Shangri-la Resort and Spa Boracay

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/64e0001l.jpg

sweet! where'd u get the rendering thingy, cokelitro? nice find! thanks!

it looks pretty big! is it going to be built right on Boracay that's shown in the satellite image up there or on a separate island near there?

anyway, I'm sure shangri-la will include the necessary waste management facilities in their investment there. they better...!!

sweet! where'd u get the rendering thingy, cokelitro? nice find! thanks!

it looks pretty big! is it going to be built right on Boracay that's shown in the satellite image up there or on a separate island near there?

anyway, I'm sure shangri-la will include the necessary waste management facilities in their investment there. they better...!!

got it from Shangri-la Website.

‘World-class' Boracay police station to be unveiled soon
By Ronilo L. Pamonag

World-class police station for a world-class tourist spot.

A new police station in the island of Boracay is expected to be inaugurated anytime this month, according to the Boracay Special Protection Unit

What's left to be done to the three-storey building is the paint job, said PO1 George Quimpo of the BSPU. “We expect it to be inaugurated this month.” Living quarters for police personnel is also undergoing finishing works, Quimpo said.

In fact, Quimpo said, the BSPU already holds office at the new police station in Sitio Mangayad, Barangay Manok-manok in Malay, Aklan province.

Philippine National Police chief, Director General Arturo Lomibao said over the radio during the weekend that the new police station costs P10 million, and that he expects the police officers assigned to the island to deliver an even better service, especially to the tourists.

Quimpo said that Lomibao visited the island during the weekend.

Aside from the new structure, Lomibao also equipped the BSPU with two jet skis and five multicab patrol vehicles.

Some pics I took in Boracay last year. . .

Island hopping
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y147/imagesnew/boracay2.jpg

Snorkeling
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y147/imagesnew/boracay.jpg

View behind a restaurant at the Kalibo Airport while waiting for our return flight to Manila
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y147/imagesnew/boracay3.jpg

^those are magnificent pics. very different from the typical boracay shots.

^those are magnificent pics. very different from the typical boracay shots.
Thanks, Sleepwalker_uno. Yes, thought I'd share the other side of Boracay.

Hi Sedna,

Those are beautiful shots of Boracay. As Sleepwalker Dave mentioned, not the typical beach party scene normally associated with Boracay but a serene Boracay. So, you are also an artist-photographer! I'd like to post those pictures on my wall. Thanks for sharing. :)

great shots sedna:okay: snorkeling and island hoping!! sarapppp!!!

It's sad what's happening to boracay. There are too many people there now local and visitors. The water is not as clear the sand not as white and fine, algae from pollution everywhere. It is still passable as a nice beach but you can really tell the difference just 10 years ago when you can proudly say it's the best beach in the world, not anymore. Such a natural beauty should be taken care of preserved. I wonder why the govt. is not more aggresive in protecting it. As usual it is about killing the goose that lay the golden egg. Phuket and Bali are bigger islands and can accomodate more people. If the same amount of people would go to Boracay it would surely kill Boracay the way pasig river was killed.

wow, some not-the-usual Boracay shots. Thanks sedna. :)

Thanks, guys & Lili. Would you believe I lugged almost 5kg of photographic equipment in this trip to Boracay alone(like I always do whenever I get the chance to go on a overseas assignment). Yes, I am a photography nut, have been for years, a passionate hobby of mine. As they say, photography is the world's best hobby, right dudz? For this trip all my equipment - Nikon D100, Nikon 17-35mm f2.8 AF-S, 80-200mm f2.8 AF-S, SB-800DX and a JVC Mini-DV camcorder - were housed in a Lowepro waterproof bag(thank goodness I brought it as the waves were quite high and water were splashing all over the boat).

One thing I noticed in Boracay are those unemployed? young men hanging along the stretch of the beach and around the souvenir shops, staring at Visitors and Foreigners. It was discomforting at first but I finally learned to simply ignore them while hanging on tight to my camera.:yes: My partner coudn't care less.:yes:

Here's some more pictures taken on that small Island(I'm sorry, I forgot it's name).

cave
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b276/image14010/boracay4.jpg


http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b276/image14010/boracay5.jpg

Really beautiful shots! You can have an exhibit or get a commission for a coffee table book.

I'm all praise to all of you photography nuts and hobbyists for capturing those nice views and moments and sharing with us oglers. You give us so much visual pleasure and vicarious thrills.

@sedna, nice pics. You're the female Dudz!

:master: I highly nominateSedna for Vice President!
(president si Dudz) While Dudz take urban pics, Sedna on the countryside.
Excellent shots!

I believe it's called Crocodile Island. The stairs in the first pix leads to a nice little cave that you can take a dip in. BTW, is that funny lil monkey at the entrance still there?

hi sedna,
have any pics of the kalibo airport and they plane you boarded ? i'm sure you do ! please post, maybe you even shot out of the plane window ????
philpal

I believe it's called Crocodile Island. The stairs in the first pix leads to a nice little cave that you can take a dip in. BTW, is that funny lil monkey at the entrance still there?

Crocodile Island, I think that is! Yes, that cute little naughty monkey was there to greet us upon arrival, I actually took pictures of it probably still in my computer.

Richard, sorry I don't have pictures of the Airport. That shot of the rice field was probably the last still picture I took of Boracay. I had my Nikon gear packed and checked-in. My partner did take a video of me walking towards the plane(I think it was a Boeing 737), boarding it and upon reaching the plane door waved like crazy. :cheer:That was a lot of fun.

More pics
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b276/image14010/boracay8.jpg
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b276/image14010/boracay7.jpg
. . . and here's my little friend:wave:

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b276/image14010/boracay6.jpg

Guys, what do you think should be the perfect way to stop the continued rise of garbage that is being dumped on the more remote parts of the island? This has become a very big problem and it may someday pollute the prestine waters of our beloved Boracay. I wish Boracay to be less commercialized than it is now.

Thoughts and comments... :)

That's actually an island called "Crystal Cove", if I remember correctly. Crocodile Island is somewhere in proximity, it is known for its snorkelling sites. Thanks for sharing your pictures ^^ they're great!

Thanks, guys & Lili. Would you believe I lugged almost 5kg of photographic equipment in this trip to Boracay alone(like I always do whenever I get the chance to go on a overseas assignment). Yes, I am a photography nut, have been for years, a passionate hobby of mine. As they say, photography is the world's best hobby, right dudz? For this trip all my equipment - Nikon D100, Nikon 17-35mm f2.8 AF-S, 80-200mm f2.8 AF-S, SB-800DX and a JVC Mini-DV camcorder - were housed in a Lowepro waterproof bag(thank goodness I brought it as the waves were quite high and water were splashing all over the boat).

wow, sedna...lots of expensive stuff you got there. and yeah, photography is a lot of fun, even with just a compact camera. and thank you for another set of great images! missed that crocodile island before...do you have to pay to get into the island?

@sleepwalker uno: dave, hanggang dito nakarating ang nomination mo ha:D baka sumunod nyan mga cabinet members na:lol:

somehow i feel being complemented here even if i haven't posted any photos kaya maki-thank you na din ako. salamat:)

sedna: thank you for your great personal pictures of beautiful Boracay and for that picture of your cute little "friend" :)

cebuano exultor: I think the garbage should either be transferred by ferry to the nearer "main islands" where there are official dumpsites, and if there are none, they need to be made and carried out with the process of layering and grassing over them. I don't know if there is any, but they should have a tough fine law with signs throughout the island and a promo on it with illustrations that are catchy.

I've seen this thread in page 3 already ... wahh ... i think it's time to revive the Boracay Island thread.

Can this be thread rename into Boracay, Kalibo and Aklan Thread. thanks

25 SMEs to join the 3rd Aklan Product showcase at SM City



AKLAN -- Twenty-five small and medium enterprises (SMEs) will join the Third Aklan Product Showcase at the Lower Ground Floor Activity Center of SM City in Mandurriao, Iloilo City on September 26 to October 2.

Special guests during the opening at 2 p.m. on the first day are Governor Carlito S. Marquez and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Regional Director Dominic P. Abad, said DTI Aklan Provincial Director Ermelinda P. Pollentes.

Pollentes said the 25 SMEs are members of the different business groups that are assisted by DTI Aklan composed of Hugod Aklanon Producers Association, Inc.; Aklan Piña Manufacturers and Traders Association, Inc.; Aklan Chamber of Furniture Industries; Aklan Food Processors Development Cooperative; Aklan Active Bakers Association; and Aklan Horticulture Society. Selected beneficiaries of the Kalahi-Agrarian Reform Zone will also join the fair.

This year's showcase will highlight new and wide range fiber-based products and furniture in a lifestyle setting which include fashion accessories, housewares paper arts, furniture and furnishings, processed foods and ornamental plants.

"This is our third year at SM City Iloilo." The last two years were rewarding. Data revealed that Aklan producers were the highest in terms of sales in any fairs of the provinces in the region conducted at the mall. This only shows that Aklan products are competitive in terms of quality and price. We at DTI and the producers aim to make it better every time we have a fair. We owe a lot to our buyers and the general public," added Pollentes.

The province of Aklan, known for its powdery white beach Boracay Island and the famous Ati-atihan Festival is also recognized for its intricately hand-woven products from pina, abaca and raffia fibers. Of the 30 weaving firms registered with DTI, the industry has created total employment of 9,199 compose of farmers, scrappers, knotters, weavers, embroiderers and sewers, scattered in 15 municipalities all over Aklan. Products such as placemats, embroidered barongs, shawls, and other novelty items, are sold not only in the domestic but also in the export market which include, Canada, US, Japan, Italy and France, among others. For 2004, total industry sales reached almost P67 million.

Pollentes added that although DTI assistance is focused more on the 12 relatively big firms considered as big brother/sister to smaller ones, these big firms network with smaller ones to meet volume orders, thus developing them in the process. She added that the Local Government of Aklan is fully supportive of the industry. "The industry attained its greater heights because of the strong support of both Governor Carlito S. Marquez and Congressman Florencio Miraflores," added Pollentes.

Pollentes is inviting everyone to come and visit the week-long fair and have a taste of Aklan's best. For more information, please contact: DTI-Aklan, Veterans Avenue, Kalibo, Aklan, Telephone numbers (036) 268-3405 /500-7605, Telefax (036) 268-5280, Email: dtiaklan@skyinet.net. (PR)


(from Sunstar Iloilo News Online)

Kaliwat and Bugtaw-Akean to host 2nd Nat’l Maharlika, Writers Fed


KALIBO - The Kaliwat and Bugtaw Akean will be hosting the 2nd National Festival of Maharlika Artists and Writers Federation on November 25-27 in the island resort of Boracay.

The theme for this year’s festival is “ETNIK KONEK,” seeking our roots to build our future.”

According to Danilo “Diipak” Dalisay, the Secretary General of Maharlika Artists and Writers Federation, the festival aims to project and promote our indigenous culture, literature, and arts, as well as to strengthen the unity of our regional artists and writers.

He stressed that this year’s activities would include painting and thought exhibition, literature, musical, dance and other artistic performances and workshops.

Dalisay added that he would like to at least duplicate the success of last year’s festival that was held in Cebu City and participated by most of known Maharlika Artists and Writers Federation members.

The participating artist groups for this year’s national festivals includes the Katribu group of Mindanao, NEO Tribe, Lumad Numad and Maharlika of Cebu, All Dumaguete Artists, AHUG of Leyte, RAWA of Manila and TAGA-ATON of Panay Island and host Kaliwat and Bugtaw-Akean of the Aklan Province.

More participants are expected to come and join this year’s national festivity of Maharlika Artists and Writers Federation.

For more details about the said event feel free to text or call Danilo “Diipak” Dalisay at cellphone no. 09197911783.


(from Panay News Online)

Check out Aklan for possible investments


KALIBO - Aklan is a broad lowland area flanked on its western and southern sides by continuous mountain ranges. This broad area extends inward until it nestles at the foot of Panay’s western mountain highlands.

The province has 17 municipalities and 327 barangays with a total land area of 1,817.9 sq. km. This represents approximately nine percent of the region’s land area. It is the center of Ati-atihan festival, country’s most unique festivity; home to Boracay Island, the world’s finest white beach located in Malay, Aklan; land of hand-woven piña cloth billed as Queen of Philippine fabrics.

Currently, four shipping firms serve the province: Gothong Lines, William Lines, Aboitiz and Moreta Shipping Lines. Based on the latest data gathered from the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), there are thirty two vessels that entered and cleared at the ports of Batan, Dumaguit, and New Washington. Aklan, Air transportation is provided by the Philippine Airlines, Air Philippines and Cebu Pacific with regular daily flights to the town capital of Kalibo.

Chartered flights by Pacific Air, Air Ads, Asian Spirit and private charters can also be availed using the Caticlan Airfield in Caticlan, Malay the gateway to the world renowned Boracay Island. Telecommunications services are provided by RCPI, PT & T, BUTEL, BAYANTEL, PLDT, PANTELCO and CRUZTELCO, Postal and courier services are provided by the Phil. Postal Corp. CCS, JRS, Haribon, LIBCAP and LBC.

Thirty financial institutions operate in the Province of Aklan which include four government banks, seven private commercial banks one private development bank and at least one operating rural bank in every municipality. One hundred seventeen confirmed/registered cooperatives are operating in the province with Kalibo having the most number of cooperatives.

Although primarily an agricultural province, Aklan has good potentials for development in the manufacturing industry sector. The priority industries identified for promotion are looms weaving, gifts and house wares, metal craft and cut flowers, food processing, clay-based and furniture.

Loom weaving in Aklan includes raffia, abaca (sinamay) and piña weaving:

Piña weaving – Piña used is of the local variety with long and spiny leaves. Woven at Brgys. New Buswang, Old Buswang, Bakhaw Sur and Bakhaw Norte, Kalibo, Banga, Balete, Lezo and Malinao. Aklan knotted piña fibers come from Banga, Balete, Madalag, Lezo and Libacao. There are approximately 200 weavers engaged in piña weaving. Lately, piña weaving blended with silk is being produced in Kalibo, Aklan.

