#84 - Venture Spotlight: Lalakbayin
- henry belfiori
- Oct 3
- 3 min read
A few weeks ago, I had a chance to e-meet and chat with Mark Joseph Laceste, founder of Lalakbayin Ecoventures. He’s now at UCL for further studies, where I also studied and met some fantastic people, and I wish him the best of luck.
This week’s spotlight is on Lalakbayin. They are building an ecotourism marketplace for Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) across the Coral Triangle region, starting in Palawan. The platform connects companies, schools, and travellers with CSR trips, citizen science expeditions, and sustainability events that directly fund reef monitoring, biodiversity data collection, and community training.
Enjoy the snapshot!
P.S. Here is a short video of Mark speaking on the work they do:
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The Problem
Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are critical for biodiversity but face persistent challenges:
Chronic underfunding – most MPAs lack resources for monitoring, enforcement, and research.
Community dependence on extractive livelihoods – fishing and conventional tourism often create pressure on ecosystems.
Tourism that doesn’t give back – visitor spending rarely supports local conservation or capacity building.
Global targets, local gaps – the push for 30x30 and SDG 14 will fall short if frontline sites remain unsupported.
In the Philippines, home to some of the most biodiverse reefs in the Coral Triangle, these pressures are particularly acute. Without sustainable funding and community-led solutions, MPAs risk becoming “paper parks”, protected in name but not in practice.
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The Solution
Lalakbayin Ecoventures is addressing these gaps by creating an ecotourism marketplace that channels travel directly into conservation and community benefits.
Curated CSR Trips – tailored experiences for companies and institutions that link team-building with measurable conservation outcomes.
Citizen Science Expeditions – engaging travelers and students in reef monitoring, biodiversity surveys, and restoration work.
Sustainability Events – summits, workshops, and trainings that bring together local communities, scientists, and partners.
Direct Funding Flow – every trip supports reef monitoring, biodiversity data collection, and local training programs.
Their flagship initiatives, the Ridge to Reef Camp (funded by the Austrian Embassy in Manila) and Women Fisherfolk Leadership Corps (funded by the U.S. Department State through Citizen Diplomacy Action Fund) show how travel can become a platform for collaboration, uniting governments, NGOs, and communities around marine protection.
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The Team & Partnerships
Here is the Team!
Founder – Mark Joseph Laceste
Advocate for impact entrepreneurship and sustainable tourism. Philippine Young Professional Ambassador for the Coral Triangle Initiative and President of SOA Palawan Hub. Finished his professional master’s in Tropical Marine Ecosystems Management.
Science – Anna Celis
Researcher at Sulubaai Environmental Foundation, PADI Advanced Diver, and conservation grant recipient. Focused on community-based marine resource management.
Operations – Mira Mercado
Marketing graduate with a passion for digital storytelling and sustainability, bringing organizational and outreach skills.
Communications – Marinella “Nella” Camu
Educator and paralegal with a strong focus on ocean literacy, climate campaigns, and youth empowerment.
Lalakbayin works with a strong network of organizations across government, NGOs, academia, and international programs. These include:
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Impact & Traction
Lalakbayin is still early in its journey but has already delivered measurable outcomes for communities and ecosystems:
7 Marine Protected Areas supported through trips and projects.
75 partners engaged across government, NGOs, schools, and private sector.
30 locals trained in citizen science methods for reef and biodiversity monitoring.
30 women fisherfolk supported with new livelihood opportunities.
1,700+ people reached through tours, trainings, and speaking engagements.
These show how regenerative travel can channel resources into frontline conservation while creating local benefits (and be viable).
Their work is also aligned with global frameworks:
SDG 14: Life Below Water
30x30 Global Biodiversity Target
Corporate CSR and ESG priorities, turning travel into a tool for measurable impact.
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Future Possibilities
Looking ahead for the team, some key opportunities might include:
Expansion beyond Palawan – growing the marketplace to cover more MPAs in the Philippines and neighboring countries.
Deeper integration with schools and universities – positioning citizen science expeditions as part of learning programs.
CSR and ESG travel packages – offering companies structured conservation engagements that meet sustainability reporting needs.
Blue finance alignment – building data-driven, investible outcomes that can attract funders into community-led conservation.
Stronger science platforms – expanding biodiversity monitoring through citizen science and open data systems.
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Closing Remarks
Lalakbayin Ecoventures shows how ecotourism can move beyond simple visitor experiences and become a funding engine for conservation and community resilience. Their marketplace model ties together science, livelihoods, and regenerative travel in a way that’s both practical and scalable.
Every trip has a measurable impact, whether it’s reef monitoring, citizen science data, or new income for local fisherfolk. At the same time, they are creating pathways for schools, companies, and travellers to engage with conservation in a meaningful way.
As they expand across the Coral Triangle, their next steps will depend on new partnerships, CSR collaborations, and visibility within the sustainable tourism space. If you’re looking to connect travel with impact, get in touch!
OTI
H
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