BORACAY SUN | November 2014 Issue

NOVEMBER 2014 | VOL. IV NO. 10 | BORACAY’S MONTHLY NEWS ON RECYCLED PAPER

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COMPLETE LIST What’s in this issue...

03 IN THE NEWS 06 THE EXPATRIATE 08 7107 ISLANDS 12 LIFE & LEISURE 14 PEOPLE 16 COVER STORY 18 EVENTS 20 IN ROOM 21 HEALTH & WELL-BEING 23 INDULGE 28 ENVIRONMENT

THE PARADISE WITHIN WILFREDO BAON

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word commonly used to describe Boracay is probably “PARADISE.” And in this paradise lies more seashore not known to many and way beyond one’s imagination. In this article, we call these hidden spots, treasures in paradise.

Boracay is known to a lot of people from all over the world, especially its two

THE EXPATRIATE

7107 ISLANDS

Extreme Hovering >>> PAGE 06

famous beaches: the White Beach and the Bulabog Beach. Some are also familiar with its other parts like Diniwid and Puka Beach being destinations in island hopping activities. But visitors are yet to discover some other beaches that abound the area. One little paradise that we get to visit recently is Ilig-Iligan and indeed, we are few of the lucky ones who were able to experience and explore this other part of Boracay.

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EVENTS

HEALTH & WELL-BEING

Corregidor Rising

New Term for Babies of Boracay

Exercises for Bones

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INDULGE Tech Bytes >>> PAGE 26

WHEN THE NIGHT GETS LONGER

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Prepare your jackets and hoodies as we welcome the amihan winds on the island. The cold season has just started, more visitors have arrived, and we now experience longer nights than days. It just means more time to celebrate life. This month also marks the start of the kite season and we welcome all the sports enthusiasts for bringing more colors to our beloved island.

Before we buy our holiday presents and decorate our homes, join us as we bring you to one of the best places on the Island – the Ilig-Iligan Beach – and discover this treasure within the paradise we call Boracay. This feature will be the beginning of our continuous discovery of the different parts of the island and Malay.

COVER

By Alva Alvarez

We would like to extend our gratitude to those who were part of our previous issue and to those who gave feedbacks. As promised, we will continuously provide you information and features that will make your holidays better.

THE BORACAY SUN TEAM

Alva Alvarez He treads many lines of trade which include being a lay-out artist, illustrator, painter, web designer, photographer, videographer and art director amongst many other career conduits. At offtimes, the dread-locked, sunburnt Batangueño chases the setting sun, downs kegs of Beer (with ease as if drinking orange juice), conquers the mountains, sweetens the mileage on his WWII themed cruiser bike, and enjoys the arts with no reason to surrender. Or without surrender to reason, that is.

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Managing Editor MICHAEL JEROME MADRIAGA Guest Editors BLANCHE BASCO & ELIZABETH JALEA Art Director ALVA ALVAREZ Photographer Julius Olarte Columnists JUN AGUIRRE, PAULINE ASTRONAUT, INSP. STEPHEN JARDELEZA, JEFFREY MANCAO, PIA MIRAFLORES, MARLO SHOENENBERGER Contributors WILFREDO BAON, KLAUSE DORING, DR. TERESITA JOY EVANGELISTA, KATE HAMMAREN, SHAUN JASON “SIVANANDA” HANNOCKS, JACK JARILLA, DR. SANDRA SUZETTE QUIACHON, PETER TAY, RICA VELASCO

Elizabeth Jalea This writer by heart had her first writing stint when her teacher in elementary school secretly entered her essay in a competition that won second prize. She has then became a campus writer/ editor from high school to college.

She has taken credit units to earn Certificate in Teaching, and a Diploma in Research and Development at the University of the Philippines. Her main passion is travelling and recently, yoga. While busy working for a US-based corporation, she would spend her annual leave credits travelling to the country’s beauty spots and in Asia. Her recent travels include road trips to the northern part of Luzon island (read about this trip on Pages 9-10) and Bali, Indonesia. This occasional writing and editing for Boracay Sun may just inspire her to finally start a public blog.

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Publisher THE BORACAY WALLSTREET, INC. President & CEO MA. TERESA FAJILAN Operations Manager JOANN “AJ” BARRIOS Key Account Manager JOYCE ANN MOROS Boracay Sun Office

Monaco Crossing Tulubhan, Manoc Manoc, Boracay Island, Malay, Aklan 5608 editorial@boracaywallstreet.com

For Advertising / Inquiries

Telephone: (+63 36) 288 2582 Mobile: (+63 998) 558 2541 Email: ads.boracaysun@boracaywallstreet.com

Copyright © April 2014 Boracay Sun. All rights reserved. Printed in the Philippines.

Except as permitted by law, no part of the Boracay Sun may be used, reproduced or distributed in any manner whatsoever without written permission of Boracay Sun. The publisher accepts no liability for the content correctness of any advertisement and reserves the right for editorial freedom of the press under the 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines Article III (Bill of Rights) Section 4.

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BORACAY SUN

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IN THE NEWS

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NOVEMBER 2014

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L OCAL NEWS Island Globetrotters Media Corp. holds 1st Boracay Travel Mart Rica Velasco

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fter many years of planning, the first-ever Boracay Travel Mart organized by Islands Globetrotters Media Corporation finally took place last October 6-8, 2014 at the Glorietta Activity Center in Makati City.

Island Globetrotters Media Corporation is headed by Del Nano of Nigi Nigi, also known for her work with the Red Cross and Jack Jarilla, a familiar face and name on the island, known mostly for the Boracay Directory, and for his many stunning photographs of Boracay.

The purpose of their company is to create various projects for and in the promotion and marketing of Boracay Island.

Glorietta Makati was chosen as the venue as it is one of the busiest malls in Metro Manila with high quality clientele, much of them coming from the Makati business sector. The event itself was located strategically at the center of the mall to attract more mall patrons, shoppers and passersby.

This travel mart was made different from other normal travel exhibits

that are held yearly in Mall of Asia because it specifically focused on Boracay establishments only. This gave the organizers and exhibitors exclusive opportunities to showcase how beautiful Boracay really is, enticing the people to come visit the island by giving out highly discounted rates on travel packages, airfare, airport transfers and accommodations. Some unique island activities and other special attractions were also featured in the exhibit.

Vice Governor of Aklan, Hon. Gabrielle Calizo-Quimpo, graced the event with her presence during the ribbon cutting ceremony and gave an inspiring speech about the beauty and wonders of Boracay. The opening day also had The Voice Philippines contestant, Lance Fabros, entertaining guests with his soothing melodious vocals. The heart and soul of Boracay Island illuminated the stage when the tribal group Etniko Boracay performed with their indigenous instruments, their love for the craft and the island radiates through the lyrics and melody of their tunes. The group was joined by Armand Tahanlangit, famously known for the song ‘Bora-

F ROM THE MARSHAL'S DESK GENERAL PROCEDURES ON THE CONDUCT OF FIRE SAFETY INSPECTION INSP STEPHEN JARDELEZA, BFP

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n this month’s issue we will continue our discussion on the conduct of Periodic Inspection of the BFP on all establishments, buildings and structures.

Periodic Inspection, as mandated by Republic Act 9514 under Rule 9, Section 9.0.2.4 para C., can be initiated by the City/Municipal Fire Marshal having jurisdiction on all buildings and structures to enforce compliance of the fire safety provisions of the Fire Code.

Upon the conduct of Periodic Inspection, an Inspection Report shall be submitted by the Fire Safety Inspector (FSI) to the City/Municipal Fire Marshal. The Inspection Report shall indicate the violations of the Fire Code noted, if any,

during inspection. The City/Municipal Fire Marshal shall immediately issue Notice to Comply (NTC) with which compliance shall be effected within the period provided for under Section 13.0.0.6 of the IRR. The NTC shall contain, among others, the citation of the specific provision/s of the Fire Code and its IRR violated and the specific action/corrections that should be complied for period of not exceeding fifteen (15) days, as provided by law.

The original copy of the NTC shall be served to the person responsible for the violations of the Code within five (5) days from submission of the Inspection Report. The period of compliance will depend on the violations noted during

Bora-Boracay’. I-Dren Artstrong also did a cameo. Their performances drew in large crowds.

Raffle prizes were given away to lucky would-be travellers during the 3-day event. Airfare to Kalibo and Singapore, accommodations in Boracay, candlelit and steak dinners, as well as activities on the island, are only some of the prizes that the winners were able to take home.

The organizers hope to make this event yearly with more offerings each year.

This is an excellent way of promoting the island and making Filipinos and expats more aware of what Boracay has to offer; it is also a wonderful opportunity to unify island establishments to work together for a good cause.

inspection and has the corresponding number of days grace period according to the specific violation but not to exceed fifteen (15) days, as provided.

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Impose the corresponding administrative fines. We will discuss the provisions of the administrative fines of the Fire Code separately.

After the lapse of the period prescribed in the NTC, a re-inspection shall be conducted by the BFP. An After ReInspection Report shall be submitted by the FSI indicating the compliance or non-compliance of the NTC. If no compliance is noted the City/Municipal Fire Marshal shall impose the following:

3. Issue Notice To Correct Violations (NTCV) which shall include, among others, a citation of the specific provision/s of the Fire Code and its IRR violated and the specific actions/ corrections that should be complied for a period not exceeding (15) days.

1. Put up a sign in front of the building or structure that it is a fire hazard. The sign shall bear the words “WARNING: THIS BUILDING/STRUCTURE IS A FIRE HAZARD”, which shall remain posted until such time the owner, administrator, occupant or other responsible person correct the violations, but such period shall not exceed fifteen (15) days from the lapse of the initial period given in the NTC.

Let us take note that the warning sign should be continuously posted for the duration of the fifteen (15) days and until corrections are effected in the building/ structure. Defacing, tampering, tearing of the warning sign is criminally liable.

There is a separate topic for posting of warning signs which will be discussed in the future. On the next issue we will discuss the procedure after Notice to Correct Violations (NTCV) is issued.

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BORACAY SUN

IN THE NEWS

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Boracay Water provides water connections to Ati community Boracay Island Water company

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Department of tourism

dramatic increase in Singaporean and Malaysian tourist arrivals has been noted two months after the delegation from Western Visayas composed of LGU-Guimaras, LGU-Malay, Aklan and LGU – Negros Occidental, DOT Region VI and several private sector representatives embarked on the firstever Western Visayas Tourism Business Mission in Singapore and Malaysia on July 8 and 10, 2014 with Cebu Pacific Air as official carrier. The event brought together in a face-to-face networking and business transactions the Western Visayas delegation and more than 100 travel agents and media representatives in both countries visited.

Members of the indigenous community of Atis in Boracay Island now get water direct from their own taps when Boracay Water together with Manila Water Foundation recently completed the installation of new water service connections under the Lingap Para Sa Katutubo program.

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he indigenous group of the ‘Atis’ in Boracay Island now enjoys 24/7 potable water supply when Boracay Water, the water and used water service provider in the Island, recently completed the installation of new meter connections.

Ben Manosca, general manager of Boracay Water said that this roughly P855,000 project funded by the company and Manila Water Foundation will benefit 188 individuals or 30 households from the Ati community under the ‘Lingap Para sa Katutubo’ program. The Atis previously sourced their daily water needs through a nearby standpipe where they had to endure long queues to fill up buckets.

According to Evangeline Tamboon, one of the beneficiaries of the project, limited water availability made bathing and washing clothes a daily challenge besides the exorbitant fees they had to cash out in exchange for the water use. With new water connections, Tamboon and other residents of the Ati community will now experience the convenience of continuous potable water service in their very own homes.