Raffia – weaving is the major source of livelihood in Brgy. Magpag-ong, Batan and some areas in New Washington, Aklan. There are approximately 250 loom weavers engaged in this activity. Market is in Manila through traders.

Sinamay – Banga is the center of production, Madalag, Libacao, Lezo and Makato are also producing in limited capacity. Sinamay is used for bag linings and placemats. Closely woven sinamay (pinukpok na abaca) is being used by fashion designers/couturiers as barong material. There are 2,000 sinamay weavers province wide as of 1992.

Gifts and House ware remains to be a top priority because of its potential in the export market. Raw materials such as piña, abaca, rattan splits, buri palms and nito are abundant in the locality. These materials are he basic inputs of the gifts and house wares manufacturing firms. The sector has a total of 42 producers as of June 1993 of which 6 are exporters, 3 direct and 3 indirect. Some products produced by GTH producers are buri mats, abaca slippers, nito and buri bags and baskets. Christmas decorations and handmade paper and paper products.

Metalcraft - considered as support to the transportation and construction business is another priority industry. The municipalities of Kalibo and Numancia are the seats of the metalworking industry in the province. The fabrication/manufacture as well as repair of tricycle/jeepney bodies, farm equipment and machinery form part of the metalworking activities in the province.

Cutflowers - An emerging industry, Cutflowers, has vast potentials in the cultivation of native ornamental plants unique to the Province. There exists a strong association composed of orchid and ornamental plant enthusiasts from all over the province.

Clay Based Products - Clay deposits (red clay) are abundant in the municipalities of Lezo, Batan, Ibajay and Buruanga. Per record, there are approximately 96 producers of clay-based products spread out in said municipalities. Product lines include pots, jars, vases and bricks. The presence of a pottery kiln in Lezo is most helpful to the Pottery Association of Lezo, Inc.

Furniture and Wood Crafts -The strength of the furniture sector lies in the abundance of main raw materials like bamboo, rattan and wood and also vines and fibers as secondary materials. Products manufactured include dining sets, sala sets, dividers, outdoor furnishings, beds and others.

Food Processing - At present, 35 processors are engaged in the Food Processing as identified by DTI-Aklan. Their activities include meat processing, crude coco oil processing, gelatin "gulaman" preparation, instant ginger tea, nata de coco, pop rice, barquillos and peanut butter production.



(from Panay News Online)

NFA –Aklan Offers New Trading Schemes
for Farmers



BANGA, AKLAN- While waiting for a buyer to purchase his rice stock at a better price, a farmer can now “deposit” his harvest at NFA- Aklan’s warehouse.

If a buyer comes and if he is from elsewhere in the country, he can easily “ withdraw” the rice he is buying at the NFA warehouse from that place and need not to go to Aklan to get his purchase. This way, he saves money, time and effort while getting the same quality of rice as he would from Aklan. All that moves are papers in this scheme.

That is the advantage of “e-trading as described by Dempe Tefilo of the National Food Authority, who introduced this new trading style to farmers-leaders during the Provincial Farmers Action Council meeting held recently at the NFA Training Center in Banga, Aklan.

This is just one among the new offerings of NFA- Aklan to help the farmers sell their produce. The agency’s new Provincial Manager, Pablito Gemarino emphasized to the council members that “lots of farmers can benefit from this latest scheme of the NFA.”

He urged the farmers to sell to the NFA even a little share from their harvest. He also told the council he understands the plight of the farmers and their need to look for higher price of their produce. Gemarino assured the farmers that the NFA will have enough money for this year.

Another new program being set up now by the NFA as discussed in the meeting by Information Officer II Judith T. Tindog is the NFA Palay Marketing Assistance for Legislation and Local Government Units (PALLGU).

In this scheme, NFA ties up with local government units and legislators in marketing the produce of their constituents while having the privilege of storing their rice at the NFA warehouse. Ms. Tindog said storage is free for four months but after that, NFA will be charging a fee. Another program the NFA is currently taking care of is Rice Fortification as discussed by Ramon Villariza. In this process, rice fortification undergoes two stages. The first stage is the preparation of iron rice premix, while the second stage is the homogeneous blending of rice and iron rice premix according to the stipulated mixing ration of either 1:100 or 1:200 to produce Iron fortified Rice (IFR).

NFA’s role in the rice fortification program is mandated through Republic Act 8976, which calls for the mandatory fortification of rice, flour, refined sugar and cooking oil with much- needed vitamins and minerals.



(from Panay News Online)

Aklan town execs laud ordinance on Aklan Rivers Development



KALIBO- Aklan Municipal officials of the province lauded the Aklan Sangguniang Panlalawigan for the passage of a provincial ordinance, which established the Aklan Rivers Development Council primarily tasked with the rehabilitation, preservation and the development of rivers system in this province.

Provincial Ordinance 05-026 was passed and approved by the provincial legislative body on August 24, 2005 during its 31st Regular Session this year. The local ordinance was an adoption of the proposed bill of former Aklan Congressman Allen S. Quimpo which was already passed in the House of Representative during the 11 the Congress but was stalled in the Senate during the third and final reading when said Congress adjourned consigning to the archives the said important piece of legislation.

Finding the enactment to be very significant and can be adopted as a local ordinance, both Aklan Governor Carlito S. Marquez and Vice Governor Ronquillo C. Tolentino deemed it wise to transmit the said proposed legislation to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Aklan who in turn promptly approved it into a provincial ordinance.

The ordinance covers the rivers that run from the upland areas of Libacao and Madalag to Balete, Altavas, Malinao, Tangulan, Ibajay, Nabas, Buruanga, Malay and Kalibo up to the Sibuyan Sea where all tributaries drain to the north.

The council will be chaired by the Provincial Governor himself and the Vice Governor as the vice chairman. The members are composed of the chair of the SP Committee on Cooperatives Agriculture and Environmental Protection , the Mayors of the 17 towns, heads of the Aklan DENR and CENR, PNP, the District Engineer, NIA and three representatives from non- government organizations whose main program focus is on environment and ecology.

The day to day operations of the Council will be undertaken by the Aklan Rivers Conservation Secretariat. Marquez and Tolentino are confident that the Council can effectively implement its programs.



(from Panay News Online)

Aklan targets $100,000 from exports
By Maricar M. Calubiran


The provincial government of Aklan and the small and medium enterprise (SMEs) in the province are targeting a 100,000 US dollars sales in the world market and P25 million from the domestic market from its booming piña, abaca and raffia fibers industry.

Department of Trade Industry (DTI) provincial director Ermelinda Pollentes said Aklan products are competitive in both domestic and international market.

“The world is our market because our products are environment friendly,” said Pollentes.

Pollentes said Aklan products are exported in Europe, US, Japan, Canada, Italy and France. The exports include embroidered barongs, shawls, placemats and other novelty items. They are intricately hand-woven.

Aside from its powdery white sand beach Boracay Island and Ati-atihan festival, Aklan is now gaining recognition for its export quality piña, abaca and raffia fibers products.

Aklan also registered its newest product, the “piña seda” with the Intellectual Property Office (IPO). Palawan is also eyeing to get the intellectual property rights for the piña seda, said Pollentes.
Pollentes said they would launch the piña seda April next year in time for the 50th anniversary of Aklan. The launching would be held in the capitol grounds. The local government of Aklan is supportive of the industry.

Pollentes was in Iloilo City Monday for the opening of the 3rd Aklan product showcase in SM City. The different regional directors who are from Aklan also came full force to support the trade fair.
The trade fair was meant to disseminate information on Aklan as investment destination, promote the priority products as well as investment priority sectors and projects in the province and provide opportunity for SMEs to display their products at SM City. This is to generate cash and booked sales.



(from The News Today Info Online)

deleted

all i can see are blue question marks in little boxes, can you send your pics by jpegs or pdf´s please ? thank you, salamat

Boracay taken March 2005...
http://image53.webshots.com/153/2/50/1/464125001ZnGcud_ph.jpg http://image54.webshots.com/54/4/97/79/464149779jmZRcR_ph.jpg http://image62.webshots.com/62/4/98/56/464149856FBSjAj_ph.jpg http://image62.webshots.com/162/4/94/36/464149436ilFLwM_ph.jpg

@Richard:I am sorry for my inability to post pictures properly. I just started posting pix and I dont know why it is not showing in your screen. Can somebody help a clueless brother out there?

That's actually an island called "Crystal Cove", if I remember correctly. Crocodile Island is somewhere in proximity, it is known for its snorkelling sites. Thanks for sharing your pictures ^^ they're great!


that's right Chy .. it's Crystal Cove .. funny small portion of the island ... looks like a Jurassic Park. Last year, it was filled up with a lots of tourists.

@Richard:I am sorry for my inability to post pictures properly. I just started posting pix and I dont know why it is not showing in your screen. Can somebody help a clueless brother out there?

Jeff, look for the thread somewhere in the top entitled "How to post pics" ... hehehe ... I'm a newbie in posting pics in the forum as well ... still learning though. Hopefully, you can re-post your lovely pics here. Ta.

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW!!
wonderful place!
i must visit this country and of course this island:)

Go for it. Try to visit Subic Bay up North too. And also Baguio.

Please no airport in Boracay. I wouldn't want to have bridges that connect to Panay eother. It already is commercialized and it should stay that way.

why?

I want Boracay to be more famous :D :tongue3:

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW!!
wonderful place!
i must visit this country and of course this island:)


I urge you to go!!! YOU SHOULD!!! FOR THE SAKE OF HUMANITY!!

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW!!
wonderful place!
i must visit this country and of course this island:)

highly recommended Zohar ... you'll surely love the place !

I know about Boracay but I'd like to know where tennis courts are located please.

Tennis courts ! haha, you've an interesting idea of what to do in beach paradise :rofl: I think that old filestate project , whose name escapes me has some.

Zohar. lots of nice little island here, take your pick, aside from famous boracay, you can go to camiguin or siargao or even nearby mindoro! Of course it's really easy to go to bora and guaranteed to have a good time! even if you don't play tennis! :dance: :cheers: :eat: :booze: :rock: :dj: :hug:

P124 million alloted for Aklan ARCs


Kalibo, Aklan—Since year 2002, the Department of Agrarian Reform- Asian Development Bank-Agrarian Reform Communities Project (DAR-ADB-ARCP) is the single biggest donor of foreign assistance that generated support to the five agrarian reform communities in Aklan in the amount of P124 M.

According to Atty. Daniel Y. Martelino, the Provincial Agrarian Reform Officer of Aklan, the accumulated sum covers physical infrastructure such as farm-to market roads and irrigation in the amount of P112.5 million, the latest to be approved is the P3.2 M farm to market road at Agbalogo, Makato, Aklan. The agricultural development support and land tenure improvement plus the project management costs P11.5 million. The above stated support covers the assisted ARCs such as Altavas ARC, Agbalogo Expansion ARC, in Makato, Fatima ARC in Malinao and Timbaban ARC in Madalag, Aklan.

Currently, an ADB Review Mission team is making its rounds at selected project sites to evaluate project implementation as well as to study impacts on the lives of the agrarian reform beneficiaries who are the actual recipients of the projects. The Review Mission Team is headed by Mr. Tetsuro Miyazato and Ms. Carol Quintos.

In Altavas, Hon. Denny D. Refol and his staff cordially welcomed the team as Hon. Ramon S. Legaspi, Jr. of Makato, Aklan and the beneficiaries warmly presented the improvement attained by the communities. Meanwhile, Hon. Dominador Ilio, Jr. the chief executive of Malinao also received the team in his municipality as community consultation and dialogue between the mission and the beneficiaries transpired.


(from The News Today Info online)

Ah the golf course is in fairways and bluewater

I've seen the golf course of Fairways and Bluewater, nice! I even managed to get in on one of the villas. I can't believe how I easily walked from the deserted beach to the villa and no security around. Hahaha I could have slept and showered inside the villa and no one would have found out about it! Hahaha!

I agree. Fairways and Bluewater is really great place to be when in Boracay. Tight security? hmmm ... I guess they are or should I say, as what they've told us then.

League of local planners set induction rites

BORACAY ISLAND – The League of Local Planners and Development Coordinators of the Philippines, Incorporated – Aklan Chapter will hold its First Provincial Convention and Induction of Officers on October 27 at Casa Pilar, Boracay Island.

Congressman Florencio “Joeben” Miraflores has been invited to be the inducting officer. Other guests include Aklan Governor Carlito S. Marquez and Vice Governor Ronquillo C. Tolentino.

This year’s set of officers is led by Edgardo M. Gerardo, Municipal Planning and Development Coordinator (MPDC) of the Municipality of Kalibo.

Other officers are Engr. Rogelio C. dela Cruz (Altavas), Vice President – East; Francis S. Salavante, Sr. (Nabas), Vice President-West; Engr. Asil S. Claud (Lezo), Secretary; Elma S. Belejerdo (Malay), Treasurer; Dante N. Zubiaga (Libacao), Assistant Secretary-Treasurer; Engr. Edna L. Cometa (Madalag), Auditor; Rosendo M. Briones (Numancia), Press Relations Officer; Felizardo F. Tigson(Tangalan), Business Manager and Engr. Erma I. Flores (Malinao), Muse.

The Board of Directors is composed of Engr. Chandan A. Abella (Batan), Engr. Benjamin T. Tabanar (Makato), Engr. Ray R. Dalida (Banga), Roger D. Feliciano (Balete), Jun V. Macogue (Ibajay), Victor G. Sualog (Buruanga), and Nestor P. Mejia (New Washington).

Engr. Roger M. Esto, Provincial Planning and Development Coordinator, is the League Adviser.

(from Panay News online)

Shangri-la Resort and Spa Boracay

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/64e0001l.jpg

I hate to sound like a basher, but with Shangri-la, I don't think Boracay can handle it. Where are they building it? Where's the waste gonna go?

