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WHAT if
you can change your life and bring out its beauty and
color? Change comes to people in varying ways. But
life-altering plans aren’t usually made sitting behind
desks while planning marketing strategies. Some need to
zone out and get away from the routine of city life.
This is
where vacations come in. It is the great escape, where
body and spirit can rejuvenate in peace and quiet.
Vacations are the ultimate “me” time away from the
suffocating deadlines, annoying colleagues, and even
one’s family. In this period of introspection and
meditation, you can listen to the most important sound:
that of your inner self.
Low-key luxury.
Eschewing the
tacky ostentation usually found in five-star
establishments, Amorita’s sense of aesthetics is cued
toward Zen-like beauty.
Ooh la
la Amorita
BUT
where to go when one is in desperate need of quiet? Can
you imagine a sanctuary that releases all the grays from
one’s life? Is there such a place? Well, yes, there is.
Located just 40 minutes away from the Bohol Airport is
Amorita Resort. Nestled in the inner parts of
Panglao Island,
it sits atop a cliff with the famous white sands of the
Alona Beach right below.
Even at
first glance, one can appreciate the relaxed and the
serene ambiance that the resort exudes with generosity.
Designed by Ron Miranda, who is currently based in
Vietnam,
quiet luxury is how Amorita can be described. The open
spaces pay tribute to that most important
element—nature’s beauty. Even the villas are surrounded
with floor-to-ceiling glass windows that give a
panoramic view of the clear blue waters.
It is
recommended that you head straight to the open
restaurant as soon as you arrive for a cool drink and
take in the gorgeous view. The infinity pool, the jewel
of the resort, gives the illusion of a continuous line
to the Bohol Sea. You can even see the beautiful
outlines of Siquijor on a clear day. Just a few minutes
of breathing the fresh sea air and staring at the
picturesque turquoise waters can heal whatever aches and
pains one may have acquired from air travel.
Relatively new, Amorita opened only March of this year
and already has enjoyed its fair share of high-profile
clients. Some of
Cebu’s and
Manila’s
finest have already stayed with their friends and
family, and even corporations have booked the resort for
their executive seminars. Yes, the resort is WiFi-equipped.
And although still under construction, the wellness spa
and dive shop could only be something to look forward
to.
Infinity and beyond
A
breathtaking, soul-soothing view from the infinity pool
of Amorita Resort in Bohol.
Breathing room with a view
MERCIFULLY absent from the resort’s aesthetics is the
ostentatious and studied sleekness usually found in
hotels. Instead, one comes upon a sense of simplicity
that belies that well-considered accommodations. Amorita
has 34 rooms: the Oceanview Villas, Gardenview Villas
and the Deluxe Rooms. There is a Zen-like quality to
the choices in color and furnishings, especially in the
correct use of space and light. All the rooms are
beautifully furnished and uncluttered.
Like a
little oasis with its own private pool-Jacuzzi, the
Oceanview villas have the most magnificent view of the
sea. Serene privacy is guaranteed, and only the sounds
of the wind and the ocean waves keep you company. You
can meditate in solitude on your own sundeck, have a
good read, or even write a book yourself. If you’ve
always wanted a secret garden of your own, the
Gardenview villas are just the thing. Still equipped
with its own private Jacuzzi and sundeck, guests can
enjoy their breakfast in the private veranda amid the
greens or, later, a soothing massage or foot scrub. All
can be arranged through room service, of course. It
makes for a perfect romantic getaway, although
honeymooners or couples have to book in advance as there
is quite a demand for accommodations.
All the
villas are equipped with a flat-screen TV and a day bed
that can be used as another spot for sleeping. The
open-air bathrooms, by the way, are stunning but maybe a
little adventurous to the prudish. Still, privacy is
ensured. Meanwhile, the spacious deluxe rooms have two
queen-sized beds that are perfect for friends and
families.
For more
information and reservations, call the Manila office at
914-0585, or check out www.amoritaresort.com.
Service
for the gods
VERY
gracious and charming, the resort’s staff members make
Amorita stand out from the rest. They are well-versed,
helpful and eager to assist to make your stay a
memorable one. With a genuine smile on their faces, they
exude warmth and hospitality. From the cool towels they
offer when they pick you up from the airport, to
arranging for tours and travel destinations, they have
only one thing in mind: the utter comfort of every
guest.
General
manager Rene “Rocky” Jorolan keeps everything top-drawer
and is to be commended for impressing upon the staff
that service is what truly makes a resort world-class.
“We go out of our way to meet the needs of our guests.
If we can give it, we try to go beyond their
expectations,” he says.
Rocky,
who has years of experience under a Makati five-star
hotel, believes that no service is too small. He
recounts the first trial months when, while he was in
Manila, guests would text or call him about having run
out of sodas in the minibar. Nonetheless, their request
were attended to in no more than 10 minutes.
Leading
the kitchens is Chef Elaine Angelo. Noted for her work
in the Manila restaurant-deli Blue Bacon and Green Eggs,
she brings in added flavor to the resort’s menu. Her
dishes are a fusion of Asian and the exotic, as well as
the local dishes of Bohol, plus traditional
Spanish-Filipino cuisine.
Life-changing serenity
GETTING
used to the Amorita way of life can be easy. Life is
beautiful, just the way it was intended to be. The
resort provides the kind of simplicity and serenity now
lacking in modern urban life, those quiet moments with
the self and the loved ones that not only bring a sense
of inner calm but also opens a pathway to life-changing
insights. You can’t ask for any thing better from
vacation time. |