This project was made possible by Boracay Water, a company formed through the partnership of Manila Water and the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority in 2009. It provides water and used water services in Boracay, Malay, Aklan, particularly in its three barangays – Manoc-manoc, Balabag, and Yapak.

BORACAY FOUNDATION INC. CORNER pIA MIRAFLORES

oracay Foundation, Inc. (BFI) Chairman Dr. Henry O. Chusuey: “Community Effort No Matter How Small Makes A Huge Impact. Let Us All Work Together To Sustain Our Island.”

On October 4, 2014, owners and representatives of the island’s leading establishments gathered to attend the 3rd Quarterly General Membership Meeting of the BFI. The guest speakers for the meeting were Tourism Infrastructure Enterprise Zone Authority’s (TIEZA) Assistant Chief Operating Officer, Atty. Guiller B. Asido; LGU-Malay’s Executive Assistant to the Mayor and Boracay Redevelopment Task Force Secretariat Head, Ms. Mable D. Bacani; Boracay Island Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Glenn D. Sacapaño, and Department of Tourism Assistant Secretary and DOT’s Davao Regional Director, Arturo P. Boncato Jr. The discussion mainly focused on the following topics: Boracay drainage project status and updates, the LGUMalay’s preparations for the upcoming APEC conference and the status of the ongoing Chinese Travel Ban affecting the island’s tourism industry.

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Western Visayas gains headway in Singapore, Malaysia tourist markets

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NOVEMBER 2014

The Chairman of the BFI, Dr. Henry O. Chusuey of Henann Resorts, invited BFI members to be more active by participating in committee activities and attending meetings. He emphasized the importance of joint efforts to address the issues in the island. He reiterated that the preservation and management of the island is not only the responsibility of the government, but also of the private sector and that both stakeholders should join hands in ensuring its sustainable development.

Meanwhile, President Dionisio J. Salme of Jony’s Beach Resort Boracay reported the accomplishments of the organization.

ASec. Boncato of the DOT informed the stakeholders of the numerous efforts being done by the DOT to reduce the negative impacts of the Chinese Travel Ban to the local tourism industry. The DOT has continuously been joining international travel expos here and abroad to promote the Philippines, giving special emphasis to Boracay Island.

Rieseling Beach Resort Boracay and Marine Walk Helmet Diving Center were also sworn in as new members of the BFI during the said meeting.

Heading the LGU group were Gov. Samuel T. Gumarin of the Province of Guimaras and Vice-Mayor Wilbec Gelito of the Municipality of Malay, Aklan with Atty. Helen J. Catalbas, Department of Tourism Region VI Regional Director as head of delegation. Tourism Officers Angeles Gabinete (Guimaras), Cristine Mansinares (Negros Occidental) and Felix de los Santos (Malay, Aklan) did their respective tourist product presentations during the twin-country event.

Partial report for January – September 2014 Western Visayas Singaporean arrivals of 13,998 showed 79.90 % increase while Boracay final report of 19,513 arrivals posted 99.72% increase for the same nationality over the same period last year. Meanwhile Malaysian

partial arrivals to Western Visayas posted 162.72 % increase with 12,127 arrivals while final arrivals figure for Boracay posted a 187.52% increase with 11,883 arrivals.

“For the period August – September 2014, partial Western Visayas report showed a 11.92 % increase with 2,273 Singaporean arrivals all contributed by Boracay Island. This gave Western Visayas an increase of 3.18% in its partial report.

On the other hand, Malaysian arrivals partial Western Visayas report revealed a 180.59% increase with 3,064 arrivals all contributed by Boracay Island which showed a 210.12% increase from last year’s figure. It may be pointed out that the first group of tourists from Malaysia arrived in Western Visayas barely one month after the business mission as a result of contracts signed on the spot and in the succeeding weeks between the Western Visayas private sector members and the Singaporean and Malaysian travel agents,” Catalbas added.

Catalbas concluded by saying that the LGU representatives were in Singapore and Malaysia to give assurance to businessmen in these countries that Western Visayas is a fun region and very safe to send tourists to while tourism private sector counterparts engaged in business negotiations / contract signing and establishing business relationship that is calculated to last for at least 4-5 years.

Boracay joins 25th International Clean Up Day peter tay

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ast September 20, a total of 230 participants joined the International Coastal Clean Up organized by Boracay Beach Management Program, endorsed by Project Aware Foundation, Municipality of Malay, Petron Foundation Fuel Fun, Boracay Foundation Inc., Philippines Coast Guard and Philippines Coast Guard Auxiliary; and sponsored by Boracay Adventures Inc. and New Life Christian Center Boracay.

In spite of the devastation brought by Typhoon “Mario” to the Island and the country, there were still many who came as early as 6:00 A.M. to register for the program. Senior Pastor Arnold Lamsim of New Life Christian Center Boracay officially started the program at 7:00 A.M. with an opening prayer. He also took the opportunity to share that while it is good to clean the environment, it is also good for us to clean our soul; many were blessed by his short message of love.

CAPT. Jose D. Villaroman, Squadron Director of Philippines Coast Guard Auxiliary, welcomed all participants and thanked everybody for taking their time to be in the event. CDR. Peter Tay of the Philippines Coast Guard Auxiliary, gave a short presentation about the need of keeping the environment clean and the significance of the International Coastal Clean Up. Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) is the world’s largest volunteer effort for ocean’s health. It is celebrated every third Saturday of September of each year. The vision of the organization is to have a balanced and healthy ocean - free of trash and pollution for cleaner and healthier lives and a mission to help clean the seas, rivers, lakes and waterways, and to raise awareness on the growing marine debris problem with the following objectives: 1.

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remove trash/debris from beaches and waterways increase awareness on the extent of the marine debris problem popularize the concept of waste management promote a clean, healthy and sustainable coastal environment change behaviors that causes pollution

At 7:30 A.M., participants were given tasks to clean up the beaches covering Station 3, Angol Point and the Main Road. The clean up ended at 8.30 A.M. with a total of 25 bags of trash collected, estimated to be 250kg of trash. Philippines Coast Guard led by LT. Jimmy Oliver P. Vingno provided free refreshment for the participants.

All participants were given a Certificate of Recognition designed by Project Aware Foundation and printed by Boracay Adventures Inc. You can view all the pictures of the event at the FaceBook Page of Boracay Adventures: https://www.facebook. com/boracayadventures.

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BORACAY SUN

IN THE NEWS

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T OURISM Boracay hits new high in tourist arrivals JUN AGUIRRE

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espite the challenges of travel ban, problems on flood and traffic, this resort island continues to be an irresistible tourism destination.

According to the Department of Tourism (DoT), data shows that from January to September this year, Boracay has already lured 1,147,381 foreign and local tourists.

Country on origin

No. of Tourist Arrivals

South Korea

191,061

China

156,188

Taiwan

36,011

United States

16,884

Singapore

13,513

Russia

12,416

Australia

12,387

Malaysia

11,883

Saudi Arabia

8,884

Japan

7,379

United Kingdom

7,349

Germany

6,374

The high number of Chinese tourists arrivals is unexpected considering the Chinese government’s travel warning to all its citizens in August. In fact, due to this travel advisory, chartered flights at the Kalibo International Airport have been cancelled.

Most of the Chinese tourists reportedly came from Hong Kong and registered themselves as walk-in guests.

The arrival of Malaysian tourists also came as a suprise. They registered a whooping 200 percent increase this year. The DoT information showed that Malaysian tourists registered 11,883 this year, indeed much higher than the 4,133 that visited the island last year.

Niven Maquirang, Jetty Port Administrator, said that cruise ship arrivals are also not affected by the recent travel ban as two more cruise ships are expected to arrive before the year ends.

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“They are scheduled to arrive on November 6 and December 30. Details of their arrivals are yet to be finalized though. The only sure thing is that cruise ships of Star Cruises will arrive as the company has included Boracay in their favorite destinations,” said Maquirang.

“Boracay is becoming at par with the worldwide trend on Cruise Ship Tourism.

On our part, we are developing the jetty port to reach the international standard,” Maquirang added.

In addition, a United Kingdom-based Oceania Cruises has started selling tickets for its new route. The Aklan provincial government is yet to receive notification from the Oceania Cruises management.

Britanny Chrusciel, Editorial Assistant of the Oceania Cruises, said that Boracay has been included in their 12 new destinations around the world.

For the Boracay route, Oceania Cruises will be using its Nautica vessel which will sail in both Asia and Africa for eight itineraries in 2015. These include overnight in ports like Singapore, Ha Long Bay, Tokyo, Cape Town and Namibia. Nautica will also complete a 35-night voyage from Hong Kong to Istanbul that navigates the Suez Canal.

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BORACAY SUN

THE EXPATRIATE

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E XPAT

EXPLORER

Extreme Hovering Kate Hammaren

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couldn’t wait to try my Images from Back to the skateboard sprung to mind. be me flying along - bring

hand at Hoverboarding offered with Extreme Fun. Future of Marty McFly gliding along on his futuristic Only this time it would be on water AND it would it on!

The board is a little like a snowboard with two straps for your feet to fit into.

The tail end is attached to a long hose connected to the jet ski that powers the board. The air is shot from the jet ski through the hose and into the board, and off you go, dragging the jet ski behind you. Simple right?

The instructors did a demo and made it look effortless, much like surfing but easier. Instead of all that exhausting paddle, you are propelled along on your stomach while lying on the board until you’re sufficiently far enough from the jet ski. Back foot in one strap, front foot in the other then stand and SURF! The really exciting bit is if you push down on your back foot, you’re propelled into the air which is a pretty impressive-looking stunt.

As a novice surfer, I had experienced the thrill of riding the waves and knew the rush you could get, so I was imagining that but turbo-charged! Lifejacket and helmet on, I leapt on the board, stomach down, and felt myself propelled upwards, away from the pontoon and the jet ski.

Enjoying the ride I suddenly realised it was time to stand and drop to the left of the board. Still gliding along, I easily slipped my right foot (the back foot) into the back strap. So far so good. Time for the left foot (front foot). My first attempt failed while my second was even harder than I thought. On my third try, still being propelled, I let go of the board and it shot right into the air and carried on without me. I thought I couldn’t do it, so, Ron, the instructor, came over and gave me some advice and off we went again.

Several thwarted attempts later, I was successful! My front foot was in and suddenly (and in the manner of Bambi), I slowly but surely stood up. It felt so awesome, like a real achievement. Trying to remember my surfing lesson and staying relaxed, we glide through the water and I’m actually pulling the jet ski along! Tilting forward to go right, back on the heels to go left and I wanted to be airborne. Putting my weight unto my back foot, I suddenly felt the nose of the board tilt up, and up we flew into the air! It was probably a few centimetres out of the water, but it felt incredible and I let out a ridiculous, girly squeal of joy.

The adrenaline was pumping, my legs were aching and I was pretty exhausted, but I’d done it and it felt really, really good. It’s hard to master, but once you get that foot in the front strap, standing is easier than I thought and so is actually staying upright! It’s one of those things that you want to keep at again and again until you get it right. And that’s just what I need on top of diving and Flyboarding; another utterly addictive watersport!

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BORACAY SUN

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THE EXPATRIATE

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NOVEMBER 2014

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Flyboarding: Get ready for the launch Kate Hammaren

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hen Extreme Fun invited me to experience the I-Flyboard Extreme, I could hardly contain my excitement.

Strapping a jet pack to my feet and being shot out of the sea sounded like a ridiculous amount of fun and who doesn’t want to learn how to fly?!