Btw, I might visit bora Jan 2006. I've been all over that island and I know where they dump the garbage. They're building a little smokey mountain in the back. Also, if you cut through by the old Talipapa all the way to the other side of the island, you'll pass by this large (I'm not even sure what it was) reservoir filled with stagnated water. It was filthy. I'll take pics next time.

there's a lot of highclass hotel in the vicinity already. i can sum up but it can be wrong. they probably will have a special truck that will suck off the waste then transfer it to the big island, panay or romblon, whichever offer.

there's a lot of highclass hotel in the vicinity already. i can sum up but it can be wrong. they probably will have a special truck that will suck off the waste then transfer it to the big island, panay or romblon, whichever offer.

that does not solve a garbage problem, just passing it on to another island. basura everywhere ! no way ! keep it clean..... we have to learn that we are responcable for what we produce and waste.

as far as i read they are planning to build a garbage waste management system on the island, which would hopefully convert waste into electricity by burning and excellerating into power and by tapping the gas for power produced by waste, as in other places/cities already implemented the world over....

/\ one of the best (and few) solutions to date

Never mind the garbage for a second.
How are they treating waste water that go to the ocean?

@Richard:I am sorry for my inability to post pictures properly. I just started posting pix and I dont know why it is not showing in your screen. Can somebody help a clueless brother out there?

don´t worry jefferyi,
i am working on macintoch´s not PC´s. but i can see a lot of other posted pics. so there seem to be 2 different ways of posting them on both systems. all i know is that jpeg´s and pdf´s work on both systems if you have the system-drivers installed for them to warm and show up......

delete dobleng post

Richard:I am sorry for my inability to post pictures properly. I just started posting pix and I dont know why it is not showing in your screen. Can somebody help a clueless brother out there?



u have to load it in photobucket.com, then copy the IMG site at the bottom of each pics, then u can post it. forgot the thread to help you, but i cant find it to elaborate more.

^Thanks for all the response. Pero its just 4 pix anyways and sorry talaga muna kasi tinatamad ako bukas na lang :)

Btw, I might visit bora Jan 2006. I've been all over that island and I know where they dump the garbage. They're building a little smokey mountain in the back. Also, if you cut through by the old Talipapa all the way to the other side of the island, you'll pass by this large (I'm not even sure what it was) reservoir filled with stagnated water. It was filthy. I'll take pics next time.

Talk about the B-sides of the story ey! :bash:

I just hope once misibis in Albay is in full swing, it wont end up like Boracay. Anyway the Misibis Residential Resort is already being developed with state of the art sewage & waste management system.

Ok guys, I just visited Boracay last week (my 4th time) and I'm deeply disappointed at the state of the beaches, especially White Beach. Even the famous Station 1 with its finer grain of sand is just full of garbage. Instead of relaxing on the sand, I basically ended up cleaning up the beach myself and managed to bring in around 10-15lbs of garbage (I used a rice sack I found half buried on the sand to use as a garbage bag). I personally carried off the garbage I collected and dumped it on one of the trash cans in front of Cocomangas.

I'm not exaggerating folks! It was that bad. I pray that it was a lull in cleanup maintenance but I believe it is not. There were just too much garbage either floating on the water, under the water and barried halfway in the sand.

The majority of the garbage I picked up are plastics and other non-biodegradables. They were:

- plastic straws (they're everywhere)
- plastic wrappers (of all kinds from peanut bags, candies, cosmetics, potato chips, etc.)
- plastic parts (all kinds of shapes from syringes to parts of broken toys, etc)
- fish netting
- foil (shampoo packs, squeeze juice containers, etc.)
- rubber (all kinds even a half ripped off slipper).

I dove on the water and nearly hit my face with a transparent grocery plastic bag. I couldn't see it obviously until up close. I even counted from 1 to 10 to see how fast I could find another junk floating on the water before reaching #10 and I'd find one floating or submerged each time.

Am I slamming Boracay? No! I love this place. But I'm seeing what people can do and the toll it's taking on this place. People need to seriously look at how the cleanliness of the beach needs to be a top priority.

Also, I thought they have already banned and moved the arriving boats with tourist to the southside of the island where there is a dock. All these boats pollute the water. I could see a film of oil on the water while boarding the boat going back to Caticlan.

Anyway, sorry to put a damper on this thread but maybe I'm just naive to keep believing I'm going to a pristine place which is no longer for quite a few years now. I'll be in PI till Jan. 06 so I'm going to give Boracay another chance but it's certainly not the same even just 2 yrs ago.

Also if I may add, locals and also tourist should stop spitting on the main walkway on White Beach when many people walk around barefoot from their hotels to the water. *sigh* :(

Sad to hear that about Bora.
I'm not going there and contribute more trash then.

definately that is not the solution joey. we have to push for more trash managing and develop better garbage solutions. everyone can stop littering. we need more conciousness about exposing our trash. it should be part of every school´s programme, from prep school to high school. teach the population to benefit from a clean environment, and the government to build trash managing disposals.

WRITE TO THE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND TELL THEM TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. OTHERWISE THEY WILL LOSE A LOT OF MONEY, when people/tourists will start staying away.

A Beach Lover's Paradise: Boracay
By Alex Nosal, Travel Editor/Writer - The Seoul Times
http://theseoultimes.com/ST/db2/images_journalist/Alex%20Nosal.jpg

When people ask me "Where can I go that has a great beach, sun, a good night life, lots of activities, and is safe, but not too far from Korea?" My one word answer is immediately... Boracay!


http://theseoultimes.com/ST/db2/images/332-20040304030948.jpg Boracay is a tropical island that is only a one-hour flight from Manila. The island has more than 30 beaches, foremost of which is a four-kilometer stretch of pure white sand called White Beach. White Beach is widely considered by international travel publications to be among the world's best beaches.

But this is only part of the story. Boracay has a special appeal for a foreigner's idea of relaxation. No cars, no fast food chains, no high rises and no crime.

Despite it's rapid expansion of the last decade, Boracay is still primarily made up of nipa huts. "Nipa" refers to the style of thatched roof endemic to The Philippines. These cozy cottages are scattered about the island’s beaches amid a decorative lineup of simple paraws, the Filipino outrigger, anchored along its shore. Wind sailing, para-sailing, scuba diving and daily boat rides to dozens of picturesque nooks, provide the adventurous with many options to fill their days.

For the avid golfer, Boracay also has a very beautiful 18-hole Par 72 World-Class Golf Course which inspires another kind of challenge, assuring players of a stimulating golf experience as well as a tough test to one's skills. Master golfer and designer Graham V. Marsh himself designed the course.

http://theseoultimes.com/ST/db2/images/332-20040304031009.jpg But there's more. An impressive array of international cuisine at rock bottom prices lures European, Australian, Japanese, Korean, and Chinese vacationers here annually. Take for example the "Mongolian Buffet" in which the customer chooses from a collection of noodles, meat, seafood, fresh fruits and vegetables, and dozens of sauces, places their choice in a bowl and hands it to the chef who stir fries your original mish mash creation and serves it up a few minutes later. Cost? 350 pesos or about 6,000 won. No sales tax either in Boracay, but a small tip is considered to be good manners.

Accommodations range in price from 20,000 won to 200,000 won per day depending on your needs. I stayed at the "Paradise Garden," which is located on 2.5 acres on landscaped tropical jungle. Each cottage has bug free, air-conditioned rooms with cable TV, mini bar, King-size beds and a nice decorum. The resort boasts two swimming pools, an excellent restaurant and is situated next to Boracay's inexpensive and delightful market place. However, at 120 dollar per night (about 140,000 won), it was hardly attractive to the budget minded traveler.

On the other end of the spectrum though, I found lovely motels for only 900 pesos a night (about W 20,000) complete with air-conditioning, a quaint poolside bar; nice, modern rooms and a convenient shuttle bus service to the beach (about 1 km walk) included in the price. The only problem with the budget places are they usually don't have phones, websites or any serious advertising to speak of. So if you need that sense of security of booking well in advance, then the price will climb considerably for that luxury.

Getting there is the fun part. A land, sea, and air adventure is required to finally reach your cozy hideaway. Regular flights from Korea to Manila are operated by Korean Air, Asiana, Cebu Pacific Air (CEB), and Philippine Airlines. The advantages of Korean Air or Asiana are that you have morning departures which allow you enough time to transfer to the domestic carrier and arrive in Boracay on the same day.

Otherwise, an evening departure will require you to spend a night in Manila. Philippine carriers though are usually cheaper in cost and on Philippine Airlines I have consistently upgraded to business class (round-trip) for the last seven years for a measly extra 200,000 won max! You’re on vacation! Why not travel in style?

Once the traveler has boarded their domestic flight, they must make their way to the port of Caticlan on the main island of Aklan. From Caticlan you must pay a small fee of 1,000 won for your "port terminal tax" and another 500 won for your 20-minute boat ride to Boracay. Your domestic flight will either entail a trip to Kalibo (Philippine Airlines), a city two hours from Caticlan in which you must hire a bus or car to drive you to Caticlan along a scenic mountain road, or else you can fly directly on a smaller plane (Asian Spirit or Seair) to Caticlan airport directly, located about 500 meters from the sea port. Generally the flights are around 60,000 won each way.

Whatever route you choose, the whole trip is an adventure. The beach has never disappointed anyone and for someone who doesn't want to fly too far to find a good beach, Boracay is the best you can do. The friendly island will always welcome you with open arms and a smile as warm as the Boracay sun.

that article is old, not up to date. if i hear from virtute that he was there shortly, the garbage problem is present. this article is past.......
face reality, fight for a clean environment, otherwise you will not like to go there yourself kiretoce. write the government of boracay/caticlan or whoever is responsable and complain to them, make them react !

Virtute - How sad...Could you maybe write to Boracay authorities and the DOT and say the exact thing you just posted?

yeah, we all should write them ! only if more of us act, they might change to the better. otherwise they will only change when it is too late ! can anyone find the proper email addresses ? we should act : SAVE OUR BEACHES !

Wise idea, maybe to the tourism secretary or office would do.

If only local govt units have initiatives... di na kelangan makarating sa national level.

The wet season is underway right now in Boracay so the normally calm White Beach will be full of debris/thrash. Wind blows toward this side of the island so dont expect any pristine clean beach. According to locals they do a weekly Saturday clean up on the whole stretch of White beach. As a visitor you anyone can help just by disposing of thrash in the proper bins. High season begins in November.

Regarding the thrash in the island, authorities has settled the issue and the garbage wont be shipped to the main island but rather processed on the sight. IMO no need to ferry those thrash, just imagine if those thrash get accidentally dumped on the water, DISASTER!

so can you find the email addresses sleepwalker uno? we could all write, one after another.

do you think setting up a website where boracay bums can sign an online petition to clean up boracay and post photos of some of the problems on the island is a good idea or we're just inviting trouble?

I was thinking that it should be a pro-establishment site...

Hi Virtute, I experienced that too but i forgot who on this forum told me it was just me and i was just there at a bad time or i was just imagining stuff.

Anyways, on my way to waling waling i coincidentally rode a boat to Boracay island from Katiclan with the Boracay Association. They are the group of people that are in charge of preserving Boracay. I suggested stuff about the trash and how they shouldn't destroy their own livelyhood. i don't know if my preaching stuck, but obviously it hasn't.

Hi Virtute, I experienced that too but i forgot who on this forum told me it was just me and i was just there at a bad time or i was just imagining stuff.

Anyways, on my way to waling waling i coincidentally rode a boat to Boracay island from Katiclan with the Boracay Association. They are the group of people that are in charge of preserving Boracay. I suggested stuff about the trash and how they shouldn't destroy their own livelyhood. i don't know if my preaching stuck, but obviously it hasn't.


so how do we contact those people again ? sounds like a good idea !

I don't know Richard, but the receptionist at Waling Waling is a good friend of mine now. I'll ask if he can provide us with some information.

do you think setting up a website where boracay bums can sign an online petition to clean up boracay and post photos of some of the problems on the island is a good idea or we're just inviting trouble?

I was thinking that it should be a pro-establishment site...

I guess a NO, we don't want any trouble on this one. LOL

http://news.inq7.net/nation/index.php?index=1&story_id=37331

"Lara Salaver, president of Boracay Foundation Inc."

"But it seems they always put the blame on us and the local government. What has the national government done?" she said in a phone interview."

"Boracay Environmental Infrastructure Project that was started in 1997, had not been implemented despite the rise in the project cost from P400 million to around P600 million."


--------------

Goodluck in writing them.

Tourists generate billions of receipts

BORACAY – The arrival of 383,089 foreign and local tourists in this paradise island from January to September of this year has brought to the province of Aklan an estimated P2,916,546,582 in tourism receipts.

This estimate was based on the data submitted by the Provincial Tourism Office (PTO) here for exhibit at the lobby of the Provincial Capitol. The exhibit was part of Aklan’s celebration of the National Statistics Month. Yesterday was its last day.

As revealed by the PTO’s inventory of tourist arrivals from 2002 to 2005, there is a constant rise in the number of tourists visiting the island.

In 2002, some 300,792 tourists went to Boracay. Of this number, 77,892 were foreigners while 22,900 were local ones. Their visit generated P2,290,000,182 in tourism receipts.

For the 2003 arrivals, 339,208 were recorded, with 84,514 of these foreign and 254,694 local. These arrivals brought in some P2,582,470,217 in tourism receipts.

The year that followed, 2004, was a good one for Aklan’s tourism industry too, with P3,264,182,199 tourism receipts brought in by 121,019 foreign visitors, 291,279 local and 16,453 overseas Filipinos.

The year 2005 is also expected to register a big increase in tourism arrivals and tourism receipts, as the total number of tourist arrivals for just nine months of this year is only short of some 45,662 to equal that of last year’s. And there are still three months to complete the current year’s inventory.

Roselle Ruiz, Provincial Tourism Operations Officer, said the Department of Tourism (DOT) formula for arriving at tourism receipts is by multiplying the number of tourists against the average length of stay and the average daily expenditure. (Venus G. Villanueva/PIA)

Sad to hear that about Bora.
I'm not going there and contribute more trash then.

