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Make it Maribago
Source: Manila Bulletin
Author: Rachel C. Barawid
Date: 2007-05-23
 
One fine day, we witnessed the coming and going of busloads of vacationers on a day trip to this resort. The huge group was comprised of some 1,500 Cebu-based call center agents having their company outing at the resort. Taxi cabs and public jeepneys were also dropping off more local tourists who were here for the day.


This scenario is a typical summer weekend at Maribago Bluewater Beach Resort, in Mactan, Cebu. And these were just the locals. For the rest of the year, the resort is bursting to the seams with mostly Japanese, Korean and European tourists who make up 80 to 90 percent of Maribago’s guest list.

In a resort island dominated by posh international five-star hotels and resorts, the purely Filipino-owned Maribago Beach Resort has not only managed to flourish amid intense competition but has successfully secured a sizeable chunk of the burgeoning tourist market in Cebu.

Julie Alegrado-Vergara, whose family owns the resort, said the secret of Maribago’s success may well be in the distinct and world–renowned Filipino hospitality, Cebuano-style. The 17-year-old resort seeks to embody Filipino culture and artistic heritage in its every facet, from the cheerful staff’s gracious and pampering service to its native architecture, furniture and furnishings made from indigenous materials.

Spread around a sprawling five-hectare property are 150 well-appointed accommodations that showcase native architecture amid the comforts of a home. Located on the 110-meter white sand beachfront are eight royal bungalows with spacious bedroom, a separate living room, and a balcony that looks out to the tranquil, azure waters.

A more luxurious, intimate yet spacious accommodations are the native deluxe rooms with a choice of either seascape or garden views.

The remaining 50 deluxe rooms are in the newly-built Amuma Spa Wing. All rooms, tastefully furnished with capiz windows and sliding doors and made with fine wood, have its own private verandah. The generous use of cogon, various types of wood and other local materials in the entire resort evokes a simple but stylishly modern feel to it. All these are complemented by a thoughtful staff, willing to go the extra mile to attend to guests’ every need.


World-Class Spa experience

The newly-opened Amuma Spa, meanwhile, is poised to create headlines in Cebu and beyond with its promise of a world–class spa experience. Named after the Visayan word "Amuma" which means to pamper, spoil or indulge with every attention, the spa lives up to its name and provides a sanctuary for tired bodies. The ambience —enhanced by a brass sculpture depicting a tree of life, a carp pond and the magnificent view of a garden — is reason enought to return to appreciate the simple and easy life.

Spa services incorporate a range of ancient and modern therapies from Visayan-Filipino, Asian and Western cultures.

Among its signature treatments is the Hilot sa Amuma (the resort’s own version of the hilot enhanced by native rituals such as pausok (space cleansing through medicinal herbs and mineral smoke), dasal (prayer), and orasyon (blessings, chants and spiritual invocations).

There are also the traditional hilot, a mystical massage of the islands and the pikpik kawayan (foot massage with bamboo). The latter is an ancient practice observed by farmers who after a long day of planting would get a light tapping on their legs caked in mud, with bamboo sticks by their children. The bamboo taps the mud off and at the same time, gives tired legs a relief from heaviness and stimulation from increased circulation.

The spa services can be done in the privacy of treatment rooms which have a balcony or al fresco in the Amuma Hilot Pavilion, a round native thatched roof area made of indigenous materials and filled with overstuffed pillows and mattresses. To enrich the spa experience, guests can learn taichi, yoga or arnis (artistic local form of martial arts lessons) lessons at the gazebo.

Not far from the main resort is the nearby Alegrado island, a 1.1 hectare private island situated just 65 meters from the beachfront. It is ideal for banquets, social gatherings or meetings. During low tide, the island is accessible by swimming, paddle boating or simple by wading through shallow water.

For children, the resort has a playground, recreation and watersports center as well as the Dolpo kid’s club where learning activities and games are offered to make the children’s stay more enjoyable and hassle-free for parents.

Finally, the food at Maribago is also far from the ordinary. Seasoned chefs boasting of a wealth of experience culled from working stints in Cebu and Manila prepare sumptuous local and international cuisine made from the freshest ingredients. We were fortunate to be given a sampling of their specialties during a lavish three-hour lunch feast tendered for us. Food, indeed, is the perfect culmination or the beginning of a multi-sensory experience in Maribago Bluewater Beach Resort.
 

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