Checking out YouTube clips with some friends, the fear kicked in. Following the “Whooaaaaa!” and the “Siiiiiiccckkk!!” came raucous laughter, and, “Oh my god, you’re going to drown!”. The term ‘face-planting’ was also bandied about.

Although I was terrified, I was still super-excited. So when the day dawned, I was ready to go.

Before we were allowed to hit the water, a briefing and demo were delivered: Lie on your back, and move your knees to steer left and right until it’s time to roll over into take-off position. Relax and stand straight on the water with your toes pointed slightly down. Toes up and... take-off!!

They also showed us how to dive when you feel you’re losing balance, so the face-planting worry was swiftly dealt with. I couldn’t wait to get in.

I put on a lifejacket and helmet, then the boots that are fastened to a small board that’s attached to a long tube powering the board from the jetski. My main concern was sinking like a stone with

the weight of the pack, but bizarrely my feet remained buoyant due to the lifejacket. All worries now eradicated, my excitement was mounting.

Lying on the sea I tried to remember everything the instructor had said. I can do this, I can do this! Once clear from the jetski, the driver signalled and I rolled over, not in the most elegant manner I might add. The board’s quite heavy and there’s a tendency to moving your knee to flip over. Standing on the water was an odd feeling. The air was ramped up, the adrenaline rushed through my middle, the power through my feet (toes up, toes up!), and I found myself being pushed out of the sea and into the air. What a feeling! I was actually flying! The most incredible sensation ever! Then, splat! Back on the sea - I forgot to relax and balance a bit.

Everything whizzes through my mind and body. Anticipation as I hear the air coming to my feet, that adrenaline rush as I was pushed up out of the sea followed by: relax, don’t lean forward, look at the horizon, breathe... splat!

Utterly addictive. Even though I was dumped in the sea from what seems like a great height, time and time again, inhaling copious amounts of seawater, it was something I just wanted to keep doing until I get it right. I couldn’t

wait to get clear of the jetski and back up on my feet. After several attempts, I suddenly got the hang of it and finally surfed the sky. I even managed a double-handed wave in joy. It’s a real sense of achievement and I didn’t even feel vertiginous. But upon seeing Ron, our instructor, effortlessly flying meters up in the air, I realized my attempts merely lifted me just above the water - I cannot imagine the adrenaline surge when you’re a pro.

Hovering about, looking at the incredible view, there’s something oddly relaxing about standing on a small board up in the air, in the middle of the sea. This sport is highly addictive and and I want more. Much more. Now, where do I sign up?

If you want to experience Flyboarding, you may contact them @ (+63 910) 230 0000 or Email: info@x-tremesport.com.

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7107 ISLANDS

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NOVEMBER 2014

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T RAVEL

CORREGIDOR RISING Blanche Posadas-Basco

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e used to have an encyclopedia at home, which I always read when I was in elementary. Reading about history and stories of war touched every inch of interest of me. So, it was not surprising when I became a war fanatic, devouring every book I’d get my hands on about WWII and war movies such as Saving Private Ryan, a personal favorite. My mother described me as a morbid person because I find enjoyment watching the goriness of war.

My interest has nothing to do with death though or the morbidity. Those stories of war gave me that satisfaction of knowing what happened then, a satisfaction even I could not define.

every corner of Corregidor to relive its history. I felt I was in a different time zone upon setting foot on the island. All I could think of was its war scenarios: falling bombs, battery guns being fired, smoke all around, dead but brave soldiers laying on the ground.

My imagination was cut off when we halted to another docking area called the Lorcha Dock. It has the statue of Gen. Douglas MacArthur with his famous lines, “I shall return.” It is also the departure area of MacArthur when he left the island for Australia. Of course, a snapshot with the famous general is a must, and you may also mimic his raised hand if you want to do so.

My hunger for war history was satiated when I first set foot on an island 48 km off the coast of Manila. Shaped like a tadpole, the island of Corregidor is a fortress during the Japanese Occupation in the Philippines. After the Fall of Bataan on April 9, 1942, Corregidor became the headquarters of the Allied Forces in the Pacific. Filipino and American soldiers fought the Japanese on this island until it was surrendered on May 6, 1942.

Next to see was the Middleside sector of the island. When I was with my family taking pictures at the middleside barracks, my uncle said, “Bakit ba kayo nagpapa-picture dyan? Eh sira-sira naman yan.” He was being funny, I know, but the “sira-sira” buildings are precious remnants of war. The Japanese inflicted heavy shelling on these barracks and I am in awe that the ruins stood the test of time.

I believe in History repeats itself, because my first visit in the island of Corregidor in 2010 wasn’t my last. The historical tour had a repeat in 2011, and the latest was just last year, 2013. Two were overnight stay while one was just a day tour. Though I was always with a different group, the experience was always new each time, and exciting.

It will take you an hour of ferry ride to go to Corregidor. Booked at Sun Cruises, the terminal is located in CCP Bay Terminal in Pasay. Once inside the ferry, a video is played, featuring a brief history of World War II and Corregidor.

After the ferry ride, a tranvia (tram) awaits at the dock to bring you to

It was on my second trip to Corregidor that I became more aware of the other sights I’ve been to from the previous trip. Aside from the batteries scattered all over the island, there was also the Japanese cemetery, which also displays guns and artilleries. I can still remember our guide telling us about the big fertility goddess near the cemetery. I’m not a fan of superstitious beliefs but the last time I took a picture of it I was with my husband and after three weeks, we found out that I was pregnant! Oh well, it was just a coincidence.

The nerve center of the island is the Topside. Found here is the three-story concrete building called the Mile Long barracks. It measures 1,520 feet and

regarded as the world’s longest military barracks. Another ruin located in the Topside is the Cine Corregidor. I love the idea that American soldiers spent their leisure time in this once movietheater. There is also the Pacific War Memorial, erected to honor the valor of the Filipino and American soldiers who participated in the Pacific War. The last stop in this sector of the island is the Spanish Lighthouse. Originally built by the Spaniards, it is also the highest point in the island where one could see the magnificent view of Corregidor, Manila Bay, Bataan and Cavite.

In all of my three visits in the island, I never missed out two special activities in the Malinta tunnel - the Lights and Sound Show and the Night Lateral Tour. This tunnel served as a bombproof shelter with a 1,000 bed hospital for the Filipino and American soldiers during the siege of Corregidor. Branching from the main tunnel are 13 laterals on the north side and 11 laterals on the south side.

I admit that I got a little bit scared during the Night Lateral tour, because when the guide asked us to turn off all the lights, the tunnel was pitch dark! I do not believe in ghosts. I have never seen one, either. But the tunnel gave me the creeps. The awesome thing about that creepy tour was learning a bit of our country’s history. The guide told us how the soldiers lived each day inside the tunnel, while bombs are falling

above them. He also showed us the small exit that Pres. Manuel Quezon went through in order to leave the island to be brought to safety before Corregidor fell on the hands of the Japanese.

The Lights and Sound Show in the tunnel was also something to be proud of. How can you be not patriotic when the National Anthem of the Philippines was played at the end of the show? A lot of foreigners had been to the island, and I am swelling with pride that they have listened to our National Anthem and paid respect to our Philippine flag.

While digesting every account that happened in each fortification, I couldn’t help myself but be amazed of the historical facts of the island. Of all the batteries, Battery Grubbs, which has two huge disappearing guns, made a mark in my historical journal partly because Former US President Bill Clinton once visited it. Another thrilling adventure, I will never forget was going through the small Japanese tunnels.

I thought that I knew Corregidor already from those history books and websites.

Being in Corregidor is like a magical Disneyland experience. A whole new world, a dazzling place I never knew.

Corregidor took me wonder by wonder, on a magic tranvia ride! Astoundingly, from a war-torn fortress, Corregidor has risen to the occasion to make history as rich as ever.

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A Road Trip To The Northern Philippines... In My Purple Slippers Elizabeth Jalea

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y best friend and I dream of putting up a B&B (bed and breakfast), one that is homey and charming that would welcome and provide comfort to weary travellers. Whether that dream would come true someday, we have yet to see. In the meantime, we love being travellers, venturing out to see some of the famous tourist destinations in the Philippines and in Asia.

The moment we connect on the internet, we would scour over promo fares and cheap accommodations. We travel twice or thrice a year together or with other set of friends. We would do our own itineraries, taking notes of recommendations from friends and those that we’d find online. We would have no qualms as to how we would get to a place and for how long we would get there, the thought of arriving is enough for us to get going. And when I learned how to drive, I knew we would reach more places. In fact, Tagaytay, which we seldom visit in the past, became our weekend getaway. And so are the neighbouring Laguna or Cavite.

Driving definitely scratches that travel itch, so I say. So much that when an opportunity to travel by road to Northern Luzon came, I didn’t hesitate. I did the trip with seven other officemates more like on a whim, no planning involved, no accommodations were booked in

advance. We pencilled our agreed dates in our work calendars though. And we discussed our itinerary on a coffee break the day before we took off. It’s a good thing I’ve been to the Ilocos Region a year ago (via airplane for a LaoagVigan-Pagudpud Trip), and the others have frequently travelled to Baguio and Isabela.

We agreed on a 4-day expedition, using only two cars and with Google Map as navigational guide. We left Ortigas Center (Pasig City) at around 5:00 AM and by 6:00 AM we were already driving along the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) to our first stop (breakfast stop) - Dagupan, Pangasinan. We stopped over at McDonald’s Dagupan around 8:30 AM. After breakfast, we’re on to a “photography trip” at Thunderbirds Resort Poro Point, San Fernando City, La Union – a much-photographed resort in this part of Luzon. The resort’s blue and white buildings inspired by those in Santorini, Greece are a sight to behold!

By 10:00 AM, we were set to drive to Vigan, the Capital City of Ilocos Sur. Along the road, we chanced upon Bistro Candon, a local restaurant in Candon City, where we had our lunch.

For just P1500, eight of us had our fill of the local papaitan (an exotic stew dish known in this area) and Vigan longganisa.

Vigan – a World Heritage Site We left Bistro Candon at around 1:00 PM. Vigan was still an hour and a half away. Our initial plan was actually to have lunch in Vigan’s Cafe Leona and feast our eyes on the City’s picturesque old houses and cobblestone streets before we continue to Pagudpud for our first night stop. This bit of a sidetrack did not stop us to admire the majestic Abra River as we made our way to Quirino/Banaoang Bridge. The Banaoang Bridge screams of architectural grandeur, a far cry from the other bridges that we drove by from La Union to this part of Luzon. As we drive through the bridge, we noticed a thick rope hanging mid-air

a two-way zipline between the old and the new Quirino bridges. This marked the start of our “adventure trip”, yet again, another unplanned stop but well worth it. I’ve done “ziplining” before but doing it over a large body of water was simply two times the fun and more exhilarating. I was practically clapping with glee! I wasn’t able to time but the first glide felt like forever (forever here means three to five minutes). My legs were shaking and my lungs were filled with air from shouting. When I reached the end, I had to literally crawl up the stairs leading to the top of the holding and preparation area for the second glide back.

and then a sign pointing to an adventure zone. The rope, we later found out when we reached the adventure zone, is CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

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Marcos are currently interred in this mausoleum in a refrigerated glass coffin.

The museum shows memorabilia of the late president. When we dropped by Batac last year, the mausoleum was also closed due to the two-day black out in the area. Fortunately, our driver-guide at that time is a friend of the katiwala so we were able to enter and see the frozen remains of the late president.