Joey, :)

That wasn't my point to discourage people from going to Boracay, but just to be aware and be conscious about leaving it clean for others to enjoy.
:)

Virtute - How sad...Could you maybe write to Boracay authorities and the DOT and say the exact thing you just posted?

I'm going to try, I'm very busy travelling PI now, so my internet time is very limited. I'll be in Boracay again. I have until Jan 23rd here in PI until I go back to the States.

Hi Virtute, I experienced that too but i forgot who on this forum told me it was just me and i was just there at a bad time or i was just imagining stuff.

Anyways, on my way to waling waling i coincidentally rode a boat to Boracay island from Katiclan with the Boracay Association. They are the group of people that are in charge of preserving Boracay. I suggested stuff about the trash and how they shouldn't destroy their own livelyhood. i don't know if my preaching stuck, but obviously it hasn't.

It's hard to change things, especially in the Philippines. As a whole, not just counting the waste problem in Boracay but Philippines itself, either the culture has to change or people need to be re-educated. In order to apply a new way of doing things, they require descipline and someone to show a good example that there are better ways of doing things. Of course, it's worth mentioning the poverty and corruption that's festering the country but there are times where you can't blame all the country's ills in the gov't alone. It goes down to all levels of society, to the woman who deliberately cuts you infront of the ATM machine, to the trike driver going the wrong way of a one way street, to security personnel doing a mickey mouse job in checking cars going through checkpoints in malls if they have a bomb or not (hey at least they open the door for you LOL), I can go on and on.... Anyway I still love my country but it saddens me to see everyday people struggling to make both ends meet. Of course, many factors why things are the way they are. You guys already know that.

so, again (no hard feelings pals, it´s the plain truth), everything gets stuck in yackidiyak and talkiditalk. and noone will ever start to change anything, won´t you filipino inhabitants ? in that case you do not deserve any better than pastic bags on your feet at the beach-holidays in boracay and elsewhere in this beautiful country. and before your kids will be grandparents, there will be no more whales, dolphins, eagles, jungle-forests, no, nothing left but fairy tales of a once so marvelous country and trillions of plastic bags swimming around.
the only way to preserve is to do it yourself, each and everyone of you must act, and not react ! don´t push anything to the government, or even worse onto the next generation. you have to teach yourself, your neighbors, your kids. YOU are responsable for your environment, noone else.......THAT´S WHAT MAKES A NATION, what makes the difference !

and look what i just found on the bacolod thread. no one less than senator gordon, the man who made subic and the BOI to what it is today, cause he is a man of virtual consern :

"I will help this city and this province to move on in terms of tourism. But let us help one another. I want to help. But help yourself first. What is more important in leadership is action and not title. You want to change? Work hard and reinvent yourself," he said.

It's hard to change things, especially in the Philippines. As a whole, not just counting the waste problem in Boracay but Philippines itself, either the culture has to change or people need to be re-educated. In order to apply a new way of doing things, they require descipline and someone to show a good example that there are better ways of doing things. Of course, it's worth mentioning the poverty and corruption that's festering the country but there are times where you can't blame all the country's ills in the gov't alone. It goes down to all levels of society, to the woman who deliberately cuts you infront of the ATM machine, to the trike driver going the wrong way of a one way street, to security personnel doing a mickey mouse job in checking cars going through checkpoints in malls if they have a bomb or not (hey at least they open the door for you LOL), I can go on and on.... Anyway I still love my country but it saddens me to see everyday people struggling to make both ends meet. Of course, many factors why things are the way they are. You guys already know that.

I like what you posted. Thank you.

I'm going to try, I'm very busy travelling PI now, so my internet time is very limited. I'll be in Boracay again. I have until Jan 23rd here in PI until I go back to the States.

Virtute could you take a few snaps of the pollution in Boracay if you have time? I"ll post it on my website. Thanks.

any updates on the Shangrila resort that will be developed in boracay.. its already a long time ago since i heard that on the news..

I've lost this thread ... nasa page 2 na pala.

Virtute, umuwi ka pala nang Pilipinas? How sad experience you had in Boracay. But thanks for letting them know. They ought to be told, once in a while. Enjoy roaming around the Philippine Islands.

http://img471.imageshack.us/img471/1310/dsc021669gp.jpg

taken by my sista last summer....

2nd Artist and Writers Festival in Boracay runs till Sunday


THE second of the country's first ever roving festival will be held in the island resort of Boracay, Aklan on November 25 to 27 and will be participated in by over 30 artists, writers, and cultural groups from different regions as well as foreign artist and guests.

Dubbed as the Sunrise Festival, this year's activity carries the theme "Etnik Konek: Seeking our Roots to Build our Future."

The first fetival was held November 12 to 14 last year in Cebu with the theme "Paghugpong" or "Solidarity" while host of next year's festival will Davao City.

Last year's festival had drawn over a hundred participants from all over the country and had attracted guests from South Korea, USA, Germany and Switzerland.

Organized by the Maharlika Artists and Writers Federation (Mawf), the festival seeks to project the different regional cultural artistic expressions while promoting unity among the cultural groups.

Highlights of this year's festival will be an opening parade along Boracay's main paths, exhibit of sculpture and scroll paintings, installation artworks, seminar workshops on poetry and feature writing, lectures on visual and indigenous performing arts, tribal and spiritual music, art interaction and forum, body painting, and welcoming of the sunrise in the final morning of the festival.

A capping activity will be a social service program and interaction with the Aeta community in Boracay.

Freddie Doce, president of Mawf visual arts, said this year's festival is supported by the Western Visayas Department of Tourism regional office headed by Regional Director Edwin Trompeta and will be held in coordination with the local government units of Kalibo and Aklan and the local Department of Education (DepEd) division.

Doce said the idea for the roving festival was thought of by some 30 artists and writers from different regions who have met in April 2003 in San Joaquin, Iloilo where they have held the first "meeting of the sunrise" activity.

"The Sunrise Festival is roving and will be hosted by different cultural group every year underlines the idea that all cultural groups are equal and not a single cultural group or region should dominate the others," Doce said.

Organizations that have signified their participation in the festival are Neo tribe and Maharlika of Cebu; All Dumaguete Artists of Dumaguete; Iloilo Visual Artists Association, Pugad, Maragtason, Taga-Aton, Mind Art, Circulo, Kurit Ilonggo, Baysu Langpu Society, hubon Madjaas, and Ambon of Iloilo; Bombom and Grupong Dado of Boracay; other Aklan artists and Bugtaw Akean; Rawa of Manila; Ambahan Literary Circle of Mindoro; Asug and Rasa Moda Ethno Tribal Band of Leyte.

With individual artists who are also participating are lecturers Shiela castillo of Mindoro (literary artist), Hazel Villa of Iloilo (journalist), and Dulce Cuna of Leyte (performing artist).

Participating regional culutral groups are Kaliwat of Western Visayas, Panaghugpong of Mindanao, Central Luzon Alliance Movement, Kasugbu of Eastern Visayas, kasaru of the Bicol Region, Makabayang Tagalog of the National Capitol Region, TPMI of the Ilocos Region, TCKI of the Cordillera Region, and Waray Tupong of the Waray Region.

(from Sunstar Iloilo news online)

Any news about shangri-la?

^^ yeah i was also asking for updates of shang mga 1 month ago.. wala pa rin..

still awaiting, I guess.

sorry guys, but you should know better. things in this country take time. we are not in china. ( i wish i were wrong!! )

2nd National Sunrise Fest a success

BORACAY Island in Malay, Aklan is not only a meeting place for fun-loving Filipinos and foreign tourists, but has also become a melting pot of diverse cultures.

On November 25 to 27, as the beaches and resorts filled with adventurers, holiday crowds and week-ends tourists, over a hundred artists and writers from different parts of the country gathered at the island resort to celebrate the second Maharlika Artists and Writers Federation Sunrise Festival, possibly the country’s first ever national roving festival.

Also called the Sunrise Festival, it featured spiritual and tribal singing, tribal ritual dancing, an art exhibit, and lectures on culture and art.

Participating Mindoro writers shared information on Mangyan literature and script, one of the surviving indigenous scripts in the country.

Participants in the festival, which was first held in Cebu last year, were painters and other visual artists, musicians, performing artists, students and professional writers, and members of the academe who came from Mindoro, Dumaguete, Leyte, Samar, Cebu, Mindanao, Bacolod, Metro Manila, Baguio, Aklan and Iloilo.

Corinne Mulles, a Swiss performing artist who had attended the Cebu celebration, returned to join the fun and impressed the other participants and the Boracay crowd with her fire dance.

Among the participants who gave color to the affair were Nonoy Pillora of Asin ng Lupa, Professor Dulce Cuna of UP Tacloban, Waway Saway and Balugtu of Bukidnon, Mindanao, Sheila Castillo of Mindoro, Isagani Ybarra of Pampanga, composer/singer of Bilog na Naman ang Buwan and Biyahing Langit, Jim Tan Nuevo and Jonathan Cena of Katribu Mindanaw; filmmakers Reggie Bens and Pusong Bughaw Romana of Manila, Momo Dalisay and Guijo Dueñas of Iloilo City, Arjun Marapon of Renaissance of Artists and Writers Association (RAWA), Dorog and company of Pintor Kulapol from Bacolod and nationally acclaimed sculptor Florence Cinco of Cabalyog, Samar.

Students of the University of the Philippines, Miag-ao Iloilo with Chairperson Gretchen G. Velarde of the Supreme Student Council joined the festival and won the first prize for body painting contest.

Momo Dalisay of host Kaliwat cultural group welcomed the delegates. He said the festival seeks to underscore the equality and unity of all cultural groups.

The other host of the festival was Bugtaw Akean of Aklan with Dado Lacorte of Boracay, Jhu Haresh Tanodra and Nilo Murallo of Kalibo.

The theme of the festival was “Etnik Konek: Seeking our Roots to Build our Future.”

Big supporters of the festival were the Department of Tourism - Western Visayas, the provincial sgovernment of Aklan, the municipal governments of Kalibo and Malay, and the Department of Education


(from Panay News online)

It seems that no one in this thread wants to do anything or at least help me build this site that will show the world the ugly side of the island. ...all talk including those who accuse the government of giving everyone a run-around. so I'll start this website myself. i guess, in the end, no one wants to spend a dime or risk making enemies. and so the yack continues. happy yacking everyone.

^Boracay aint ugly man its just a ploy to make it not so popular with the tourists hehehe. Here's a few pics I posted before but failed to show up...
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c261/sandwalker206/DSC00581big.jpg
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c261/sandwalker206/DSC00582big.jpg
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c261/sandwalker206/DSC00578big.jpg
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c261/sandwalker206/DSC00579big.jpg
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c261/sandwalker206/464149436ilFLwM_ph.jpg
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c261/sandwalker206/DSC00589.jpg

1 question: is Boracay being targeted by "sex-tourists" like Thailand, or is this not (yet) the case...?

I dont think so but maybe I just didnt see it happen. When I went there earlier this year there were alot of white couples (non Americans usually) probaby on their honeymoon. In fact I saw a few foreign chicks topless :eek: walking on the beach.

I dont think so but maybe I just didnt see it happen. When I went there earlier this year there were alot of white couples (non Americans usually) probaby on their honeymoon. In fact I saw a few foreign chicks topless :eek: walking on the beach.

Cool hope it stays that way!

imo...boracay was cleaner and better the first time i visited the island in 1992, all the pollution and garbage is affecting the once pristine island....sorry to say this

^Actually there was some major algae problem going on when I visited (mostly in White Beach). You can kinda see it in my 1st pic.

^Boracay aint ugly man its just a ploy to make it not so popular with the tourists hehehe. Here's a few pics I posted before but failed to show up...
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c261/sandwalker206/DSC00581big.jpg
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c261/sandwalker206/DSC00582big.jpg
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c261/sandwalker206/DSC00578big.jpg
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c261/sandwalker206/DSC00579big.jpg
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c261/sandwalker206/464149436ilFLwM_ph.jpg
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c261/sandwalker206/DSC00589.jpg

I agree with you Jeffreyi ... Boracay remains "still and always" nice and friendly place for tourists and all. Thanks a lot for the pics.

I dont think so but maybe I just didnt see it happen. When I went there earlier this year there were alot of white couples (non Americans usually) probaby on their honeymoon. In fact I saw a few foreign chicks topless :eek: walking on the beach.


it's mostly Koreans and Japanese in Boracay nowadays .. of course Americans presence are still there but not aplenty and also few Europeans (mostly Germans), I guess.

here are my pics from Boradise :)

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c363/flashlight_/Filippineneokt2004021a.jpg

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c363/flashlight_/Filippineneokt2004026a.jpg

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c363/flashlight_/Filippineneokt2004022a.jpg

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c363/flashlight_/Filippineneokt2004044a.jpg

wow I'd love to be in Boracay right now, especially as it's cold and dark here in London!

Hello! Would anyone here have old photos of Boracay? Say 1975 or around that decade? Earlier would even more interesting. It would be nice to see how it looked before any commercialization blanketed the island. Thanks!

wHITE SANDS OF bORACAY, sorrt if the pic is not facing the the sea.http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c341/JAMAICUS/MyPictures0020.jpg

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c363/flashlight_/Filippineneokt2004021a.jpg
This is Station 1 right? BTW when was this taken?

yup, sa station 1 yan. taken Oct 2004. :)

^Actually there was some major algae problem going on when I visited (mostly in White Beach). You can kinda see it in my 1st pic.

the algae usually appear during the months of march/april i think, i was there at March 2004 and there was a lot, nothing at Ocotber '04. there were some when i was there last May '05, and nothing at all when i was there this October.

:)

OIC. Im gonna take a note on that on my next trip.

wow I'd love to be in Boracay right now, especially as it's cold and dark here in London!

that's right drfeelgood ... the cold starts early this year ... hopefully it will not get worse by January and February ... the peak of winter's season here in UK.

