FATHER JESSE REYES, San Jose Church

Father Jesse Reyes grew up in San Vicente, a village that neighbors Laolao Bay. “There’s a swimming hole surrounded by rocks about 30 feet wide, and six or seven feet deep; it’s just inside the reef and resembles a jacuzzi,” says Reyes, the youngest of eleven children. “We spent many hours swimming there.” On the weekends, Reyes would camp on the beach and go to picnics and barbeques with family and friends. “Laolao Bay is very special to me,” he says. “It is the backdrop of all our family’s memorable times.”

Reyes wants everyone, from residents to first-time visitors, to get serious about litter at Laolao Bay. “The bay has been a source of sustenance for a lot of families, an economic engine for tourists as a top diving destination, and a favorite hangout for everyone to relax and just enjoy nature,” he says. “Let’s not forget that ‘Cleanliness is Godliness’ and we are all caretakers of our natural treasures.”