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e were still brimming with adrenaline when we reached Vigan at 4:30 PM. The inviting aura of this UNESCO-declared World Heritage Site added to our excitement. Vigan (called “Bee Gan” meaning, Beautiful Shore, by early Chinese traders – the B was later changed to V by the Spanish conquistadors) transports us back to the time of Maria Clara and the Spanish era. According to UNESCO, Vigan is the best-preserved example of a planned Spanish colonial town in Asia. Its architecture reflects the coming together of cultural elements from elsewhere in the Philippines, from China and from Europe, resulting in a culture and townscape that have no parallel anywhere in East and South-East Asia.

Baluarte – a short tricyle or kalesa ride from the Heritage Village if you want to see a tiger and other endangered species; Museums – for those who want to dig deeper into the City’s history and people, there are many in the area including the Crisologo Museum and the Padre Burgos Museum Syquia Mansion – the ancestral home of the family of the wife of President Elpidio Quirino

Walking along the City’s Mestizo District, one could imagine a bustling place filled with traders and passersby in those early days. A scene of locals fanning themselves while having siesta comes to mind when looking up at the veranda of those old houses.

I first came to Vigan a year ago albeit on a stormy night. I was with another set of friends. We stayed at Gordion Hotel, also located within the Mestizo District and just a few minutes walk from the famous Calle Crisologo. We spent the night in the City just so we could experience its beautifully lighted streets at night (or dawn, should we manage to wake up early). And Vigan never disappoint. Despite the drizzling, we were treated to a view of cloudy but starry and somewhat bluish sky.

And the streetlights, they are magical! I could stay the night there over and over again sans the spook that comes with sleeping in old buildings. The longanisa that the hotel served us for breakfast the following morning was as authentic as it could get, and delicioso!

Bantay Bell Tower – take photos with this historic edifice as backdrop or climb its winding staircase up to the top where the enormous bell hangs.

The Bell Tower was built beside St. Augustine Church, where Diego Silang imprisoned Spanish priests during the revolt that he led against the Spaniards in 1973.

By 5:30 PM, we were on the road again to our “Food Trip”. By this time of the day, we were already salivating for the famed Ilocos Empanada. I was told by a friend when I first visited Ilocos that the best version of this street food known throughout the region can be found in the stalls of Batac Public Market. I’ve had my first taste of this specialty food the year before and so it’s only fair that I share that experience to my road trip buddies. (Vigan Empanada is said to be equally delicious but that is yet for me to discover).

Calle Crisologo – the most photographed street in the Mestizo District, you can never say you’ve been to Vigan without having a photo taken on this street;

Batac’s version is popularly known as Ilocos Empanada. Its crust is made of rice flour mixed with “achuete” to attain that orange coloring. Its filling could be a mixture of egg and mongo sprout, or egg and green papaya, added with Ilocos longanisa for special orders. I especially liked the egg and green papaya mixture with Ilocos longanisa. This pocket of goodness is deep fried until the crust is crispy and dark orange and it’s best eaten with drops of Ilocos vinegar.

We would have loved to visit the Marcos Museum and Mausoleum, which is adjacent to the public market, but the place closes at 5:00 PM (we arrived at Batac around 6:30 PM). The remains of the late President Ferdinand Edralin

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is called the Boracay of the North. It must have been how Boracay was like back in the day when only a few were visiting.

Our morning swim made us very hungry that we decided to have brunch at a nearby *dampa (hut) before we hit the road for our Day 2 trip. Dampa is a restaurant that cooks fresh seafood according to the guests’ request. The concept is that, guests would handpick seafood from a nearby seller/stall then bring their purchases to the restaurant or dampa for cooking. Guests instruct the cook or the restaurant staff how they want their fresh finds cooked. We purchased crabs and shrimps from a stall outside while the fishes we bought from the dampa’s own stock. The fishes,

Pagupud – Boracay of the North We left Batac Public Market at around 8:30 PM to set off to Pagudpud which is roughly 90 minutes away. The roads were already dark, some were lighted but for the most part, the only lights that guide us were those coming from our cars. Going up to this sleepy coastal town was a long ride, made even more longer, as we had to reduce speed to 80km/hour for safety. We amused ourselves reminiscing stories in our workplace. Thankfully, each of us would always have something to share – this is the good thing when you’re travelling with friends, you share experiences that everyone can easily relate into.

accordingly to one of the staff, were newly-caught through the traditional bowfishing. Apparently cast net fishing is discouraged in that area to prevent small fishes from being caught. We had our fishes pan fried, others cooked into sinigang.

Twenty minutes south of Pagudpud, is the awe-inspiring Bangui Windmills.

Another thirty-minute drive down is the historic Cape Bojeador Lighthouse in Burgos, Ilocos Norte. Read about these charming tourist spots up North in the next issue of Boracay Sun. In the meantime, while in Pagudpud, be sure to stop by these picture-worthy locations (North of Pagudpud):

Batac – Home of Great Leaders

In this road trip, I managed to take photos of Vigan on a sunny day. I also get to take in the feel of the town and its people while sitting on a bench at Plaza Burgos while waiting for my colleagues to come back from their tour of the City via a kalesa. We stayed there for just about two hours but the City is a safe place for a lone tourist I must say.

While in Vigan, be sure to check out the following:

Batac is known as the “Home of Great Leaders”. Among the leaders that hailed from this town are: the former President Marcos and his children who have served as governors of the province; Gregorio Aglipay, the founder of the Philippine Independent Church or the Aglipayan Church; and Gen. Artemio Ricarte, the “Father of the Philippine Army.

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Seeing the beaches of Pagudpud atop a mountainous road, in the dark, felt like looking at the top end of Luzon island. And, literally, it’s true. The town is located at the northernmost tip of Luzon island. Hannah Beach Resort and Convention Center, where I stayed in my first visit. It was a little off the price for us who only planned to stay until 9:00 AM the following day. It was already 11:00 PM when we reached the blue lagoon. We called up several resorts within the area along the way, we found one that offered to accommodate eight of us in a family room (with a bedroom and a loft) for P6500. Wanting to find a better deal, we stopped by Punta Azul,a non-imposing structure with parking spaces in front, located beside Hannah’s. We inquired and after a few minutes of haggling, we checkedin to a two-bedroom apartment/suite for just P3500/night – just our luck in the middle of the night. The apartment has a large living area with a TV, a kitchen with a fridge, and two bedrooms, each with a bathroom, giving us and our cars comfort away from home after that oneday long drive.

Set facing the West Philippine Sea, Pagudpud’s beaches are wonders that are yet to be discovered by many. With stretches of white sand, lined with coconut trees and crystal blue waters, one can just get lost with amazement. It was stormy during my first visit so the beaches for me then were just foams of waves, good as photo backdrops, ideal for surfers but not for swimming.

Fortunately, this time around, I get to swim in the much-written about crystal blue waters and bask on the white sand.

I understood, for the first time, why it

Patapat Bridge and Viaduct – the 4th longest bridge in the Philippines is a 1.3 km long viaduct that connects the Maharlika Highway from Laoag, Ilocos Norte to the Cagayan Valley Region.

We passed by this bridge on our way to Cagayan Valley, one of our destinations in Day 2.

Bantay Abot Cave – means “a mountain with a hole,” Bantay means mountain, abot means hole. But there is really no cave (the hole may look like a cave from afar) and it is really not a mountain but a rock formation right on the seashore.

Tinmantang Rock – another rock formation a few meters away from Bantay About Cave. According to local folklore, these two rock formations are lovers, Bantay Abot Cave being the female and Tinmantang Rock being the male. Both are collectively termed as “Lover’s Rock.” Tinmantang Rock is bell-shaped, covered with grass and bushes.

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WHY DAVAO CITY? Klaus Doring

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lready in 2009, I got the chance for an interview with then Davao City Vice Mayor Sara Duterte. She took almost an hour to talk with me. One question was very much preying on my mind: How can Davao City become attractive for expatriates and tourists as well as business people? Sara Duterte’s answers would need a lot more space for this column.

Living in this wonderful city myself since 1999, I experienced many of the good things.

Sure, with a predominantly migrant population, Davao City is a melting pot of cultures where diversities are well appreciated, respected, and nurtured in a harmonious and peaceful environment. This is one of my most important reasons in staying here for good.

Davao City is still the fastest growing city in the Philippines. And, there is still plenty of room for newcomers here. Davao covers more than 2,400 square kilometers and is one of the most sprawling cities worldwide.

After an awesome campaign against crime and the city’s environmental problems, Davao City remains one of the fastest cities in the country. Of course, it’s also today’s mayor Rody Duterte’s merit and credit. Sometimes, for several people, an uncomfortable but undisputed and incorruptible man, the mayor rules and governs over Davao inflexible and hard as iron.

Davao City has one of the highest literacy rates in Asia. Its labor force is cited as among the best in the region: educated, easily trainable, and industrious. Davao City is really “a haven of urban luxury and gateway to natural wonders, engaging festivals and world-class tourism facilities.

I left my heart in Davao City already in 1982 during a stop over and waiting for a connecting trip to San Francisco via Manila.

By Theresa Fajilan

In life people will judge you whether it be good or bad, that is their right. But do not live up to the expectations of others… Live your life impressing yourself and feel good as you appreciate every blessing in your life.

Some of the most amazing people in the world were not perfect; they were scarred by suffering, hardships, losses and imperfections. But when they recovered, they were stronger, wiser, and more loving and compassionate. Your life is going to get better in the proper time, and you will be stronger and more at peace than ever before.

-Bryant McGill Each INDIVIDUAL is master of his or her DESTINY: it is up to each PERSON to CREATE the causes of HAPPINESS -The 14th Dalai Lama The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.

- Mahatma Ghandi

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P ET CORNER 101

The 3 Absolute Travel Essentials Dog Body Language Blanche Posadas-Basco

Jeff Mancao

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ne of the common mistakes a dog fan or a house guest make is touch or grab a dog right away when they see one. Dogs are cute, it’s easy to get carried away by their cuteness. Unfortunately, beware! Unaware guests can sometimes get bitten or snapped.

Dogs are like humans, proper timing is crucial especially for first time encounters.

First, let them smell you as part of their ritual and avoid eye contact. Afterwards, check the body language of the dog – wagging of tail, ears if erected and head movement.

Good rapport will come along as the dog slowly trusts you. This applies to any dog breed or size.

Also, best to ask the dog owner if the dog is harmless and can be touched.

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he height of excitement for one’s love for traveling is always, I believe, at its peak. Enjoying the thought of basking in the sun at a paradise resort or feeling the cold wind on top of a mountain can bring much joy to a traveler’s soul. When we travel, we do not just focus on our destination, we also follow our well-planned itinerary and our list of must-haves and what-tobring. There are three absolute essentials that one should have when going on a trip. I find these very important in every journey I take.

1. Safety First – The first thing I look for when I am already inside a plane or on board a ship are the emergency exit doors. Next, I read thoroughly the safety cards. I also listen and watch intently how the cabin crew demonstrates the safety precautions. We should follow important safety tips to protect ourselves but the most vital first step we must do is PRAY. It is important that God knows we want His mighty hands to travel with us. The Lord shall provide peace throughout our trip and His grace will always keep us safe.

2. The Book Runner – My husband works as nurse in Texas, so he only comes home once a year to spend time with me, and of course to visit his beloved paradise island, Boracay.

Whenever we travel I always bring a paperback novel or my light and compact e-book reader, while my husband never forgets his old and worn BIBLE placed inside his sturdy backpack. He said IT is a very faithful traveling companion especially that he has to endure the long flight hours coming here from the US and vice versa. I remember him telling me that everyday he opens his Bible and reads a verse in the car

before he goes to work. Reading the Bible will keep you calm, collected, and full of hope because it contains God’s wonderful promises waiting for you in each journey.