-----
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y54/chymera00/iloilocitypics/feeltheheat.jpg

here are my pics from Boradise :)

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c363/flashlight_/Filippineneokt2004021a.jpg

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c363/flashlight_/Filippineneokt2004026a.jpg

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c363/flashlight_/Filippineneokt2004022a.jpg

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c363/flashlight_/Filippineneokt2004044a.jpg

wow ... really nice ... I loved the grotto area though.

-----
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y54/chymera00/iloilocitypics/feeltheheat.jpg

PROSPERO ANO NUEVO

2006

TO ALL






:banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana:




HALA BIRA ! HALA BIRA ! HALA BIRA ! HALA BIRA !


:pepper: :pepper: :pepper: :pepper: :pepper: :pepper: :pepper: :pepper: :pepper: :pepper: :pepper: :pepper: :pepper: :pepper:

Boracay my love, we'll see each other again come 2006 ;)

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c363/flashlight_/Filippineneokt2004026a.jpg



Was this used to be a Church or some Fort? It looks really nice and great job on taking pictures. :okay:

Is it true that two Sheraton hotels would be built on Boracay?!

Was this used to be a Church or some Fort? It looks really nice and great job on taking pictures. :okay:

thanks. i think its what they call Willy's rock, i saw something like that in a map. i think the grotto was just built there. i was right beside the grotto when i took the sunset pic ;)

when its high tide, the rock is like an island, hehe.

@flashlight

simply breath taking :applause:

Is it true that two Sheraton hotels would be built on Boracay?!


@cosmoManila, I hope it will come true.

go, Boracay !

do they still have to solve the garbage/waste problem ?

the island has a waste treatment plant (converting wastes to fertilizers i think) as for the garbage im still not sure if they already started transporting them to the mainland.

the beachfront remains clean ;) cigarette butts population is the lowest in SEA beaches, hehehe

bora is still in fair condition! the last time i went there is 2003 and we stayed at fairways!
bora is the place for beach partying! the people rocks and lots of sexy girls!
@flashlight:the pics are great and yeah its breath-taking!

that's right, Boracay remains fairly clean and well for any foreign and local tourists to visit. Still one of the best beaches in the world !

My Boracay Pictures taken on March and June 2004.
Added Bonus: Puerto Galera Picture on April 2004

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c60/Askal82/Beachbums.jpg

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c60/Askal82/boracay212.jpg

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c60/Askal82/boracay26.jpg

Puerto Galera:

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c60/Askal82/Pogi2.jpg

WORKING TOGETHER FOR A MORE BEAUTIFUL BORACAY

MANILA, January 2, 2006 (STAR) OUTSIDE THE BOX By Doris Magsaysay Ho - Boracay is one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Over the last few years, an increasing number of people have built beautiful vacation homes there – so much so that Boracay’s Long Beach has become the place to be in for the New Year’s celebrations. The most significant new investor on the island is the Shangri-La Group, which plans to build a hotel in the Puca Beach area. The airport in Caticlan is being expanded to take in larger planes. Negros Navigation now makes direct calls to Caticlan. The provincial and municipal leadership – under Gov. Carlito Marquez of Aklan, Congressman Florencio Miraflores, and Mayor Ciceron Cawaling of Malay – has taken the reins to position the island for growth. They are working together with the private sector – Boracay Foundation (BFI), the Boracay Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI), the Boracay Trade and Development Council and the Eminent Persons Group including Iñigo Zobel and Freddie Elizalde.

A key challenge is the infrastructure to support the potential growth of tourism. The first is sustaining the beauty and pristine nature of the island environment – the very reason why people flock there to start with. One needs to address how to bring about world-class standards of tourism services to attract a broader group of visitors. There is the pressure that a growing population has on water, sewerage, power, waste disposal and other utilities also brought about by laundry, dishwashing, public markets and landscaping, among others. Another is the housing and infrastructure requirements of service personnel and their families which compete for services and space.

Then there is the need for a tourist/transfer system from Caticlan to the island. The Boracay authorities will no longer allow any bancas (pumpboat/outriggers) on Long Beach for the safety of swimmers. All boats of all sizes must follow the policy to enter and exit in Cagban, on the southern tip of the island. As a result, Magsaysay, the company that brings tourists by fast ferry to Corregidor Island, entered into an MOU with the province, to study the development of a unified transport system incorporating both sea and land and to include the existing pump boat and tricycle stakeholders and cooperatives in the business.

Magsaysay’s and the government’s vision was to have larger ferries bring visitors under all weather conditions, to connect to LPG-powered, environmentally-friendly land transport vehicles organized under a unified system, with one look not unlike the yellow cabs in New York. The bancas/cooperatives would continue transporting visitors and goods to and from the island and would expand to offering island tours with their unique charm and/or own one or more of the new ferries. The tricycle drivers could drive the new land transport vehicles, own them or be part of the chain of services needed to make the system work.

Magsaysay set up a group of community workers to dialogue with the stakeholders and cooperatives and lined up micro-financing and credit to finance the coop members interested to join. The business idea was an ambitious one: to achieve a "win-win" result for all – for the tourist, for the existing banca and tricycle stakeholder/cooperatives, for the hotels and restaurants, for the government, for the community, for Boracay, and for the country.

Perhaps the concept was not communicated well enough, or too much publicity came before the concept was fully understood. While the project was well-accepted by many, Magsaysay respects the resistance to change expressed by the directly affected stakeholder resulting in Magsaysay regretfully but voluntarily withdrawing their effort.

I believe this project is really worthwhile. If we want Boracay to be shared with more visitors, and to become more beautiful and prosperous, I believe that the only way for a long-term sustainable tourist/transfer solution is for the government to work with the present cooperatives, help them organize themselves to implement a unified plan to allow Boracay to reach its full potential and to be recognized as the gem it so rightfully deserves to be.

My Boracay Pictures taken on March and June 2004.
Added Bonus: Puerto Galera Picture on April 2004

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c60/Askal82/Beachbums.jpg

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c60/Askal82/boracay212.jpg

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c60/Askal82/boracay26.jpg

Puerto Galera:

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c60/Askal82/Pogi2.jpg

gr8 pics, is the first pics with your dad

bora is still in fair condition! the last time i went there is 2003 and we stayed at fairways!
bora is the place for beach partying! the people rocks and lots of sexy girls!
@flashlight:the pics are great and yeah its breath-taking!
did u get laid

gr8 pics, is the first pics with your dad

That's my cuz on the first pic. Im the taller one.

My Boracay Pictures taken on March and June 2004.
Added Bonus: Puerto Galera Picture on April 2004

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c60/Askal82/Beachbums.jpg

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c60/Askal82/boracay212.jpg

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c60/Askal82/boracay26.jpg



wow .. Borang-bora ang dating mo, Askal a ... great pics !

WORKING TOGETHER FOR A MORE BEAUTIFUL BORACAY

MANILA, January 2, 2006 (STAR) OUTSIDE THE BOX By Doris Magsaysay Ho - Boracay is one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Over the last few years, an increasing number of people have built beautiful vacation homes there – so much so that Boracay’s Long Beach has become the place to be in for the New Year’s celebrations. The most significant new investor on the island is the Shangri-La Group, which plans to build a hotel in the Puca Beach area. The airport in Caticlan is being expanded to take in larger planes. Negros Navigation now makes direct calls to Caticlan. The provincial and municipal leadership – under Gov. Carlito Marquez of Aklan, Congressman Florencio Miraflores, and Mayor Ciceron Cawaling of Malay – has taken the reins to position the island for growth. They are working together with the private sector – Boracay Foundation (BFI), the Boracay Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI), the Boracay Trade and Development Council and the Eminent Persons Group including Iñigo Zobel and Freddie Elizalde.

A key challenge is the infrastructure to support the potential growth of tourism. The first is sustaining the beauty and pristine nature of the island environment – the very reason why people flock there to start with. One needs to address how to bring about world-class standards of tourism services to attract a broader group of visitors. There is the pressure that a growing population has on water, sewerage, power, waste disposal and other utilities also brought about by laundry, dishwashing, public markets and landscaping, among others. Another is the housing and infrastructure requirements of service personnel and their families which compete for services and space.

Then there is the need for a tourist/transfer system from Caticlan to the island. The Boracay authorities will no longer allow any bancas (pumpboat/outriggers) on Long Beach for the safety of swimmers. All boats of all sizes must follow the policy to enter and exit in Cagban, on the southern tip of the island. As a result, Magsaysay, the company that brings tourists by fast ferry to Corregidor Island, entered into an MOU with the province, to study the development of a unified transport system incorporating both sea and land and to include the existing pump boat and tricycle stakeholders and cooperatives in the business.

Magsaysay’s and the government’s vision was to have larger ferries bring visitors under all weather conditions, to connect to LPG-powered, environmentally-friendly land transport vehicles organized under a unified system, with one look not unlike the yellow cabs in New York. The bancas/cooperatives would continue transporting visitors and goods to and from the island and would expand to offering island tours with their unique charm and/or own one or more of the new ferries. The tricycle drivers could drive the new land transport vehicles, own them or be part of the chain of services needed to make the system work.

Magsaysay set up a group of community workers to dialogue with the stakeholders and cooperatives and lined up micro-financing and credit to finance the coop members interested to join. The business idea was an ambitious one: to achieve a "win-win" result for all – for the tourist, for the existing banca and tricycle stakeholder/cooperatives, for the hotels and restaurants, for the government, for the community, for Boracay, and for the country.

Perhaps the concept was not communicated well enough, or too much publicity came before the concept was fully understood. While the project was well-accepted by many, Magsaysay respects the resistance to change expressed by the directly affected stakeholder resulting in Magsaysay regretfully but voluntarily withdrawing their effort.

I believe this project is really worthwhile. If we want Boracay to be shared with more visitors, and to become more beautiful and prosperous, I believe that the only way for a long-term sustainable tourist/transfer solution is for the government to work with the present cooperatives, help them organize themselves to implement a unified plan to allow Boracay to reach its full potential and to be recognized as the gem it so rightfully deserves to be.


good news for Boracay, indeed ... thanks, @richard.

here's what I've found from googling Boracay :


http://www.boracaylive.com/boracay-girls-beach.JPG

http://www.aisstour.co.jp/kihon/img/boracay/Mandala-Spa-Boracay.jpg

hehehe.. i took this pic when i was on my way from cagayan de oro to manila:)

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d2/cyrusal/bora.jpg

take it as my contribution.hehehehe

wow ... nice shot, cyrusal.

:)

actually i sacrificed myself from the glaring sunshine to get this photo.., i never excepted someone will appreciate this.. thanks so much wecky :)

you are very welcome, cyrusal ... bilib nga ako sa iyo .. you mange to take photos sa plane ... because here abroad, you can't use cam when boarding an airplane ... i don't know what's the reason behind.

anyway, it's really a good shot.

good news for Boracay, indeed ... thanks, @richard.
anytime wecky. i see you are in london. so we are not too far away from eachother (i´m in germany close to frankfurt). good we have these forums right? otherwise it is hard to get anything close to the phil. in this part of the world.

@richard, we are in frankfurt last year for a three day tour .. wow, if i only knew in advance i could have asked you several tips around Frankfurt .. it'd be easier by then than scanning the whole lot of tourguide books .. anyway, there's always a next time ... hopefully, next year na. :)

Anyway, Boracay is indeed beautiful !

do they still have to solve the garbage/waste problem ?
Hans Klent, a Swede who is on his fifth visit to Boracay, says, "They build too many hotels here and I am afraid for that. It's too much developed."

In 2000, it had 230 cases of parasitism; 1,000 cases in 2001 and 214 cases from January to September 2002. Last year, the hospital had 50 cases of amoebiasis.

Francis Gentoral, program manager of the Toronto-based Canadian Urban Institute (CUI) comments, "The fact that there is already saltwater intrusion in the aquifers and that there is still human fecal pollution in the groundwater showed that no significant solution was introduced to address the problems in Boracay after the 1997 coliform crisis."

Argues Argel: "Boracay deteriorated because all that resort owners want is profit. Once the beauty of this island fades, I'm sure they will realize that they had killed the hen that lays golden eggs. And when that time comes, it will be too late for them to resuscitate it."

The island has since become a case study of the ill effects of a having local government dominated by the wealthy and the powerful, whose concerns usually do not extend beyond their own personal interests. In Boracay, this has meant governance largely dictated by the wants of resort owners, who count the mayor and vice mayor among them.

From: Boracay's Road to Ruin
http://www.pcij.org/stories/2003/boracay.html

The blame game

"But it seems they always put the blame on us and the local government. What has the national government done?" said Lara Salaver, president of Boracay Foundation Inc.,in a phone interview.

From: Boracay 'Critical'
http://news.inq7.net/nation/index.php?index=1&story_id=37331

Just a repost. Also the mini smokey mountain in the back continues to rise.

__________________
http://www.saveboracay.org

^^ Anything else newer than that? Looks outdated to me. :tongue3:

Do you think they've fixed everything in 2 years after bickering for 10?
The last article was from May 2005.

Well, read the thread from the very beggining. Thats an old news already. Many already know that.

LOL

Geez, you rarely visit this thread. Mabilis pa sa alas kwatro ang mga forumers dito no. :lol:

So everything is ok now? 100% coliform free? used motor oil is being recycled and not poured somewhere in the back? When was the last time you visited Boracay?

Don't get me wrong. I'm just as excited about the Shangri-la as anybody. I'm sure they'll do their part in trying to maintain the island. But what about the rest?

More than a year ago, check the last thread (I even have pictures). Honestly the last time I was there during the SARS outbreak in Asia, I didnt hear from the news that there were people or tourists infected with colliform. However, Im still concerned about the environment though. Yes, Boracay island needs an effective waste management and environmental program

1 question: is Boracay being targeted by "sex-tourists" like Thailand, or is this not (yet) the case...?

It would be a very expensive sex tour. LOL. So I doubt it. However, if you stay long enough, you tend to notice things...

