09/23/2026
Congratulations to Mike & Gleci Hernandez, the Philippine Cebu Koi Club & the whole Kois & Ponds Team for mounting an amazing Nationwide Wakagoi Koi Show and Grow Out Contest(s)! This multi-point judging has been a dream of my dad, Mike Hernandez, for several decades. Seeing this dream realized not once, but twice now is not only proof of concept; it is proof that it works, it scales and it can be done again and again, and better each time.
Congratulations and our deepest gratitude to all the winners and participants - our show could not be the same without your support. Your presence collectively creates a community that we are proud to be a part of and one whose company we genuinely look forward to sharing. A special congratulations goes out to Junnie Acuña and his lovely daughter Janna Mary from Australia - you inspire us on so many levels. Thank you for being a part of our family.
Many thanks as well to the numerous professionals who came out to show their full support. It is a testament to the true spirit of cooperation and gentlemanly demeanor that transcends business rivalry and geography — and speaks to what this hobby is at its best.
We are grateful to Kenji Tani, Takashi Omosako and Youichi Taniguchi for showing up, traveling to multiple cities and judging 6 koi shows in 2 days with the same boundless energy and enthusiasm from start to finish.
Demi Koi is incredibly proud to be a part of the Kois & Ponds Family and, on a personal level, I am immeasurably blessed to call Mike and Gleci Hernandez, the Philippine pioneers of imported Japanese Koi and founders of Kois & Ponds, “Papa” and “Mama”. ❤️
- Mikki Hernandez-Swanson