Past Officers

Jamie Dichaves 
Sustainability Officer
Jamie is a graduate of BS Psychology from the University of the Philippines-Diliman. Upon graduation, she knew that a normal desk job was not for her and through a series of very fortunate events, ended up working as the Environmental Officer for Lagen Island Resort. In 2014, she took a break to do pro-bono consulting and learn more about wildlife conservation, particularly with wild birds and marine turtles. She honed her birding skills as an active member of the Wild Bird Club of the Philippines, served as the project manager for the pilot project of Pawikan Watchers in San Juan, La Union and became a consultant for Morong, Bataan’s Bantay Pawikan conservation group. Before taking back her role as Lagen’s EO, she packed her bags and permanently moved to El Nido.  Since August 2016, she has taken up the role of Sustainability Officer for the 325-ha Lio Tourism Development  and there’s certainly no stopping her from further strengthening the use of community-based sustainable development and tourism as a tool for active biodiversity conservation.

Estefania Mahecha
Environmental Officer 
Estefania is from Colombia. She is an environmental engineer by profession from El Bosque University. Although she did not come from a coastal city, she is equally passionate for the seas. For her, the island life is where she belongs. Estefania desires to develop her career towards sustainable tourism and protected areas conservation while at the same time supporting the environmental team with her knowledge and professional experience on waste management. She feels very lucky being at “home” and at work where marvelous landscapes surround her. She is very grateful to her fellow EOs and to Ms. Marigs who she considers her role model. They affect her everyday not only in becoming a better Environmental Officer, but a better person as well.

Vito Puyat 
Environmental Associate

Vito graduated from Newcastle University, United Kingdom with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and First-class honors. He has extensive research experience in neuropsychology and has worked on Independent Mechanisms for Image Features in Stereopsis. He has volunteered for diverse university projects and has been part of pilot teams for data and computer programs.

He will be working on comparative coral reef health amongst the house reefs of the island resorts as well as in those with high tourist activities. Vito started as an intern for the environmental team, and now has become an EO full time.

Monique Mahusay 
Environmental Officer Monique is a graduate of BS Tourism in Asian Institute of Tourism, University of the Philippines-Diliman. She was exposed to nature conservation the first time when she worked on the mooring buoy installation project in Apo Reef Natural Park, Occidental Mindoro. This project aimed to protect the marine environment in the region which at the time was getting destroyed by the use of anchors.  The same project was also done in the Municipality of Panglao in Bohol.
Mon also worked closely with the Local Government Units and various stakeholders in crafting their own Tourism Development and Master Plans in Davao and Baguio City. She made certain that the plan integrates zoning, land use, infrastructure development, the national system of standards for tourism enterprises, heritage, cultural, and environmental protection. All to ensure sustainable tourism development

Currently as the Environmental Officer of Lio Estate Resorts, she works mainly on community development, setting the goal for the growing tourism industry to be a sustainable one.

Bianca Ong
Environmental Officer (July 2018 to September 2019) Not all Biology graduates end up in med school. A good number pursue post graduate degrees. Some of them go up mountains during sem breaks with friends to conduct faunal surveys. Some teach zoology and wildlife courses in the University. Others work in the zoo as veterinary assistants handling all sorts of animals. And there are those who trap and dissect rice field rats for research.

There’s one person we know who’s done all these, and that’s B. B took up BS Biology in the University of the Philippines, Manila, as a prerequisite to forensic pathology. With majority of her batchmates pursuing medical degrees, she figured someone had to help plants and animals too. She instead studied MS Zoology in the University of the Philippines, Los Banos to further her knowledge on wildlife. After a series of animal adventures, her current quest now takes her to the most beautiful field lab of the Philippines, where a variety of missions are waiting to unfold.

Roxanne Rei Valdestamon
Environmental Officer  (July 2016 to July 2017)
Roxanne is a strong and passionate advocate for sustainable agriculture and environmental management, specifically marine ecosystems. She graduated with a degree in Agriculture from the University of the Philippines Los Banos in 2012 and after a few months of contemplation, she decided to work her way into the marine ecosystems field. Her first job was with Fishbase Information and Research Group Inc., a global species database of fishes where she worked with fish biology, faunal lists and species distribution. Getting a one-month break from work, she used this time to acquire trainings and certifications in scuba diving, reef check and MPA (Marine Protected Area) surveys from a scholarship offered by Coral Cay Conservation Philippines. This inspired her to pursue a Master’s Degree in Environmental Science for better understanding and further training in her chosen field. When the opportunity to work with ENR’s Environment Department was offered to her in 2016, she took it and excitedly packed her bags for her new adventure. She is now the Environmental Officer of Pangulasian Island, enjoying the perks of working with a team that aims to spread ecologically sustainable practices and influence people to adapt a way of life that is – protecting the environment.

Rox is now a proud mom after leaving the company to start a family.

Elaine Tagudando 
Environmental Officer (2014 to 2018)
Elaine is anywhere. She started her career as Guest Lecturer in tourism management while serving as Tourism Officer for the Provincial Government of Isabela. Her focus on sustainable tourism development strengthened when she handled coastal tourism projects and worked with various conservation groups in the Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park. In 2013, she joined Voluntary Services Overseas (VSO) and volunteered as an Ecotourism Advisor in Samar. Her restless feet and heart took her to Africa, volunteering for a community-based ecotourism project in the eastern highlands of Zimbabwe, where she acquired a global perspective of tourism and development.

Elaine has a degree in Tourism with a graduate diploma in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of the Philippines – Diliman. She is taking her sweet time finishing her master’s degree in Environmental Planning. Instead, she spends most days working in the best office here in El Nido – outdoors! She is currently the Environmental Officer of Miniloc Island Resort – advocating sustainable tourism and striving to take on the challenges of balancing tourism, community, and environment. Someday, she aspires to see a world full of responsible travelers. Indeed, Elaine is anywhere – doing what she loves and what is right.

Elaine is now Operations Officer of Lio Tourism Estate.

Maxine Fabroa
Environmental Officer (2015 to 2018)
Maxine is a BS Biology for Teachers graduate from Philippine Normal University. After graduating, she was a school teacher at Grace Christian College in Manila, but her interest in environmental studies had her seeking for a career outside of the usual classroom setting. In April 2015, Max left the teacher’s desk and packed her bags for the outdoor classroom of nature, El Nido. Well suited for the eco-adventures of Apulit, Max enjoys hiking, snorkeling, and drawing. Her favorite part of being an EO is working on something that she loves while being in one of the most beautiful places in the world.

Max will soon pursue her graduate studies on Conservation.

Gaby Coseteng
Environmental Intern (2015)
Gaby Coseteng is an intern for the environment department. She is a rising sophomore at Stanford University and is still undeclared because she’s really indecisive. Gaby is passionate about nature conservation and climate change, and hopes to pursue a career in a related field. She enjoys kayaking, paddleboarding, and snorkeling, especially since El Nido is so beautiful. Gaby is also a big fan of animals, but her spirit animal is probably a fur seal because they’re chill and like to tan all day and like eating fish. She’s really happy to be back home in the Philippines for the summer and to have the opportunity to help out and learn more about the local environmental situation.