This seem like a strange couple to me so took this shot. I kept running into them. A few days later, I saw them again: He was leaving. They were walking together but I'm not exactly sure if she stayed or left the Island.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v686/kutsokutso/P10100122.jpg

There are also male prostitutes in the Island. I saw this Swedish chick messing with one near ST 3. It was confirmed to me by my boat pilot. LOL

Yeah you ask the locals, they know everything. My cousin and I asked where this hot chick was staying and they all pointed at the same direction.

it's so deppressing to hear all this reality negative things about boracay island. again, wheni fist visited th island in 1992.....OMG it was so beautiful, nicest beach i've been to but as i return the island several years after, i see how much it had changed, it's not as prestine as i saw it the first time.

i really hope that the resort owners would get their act together because this island is giving them the cash...

ah regarding the male prostitute, yes there are a lot of them, the last time i was there in 2002 i was followed and chased by one all the wat to my resort, i have to tell the security guard to let him go away =(

^that is so true. It's sad what is happening to boracay. IN 1997 the island was still beautiful ,I've never seen sand so fine and white and water so clear. The development then, was just right. They should have stopped right there. But when i went back 2004 , I was so disappointed the sand had turned grayish and water not so clear and the algae seem to have gotten worse. As you go inside towards the island you can see the local population is multiplying like rabbits again and alot of trash. I noticed there was trash even on the way to Kalibo , the scenic coastline going to Kalibo i remember was trash free just several years ago. It's a shame these resort owners and whoever they're greasing are only after profit and not preserving the natural beauty of Boracay.

marites, i do agree with you....sayang talaga, it breaks my hearth to just thik about it. yeah the sand is not as fine as it used to be, i used to go barefoot and the sand was so fine, now it's more like white mix with gray sand and the sand seem to be more corse (sp). now i dont even want to go back there because it would just make me so depressed and i dont even want to recommend it to my friends here in the US....=(

LET'S BOYCOTT BORACAY IN ORDER TO SAVE IT!!!!!

I am vowing that from now on, i will not go to Bora or speak of Bora to friends abroad. Let those resort owners drown in a filth of parasites, amoebas, ringworms, etc.... They're worthless pathetic f&#* ups.

^^ :hilarious

Baka susunod dark na ang buhangin sa boracay.

DOT, Boracay, Aklan agree on resort island’s garbage problems
Ronnie E. Calumpita, Reporter

THE disagreement between the Department of Tourism and the Aklan local government over the location of a modern waste-treatment facility for Boracay Island has been resolved, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources said Monday.

Zoilo Andin 2nd, special action officer of the DENR for Boracay Island, said Mayor Ciceron Cawaling of Malay agreed to place the facility within the island not in the mainland in Aklan.

“They [the parties] are now OK, the disposal site will be set up on the island. The garbage will no longer be barged and processed in the mainland except special waste like batteries, bulbs and medical waste,” he told reporters in an interview.

Now that the dispute is over, the DENR expects the P14-milion grinder-crusher technology being eyed by the DOT to be put up on Boracay Island by September in time for the start of the peak season.

With the establishment of the new technology, the cost of which will be shouldered by the tourism department, Andin said a controlled-waste facility, an environmentally sound waste disposal site, to replace the existing open dump is no longer needed.

“This [grinder crusher] is a zero-waste technology,” he added. The grinder crusher will also pave the way for the closure of the open dump on Boracay Island which is being used despite it is already banned under the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.

The problem of the environment department where to get soil to cover the open dump as a remedial measure, however, still remains.

“We’re looking at getting soil from the mainland [Aklan] but it is expensive. We’re appealing to residents of Boracay if they could allow the local government to extract soil in their property to address the existing open dump,” Andin said.

[QUOTE=Askal82]^^ :hilarious

sorry souble post

^^ :hilarious

Baka susunod dark na ang buhangin sa boracay.
It's not farfetced because the corals are what makes them white. At the rate they're destroying the corals, it's likely. IT probably took hundreds or thousands of years for nature to form that one of a kind jewel of a paradise island and human greed is only taking a few years to destroy it.

Overall, Philippines have a really bad track record in terms of preservation of just anything either man made (intramuros) or natural (boracay).

If the government and Filipinos alike are seriouly aiming for the Philippines to be a tourist haven, they better fix themselves first or else the country will be totally neglected.

It would be a very expensive sex tour. LOL. So I doubt it. However, if you stay long enough, you tend to notice things...

This seem like a strange couple to me so took this shot. I kept running into them. A few days later, I saw them again: He was leaving. They were walking together but I'm not exactly sure if she stayed or left the Island.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v686/kutsokutso/P10100122.jpg

There are also male prostitutes in the Island. I saw this Swedish chick messing with one near ST 3. It was confirmed to me by my boat pilot. LOL

Yeah you ask the locals, they know everything. My cousin and I asked where this hot chick was staying and they all pointed at the same direction.


classic pic, Berlin .. too many of them in Boracay.

really sayang, i beleive the philippines have so many nice places to offer but it's just so depressing that the gov't or most of the people dont look into a long term, just short term....i hope this would change or else...i dont know anymore.

Boracay welcomes festival revelers


BORACAY – This island resort is welcoming revelers from yesterday’s Ati-atihan Festival in Kalibo, Aklan.

According to Supt. William Macavinta, director of the Aklan Police Provincial Office (APPO), this popular island is now tightly guarded to ensure the safety of tourists.

The Boracay Special Protection Unit (BSPU), Philippine Coast Guard and Maritime Command are on extra alert.
Drug trafficking is also a concern.

On Sunday in Kalibo, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo acknowledged the important role of Boracay in the country’s tourism industry.

She urged local officials to “stop playing politics” to promote the tourism industry.

“Let‘s us stop politics in our tourism efforts to sustain the progress of Boracay Island and the Kalibo Ati-Atihan Festival, which is the center of Philippine tourism,” Arroyo said.

Arroyo promised to fasttrack the release of P55 million for the Instrument Landing System (ILS) for the Kalibo airport which is part of the P500-million airport development project of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC).

“Boracay Island contributed about 20 percent of 2.5 million tourists or 500,000 tourists last year and we have to ensure that infrastructures are in place in Aklan to enhance the capability of Kalibo airport for tourists,” she told reporters.

Arroyo wants the Kalibo domestic airport to accommodate international flights direct from Asian countries, particularly Korea and Japan.

Korea is the top tourism market of Boracay Island followed by United States, data from DOT showed.

She also reminded local officials to carry on the tourism development of Boracay Island, the country’s top tourist destination, with the aid of Eminent Persons Group (EPG).

“The Caticlan jetty port will remain as roll-on, roll-off port for local travelers. We also have the Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA) to oversee the storm-drainage projects in the island to solve the flooding in central Boracay this year,” the President said.

(from Panay News online)

http://www.geocities.com/marko_rem/boracay1.JPG
http://www.geocities.com/kwatz_2001/24270036.JPG
http://www.geocities.com/kwatz_2001/24270075.JPG

Boracay welcomes festival revelers


BORACAY – This island resort is welcoming revelers from yesterday’s Ati-atihan Festival in Kalibo, Aklan.

According to Supt. William Macavinta, director of the Aklan Police Provincial Office (APPO), this popular island is now tightly guarded to ensure the safety of tourists.

The Boracay Special Protection Unit (BSPU), Philippine Coast Guard and Maritime Command are on extra alert.
Drug trafficking is also a concern.

On Sunday in Kalibo, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo acknowledged the important role of Boracay in the country’s tourism industry.

She urged local officials to “stop playing politics” to promote the tourism industry.

“Let‘s us stop politics in our tourism efforts to sustain the progress of Boracay Island and the Kalibo Ati-Atihan Festival, which is the center of Philippine tourism,” Arroyo said.

Arroyo promised to fasttrack the release of P55 million for the Instrument Landing System (ILS) for the Kalibo airport which is part of the P500-million airport development project of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC).

“Boracay Island contributed about 20 percent of 2.5 million tourists or 500,000 tourists last year and we have to ensure that infrastructures are in place in Aklan to enhance the capability of Kalibo airport for tourists,” she told reporters.

Arroyo wants the Kalibo domestic airport to accommodate international flights direct from Asian countries, particularly Korea and Japan.

Korea is the top tourism market of Boracay Island followed by United States, data from DOT showed.

She also reminded local officials to carry on the tourism development of Boracay Island, the country’s top tourist destination, with the aid of Eminent Persons Group (EPG).

“The Caticlan jetty port will remain as roll-on, roll-off port for local travelers. We also have the Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA) to oversee the storm-drainage projects in the island to solve the flooding in central Boracay this year,” the President said.

(from Panay News online)

Their only concern is how to get more and more people there. Maybe 1 million tourists by 2012, who knows. But if they wait for foreign non-profit orgs to fix our own problem, like we always do, by that time, we'll be swimming on human waste materials.

LET'S BOYCOTT BORACAY IN ORDER TO SAVE IT!!!!!

I am vowing that from now on, i will not go to Bora or speak of Bora to friends abroad. Let those resort owners drown in a filth of parasites, amoebas, ringworms, etc.... They're worthless pathetic f&#* ups.
Same here.
I've never been there and am not contributing to it's demise.
Pretty fukkin' sick.
There are some great spots in Davao/Agusan that I'm not mentioning either.
I don't want tourists to find them.
Those showbiz people who keep yapping about Bora ought to be ashamed of themselves too. Get a freakin' clue.

Those showbiz folks ought to be ashamed , they use it as their playground but don't do anything to contribute in preserving and maintaining the beauty of the island. They're the ones that leave the bottles and trash everywhere after they party. Boracay is like a rare precious gem and I don't understand why it's not being treated like one.

‘Goodbye, Boracay dumpsite!’

BY BAM LUCES


BORACAY – The much- maligned Boracay Dumpsite will be a thing of the past. The centralized approach to solid waste management -- which has proven to be ineffective – will no longer be practiced.

Solid waste management in the island will be turned over to the three barangays composing it – Yapak, Balabag and Manocmanoc.

There will now be a “community level approach” to managing waste. Segregation will be at the source. Implementation will be intensified as each barangay has a leader in each sitio who will see to it that Republic Act9003 will be enforced.

These leaders are authorized to issue citation tickets, fines and other sanctions as allowed by laws and ordinances to erring individuals or establishments.

Boracay now has a 2,000-square meter Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) for wastes. Thanks to Brgy. Balabag under village chief Glen Sacapaño, the Boracay Foundation, Inc, San Miguel Corporation and the Balabag Business Community. Collection and proper disposal of waste are done twice daily – one in the morning and another one in the afternoon.

(from Panay News online)

Manoc-Manoc to turn-over PAGCOR’s
fire truck to BFP

By BOY RYAN B. ZABAL


Boracay Island – Fire hydrants and fire hoses should be prioritized in the world famous island to prevent fire incidents similar to last year’s following the support of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), a barangay official said.

Abram Sualog, Manoc-Manoc barangay kagawad, said the government through PAGCOR provided P800,000 worth of firefighting equipments and a fire truck as part of the immediate needs of the island.

“The barangay will form a fire volunteer brigade that will undergo fire safety seminar.
We will also turn over the PAGCOR support to the Boracay fire bureau to equip their firefighters,” he said.

A five-hour fire on January 21 last year gutted about 200 stores, diving shops and resorts and displaced more than 100 residents. No one was injured, officials said. A lighted candle left by a worker triggered the fire.

The owner, however, denied that the fire originated from his rubber slippers factory. Before the fire quickly spread, they heard a big explosion at the back of the building, the owner said.

The flea market, made of light materials where a wide array of souvenir items and accessories are found, is popular among discerning foreign and local tourists staying in the world-renowned tourist destination.

“The support of PAGCOR to our barangay is highly recognized. The upgrading of fire fighting unit and installation of fire hydrants in the island should be prioritized,” Sualog said, adding, they had coordinated with the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Boracay to conduct fire fighting drills and seminar to Manoc-Manoc volunteers.

(from Panay News online)

i am really glas they finally got ther act together about waste manegement, now they have to implement all the rules and regulations they talked about and be strict about it....

i read that there is actually a rubber slipper factory in the island? they should not have any manufacturing on the island, just plain resort business.

so what's the update about the docks for boats that they constructed few years ago in the back of the white sand beach? are they actually using it?

^^ If they install an excellent plumbing system in the island, I also hope that a good sewerage system and water treatment facility will soon follow as well hopefully.

i am really glas they finally got ther act together about waste manegement, now they have to implement all the rules and regulations they talked about and be strict about it....

i read that there is actually a rubber slipper factory in the island? they should not have any manufacturing on the island, just plain resort business.

so what's the update about the docks for boats that they constructed few years ago in the back of the white sand beach? are they actually using it?

same here Edmund .. I hope things will work out accdg to plan .. i love to see Boracay as pristine as ever ... long live Bora ! :)

^^ If they install an excellent plumbing system in the island, I also hope that a good sewerage system and water treatment facility will soon follow as well hopefully.


let's keep our fingers crossed, Askal. :)

hmm... summer is two months away... sana naman makarating na ako jan. :D

I just came back from Boracay today. From my previous post, I stated about the cleanliness ...or the lack of during my stay. I must say that my stay this time was a little different. I enjoyed my stay there and the beach (White Beach) appeared much cleaner than it was in October. Of course, I saw the occasional plastic straw and a few beer caps here and there but maybe my mentality this time was to enjoy the island as much as I was inspecting the island on my last visit. Either way, it was a much pleasant experience this time.

I do have a few concerns though:

1. The effects of D'Mall. Now for anyone who doesn't know what this place is, it's the commercial center of Boracay located near Station 2, filled with shops, restaurants and even a ferris-wheel. It reaches all the way up from the beach and to the main road. It affects many restaurants that are on the beach. D'mall seems like the place to be now while quite a few restaurants on the beach hardly gets anymore patrons. I've talked to a few people who work on these restaurants that have nothing to do, it seems like places between station 3 and 2 are affected the most. Anyway, I guess this is more of the dynamics. This isn't a problem with the island but owners of the businesses affected by D'mall. I actually like D'mall myself.

