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THERE is
something about Boracay that no matter how many times
one has been to this island paradise in Aklan, there’s
always something fresh and exciting for its visitors.
And now that Cebu Pacific, with its vaunted “service
with a smile” approach, has come to this fabled island’s
shores, then the promise of a quick getaway from the
bustle of city life becomes as easy as visiting the
carrier’s online-ticketing service.
So just
when it seemed that I could do was daydream about that
great escape, thanks to my lucky stars—and my editor—I
got to try out Cebu Pacific’s new service link to the
island. After all, like a balm that soothes an aching
muscle, a Boracay getaway is the perfect antidote to
free one’s self of the stresses that seem inevitable for
us harried denizens of Metro Manila. So on the wings of
Cebu Pacific’s brand new, French-built ATR 72-500
aircraft, we flew into the closest airport, which is
Caticlan, for the short 15-minute boat ride into that
glorious stretch of white-sand beach.
Admittedly, the few times that I was in Boracay were
spent basking under the sun, walking along its
powdery-shore line, watching its famous sunset and
trying out the wide range of gastronomical delights. I
have never gone beyond the seven-kilometer beachfront
that is comprised of Stations 1, 2 and 3. This trip
promised to be something different. When Cebu Pacific’s
PR officer RG Orense briefed our group on what to expect
for the three-day sojourn, I realized there’s more to
the island than what has been often written about.
Boracay redux, this time, was going to open my eyes to
the adventurous side of this island paradise and allow
me a close look at its interior.
Our
island welcome was by way of a sumptuous lunch of my
favorite szechuan crabs together with an array of other
delectable dishes at the TropiCafé Restaurant of Boracay
Tropics Resort Hotel, where we checked-in. Boracay
Tropics is a triple A-listed resort hotel (courtesy of
the Department of Tourism) owned by Cely Sarabia, and
its spacious and elegantly-appointed rooms should
delight even the most demanding traveler. A refreshing
quick shower afterwards and we hit the road for our
first adventure.
All-terrain vehicle/bug-car adventure
I
NERVOUSLY eyed the bug-car I was going to drive with
Winnie Velasquez of Malaya as my passenger. I do drive,
yes, but never this toy car. Was it any less strenuous
or difficult than driving a real car? How else would I
know unless I tried it. So armed with the confidence of
a seasoned
Manila street
driver that I am, we darted off in a convoy as people
waved when we passed by. “This is easy,” I blurted
aloud, trying to assure my nervous passenger. But after
a few minutes driving along the highway, our guide made
a left turn where the most exciting part of our journey
began as we traversed the rugged terrain of this
unexplored side of this island.
Our
mission: to reach the highest point in Boracay, called
Mount Luho. Getting their felt like eternity as I had to
navigate the bumpy and pothole-ridden road that would
take us to our destination. And then it started to
rain—not a drizzle, mind you, but a downpour. So there
we were, soaking in the rain, traversing a tricky and
muddy road, until we finally arrived at our destination
cold, nervous but, yes, victorious. Needless to say, it
was fun. It was just the first of the many fun
adventures that our hosts had prepared for us for three
memorable days.
The land
adventure is part of the package being offered to local
residents and balikbayans by Boracay Tropics. For a
three-day and two-night package, guests can avail
themselves of the Boracay Adventure Package at P 11,800
per person. “This includes land arrangements, in-land
island tour, all-terrain vehicle ride, reef walking,
snorkeling, island-hopping and parasailing or
jet-skiing,” said Annie Convocar, marketing consultant
of the resort hotel. “It is very popular among local
residents and balikbayans because they get value for
money.”
Of
course, what is Boracay without its water sports and
eclectic cuisine offerings? On our first night, the
solicitous staff of Boracay Tropics pulled out all the
stops to give us a sample of the night life the island
is known for. Despite the heavy rain that almost ruined
their set up, the staff ensured that we would have the
time of our lives by simulating a beach atmosphere
complete with henna-tattoo artists, trinket sellers and
zipline dancers—the latter being in my book the
highlight of the evening, apart from the mouth-watering
grilled food. The dancers were awesome as they went
earnestly went about their routines under the rain, and
wild cheering erupted from the visibly pleased audience.
We would have asked for an encore but we were afraid
that it would mean a bout of pneumonia for the two
artists.
Unfortunately, I was sidetracked by a lousy tummy ache
that prevented me from joining the rest of the group in
their water adventure, including parasailing. Then
again, I’ve already done parasailing—with my daughter
when we celebrated her 16th birthday some months ago—and
believe me, being up there almost 500 feet above sea
level is one of the most exhilarating experiences one
could ever have. The water adventure package also
includes reef walking, where you literally walk with the
fish, and from what I heard from the group, it’s
definitely another must-try. Another time perhaps.
A little
history
BACK in
the early ’80s, when the world had not yet heard about
this little island paradise, a handful of people were
fortunate enough to explore the island still unspoiled
and sparsely inhibited. The visitors were mostly from
the surrounding areas of Caticlan, and farther down
north of Kalibo, like Iloilo. One of those fortunate
souls was Cely Sarabia, a native of Kalibo and owner of
Boracay Tropics, who together with her family, would
visit the island every summer. They endured the rough
roads of Kalibo to get to the province of Caticlan, then
take a decrepit-motor boat to Boracay.
“Unfortunately, there were but very few resorts in those
days and electricity was unheard of,” Cely recalled.
They would bring a generator and set up a tent and
experience the natural bliss the island offered. Once,
Cely continued, she made an advanced booking in one of
the few resorts, even issuing a check to secure their
booking—only to find out that their reservation had been
canceled in favor of a foreigner who paid the resort a
lot more. That incident got her so miffed that she
decided to buy a lot upon which she built what is now
the sprawling Boracay Tropics.
Two
decades later, Boracay is now considered a travel
destination for people around the world. It has secured
a spot in the global tourism industry that gives other
world-class Asian island destinations like Bali in
Indonesia or Phuket in Thailand a run for their money.
Of course, getting to the island from
Manila
is now more convenient with the entry of Cebu Pacific,
which flies directly to Caticlan. In his speech during
the carrier’s maiden flight to Boracay, Cebu Pacific
executive Michael Shau said, “We are pleased to finally
be able to serve Caticlan in Aklan, gateway to one of
the most beautiful beaches in the world.... Boracay has
played a very significant role in the country’s tourism,
and one of our priorities now is to help make this
destination even more dynamic by offering more options
for air travel, and our low fares, a great value
proposition to travelers.” |
