Manila and Its Spokes
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Davao and its Spokes
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Others and its Spokes
Boracay
7,000 TIMES MORE RELAXING
The palm-studded island of Boracay - with its white,
talcum-fine beach, balmy weather and warm, crystalline
waters - is like a hypnotic magnet that lures many to a
lotus existence. In this tiny, butterfly-shaped island at
the northwestern tip of Panay in Western Visayas, days can
be spent by simply lazing on the beach and nights are for
indulging in the tropical party lifestyle. Boracay is an
anchor tourist destination and one of the 7,000 times more
islands that make up the Philippine archipelago.
BAREFOOT IN THE BEACH
The code in Boracay is strictly informal. There is an
undeniable easy atmosphere in Boracay where walking barefoot
than shod is the rule rather than the exception. White Beach
is so, soooo fine, it feels like treading on miles of baby
powder! No wonder, even swinging discos have the beach for a
floor, giving dance a new twist. There are no hang-ups
either in this island. At daytime, tourists having a
soothing massage under the shade of a coconut tree beside
the shoreline is a common sight. And from dusk to dawn,
Boracay turns into one big party place where everyone is
welcome to join in...But first, let's toast that sunset
cocktail!
Diversions are certainly no problem in this tropical eden
with leisure activities calendared throughout the year and
amenities offered by some 350 tourist establishments.
A LITTLE BIT OF DARING
For the adventure-driven, "Mambo Number 5" is a little
bit of boating and wind surfing, a little bit of scuba
diving, a little bit of trekking, a little bit of mountain
biking, and a little bit of golf. There's plenty to do in
Boracay other than beachbumming and partyhopping. On the
eastern side of the island is Bulabog Beach, a boardsailor's
mecca that draws enthusiasts from all over the world,
especially during the peak season of November to March. In
January, it is the site of an International Funboard Cup.
Sailboating and kayaking are popular sporting activities,
with Boracay playing host to the annual Paraw Regatta, an
international sailboat race that makes use of the native
outrigger. Dive sites surround the island and are learning
venues to both novice and professional divers, guided by
competent instructors of the many dive shops that operate in
the area. Trekking or mountain biking can also bring the
intrepid to the island's quaint interior villages and to the
edges' scenic rocky cliffs, discovering along the way many
hidden coves with isolated beaches far from the tourist
crowd. And for golf bugs, Fairways and Bluewater Resort Golf
and Countryclub has an 18-hole championship course.
HALA BIRA ! LET GO !
January is the time to hang loose in the "Land of the
Atis." Kalibo, the capital town of Aklan, is the gateway to
Boracay. Every second weekend of January, it celebrates the
Ati-Atihan Festival where frenzied streetdancing is
performed by costumed and black-sooted "tribes" as they wend
through the main streets from dawn till the witching hours.
The Ati-Atihan is celebrated for three days and commemorates
the 13th-century land deal between 10 migrating Bornean
chieftains and the aboriginal Ati King Marikudo. It also
honors the town patron, the infant Santo Ni๑o.
To the accompaniment of hundreds of lyres and drums,
merrymakers throw all inhibitions to the wind as they join
the tribes in a mad jig punctuated by rhythmic shouts of:
"Hala bira! Puera pasma! Hala bira! Viva Santo Ni๑o!"
(Loosely translated, means: "Let go! Don't get sick! Let go!
Hail the Holy Child!") Kalibo is also famous for its
handloom weaving industry where fine silken fabrics are
produced from the fibers of the pi๑a (pineapple) and abaca
plants.
ISLAND FLAVORS
The taste of the region is simple with charbroiled chicken
as common fare. Another favorite dish is raw fish marinated
in spicy vinegar. Dining, however, is no problem in Boracay
with most resorts having their own restaurants that serve
both Filipino and international cuisines. Small snack bars
and fastfood outlets line the island.
WARM HOSPITALITY
Filipinos do not simply provide the guest with a place to rest
or park their luggage, they also share the best of what they
have. This warm, effusive brand of hospitality is what
distinguishes Philippine hotels from the others. Resorts in
Boracay range from the posh "AAA" to the more tailored "SIR"
(special interest resort)
