|
IT’S
been awhile since she debuted to a captivated society,
when every major newspaper and glossy magazine lavished
her with accolades. It’s been more than a decade since
she made it to the coveted pages of Condé Nast’s
Architectural Digest and Travel+Leisure, yet Pearl Farm
still retains the luster that first drew seasoned
travelers from around the world. The 14-hectare
“masterwork of island architecture,” where thousands of
oysters were once cultivated for their precious gems,
has built her reputation on years of consistent service
and dedicated management. As the jewel in the crown of
Davao’s tourism industry, Pearl Farm has proven herself
to be more than a worthy ambassador.
Before
visitors set foot on her shores on Samal Island, they
are welcomed by the festive sight of colorful flags
whipping in the wind, a row of cottages flanked by
stately coconut trees, and a towering backdrop of lush
vegetation. The 45-minute ride on a motorized boat from
the Pearl Farm Marina in Langan becomes a distant
memory, as the air pulses with the rhythmic thump of
tribal drums, while a smiling staff serves up sweating
glasses of cold fruit drinks. Just like that, urban
inhibitions are shed, and guests are eager to dive into
the island lifestyle.
For
many, it means diving head-first into the surrounding
blue waters that has been declared a marine sanctuary.
It’s home to a host of strange and beautiful creatures,
from groupers to moray eels, yellow-finned sardines, sea
turtles, eagle rays, and a 4-km coral reef. You don’t
have to venture far or put on your snorkeling gear to
get up close and personal with some aquatic life.
Schools of fishes patrol the docking area, where
starfishes abound and the water reaches no higher than
your waist. For a shot of adrenaline, thrill-seekers can
take their pick from a selection of watersports that
include windsurfing, water polo, kayaking, wakeboarding,
waterskiing and banana boat-riding. But for the ultimate
adventure, nothing beats an exploration of two sunken
World War II vessels, one of them a 132-feet Japanese
freighter that a diver once told me was one of the
eeriest sites he ever visited. Those who prefer to stay
on terra firma could hit the jogging trail that winds
through a scenic route, or score a few rounds on the
tennis, basketball, or badminton court.
After a
rigorous workout, tired muscles get a good rubdown at
the Ylang-Ylang Spa, a rustic, three-open-sided bamboo
structure nestling amid thick foliage. The sound of
trickling water from the adjacent man-made waterfall
mingles with the scents of candles and natural products,
like Davao coffee and milk for body scrubs, lemongrass
for foot massages, and honey lime for facials. It’s one
indulgence you’ll want to experience again before you
leave the island.
Just a
stone’s-throw away from the spa is the Maranao
Restaurant, where buffets of sumptuous international
dishes and Filipino favorites are laid out for lunch and
dinner. The place, which overlooks the infinity pool,
also does a fierce steaming cup of bittersweet
chocolate, not from a can of sugary malt, but from
tablets of honest-to-goodness local cocoa.
Retire
to any one of the spacious, air-conditioned cottages
that are designed with influences from
Mindanao’s Samal and Maranao tribal culture. Done in bamboo and wood, some of the
houses are perched on the edge of the island, raised on
stilts over tranquil waters, or set back from the beach,
just steps away from the swimming pool. Starting at
P4,550 per person, guests can enjoy an overnight
twin-sharing accommodation, full board meals,
complimentary use of selected facilities, and roundtrip
boat transfers.
For
those who want their bathtubs, boudoirs and four-poster
beds, take a five-minute boat ride from
Samal Island
to the secluded Malipano Island, where multistory villas
offer luxurious creature comforts from a uniquely
Filipino perspective. Eminent architect Bobby Mañosa,
the genius behind Coconut Palace and other iconic
structures across the archipelago, gave the seven
octagonal villas their distinctive look with roofs
shaped like the salakot, the traditional nipa palm hat.
The façades may be similar, but no two villas share the
same interiors. Owner Antonio Floirendo Sr., whose
fortune is harvested from the country’s largest banana
plantation, originally planned the three- or
four-bedroom houses as private summer residences for
each of his children, who were given free rein to
furnish their places. Built with expansive living rooms
that command panoramic views of the sea, the villas are
now rented out to a minimum of six occupants for a
full-range package of P7,300 per night per person. Quite
a hefty price. But if you want plenty of space, premium
amenities, a private beach in front, and a three-hole
golf course in the back, then consider putting Malipano
Island down on your next holiday itinerary.
As the
sun sets over the horizon, Pearl Farm is bathed in a
soft, dusky glow. The heat of the day dissipates, and
the air turns crisp and cool. The sea, a vast calm
entity that stretches out from gold-burnished shores,
quiets down to sing a soft lullaby. For awhile,
everything is right in the world—or at least here on the
most radiant pearl of the
South Seas. |