2. I believe Willys Beach Resort is under new management. Anyway, they organize games on the beach in front of the hotel. First they have a water fight. I can't call it a water baloon fight since they're using plastic bags filled with water. I'm sure it's fun when you see 30 people on the beach trying to wet each other these things and I do hope the management picks up those plastic bags afterwards. It's common sense to clean up afterwards. Then they do some Indian folk dance where they give people sarongs and two sticks to hit together and then they do this circle dance. Then one person throws colored powder into the air. I believe it was green, red and yellow. It looks pretty but then I saw that these colored powder they keep throwing around while dancing in circles would eventually land and mix in with the white sand on the beach. What you get after all this fun is sand in front of Willys that looks like someone spilled a few buckets of paprika all over the beach front of the hotel. I don't know exactly what the substance is. I then thought, "WOW... do these people actually know what they're doing to their own beach?

^my proffesor name is Mr. Virtute sa mythology :laugh:

Very interesting account and observations of your stay in Boracay @Virtute.

that's really to sad to hear about the color powder substance...i dont kow sometimes i feel these people are just so clueless, it's coomon sense to keep the sad white and not mix any color to it.......=(

^^ The colored powder thing and the ferris wheel!?!?! What is this!?!?! A PERYAHAN!! So tasteless.

I just came back from Boracay today. From my previous post, I stated about the cleanliness ...or the lack of during my stay. I must say that my stay this time was a little different. I enjoyed my stay there and the beach (White Beach) appeared much cleaner than it was in October. Of course, I saw the occasional plastic straw and a few beer caps here and there but maybe my mentality this time was to enjoy the island as much as I was inspecting the island on my last visit. Either way, it was a much pleasant experience this time.

I do have a few concerns though:

1. The effects of D'Mall. Now for anyone who doesn't know what this place is, it's the commercial center of Boracay located near Station 2, filled with shops, restaurants and even a ferris-wheel. It reaches all the way up from the beach and to the main road. It affects many restaurants that are on the beach. D'mall seems like the place to be now while quite a few restaurants on the beach hardly gets anymore patrons. I've talked to a few people who work on these restaurants that have nothing to do, it seems like places between station 3 and 2 are affected the most. Anyway, I guess this is more of the dynamics. This isn't a problem with the island but owners of the businesses affected by D'mall. I actually like D'mall myself.

2. I believe Willys Beach Resort is under new management. Anyway, they organize games on the beach in front of the hotel. First they have a water fight. I can't call it a water baloon fight since they're using plastic bags filled with water. I'm sure it's fun when you see 30 people on the beach trying to wet each other these things and I do hope the management picks up those plastic bags afterwards. It's common sense to clean up afterwards. Then they do some Indian folk dance where they give people sarongs and two sticks to hit together and then they do this circle dance. Then one person throws colored powder into the air. I believe it was green, red and yellow. It looks pretty but then I saw that these colored powder they keep throwing around while dancing in circles would eventually land and mix in with the white sand on the beach. What you get after all this fun is sand in front of Willys that looks like someone spilled a few buckets of paprika all over the beach front of the hotel. I don't know exactly what the substance is. I then thought, "WOW... do these people actually know what they're doing to their own beach?

wow .. thanks for an update, @Virtute .. I'm glad to hear this little development ... well, even a little do much, isn't it? or every little helps gid .. hope they'll continue to keep Boracay as pristine as it can be. :)

^^ The colored powder thing and the ferris wheel!?!?! What is this!?!?! A PERYAHAN!! So tasteless.


aw, aw, aw @Askal ... hehehe ... ginawa talaga nilang Peryahan Island ang Boracay.

Boracay Funboard Cup set

By ULYSSES ESPARTERO


BORACAY – The Boracay International Funboard Cup (BFIC) has been set on January 21-27, 2006 here.

Organizer Nenette Aguirre-Graf said the BIFC is an excellent vehicle in promoting Philippines through sports.

“The event is very well-established, with excellent reputation worldwide and brings together fast-paced, competitive action, high-class athletes and a healthy lifestyle. With a background of natural environment, it will show Boracay in a healthy and dynamic context,” Graf said.

In her letter to Gov. Carlito Marquez, Graf described the fun board cup as truly an international event. It is now on its 18th year.

She recalled its humble beginnings as a small town race.

The Boracay International Funboard Cup is now considered the most popular Asian Windsurfing leg of six countries including Taiwan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Saipan and Korea.

“It is the only annual international sporting event which has its own 30-minute dedicated show and is televised in major networks around the world reaching over 250 million households promoting not only Boracay as a major windsurfing and kiteboarding destination but the Philippines as well,” Graf added.

Marquez expressed willingness to support the staging of the international event considered as “Asia’s Best Windsurfing Blast.”

i know....whats with the ferris wheel? this tiny island is so overdeveloped in a very bad ways.....they should keep the island with tress and not an amusement park, i swear this gov't officials are just worthless and useless....errrrrrr

^^^^Perhaps the owner and management staff at Willy's Resort think they can just pour bleach over the colored powder mixed in with the sand and it'll instantaneously turn white. Hehehe!


Pearl of the Orient Seas - The Philippines (http://community.webshots.com/user/jbkayaker12)

aw, aw, aw @Askal ... hehehe ... ginawa talaga nilang Peryahan Island ang Boracay.

I just don't bark, my mouth is getting foamy again. :lol:

^^^^Perhaps the owner and management staff at Willy's Resort think they can just pour bleach over the colored powder mixed in with the sand and it'll instantaneously turn white. Hehehe!


Pearl of the Orient Seas - The Philippines (http://community.webshots.com/user/jbkayaker12)

If you pour bleach, would that seep through the ground and contaminate the waters as well? That is not right.

^^ :lol: :lol:

a paradise doesn't need a ferris wheel or any other things that you can see in the city. boracay isnt a city, not a big island either. they should just focus on keeping the island clean.

^^^^^^Hahahahaha!

^^ :lol: :lol:

a paradise doesn't need a ferris wheel or any other things that you can see in the city. boracay isnt a city, not a big island either. they should just focus on keeping the island clean.

LOL I know what you guys mean, the ferris-wheel looks kinda odd. While strolling around D'mall, I overheard 3 british girls saying... "Well... this is the only eye-sore I see here." And I turned around and they were looking at the ferris-wheel.

I just don't bark, my mouth is getting foamy again. :lol:


:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

hmm... summer is two months away... sana naman makarating na ako jan. :D


the right place to be, mhe-ann ... try to time with the Bikini Open contest ... absolutely Bora Summer ang dating. :)

LOL I know what you guys mean, the ferris-wheel looks kinda odd. While strolling around D'mall, I overheard 3 british girls saying... "Well... this is the only eye-sore I see here." And I turned around and they were looking at the ferris-wheel.

one of my British colleagues, her boyfriend and friends will be there in Boracay in the next three days ... I'm wishing she'll enjoy there, too. :)

Tourism ministers to visit Boracay

By BOY RYAN B. ZABAL


BORACAY ISLAND – Some 50 delegates of the ASEAN Tourism Forum will visit the resort-island of Boracay on Sunday, January 22, 2006, for a sightseeing tour amidst tight security of the local police.

“They (tourism ministers) had chosen the island of Boracay for their sightseeing tour this Sunday aside from Cebu City and Bohol,” DOT Boracay Officer-in-Charge Judith Icotanim told Panay News yesterday.

The nine-day travel and trade fair ASEAN Tourism Forum was held in Davao from January 13 to 21, 2006 participated in by 3,000 delegates from Southeast Asia which includes countries like Japan, Korea, the United States and ten tourism ministers from the ASEAN.

The arrival of delegates from Cebu for a three-day stint in the island will boast the tourism industry of the premier tourist spot of the country, she added.

“There are some 50 delegates expected to flock the island via Cebu City coming from delegates of the countries in the Southeast Asia with a welcome dinner on Sunday. The arrival of tourism ministers in the island is also an opportunity to entice tourism investors and showcase the island as a major tourism hub,” Icotanim said.

In connection to this, Chief Insp. Jesus Mendez of the Boracay Special Tourist Protection Office (BSTPO) expressed the readiness of the police force to ensure the safety of delegates billeted at resorts like Boracay Regency Beach Hotel and Pink Patio Boracay.

“Since there are high profile visitors in the island, we deployed maximum police visibility in areas where the delegates are staying and sightseeing,” Mendez said in a phone interview.


(from Panay News online)

Tourism ministers to visit Boracay

By BOY RYAN B. ZABAL


BORACAY ISLAND – Some 50 delegates of the ASEAN Tourism Forum will visit the resort-island of Boracay on Sunday, January 22, 2006, for a sightseeing tour amidst tight security of the local police.

“They (tourism ministers) had chosen the island of Boracay for their sightseeing tour this Sunday aside from Cebu City and Bohol,” DOT Boracay Officer-in-Charge Judith Icotanim told Panay News yesterday.

The nine-day travel and trade fair ASEAN Tourism Forum was held in Davao from January 13 to 21, 2006 participated in by 3,000 delegates from Southeast Asia which includes countries like Japan, Korea, the United States and ten tourism ministers from the ASEAN.

The arrival of delegates from Cebu for a three-day stint in the island will boast the tourism industry of the premier tourist spot of the country, she added.

“There are some 50 delegates expected to flock the island via Cebu City coming from delegates of the countries in the Southeast Asia with a welcome dinner on Sunday. The arrival of tourism ministers in the island is also an opportunity to entice tourism investors and showcase the island as a major tourism hub,” Icotanim said.

In connection to this, Chief Insp. Jesus Mendez of the Boracay Special Tourist Protection Office (BSTPO) expressed the readiness of the police force to ensure the safety of delegates billeted at resorts like Boracay Regency Beach Hotel and Pink Patio Boracay.

“Since there are high profile visitors in the island, we deployed maximum police visibility in areas where the delegates are staying and sightseeing,” Mendez said in a phone interview.


(from Panay News online)

great news to take these tourism ministers around to the places where tourism really works in the philippines. maybe that can spur more investments in other similar sites like coron and siargao. it it important to develope new sites like boracay before the island is overloaded. after all, it only is ONE island.

great news to take these tourism ministers around to the places where tourism really works in the philippines. maybe that can spur more investments in other similar sites like coron and siargao. it it important to develope new sites like boracay before the island is overloaded. after all, it only is ONE island.

these gov't officials must be ashame and embarassed of themselves for picking Boracay island due to the environment problems the island is currently facing......imo, if i would have foreign delegates, tourism pa, i would take the, where the country could be proud of and not seeing algae in the water, colored powder in the white sand, rubber slipper manufacturing plant, a ferris wheel, dumpsite, overpopulated, sewer problem, big bangkak's park all over the white sand beach...etc...... :bash:

these gov't officials must be ashame and embarassed of themselves for picking Boracay island due to the environment problems the island is currently facing......imo, if i would have foreign delegates, tourism pa, i would take the, where the country could be proud of and not seeing algae in the water, colored powder in the white sand, rubber slipper manufacturing plant, a ferris wheel, dumpsite, overpopulated, sewer problem, big bangkak's park all over the white sand beach...etc...... :bash:

Yeupz, ginawa nilang super jolog ang boracay. Boracay na dapat mag mukhang disenteng resort naging Barriotic. :gaah:

yeah...it's so ridiculous and not funy anymore......i dont even want to go there anymore

Yeupz, ginawa nilang super jolog ang boracay. Boracay na dapat mag mukhang disenteng resort naging Barriotic. :gaah:


Love that term Askal, way back then ... barriotic ... hehehe ...

Hey Guys...

Just wanted to know what you people think about the developement of boracay. Do you think its very commercialized and overdeveloped? Like having a ferris wheel and a mall within the island or like when you are sunbathing you get all these annoying peddlers selling you banana boat rides every 30 seconds.

Let me know your opinions ^^

I've never been there but from reading here, I bet it is.
Too many gays, perverts and pedophiles there now.
Too many tourists period.
You know Manila used to be one of the most beautiful cities in the world.
Now?

@janusngo, there is a boracay thread and you can read people's comments there.

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=168233

is the sky blue? is the grass green? is boracay too commercialized?

Love that term Askal, way back then ... barriotic ... hehehe ...

I got that from my uncle. Another addition to your vocab? I also love the term 'binaryo' as well. :lol:

@ joey, what's wrong with too many gays? Aren't gay people allowed to go there? Does my presence on the island make it less desirable or "evil"?

^sad to say but it's true that the people of the world are prejudiced.

YES, i think Boracay is overedeveloped so develop it more!!!

@ joey, what's wrong with too many gays? Aren't gay people allowed to go there? Does my presence on the island make it less desirable or "evil"?

don´t worry about it dancethingy, there will always be those who simply do not know. in my job as a photographer i have met a lot of gays in my life, from all over the world. and they/you are no different from the rest of the gang. simply people who want their share in life, just like anyone else. there is noone to judge who is better or legal or whatever. don´t take notice.
but we do have a problem with pedophiles, don´t we ?

Yes we do richard, have problems with pedophiles. Thanks for the support guys. tear tear. Really, im always touched.

^sad to say but it's true that the people of the world are prejudiced.

YES, i think Boracay is overedeveloped so develop it more!!!

But the right kind of development though and not the one that looks like a peryahan. Go read the boracay thread. :ohno:

boracay is congested but has a good nightlife!!! :D

Yes.

Anyone have examples of overdevelopment in Boracay? I'd like to see some pictures so I have an idea why.

I've never been there but from reading here, I bet it is.
Too many gays, perverts and pedophiles there now.
Too many tourists period.
You know Manila used to be one of the most beautiful cities in the world.
Now?

I think Manila is still beautiful, it's just congested with traffic.

I have been wanting to check Boracay out but for some reason, Cebu resorts keeps on sprinkling it's spell on me but I never regretted it, I'm just inlove of that Whole Island. Just how I wish I can be sent there again on a business trip so I can do a side trip along the line like I've done it before on my 1st travel in Cebu or Philippines ....

