GUARDING, OCEANS, PROTECTING HERITAGE

Living in Palawan and calling its pristine white sand beaches, marine life-rich clear waters, majestic rock formations, must-explore secret coves, beautiful lakes and subterranean rivers, and jungle-filled mountains as home is a dream for many. Marion Branellec-De Guzman has lived this dream as a kid.

Marion is the daughter of Jacques Branellec, the French perliculture specialist who co-founded the international luxury jewelry brand Jewelmer with Manuel Cojuangco. She clearly remembers the breathtaking sights in and around the pearl farm her father worked at.

“As a child, I had the opportunity to experience the beauty of our islands and oceans, specifically Palawan,” she says. “[My siblings] and I occupied ourselves with simple pleasures such as playing among the trees and swimming in the sea. We didn’t need gadgets or the television for entertainment.”