3. True Grit – Air turbulence scares me a lot. I love to travel but I cannot hide the fact that I must also face some obstacles along the way. During one of my Asian trips, my family and I already knew that we would encounter a very shaky airplane ride because of the stormy weather. When we were already boarding I told my cousin that I was afraid something might happen.

He replied jokingly that he had dreamt of the flight and that we might perish.

He saw the frightened look on my face and immediately said that I should stop worrying. It was a bad joke at first but he told me that I should always be brave and believe that everything will turn out fine. Because of this incident, I have learned to put up a good face of COURAGE at the beginning of a trip.

Sprinkled with excitement, one should always travel with confidence. With this positive thought in mind, I also keep a quote from Christopher Columbus, “You can never cross the ocean until you have the COURAGE to lose sight of the shore.”

As we travel with Courage far away from the comforts of our home, we should stick with the Bible as our dependable chum and a carry Prayer as our saving grace until we reach our destination.

The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore. - Psalm 121:8 Have a blessed journey!

As they say, it’s better safe than sorry!

For queries and tips, please follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ GibsPetMart

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Bangkok Fun

YOGA: O Into a spiritual path or an exercise routine

dra. sandra suzette quiachon

Sivananda

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s above so below! A real Yogi is the one who sees the light within all beings; he can see the negative and transform it into the positive. You are the yogi; you are the individual spark of uniqueness, gifted with unlimited potential. It will only take you five minutes to continue reading and a small simple enquiry to make the next step towards feeling good.

The Yogi sees his body as the vehicle to the Divine, to God, or to whatever name you give this supreme effulgence!

What did Jesus mean when He said, “The kingdom of God is within you.”

These words are pretty straightforward.

So simple! The Kingdom of God Is Within Your Body. You walk around with this energy in you all the time.

All you need is one thought directed to this Universal Consciousness; call it Jesus, Buddha, Allah or Krishna.

It is Universal and always will be a positive pulsation available for you to ACT on. Right NOW! So daily, the yogi spends some time cultivating this energy, through simple movements of breath, mind and body. More advanced practices may have the yogi simply sitting in meditation for up to three hours daily. Perhaps a bit extreme? I guess it depends on what you measure it against; you could always start with a simple 5-min a day.

One of the most common meanings of yoga is union. Bringing together the

mind and body. So, if the temple of God resides in your body, surely you would start to get to know your arms and your legs and some simple mechanisms of your divine make-up. The yogi performs many shapes and movements bringing the mind into the various parts of the body. We synchronize the mind with the breath into a shape; the shape is either strengthening, lengthening or opening up a space in your amazing vehicle, your body! You will build muscles in places you never knew you had and open up areas in your body, which can help release a tremendous amount of stuck emotions.

When the body feels good and relaxed, it is easier for you to simply be good.

Be positive, pray more, meditate more or simply have more energy for serving your children!

Earth Yoga has provided a platform for me as an individual to understand everything through the eyes of yoga and accepted it as is, or simply as a transformation of energy.

Search Earth Yoga Boracay on Facebook to see the daily yoga schedule for an all-level yoga experience. Shaun teaches privates, small groups and runs teacher training programs through Asia and Europe.

ur 2013 vacation with my sister, her daughter Lian and my husband at first, seemed off timing to me. Before the trip I was experiencing some leg pain so I had to overhaul my body by having to endure seven painful but bearable acupuncture sessions and packing a handful of painkillers. Our first flight was delayed so we had to bear with the overpriced airport meals.

After three hours from Cebu we finally arrived at our destination.

Suvarnabhumi International Airport is both massive and very impressive, a far cry from our own airports. The problem was I could not communicate with my friend who was supposed to pick us up. But by God’s grace we found each other in that labyrinthine place. I was so happy to find a familiar face.

Even if we were bone-weary from the long hours of awaiting our flight, we decided to eat out to experience our first Thai street food (most of which were spicy) and talked non stop until after past midnight with our hosts and good friends, the Gabuya family.

Our first day was spent crossing streets on a run, looking for directions, (only to find out much later that the entire city has free wifi and we could have used our GPS) and hanging out at nearby malls.

Our second day was spent touring the temples and the palace grounds under the scorching heat of the sun. (It’s even more hot there during summer). We also had the chance to enjoy classical piano playing at Hotel Rembrandt while listening to Chloe and Nichole’s angelic voices. We wanted to visit their pristine white sand beaches but were pressed for time. So, we settled for some last minute shopping on our final day.

Bangkok is much like the Philippines.

A tropical country, rich in culture with magnificent beaches. Their monarch even looked like our very own Fidel V. Ramos. Infrastructure, however, is much more improved than ours, but if one looks closely there are also slums living in the “esteros”.

More than the temples, the shopping and the culture nothing could beat our friends’ warmth, generosity and hospitality. Truly a blessing to us. Thank you Dondee, Theta a.ka. Michelle, Nichole and Chloe. We had FUN!

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CJ: The people and the beach, and the unhurried mode of living and lifestyle.

Q: Do you see yourself as someone who will live here in Boracay?

CJ: I used to travel a lot. Right now, I just wanted to rest and save money then travel again. But I would really want to stay here in Boracay.

michael madriaga

Chef June of Damiana’s

Q: What is your happiest moment as a chef?

CJ: When people come and talk to me and tell me that they loved what I prepared for them.

“You are what you eat, so eat delicious.”

Q: How about the worst?

CJ: When there’s a inappropriate complaint.

complaint,

He even shared with us one of his unforgettable moments.

“You are what you eat, so eat delicious.”

These are the words that you would usually hear from Chef Lazaro Ambos “June” Vino III. He is popular to a lot of locals because of his talents when it comes to cooking.

He also opened his first restaurant, the Bay Leaf Restaurant in Bulabog, before he finally chose to work as Head Chef/ Kitchen Manager for Damiana’s Filipino Restaurant. Know more about the genius behind the island-famous Twice-cooked Adobo in this interview.

Q: When did you realize that you wanted to become a chef?

CJ: Actually, nung bata pa ako. I started cooking when I was 5. I grew up in a house where both my parents are cooking. My mom (also) used to teach commercial cooking in a school.

Q: What were you cooking when you were 5?

CJ: Rice. Perfect rice at five years old!

At the age of 15, Chef June already knows how to cook a lot of dishes.

Q: Who were your early influences in cooking?

CJ: My mother of course. My favorite is sarsiadong isda – sarsiadong galunggong. Well, my favorite style is slow cooking, no shortcuts.

Chef June added that his celebrity influence is Bobby Flay.

Q: When did you reside here in Boracay?

CJ: October 2007. I came here for a week vacation then I stayed for the whole year. I just overstayed then never left.

Q: What made you stay here?

Chef Jordi of Cozina & Wokeria

“If you don’t trust your people, there’s no teamwork.”

Trusting the people around him is what makes Chef Jorge Martinez Pacheco an excellent Chef and at the same time, a good leader. He has been on the island for more than a year already. Before moving here to work for Cozina Authentic Spanish Restaurant and Wokeria International Restaurant, he first worked in different countries like Sweden, and in Manila where he also taught culinary subjects in different schools, Enderun being one.

He started cooking when he was 14 as a working student in a pastry shop. Know more about him in this interview.

Q: What made you stay here in Boracay?

CJ: I was working in a restaurant in Manila and it got so stressful, so when I had the opportunity, I moved here.

Actually, I have known the island and I’m getting more and more in love with

it. My stay here is nice. During the low season there’s not much work so we have time to upgrade our menu.

Q: When did you start cooking?

CJ: When I was 14, I was already working in a pastry shop. After that, I became an official of the shop. When I was 16, (when) I was just finishing high school and deciding on my futur, I dreamed of becoming a veterinarian.

Chef Jordi admitted that he wasn’t able to pursue his dream of becoming a veterinarian. One day, he attended a fair and he saw a school booth offering culinary courses, and that’s when he realized that he wanted to become a chef.

Like some that we have interviewed, his main inspirations when it comes to cooking are his mother and grandmother.

CJ: I had a mistake; I used baking soda instead of powdered sugar for an icing on a cake. After that, I labeled all the ingredients.

Q: How is Chef June inside the kitchen?

CJ: I’m very serious inside the kitchen – b*tch mode.

Q: How about outside the kitchen?

CJ: Kikay… Charot! [he laughs] I don’t know. Party, drinking at night, hanging out with friends, sunbathing -- I don’t do sports.

Q: How do you see yourself about 5 years from now?

CJ: I don’t know. I live in the now eh.

I’m the kind of person who lives in the present.

Chef June is also planning to put up his restaurant again, either in Boracay or

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somewhere else.

Q: What is your favorite dish or cuisine?

CJ: Filipino food. Aside from that, French cuisine, (because) it’s very refined. Simple yet very refined.

Q: Any specific French dish?

CJ: French toast. It is simple.

Q: So you’re a breakfast person?

CJ: Very. I eat in the morning. I (actually) don’t skip meals.

Q: Is there anything that you don’t eat?

CJ: Wala, kinakain ko lahat. As a chef, I’m very adventurous when it comes to food and I’m willing to try anything.

Q: What is something that you can’t give up eating?

CJ: Rice. (And) tuyo (dried fish). When I got used to eating different kinds of food, I always resort into having tuyo.

Q: Any tips for those aspiring to become chefs in the future?

CJ: Study hard, work hard, and always follow your heart. And choose your influences when it comes to cooking.

Q: If you were a dish, what would it be and why?

CJ: Adobo! I represent the Philippines and I’m known for that.

Q: How will you relate adobo to your personality?

CJ: Dark and delicious!

Our conversation with Chef June was full of laughter, no wonder he made a lot of friends on the island. To know more about him, follow him on Instagram (@junevino), or visit Damiana’s Filipino Restaurant at Station 2.

CJ: I learned creating a lot of desserts like torrijas and pestiños from my grandmother. Everything she did was fried. Torrijas are fried bread with cinnamon. Pestiños are also fried bread and very tasteful, it has a lot of sugar on it. From my mama, my favorite is the Cocido Madrileno. It is chick peas stew with a lot of meat and vegetables.

It takes a long time to cook, around 6 hours, that’s why everything is soft.

CJ: I go to the gym. I also do swimming, diving (and) snorkeling. I also like to go away and disappear. [He laughs]

Q: What is your happiest or most memorable moment as a chef?

CJ: The most memorable was when I won in the Chefmanship Competition last July in Shangri-la. I won in two Filipino categories and I was the only Spanish chef, all the others are Filipinos – it was surprising.

Q: What is your favorite cuisine aside from Spanish?

CJ: I love Chinese, Vietnamese, and Japanese food. I am also discovering Filipino food and I already know how to cook it – the flavor is a bit similar to Spanish. My favorite Filipino dish is kare-kare. Being a chef, I need to taste everything. I’ve tried balut and intestines. I tried them once – I tried.

[He laughs]

Q: How about any bad experience as a chef?

CJ: Maybe during catering services.

When I was young and in this kind of service, you always do this kind of mistake. I was transporting soup and then I spilled everything on the floor.

We have to improvise and make another one on the spot. I am also worried for the guest, you’ll never know if the person is allergic to something on the plate.

As mentioned earlier, trusting his team is what makes Chef Jordi a better leader in the kitchen.

CJ: I’m a chef but I also teach how to cook. I sometimes get nervous when I’m outside the kitchen. I just trust the people inside because if you don’t trust your people, there’s no teamwork.

Q: What are your other activities while on the island?

Q: What are your future plans?

