Dauin, Negros Oriental—Mary Jean Tabañera has long aspired to become a scuba diver. She would often see divers visiting the world-renowned Apo Island, off the coast of this town in Negros Oriental province, six years ago while working in her uncle’s dive resort as waitress or cleaner. Tabañera had the chance to pursue her dream when the former barangay captain of Apo Island and a dive instructor, Mario Pascobello, began an open water dive course in 2013 for children in the village so they would be able to guide tourists in dive activities.

Pal, I. F. (2017, May 21). Apo's native breed of dive masters. Philippine Daily Inquirer, p. A2-1.