Manila got even more beautiful compared 20 years ago. :)

Boracay to host Asean Economic Ministers Retreat

THE island paradise of Boracay in Malay, Aklan, the country's prime tourist destination, will be playing host to the Asean Economic Ministers when they hold their retreat here on April 24 to 28 of this year.

To join them are their counterparts from the United States, European Union, People's Republic of China, Republic of Korea and some of their economic officials and staff.

Some of the economic ministers will also bring along their spouses to see for themselves the world-famous Boracay Island, considered to be one of the best beaches in the world.

With this development, the entire province of Aklan is now preparing for their arrival as these visitors are seen to grace the 50th anniversary of Aklan as a separate province from Capiz on April 25.

The town of Kalibo is also being spruced up too, being the capital town of Aklan, which has much more to offer besides the just-concluded Kalibo Sto. Nino Ati-atihan Festival, which was graced by no less than President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo herself.

Kalibo has the Bakhawan Eco-tourism Park, a showcase of community-based tourism which features the multi-awarded 75-hectare mangrove reforestation project considered the best in Asia and recipient of the Golden Eagle Award for Excellence in Environmental Preservation; the Pina Village which showcases the traditional craft of weaving delicate pina fibers into the exquisite and very much in-demand pina cloth, the queen of Philippine fabrics; and the Ati-atihan Village where one can relieve the lasting experience of the Kalibo Sto. Nino Ati-atihan and observe the making of an Ati from costume design to costume creation.

Boracay, on the other hand, is the favorite convention, relaxation and vacation center of executives, foreign and local tourists and balikbayans. Last year, this island paradise generated some P3.8 billion in tourism receipts from 499,452 foreign and local visitors.(PIA)

(from Sunstar Iloilo News online)

[QUOTE=wecky]Boracay to host Asean Economic Ministers Retreat

THE island paradise of Boracay in Malay, Aklan, the country's prime tourist destination, will be playing host to the Asean Economic Ministers when they hold their retreat here on April 24 to 28 of this year.

To join them are their counterparts from the United States, European Union, People's Republic of China, Republic of Korea and some of their economic officials and staff.

Some of the economic ministers will also bring along their spouses to see for themselves the world-famous Boracay Island, considered to be one of the best beaches in the world.

GREAT NEWS FOR BORACAY !

joining Boracay Thread II. One of best places I visited in the Philippines. All good memories for Boracay! Cheers !

Honestly, hindi pako nakakapunta sa Boracay pero dalaw ako pag punta ko ulit sa Pinas :)

Wanch, are you from Hongkong? I've been there once during my "childhood" years. lol. Can't remember HongKong vividly from memories. The only thing I can remember in HongKong is riding the cable from one mountain to the other. :)

^^ yeah! and during my time, the cable car stopped in the middle! hahahah a little scary coz the ride is swinging lol

Lika na sa Bora!!!

Boracay Excellent Value Tours
Valid till March 15, 2006
Prices in Philippine Pesos per head


Boracay Escondido Beach Resort - P4565
Boracay Gold Crowne - P4230
Sandcastles - P5455
The Sun Village Beachfront Resort - P4745
Lorenzo South - P4885
Surfside Resort & Spa - P5700
Club Panoly Resort - P6545
Boracay Regency Resort - P7490
Nami Private Villas - P10490
The Villa - P10805
Friday's Boracay - P7205

Inclusions: Roundtrip airfare via Philippine Airlines, 3 days 2 nights
accommodation with daily breakfast, roundtrip Kalibo to Boracay transfers,
welcome drinks, daily breakfast. ALL RATES ARE BASED ON TWIN SHARING

Boracay makes Aklan tourism a P4B industry

KALIBO, Aklan – Tourism, said Aklan Gov. Carlito S. Marquez in his recent State of the Province Address (SOPA), “continuous to be an anchor industry of our province.

By the end of last year, we nearly hit the half-a-million mark in terms of number of domestic and foreign visitors.”

Marquez said Boracay’s tourist arrivals for 2005 were 499,452. Of this number, 155,739 were foreign visitors while the remaining 343,713 were local tourists.

The arrivals of these tourists in the world-famous paradise island of Boracay generated an estimated P3.8 billion in tourism receipts, money which circulated into Aklan’s mainstream economy.

Marquez said that in preparing the province, particularly the resort island of Boracay for the projection of one million tourist by 2010, the province has committed P1 million for the purchase of land ferry service (multicabs) which maybe leased out to a transport cooperative in Malay.

The multicabs would cater to the transportation needs of Boracay residents and workers, at comparatively lower fare rate.

Marquez also said the province appropriated P1 million to promote and market alternative tourist destinations of the province like the Manggad it Kalibo in the Mangrove Eco Park, the Bugna It Tangalan Jawili Falls and the Hurom-Hurom Cold Springs of the town of Nabas.

The tourism industry in Boracay is also a big in factor in generating jobs in the province.

Boracay’s existence is instrumental in the direct employment of more than 5,000 skilled and unskilled workers, 56 percent of which are Aklanons, engaged in various services in the island and employed by tourism-related businesses in the prime tourist destination of the country - a ready answer to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s call for job generation and livelihood opportunities.


(from Panay News online)

That's nice to hear about more people going there but OY just imagine the damage done by that time if attitudes are not improved.


and 4B huh? I wonder where all this money "really" goes to.

That's nice to hear about more people going there but OY just imagine the damage done by that time if attitudes are not improved.


and 4B huh? I wonder where all this money "really" goes to.

yes where does the 4B go? i agree that tourism is really great for the economy and employment, but my gosh look at boracay today????? do they expect this number of visitors to go up with the pollution problem they are having? crazy crazy stupid stupid officials.... :bash:

oh guys almost forgot, i was reading a discovery travel book to thre Philippines and they mentioned that the reson why the san of boracay is so fine and white is because of the healthy reefs around the island. but because of the pollution and over populated problems it's currently facing , it could make the white sand to gray and more coarse. i beleive i start noticing this already the last time i was there in 2002, the sand is not as fine anymore especially along the shore and i start to see grayish sand appearing in patches. i hope they could put boracay in order....

That's pretty impressive! A 4-billion industry for Boracay Island alone? It's kinda tempting to build business along the area. :)

@ edmund, its sad to say that the officials probably aren't stupid, they're just selfish.

Lika na sa Bora!!!

Boracay Excellent Value Tours
Valid till March 15, 2006
Prices in Philippine Pesos per head


Boracay Escondido Beach Resort - P4565
Boracay Gold Crowne - P4230
Sandcastles - P5455
The Sun Village Beachfront Resort - P4745
Lorenzo South - P4885
Surfside Resort & Spa - P5700
Club Panoly Resort - P6545
Boracay Regency Resort - P7490
Nami Private Villas - P10490
The Villa - P10805
Friday's Boracay - P7205

Inclusions: Roundtrip airfare via Philippine Airlines, 3 days 2 nights
accommodation with daily breakfast, roundtrip Kalibo to Boracay transfers,
welcome drinks, daily breakfast. ALL RATES ARE BASED ON TWIN SHARING

summer is fast approaching. Let's go Bora na ! yehey !

Boracay makes Aklan tourism a P4B industry

KALIBO, Aklan – Tourism, said Aklan Gov. Carlito S. Marquez in his recent State of the Province Address (SOPA), “continuous to be an anchor industry of our province.

By the end of last year, we nearly hit the half-a-million mark in terms of number of domestic and foreign visitors.”

Marquez said Boracay’s tourist arrivals for 2005 were 499,452. Of this number, 155,739 were foreign visitors while the remaining 343,713 were local tourists.

The arrivals of these tourists in the world-famous paradise island of Boracay generated an estimated P3.8 billion in tourism receipts, money which circulated into Aklan’s mainstream economy.

Marquez said that in preparing the province, particularly the resort island of Boracay for the projection of one million tourist by 2010, the province has committed P1 million for the purchase of land ferry service (multicabs) which maybe leased out to a transport cooperative in Malay.

The multicabs would cater to the transportation needs of Boracay residents and workers, at comparatively lower fare rate.

Marquez also said the province appropriated P1 million to promote and market alternative tourist destinations of the province like the Manggad it Kalibo in the Mangrove Eco Park, the Bugna It Tangalan Jawili Falls and the Hurom-Hurom Cold Springs of the town of Nabas.

The tourism industry in Boracay is also a big in factor in generating jobs in the province.

Boracay’s existence is instrumental in the direct employment of more than 5,000 skilled and unskilled workers, 56 percent of which are Aklanons, engaged in various services in the island and employed by tourism-related businesses in the prime tourist destination of the country - a ready answer to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s call for job generation and livelihood opportunities.


(from Panay News online)


4B? wow ... it's really impressive! A small island to earn such massive amount of money is really good. No wonder too many businessmen are trooping to Boracay to build their business. Just keep Boracay clean and waste-free lang, and the income will soon even more. Cheers, Boracay !

@ edmund, its sad to say that the officials probably aren't stupid, they're just selfish.

Selfishness is gonna get them in the future.

@Askal, do you speak Ilonggo too?

Yeupz. Ka hala ko kag binisaya pero gamay lang.

Just wondering coz since you mentioned that you had roots from north of Panay (much closer to Boracay), the Ilonggo spoken out there has a tinge of Karay-a.

Yeupz, ginawa nilang super jolog ang boracay. Boracay na dapat mag mukhang disenteng resort naging Barriotic. :gaah:

Hope they don't do this to Panglao Island in Bohol.

Just wondering coz since you mentioned that you had roots from north of Panay (much closer to Boracay), the Ilonggo spoken out there has a tinge of Karay-a.

I don't know if I have relatives in Aklan and Antique but most of them are from Capiz and Iloilo and to some extent in Negros Occidental too. Yes, but some of my relatives in iloilo speaks karay-a particularly in Ahoy and Maasin as far as I know. They sound Japanese to me though. Ga-uran diri! :lol:

Hope they don't do this to Panglao Island in Bohol.

Panglao in Bohol is very nice too kaso lang mukhang private resort yata yun kasi Boracay is more public I think.

Panglao is not private. There are enough choices of accomodations from the high end (Bohol Beach Club) down to more affordable ones which hover at P800/night.

If not for the golf on Fairways and Bluewater in Boracay, Bohol is a better alternative for relaxing. For those looking for some nightlife, Panglao Island in Bohol is not the place. One will get bored there. Panglao is perfect for de-stressing.

Really!! Wow, Ill visit Bohol next time as a sidetrip to Cebu. Im also looking fwd to visit Palawan and Surigao too in the future.

here's the PALakbayan Super Saver Promo of PAL

Boracay Escondido = Php4,565.00
Boracay Gold Crowne = Php4,230.00
SandCastles = Php5,455.00
The Sun Village = Php4,745.00
Lorenzo South = Php4,885.00
Surfside = Php5,700.00
Club Panoly = Php6,230.00
Boracay Regency = Php7,490.00
Nami = Php10,490.00
The Villa = Php9,605.00
Friday's = Php10,505.00


** Airfare Roundrip Manila -Kalibo - Manila
Coach Transfer Airport-Caticlan-Airport
Boat Transfer Caticlan-Boracay-Caticlan
3 days / 2 nights accomodation
Daily Breakfast
For Twin Sharing
Up to March 31, 2006 only

^^ May Club panolay!! :hilarious :hilarious :hilarious

Club Panoly is still the best ! :)

medyo malayo na sa main party place yang club panoly.. .. kailangan pang mag tricycle para pumunta sa station 1..

here's the PALakbayan Super Saver Promo of PAL

Boracay Escondido = Php4,565.00
Boracay Gold Crowne = Php4,230.00
SandCastles = Php5,455.00
The Sun Village = Php4,745.00
Lorenzo South = Php4,885.00
Surfside = Php5,700.00
Club Panoly = Php6,230.00
Boracay Regency = Php7,490.00
Nami = Php10,490.00
The Villa = Php9,605.00
Friday's = Php10,505.00


** Airfare Roundrip Manila -Kalibo - Manila
Coach Transfer Airport-Caticlan-Airport
Boat Transfer Caticlan-Boracay-Caticlan
3 days / 2 nights accomodation
Daily Breakfast
For Twin Sharing
Up to March 31, 2006 only

wow ... sosi talaga ang Friday's ... hehehe ... i've been to club panoly, too (in the past) ... ngayon Station 3 villas na lang ako especially if treating my relatives .. mas maka-save ka pa ... hehehe. Imagine, the last time I treated some friends and relatives .. like 30 of them .. I don't think I can afford Club Panoly for all of them ... hehehe

Any discos/clubs you hang most when in Boracay? Is Bazura still there?

@ edmund, its sad to say that the officials probably aren't stupid, they're just selfish.

yeah selfish could be the more proper term for these officials.......i just get so frustrated, it's so depressing really to see where boracay is heading to

I took this pic from google. It's really nice. :) . Thanks.

http://ww1.i8.com/images/boracay%2000%20800x600.JPEG

yeah selfish could be the more proper term for these officials.......i just get so frustrated, it's so depressing really to see where boracay is heading to
selfish and very greedy. Pah nagkayacht gusto naman private jet.

ive heard some rumors(i hope it is) that they are going to build a reclamation island to expand the island because the accomodation is not enough during peak season.. how true is that?

ive heard some rumors(i hope it is) that they are going to build a reclamation island to expand the island because the accomodation is not enough during peak season.. how true is that?

OMG! i hope this is not true! :bash:

I opened one of the junk mails the other day and found this...
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c261/sandwalker206/DSC01023.jpg
It's from CapitalOne which is probably one of the biggest distributor of junk mails in the US?

okay ah. Good for Boracay to be featured more in international arena. Capital One is one of the leading credit cards here in UK.

^CapitalOne doesn't really have a good reputation here in the US and it was sued not too long ago for delaying the payments of customers in order to charge their customers late fees. Still, I think this is a very good advertisement for Boracay. Cheers.

really? Not a good company then, Jeffreyi?

fully book na ang PAL for the whole month of March.. except for departure on March 1, arrival on March 4.. hmmmmm