CJ: Improve the restaurant and let the people taste what Spanish flavor truly is and share to others my experiences. I also like to open my own line of pastry shop and create my own brand, maybe in Europe.

Q: What is something you can’t give up eating?

CJ: Chocolate brownie. I love the sensation of the hot chocolate brownie (combined with) the cold vanilla ice cream. I also love vanilla.

Q: What can you advice to those aspiring to become chefs in the future?

CJ: Take it with calm. Trust yourself and make your dreams come true.

Q: If you were a dish, what would it be and why?

CJ: Macaroni Bolognese. I’m part tasty meat and I also have the sweetness.

This is also the comfort food at home and it is always the best.

If you want to know more about Chef Jordi, you may visit him at either Cozina in Station 2 or Wokeria in D’Mall.

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PEOPLE working for Thai Basil makes him a step closer to his dream. While working on fulfilling that dream, experience -wise, he is currently happy working with Thai Basil and has no problem staying on the Island for a longer period of time.

Chef Gust of Thai Basil

CG: Sure if that’s my future. I am happy with everything (here) now in Boracay.

michael madriaga

Who else could prepare authentic Thai food other than a Thai chef? Thai Basil in D’Mall takes pride in providing these authentic dishes with the help of a true Thai chef, Timawat “Gust” Itthipornwithool.

Chef Gust, as what his friends call him, has been cooking for almost 8 years now. He started his career in a university in Thailand where he acquired his Bachelor’s Degree in Food and Nutrition.

Before moving to Boracay last December

2013, he is already equipped with various experiences from different countries.

CG: I was trained in Dusit Thani Hotel in Thailand. I (also) went to San Francisco to work for a Thai restaurant.

It’s the best Thai restaurant there.

Like other chefs working for restaurants and hotels, he also dreams of having his own in the future. He believes that

During his free time, Chef Gust usually hangs out at the beach for some drink.

He considers himself as someone who’s not into sports but he occasionally plays badminton if his time allows it. As someone who is new on the Island, he doesn’t have much friends yet and is looking forward into having more eventually.

Having happy guests is what satisfies him as a chef. Complaints are not problems for him either. He regards them as avenues for improvement to offer better dishes and service. The key to perfection of his dishes is that he never gives up in improving the food that he cooks – that’s also his advice

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for those who aspire to become chefs in the future.

CG: You just have to practice your skills and always have to go for it. You have to feel the food. Just try, and try, and try.

If there’s one thing that Chef Gust misses about Thailand, aside from his family and friends, it is more likely the food. Right now, he have tasted a lot of Filipino dishes and he is fine with it. When we asked him what Thai Food would he relate himself to, he answered, CG: If I’m a Thai food, I would be Tom Yum because it is sweet, salty, sour, spicy… all complete!

And when asked on the level of his spiciness, CG: Not mild, not medium, but not too spicy.

If you want to know more about Chef Gust, or if you want to try his dishes, visit Thai Basil in D’Mall (just behind Budget Mart).

V ISIONARY Djuna Rocha brings the Flower Power to the Island PAULINE ASTRONAUT

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believer of the power of plants, Djuna Rocha is like a flower who blossomed into a very successful woman.

As a true Hippie child, Djuna grew up in San Francisco, the Philippines, Hawaii and Guam. Running on the beaches of her childhood with flowers in her hair, she always had a deep love for nature and with all kind of plants.

Even though she took flower design courses, she was mostly self-taught and works by following her passion.

In 2006, after the birth of her daughter, Frances Scarlet Begonia, Djuna opened a flower company in Manila. Her shop, Scarlet Begonia Flowers was obviously inspired by her daughter who was named after The Grateful Dead song, Scarlet Begonia - a song Djuna’s father particularly cherished. “Frances is the real boss here,” Djuna jokes, explaining her 9 year-old is not only her inspiration but also her motive to keep the company moving and creating new designs.

Djuna and her daughter moved to Boracay three years ago. Since then, this joyful and positive mom of one, who kept her flower power spirit did a few weddings. “Bridal bouquets are what I love. I always like working on details with simplicity. It’s the most important part when the bride goes down the aisle, holding her bouquet,” says Djuna, who personally took care of my bridal bouquet two years ago.

One of her favorite books from which she learned many things is The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh. Thanks to this read, she always makes sure there is a personal touch to her bridal bouquets. “Even if the bride doesn’t know, I always add a flower that means something strong for their future. For example, rosemary for the remembrance of this day, lavender for peace or St. John’s wort berries that keeps any negative energy away,” she reveals as one of her secrets.

Today, Djuna is sharing her love and knowledge of flowers and flower designs through workshops. “There is definitely an art in arranging flowers.

We use techniques in composition and proportion, as well as colors and contrasts,” she explains.

The housekeeper teams of resorts and hotels in Boracay could learn a lot about making a room look more welcoming and warmer with simple flower arrangements.

Of course, her workshops are open not only to hospitality professionals but to anyone who wants to learn the floral art.

For Djuna, the importance of highlighting local flowers in her arrangements is great. “For our bouquets, we mostly buy our flowers in the local markets in Manila and Tagaytay. We do import a few flowers from Holland and Thailand but there is so much to do with local flowers. Price-wise, it’s also a big difference for one’s budget,” she says.

If you are interested to join a workshop with Djuna or want to know more about floral arrangements, you can contact her at sbf.djuna@gmail.com or call +63 918.1083.

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Ilig iligan -

The Paradise Within

BY WILFREDO BAON

PHOTO BY ALVA ALVAREZ

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I

lig-Iligan is a tiny beach in the northeastern part of the island. This is the place to be if you want to get away from the busy crowd for a while and watch the wonderful sunset in a serene setting.

To get to this little paradise, you can either rent a public transportation that would drop you off right at the beach, or on the main road and just get there by foot. The latter we find as more enjoyable since it will give you a chance to commune with nature and take pictures of the different species of birds and butterflies along the way.

Upon entering the street leading to the beach, you will be welcomed by arching trees, chirping birds, and a cool breeze.

A few more steps and a beautiful beach comes into view. And, the water beckons that it’s hard to decide whether to take photos first or take the plunge straight away.

At first glance, the beach will make you re-think if you’re really in Boracay, it’s like you’re in another island many distance away. There are small islands and rock formations on the sides, there are hills and trees just nearby (secluding the beach from the main street), and the clear waters splashing on the sands are utterly magnificent… this is paradise.

According to those who have visited Boracay during the 80’s and early 90’s, this is how the island was like.

So peaceful, the only thing that you can hear are the waves from the sea, and the things that you can see are stretches of clean, unspoiled beach.

On the day of our visit, we saw a friendly local, building sand castles for visitors to take pictures with as souvenir.

There were only a few tourists around.

There’s a local restaurant in the island that offers a variety of dishes for tourists wanting to fill their tummies or take a break after swimming or lounging under the sun. We saw other visitors who brought their own food and used the restaurant’s table and chairs.

Swimming is also a different experience in this little paradise, there is not much of a crowd so you could basically do whatever you want – it’s as if you own the entire beach.

There are still many places to discover within Boracay, beaches to know and explore. We shall take you to these places in the succeeding issues. So go ahead, grab your camera and get going!

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H ALLOWEEN 2014

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alloween is one of the muchawaited events on the island. This year, locals and tourists partied all night long in their creative costumes. Some exerted extra effort for their wings and blood-dripping zombie outfit, while some came into the party scene with their cute, fancy fairy dresses.

Celebrations were all over the island as different bars and establishments arranged their own Halloween events attended by a lot of costumed partygoers of different ages. This is probably one of the moments where you see a Game of Thrones character dancing with a white lady, and Marvel superheroes drinking tequila shots with Stitch.

“Halloween in Boracay is really different.” said Ms. Joyce Moros, who had celebrated Halloween on the island for three consecutive years. “You have the whole stretch of white beach celebrating. Locals and tourists showcase their creativity with their respective costumes. It also serves as time for most locals to have a different persona even just for a night.”

EVENTS

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EVENTS

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I SLAND HAPPENINGS

New term opens for Babies of Boracay Kate Hammaren

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n Friday, October 3rd, I visited the beautifully-carved gates of Babies of Boracay (B.o.B.) for the lovingly prepared meet and greet lunch for mommies and children enrolled in the new term.

Babies of Boracay provides under-privileged children, aged 0-5 years, with basic education and life skills from Monday to Friday and at least one meal a day in the hope that this will give the kids a foundation for a bigger school after they have turned five.

Chelsey, Olive and the volunteer team

The Center’s new term officially began on the following Monday, October 6, but the afternoon of October 3 was to welcome the parents and children. Everyone from the village got together for a couple of hours of relaxed fun; parents and children met each other, chatted and played; and the Founder, ‘Ma’am Chelsey’ and Head of Education, ‘Ma’am Olive’ gave a talk about what to expect from the center, and what they expected from the mommies and children, in return.

“I’m so excited about this forthcoming term at B.o.B, it will always be a work in progress but with a solid team: Olive who is assisting with education and our seven volunteer mommies, along with Arvin our caretaker - we are off to an amazing start and Babies of Boracay is progressing in leaps and bounds!” exclaimed Chelsey.

Two of B.o.B.’s newest members eagerly await their lunch

Parents were advised on health matters and they were also oriented on the services provided by B.o.B., and of course, the Center’s timetables and and rules. There was the chance for everyone to enjoy a fantastic lunch prepared by the volunteer mommies, who’d been up since dawn cooking delicious dishes of spaghetti, pork BBQ, chicken menudo, chicken adobo with saba, chopsuey, and a gelatin dessert. This was no mean feat as the center has taken on 37 children this year, so there were at least 60 kids to feed that day, all made possible, thanks to generous donations.

The atmosphere at B.o.B is one of high-energy and happiness; as you walk towards the bamboo house, you can hear the cheerful kids’ music, interspersed with joyous shrieks while playing games together and discovering new toys. Some are affectionate, throwing their hands up for cuddles as soon as they see you, others shyly reach to hold your hand and quietly walk with you inside.

Parents are encouraged to let volunteers help them - teamwork is key, and honesty policies and trust establishment are reinforced. Everyone has a specific role and works harmoniously with others. Part of B.o.B.’s service is to help parents maintain employment. The Center collects the children each morning from their homes: one-by-one each child joins the crocodile led by one of the seven volunteer mommies.

Volunteer teachers from across the world assist by teaching daily basic education, and important life skills, such as oral hygiene. Beng Beng, 27, who has been one of B.o.B.’s volunteer mommies since the center opened six months ago said, “I feel blessed because my babies (Ricco 5, Rogelyn 4, Riana 2) learn a lot about education, sing, dance and have good manners. I think B.O.B. will make people strong, I hope there will be more built in the future.”

Furthermore, Chelsey encourages anyone who would like to be involved in B.o.B, whether it be in the form of donations or as a volunteer, to visit their website babiesofboracay.com or the Babies of Boracay Facebook page. She said, “We are so happy with the structure of B.o.B and are hoping that within the next year or so we can replicate B.o.B and build B.o.B 2!”.

How can you help?

P1000 = Food for one day for around 50 people or a weeks disposable school supplies P300 = 2 weeks electricity Donations go to the school, for clothes and toys.

Any leftover cash from donations goes into a kitty fund for the volunteer mommies’ donations, Christmas party and the Birthday Box. The delicious food cooked and served by our wonderful mommy helpers at B.o.B

Chelsey Hall (founder of B.o.B) playing with some of our youngest children at B.o.B

Ma’am Chelsey and Ma’am Olive strike a pose!

