Tubbataha is the pride of the Philippines, 97,030 hectares of reefs and waters declared a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for its extraordinary beauty, biology, and contribution to humanity.
For over 20 years, diver and photographer Tet Lara and cinematographer Marissa Floirendo have visited Tubbataha in the middle of the Sulu Sea, a pristine marine ecosystem 150 kilometers from Puerto Princesa, Palawan. Armed with a sense of adventure, a keen eye, and her camera, Tet has captured Tubbataha’s magnificent creatures, stunning vistas, changing moods, and perfect moments through the years.
Now, for the first time, photographs of this special place have been compiled in Tubbataha: A National Treasure—a look into Tubbataha’s history, biological diversity, economic value, strengths, and vulnerabilities; a tribute to those who have preserved and defended it over the decades; and a call to protect it anew.
Enriching this landmark publication are essays by experts with an intimate knowledge of the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park, and its significance to this archipelago and to the entire planet. Scientists and conservationists Dr. Teri Aquino, Dr. Hazel O. Arceo, Dr. Al Licuanan, and Dr. Perry Aliño, ornithologist Arne Jensen, environmental journalist Yasmin Arquiza, and Tubbataha’s very own Protected Area Superintendent Angelique Songco share their views, experiences, and hopes for this globally important ecosystem.
Tubbataha: A National Treasure hopes to enlighten and inspire readers through stunning images and engaging information—and to underscore the need to safeguard the Tubbataha Reefs, for now and for always, as a gift to the Filipinos of tomorrow.