abe English, saw two Manta rays in Badian.

LETTERS FROM ABROAD:

Mikael (Nelson diver and later Dive Master in Malapascua) writes:

Ola Amigos.
First of all,?..I BECAME A DAD 040407, 00.30, to a baby boy. Second,
I apologies for being such a bad e-mail buddy, I know u guys been
waiting to hear from me. He was 530 mm tall, 3720 gram heavy (sorry
Martin, have no clue how many stones that is.) His name is Fredrik
after my father and he is the cutest living thing I've seen since I
saw my first frogfish. Åse is doing just fine, proud to be a mother;
I'm at least as proud. Today I know why Tongy always just smiled
when I said; married with children, life is over. This is my first
winter back home since 90 and I doooooo miss diving and I dooooo
miss Malapascua with all my dear friends, but I know I will return,
next time there just will be one more. We are all looking forward
too sea u guys.
Love Mikael, Åse and Fredrik.

Joris, ex. Instructor at Nelsons, Sub Maldive and Neptune, writes:

Yo Lars,
Don't you think that it is about time to get some more sponsorship,
and start thinking about drilling, stainless steel and decent
mooring buoys? It is all nice to do these things, but how many have
been and will be spend in all the years. The rubber lines contain
lead, the buoys are made of non UV protected plastic witch again
contain styro-foam. I would say again like I said before, send a
hundred letters away to all the BIG dive and Photo Company's, Padi's
project aware and other organizations. And then wait and see, you
never know dude. The reefs all over the world are going quicker
backwards than they think.
Greetings. Joris
Thanks for the letter Joris, I agree with you. Now we just need some
money and it could all be done. If any of you readers out there in
the world would like to help us with saving the reef please do so.
Maybe you know someone or a company that could sponsor us. We need
about 25 solid buoys installed. To do them all properly 40 000 US$
should see us through the whole project. The way we are doing it now
works and it is low budget, but it would be nice to have them
properly installed.
I also have a question: Does any of you readers know or have
drawings over a hover craft or know a web site where I could go.
I've been looking, but have not found anything for a small one or
two person small hover craft.
GENERAL:

If anyone has any information that they think would be interesting
for people on this list, please do let me know and I will add it in.
If you know anyone that would like to receive this letter, please
tell him or her to send me an E-mail at the address below and I will
add him or her. I've found it to hard to do it through
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/moalboalmail

Regards, Lars Starner
starner@...

If you would like to know who I am (I don't know why) check out:
http://medlem.spray.se/starnerhome

Moalboal home page:
http://www.moalboal.org.uk

Copyright (c) Lars Starner 2004. All rights reserved