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IN ROOM

R OOM REVIEWS

Villa Caemilla michael madriaga

V

illa Caemilla is a boutique hotel offering luxurious accommodation at affordable prices. It is strategically located in Station 3, away from the busy and noisy district of the island. This beachfront hotel is ideal for those who want to relax and spend quality time alone, or with their partner, family or friends.

It was a sunny Saturday afternoon when we checkedin at the resort. We were welcomed with drinks, leis, and cold towels, which is very refreshing especially if you’re coming from a tiring trip from the airport.

The resort’s lobby also adds up to your relaxation as you can feel the breeze coming from the sea. After checking-in, we were guided by one of their staff who also helped us carry our things to our room.

We stayed at their Executive Suite that has its own balcony, which gives a magnificent view of the beach and the sunset. The Suite is furnished with king-sized bed and a sofa bed that could comfortably accommodate up to four guests. Its interiors are well lighted and with an excellent ventilation that we would almost rather stay indoor than stroll around the area. It also has a dining area where guests are welcomed with a basket of fresh fruits on top, and a mini bar with complementary coffee, tea and wine. It is equipped with a widescreen cable television, Wi-Fi access, closets, bedside tables and a telephone line. The bathroom is lavishly designed, with a separate bath tub, shower cubicle, and a toilet.

Basic toiletries like bath gel, shampoo and conditioner, lotion, shaving sets, and dental kits are also provided.

We were also given towels and bedroom sleepers, making our stay more convenient.

Guests at Villa Caemilla are pampered even at the beach.

Aside from providing a perfect spot for swimming, the hotel has beach beds and umbrellas ready. A roving waiter is also in attendance to get your order should you wish to have a meal or a drink while sunbathing.

What I love about the hotel’s beachfront is that it is not as occupied as those in Station 1 and 2, which adds to a more de-stressing experience.

Our dining experience was also exceptional. We actually had a review of their dishes last September and as what we have already mentioned their food are really delicious, especially the Chicken Binakol which is a must-try for the upcoming holiday season. For breakfast, we preferred room service. We only had to call their receptionist and, voila! in comes their menu.

My companion and I ordered the American Breakfast, which we also suggest if you want to start your day right.

Overall, Villa Caemilla is excellent in every way, from the service to the food and to that relaxing beachfront.

You will never regret staying here. If you want to know more about Villa Caemilla, visit their website (www. villacaemilla.com) or call them at (036)288 3354.

Simply Fabulous

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HEALTH & WELL-BEING

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SAFETY TIPS marlo schoenenberger

Recently, we gathered 450 Red Cross Youth Leaders in Boracay Island, Malay for the RCY Assembly and now, we are on full swing training our Future Leaders to become life savers and active in advocacy/ ies towards volunteerism, saving lives through first aid and basic life support, and junior lifeguards trainings, peer education, environmental protection, among others.

Call 288 2068 for more details on how you and your children could join the Red Cross Youth.

Photos courtesy of Rona Liza Inocencio, RN, RCY Focal Person See and like our facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/PhilippineRedCrossBoracayMalayChapter

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H EALTHY YOU Exercises for Bone Health efore we leap like ballerinas and tiptoe over tulips, there are important requisites to attaining optimal bone health.

The safeguarding of bone health should be three ways: through proper nutrition, intake of medications as needed, and appropriate exercises. Proper nutrition includes eating a diet rich in calcium and allowing 10-15 minutes of sunlight exposure two times a week for Vitamin D. A yearly medical checkup from age 45 and up to include a bone density test called DEXA will determine the status of bones and the presence of osteoporosis.

The need to take medications, especially bisphosphonates, calcium and Vitamin D supplementation will be determined by the doctor.

Who are at greater risk for low bone content or osteoporosis? Those who are lean or thin, those with a history of fractures, those with family history of osteoporosis, post menopausal women, those taking steroids, cigarette smokers, those with excessive alcohol or coffee intake.

Physical activities including exercises have bone forming effects. Weight bearing activities such as running, jumping and walking are more effective than weight supported activities such as swimming. Immobilization or prolonged lying down makes us lose the substance of our bone.

Exercise programs with special emphasis on bone density can significantly improve strength and endurance, decrease back pain, and decrease blood sugar and cholesterol levels. With improved strength and balance there is lesser risk of falling and sustaining fractures.

Stronger back muscles can reduce the occurrence of spine fractures. Stronger leg muscles can reduce hip fractures.

After sustaining fractures there is unfortunately, increased disability and dependence. It is very important then to maintain good strong bones and muscles to prevent fractures.

What are the other benefits of exercising as we grow older? Exercises can increase our ability to carry out daily activities.

Exercises can maintain or improve our posture. Exercises can relieve or lessen body pains. Exercises improve our sense of well being.

It is never too early or too late to start exercising. The key to maintaining exercising is to find the safest activities that you can enjoy doing. Here are some recommended exercises for stronger bones which can be performed at home: 1. Standing Posture stand tall with - your back against the wall, pull in your chin and tighten your abdomen and buttocks - this helps you practice correct standing posture 2. Walking Posture - walk with your head high and your

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Bella Isa: The Royal Getaway

Dr. Teresita Joy Evangelista, M.D., MHA, FPARM

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michael madriaga

back and neck as straight as possible and tighten your abdomen - this helps you practice correct walking posture and improves balance and muscle strength 3. Wall Arch - stand facing the wall and stretch one arm at a time, then arms against the wall - this helps you stretch shoulder and chest muscles and your back

then both your tone

4. Chin Tuck - while seated and head forward, pull your chin in while keeping your head forward - this stretches the back of the neck and upper back muscles and straightens the back 5. Chest Stretch - while seated and with back straight, stretch your arms out to the side, hold for a few seconds and then back to the chest - this stretches your chest muscles and straightens your back 6. Shoulder Blade Squeeze - while seated with back straight, move your elbows as far back as you can, hold for a few seconds - this stretches your chest and straightens back muscles 7. Pelvic Tilt - while lying on your back, with knees bent, tighten your abdomen muscles and flatten your back against the bed, hold for a few seconds - this strengthens your lower back and abdominal muscles 8. Back and Shoulder Stretch - while lying on back, with knees bent, stretch your arms above your head, then spread and lower them slowly this stretches your trunk, back - and shoulder muscles 9. Back Posture Exercise - while seated, with hands behind your head, move your elbows backward, hold for a few seconds - this flattens your upper back and stretches your chest 10. Sitting Knee Extension while seated with your back - straight, straighten one knee keeping heel off the floor, repeat with other leg this strengthens the thigh - muscles 11. Calf Stretch - place your hands on back of chair for balance, bend your knees and keep back straight, hold and repeat with other leg - this stretches calf muscles, heel cords and back of thigh 12. Upper Back Lift - lie face down with arms at sides and raise your head and chest a few inches from the floor, hold for a few seconds this strengthens - the back muscles

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et the premiere spa experience you deserve and be treated as royalties with Bella Isa’s King and Queen Package that will surely make the day of your life one of the best. Aside from different treatments, the package also includes a dinner for two at Villa Caemilla. Located in Angol, Bella Isa (“the beautiful one”) takes pride in being the island’s best spa on the island (Rank 1 in TripAdvisor as of October 2014), and its location is just perfect for those who want to have the perfect relaxation time with their partners in Boracay.

As someone who works six days a week while taking up a master’s degree, having a massage is one of the things that would keep me going… and surviving. I have tried different massages on the island but Bella Isa’s package is really one of a kind.

Guests are welcomed with personalized message the moment they enter the establishment. The warm and inviting smiles of the therapists trained to pamper each guest makes one feel all the more special. I felt like a royal already.

The package includes different treatments that will surely rejuvenate your body and renew your spirit. We started with a Full Body Scrub, guaranteed to exfoliate your skin, making it feel revitalized.

Guests could choose from different scrub options such as the citrus punch, chocolate fondue, or aloe cucumber. I love the scent of hot chocolate, it makes me feel relaxed so I chose chocolate fondue. With my skin revitalized with that delicious chocolate-y smell, the therapist led to me to shower room to rinse off, in preparation to that Full Body Massage, which takes about half an hour. You also get to choose which scent of oil will be used: ilang-ilang, lavender, eucalyptus, and, their very

own, Bella Isa Oil. To complete the whole package, guests are then treated to Bella Isa’s Full Facial Treatment using world-class products. And, lastly as icing on the cake on this series of treatments,guests get to experience Bella Isa’s Foot Spa Session with Pedicure, perfect after having walked long hours on the island.

One of the highlights of this package is that you also get a chance to experience Sunset Sailing. This is truly delightful and adds more to the luxurious experience. You will have the chance to see the famous Boracay sunset and have a magnificent view of the island from the sea.

The royal treatment does not end there.

Going back to Bella Isa after Sunset Sailing, guests are served their last indulging treatment, the Hair Spa, just what our hair needs after lounging and swimming under the sun - so no more bad hair day for us after this experience!

Before leaving Bella Isa, we were given a gift bag with a bottle of massage oil (your choice of scent), a bar of soap, and a sarong. As a bonus to this afternoon of pampering and relaxation, we headed to Villa Caemilla for that Candlelight Dinner for two where we were served with a complete meal, from appetizers to desserts. Villa Caemilla’s dishes were featured on our newspaper last September and it is really no doubt that it is really one of the best on the island.

Unwinding by having a spa is one of the best activities to be done in the island.

Get to experience it at Bella Isa Spa where, as promised, you will be treated as the King and Queen for the day.

Know more about them through their website: http://www.bellaisaboracay.com.

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W HAT'S COOKING? Gourmet Selections

Of Tapas and Sangrias: What to look forward to in Cozina’s new menu michael madriaga

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hen you’re looking for authentic Spanish cuisine on the Island, Cuzina must be on the top of your list. The place is simple but cozy, good for those who want to dine with their partner, friends, family, or for a business meeting. From appetizers to desserts, Cozina is indeed the place to be.

In one of our visits, we were first served with Cozina’s very own Gourmet Selections. The Selection is composed of different kinds of breads and jams, dried fruits and nuts, Manchego cheese, and different cold cuts, namely, Chorizo Pamplonica, Sobrasada, Chorizo Vel Dulce, Chorizo Iberico, Salchichon, Jamon Serrano – all imported from Spain. The dish is combined with a glass of wine or with Cozina’s own mix of Sangria that has the heavenly blend of red wine and fresh fruits.

For their upcoming menu, make sure to try the Seared Mozzarella with Truffle Oil and Delight Mince which will undeniably be a big hit with its delicious mix of melted mozzarella

and minced mango, onions, tomatoes, mushrooms, and nuts drizzled with truffle oil. Another must-try is their version of Callos – stewed ox tripe with minced chorizo that is cooked to perfection. It is somewhat close to our Filipino-style callos, but the imported chorizo used in Cozina makes it more flavorful.

The highlight of our meal is the dessert, the Crunchy Blueberry Mousse. It’s too good to be true – no exaggeration.

Just imagine blueberry mousse with ground bizcocho and cherry on top, served with cherry and chocolate syrup, and barquillos on the side – truly scrumptious!

Cozina Authentic Spanish Restaurant is located in Station 2. It is also a good place to watch the sunset. Our afternoon was filled with excellent dishes from their tapas (appetizers) to sangrias. Everyone must really try their new dishes that will surely give you a happy tummy.

Seared Mozzarella

Crunchy Blueberry Mousse

Callos

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F OOD DIARIES

When Water Meets Fire: A Different Kind of Dining Experience michael madriaga

Tenderloin Steak

Chicken Roulade

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ining in Boracay is one of the best activities that one can do while on the island. There are various restaurants to choose, whether you like Italian, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, to our very own Filipino, the choices are endless.

Some offers fusion while others have international dishes on their menu. One restaurant that must be visited when you want to have a diverse selection of eats is Aquafire Resto + Bar. Located in Station 2, this establishment offers delectable menu items from appetizers to cocktails.

First thing we did when we arrived at Aquafire was to order for our drinks.

Among the top choices are, the Blue Margarita or if you don’t want to have alcohol in your drink, the Banana Chocolate Peanut Shake is a must try.

If you want to try something different, choose the Aquafire Slush – an original mix of mint and passion fruit, which is very refreshing.

For appetizers, we were served with Aquafire’s Smoke Salmon and Prawns (P320) and Aquafire Salad (P310). The taste of the smoked salmon is well complemented with the resto-bar’s own fresh mango salsa and citrus dressing.

The salad is a unique combination of orange slices and tofu on a bed of lettuce, drizzled with Aquafire’s secret dressing. Then came our favorite, the Creamy Pumpkin Soup (P120), a perfect balance of sweet and other savory flavor, recommended to warm the hearts especially on a cold weather.

We couldn’t contain our delight when we were served three of Aquafire’s main courses: (1) Seafood Risotto (P550) – a rich and creamy risotto topped with perfectly grilled prawns, squid and fish, probably the best dish for seafood lovers out there; (2) Chicken Roulade with Aglio e Olio Pasta (P450) – bacon, cheese and basil wrapped in chicken fillet served with sweet sauce and a generous serving of pasta on the side, ideal for the chicken and pasta lovers; and, (3) the Tenderloin Steak (P1,500) – US Black Angus Beef served with mashed potato and buttered vegetables. I have tried different steaks on the Island and this one definitely ranks top on my list. The well-seasoned meat is very juicy and tender, and the mashed potato tastes so heavenly – definitely a musttry in Boracay!

Aside from such delectable menu, Aquafire also entertain guests with performances showcasing Filipino talents. The program usually starts at around 8 o’clock in the evening and has four main acts - first is the all-male fire dance, followed by an all-female contemporary dance, then a tribal dance performed by a couple, and finally, as the show’s highlight, a breathtaking performance incorporating the talents from all the three acts.

The well-crafted performances combined with the exquisitely prepared dishes, creates a remarkable dining experience for everyone. If you want your eyes to be entertained, together with your tummy, make sure to visit Aquafire.

Creamy Pumpkin Soup

Aquafire Salad

Seafood Risotto

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F OOD DIARIES

Wok the Talk michael madriaga

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have been hearing a lot about Wokeria before I actually tried their food a couple of months ago. During that visit, I opted to have their Garlic Gambas A la Wok (P290) that really stimulated my appetite because of its mild-spicy flavor, and their Grilled Assorted Seafood Platter (P365) of grilled fish and shellfish drizzled with pesto sauce which is actually good for 2 persons.

Having tried Wokeria’s food prior to our review, I was so excited as I know that their dishes are flavorful and exquisitely prepared.

First on our table was their “Salad of the Day,” the Papaya and Green Mango Salad (P290/ P150) – green mango, ripe papaya and cherry tomato on a bed of greens and dressed with Wokeria’s passion fruit vinaigrette. Who says salad isn’t fun? Well, you haven’t tried this one yet. The sour green mango combined with the sweetness of papaya and tomatoes tossed with the citrussy flavor of the vinaigrette is really a heavenly mix.

We were then served with their bestseller and island-famous Spicy Garlic Crab with Noodles (P420). This dish was actually among the top choices of comfort food on the Island (See Boracay Sun’s July Issue). No wonder it is strongly suggested by those who have

tried it - the spiciness of the noodles complements well with the perfectly cooked crab, certainly a combination that creates an exceptional explosion of flavors inside his mouth.

For desserts, we were first served with the Mati Sin with Vanilla Ice Cream (P290). It is closely related to the famous lava cake – only better. The cake’s chocolate syrup overflows with every scoop and its warmth is so heavenly when combined with vanilla ice cream.

This would probably be on top of my list when we talk about desserts on the island. The second sweet course served on our table was the Egg Flan, a new offering that is yet to be included in Wokeria’s menu sometime soon. It’s just like the leche flan that we’re used to, only less sweet, which for us is better because it doesn’t overpower the taste of the egg.

Spicy Garlic Crab with Noodles Espresso Martini

We ended our meal with a glass of Espresso Martini to settle our full and excited tummies from all the delicious dishes that we ate. Among all the coffeebased cocktail mixed that I’ve tried on the Island, this one is exceptional.

If you want to partake of Wokeria’s menu especially their highly recommended Spicy Garlic Crab with Noodles, visit them at D’Mall in Station 2.

Mati Sin with Vanilla Ice Cream

Papaya and Green Mango Salad

Egg Flan

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T ECH BYTES Traveling Smart with your Smartphone michael madriaga

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ndroid or iPhone? It doesn’t really matter actually.

The important thing is you have a smartphone, “smart” enough to bring you advanced computing features and connectivity. For most people, smartphones are necessary conveniences in their daily activities, in work or vacation, it’s an all-in-one gadget on hand, functioning as a phone, personal digital assistant, media player, camera and for some, a handy GPS. Nowadays, with this gadget, you can easily check your emails, update your social media accounts, take wonderful photos wherever you are, and listen to music without bringing your laptop and camera. If you are traveling to Boracay (or already on the island) and want to make the most with your smartphone, here is a list of some of the different applications that you must have. By the way, everything is downloadable for FREE! BORACAY MAP, ACTIVITIES, BARS My Boracay Guide

W ATER BABY

Natural Remedies for the Dry and Cold Seasons PAULINE ASTRONAUT

t is that time of the year again when the gods of winds finished their battle and Amihan took over. Like always, when the weather is changing, chances of our little ones getting sick is higher.

From rainy and humid, to cold and dry days in November and December, our body needs a little time to adapt.

Here are some natural remedies you can use for your kids (and even you) to get back on your feet in a gentle way: If your child’s cough is keeping him (and you as well) up at night, you can elevate his head by putting extra pillows under his back and head and let him sleep in a slight upright position. This allows him to breathe more easily. You can prepare him a warm bowl of milk with a touch of honey before sleeping or even just a spoon of honey (only for kids older than one). It will calm their cough, soothe their throat and help them have a deeper sleep. Don’t forget to brush their teeth after this nighttime treat, as sugary treats can damage their teeth badly.

SNAPSEED

WalletApp.net

Google Inc.

Traveling on budget?

Download this app so you could properly check your balance. First, you just have to enter the money you wish to spend for your vacation and then record your expenses on this application under corresponding categories like food, drinks, transportation, etc. This may need a lot of work but it’s very helpful if you do not want to overspend.

This application is available on Google Play Store.

This application is available on Google Play Store and if you’re using an iDevice, you could just install the MyBoracayGuide app from the Apple App Store. This is perfect for first time guests as it provides a detailed map of the island, list of different activities and restaurants, and coupons if you want to have discounts from different establishments.

Emergency contact numbers are also listed for your convenience.

I

WALLET

If your child is too small to blow his nose, it can be really uncomfortable for him to breathe properly. Use a saline solution and a nasal aspirator to help clear out his stuffy nose. If he is big enough to handle hot water, you can put his head over a steaming water bowl, add a drop of essential oil (eucalyptus and thyme are great) and cover his head with a towel. It will help to loosen up the mucus.

Try to give them a gargle mixture of warm water with salt. Just mix a spoonful of salt in a cup of warm water then, stir well. Have your kid gargle one gulp after another before spitting the water. It is believed that this mixture helps reduce the swelling in the throat.

Oregano leaves are known to be a great remedy against cough. Boil a cup of leaves in two cups of water for 15 minutes. You can squeeze the juice out and add a few drops of calamansi juice.

Give your child two tablespoons, three times a day.

Ginger is a great and easy way to help a soar throat heal. The fastest way to

Tired of using Instagram’s filters? Then try Snapseed!

This app is available on both Play Store and App Store. With this application, you could have more dramatic photos and more options if you want to have a vintage look for your selfies. There is also an option if you wish to adjust your photos manually.

TRIPADVISOR

TINDER

TripAdvisor

Tinder

TripAdvisor is a wellknown app worldwide as it provides reviews on different establishments located all over the world, and is available for both Android and iPhone users.

This is especially useful during your vacation on the island as you can read about the best places to stay in and also the best places to eat at and what to do. At times, you can also check published room rates, restaurant menu and prices on this app.

Whether you’re traveling alone or with a bunch of friends, it is always fun to meet new people. This application will help you meet new friends nearby.

You just have to enter your preference like gender, age, etc. A lot of locals and tourists on the island are using this app so it’s most likely that you will meet new people while in Boracay. This is available on Google Play Store and Apple App Store.

use it is to boil some fresh ginger in water until it gets colored like tea. Add some honey and calamansi if you want to sweeten the strong and spicy taste of ginger for your little one. Let your child drink a cup two to three times a day.

If the whole family is down with the flu, a garlic soup can be good for everyone. The favorite in our family is home-made chicken and vegetable broth.

Once the broth is done, put 26 cloves of garlic in the oven until they are soft.

Add them to the broth along with 26

raw garlic cloves. Add a chopped onion, two tablespoon of olive oil, some thyme, cayenne pepper and oregano. Let it boil for 20 minutes then add some fresh coconut milk. Let it simmer. Squeeze some lemon in the bowl before serving.

This soup can be frozen and used when needed. All the ingredients used for this soup are known to boost your immunity and fight the cold and flu.

In some cases, your kitchen is the best pharmacy! Treat yourself while healing!

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ILLUSTRATION BY: ALVA ALVAREZ

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SPC sets clean-up drive against crown of thorns jun aguirre

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oracay Island - The Sangkalikasan Producers Cooperative (SPC) hopes to initiate a massive clean-up drive against the proliferation of crown of thorns starfish in this resort island’s diving spots in order to protect the coral reefs.

The SPC came up with this project after consultations with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Officials in Iloilo City on August 27, 2014.

Jose Rodriguez of the SPC said, they have yet to set the date as volunteers, sponsors, divers and workers have yet to finalize the details but they plan to hold the clean-up before the year ends.

In a phone interview, Virna Salac of the DOST Central Office said, the event will be supported by the Boracay Association of Divers, Globe Telecom and volunteers coming from the Universities of Bohol, Pangasinan, and Mindanao.

“Currently, the problem of crown of thorns in Boracay is manageable. The DOST is supporting the SPC on their drive as we do not want the problem to reach an alarming level,” said Salac.

“The SPC initially plans to collect the crown of thorns manually, and the DOST is studying available scientific means

on how to eradicate the problem,” she added.

The adult crown of thorns carnivorous predator that usually on reef coral polyps. The coral served as a habitat of marine especially on this resort island.

is a preys reefs lives

Unknown to many, aside from protecting the coral reefs, Boracay is also home to several endemic coral species. One of this is the so-called blue acropora.

The acropora species are found in a variety of shapes but are most commonly seen in the traditional elongated branch form. It is a hermatypic (reef-building) coral that forms large structures in the wild. It requires high lighting levels and high water flow.

“We had found some blue acropora in the waters of Boracay. Others are a natural recruit while some are asexually reproduced,” said Rodriguez. He also added that they still continue to explore possibilities that similar blue acropora can be found in other diving sites.

The SPC, for several years, have been a partner of the DOST in their Filipinovation projects. Cebu, Camiguin, Pandan Antique and Zamboanga are among the areas where a DOST-SPC partnership exists.

A diver checks coral reefs in this resort island against the proliferation of crown of thorns.(SPC photo)

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