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Philippines

Summer events draw crowds to Boracay
Source: Inquirer
Author: Alex Y. Vergara
Date: 1999-05-09
 
AFTER reeling from a series of natural and man-made disasters,

Boracay is slowly regaining its reputation as one of the

country's premier tourist destinations.



''Business was bad last year,'' said Bebot Gadon. ''PAL cancelled

its flights just when tourism was beginning to pick up after the

coliform scare. Then Cebu Pacific's crash added to the slump.''



But Gadon, GM of Willy's Beach Resort, can now heave a sigh

of relief. Judging from the number of people who flocked to to

Boracay recently, happy days are here again.



Unlike many resort owners, Gadon and her family hail from

Boracay. Willy's is one the first resorts to open in the island. It

reopened two years ago after several months of renovation. The

40-room hotel was reportedly fully booked last week.



So were other competitors such as Mila's, Waling-Waling and

the newly opened Regency. There are reportedly more than

2,000 rooms lining up the famous beach strip.



More Filipino visitors



Discos such as Beachcomber and Bazura were packed with local

and foreign tourists. European backpackers made little-known

Boracay world-famous two decades ago, but Filipinos now

comprise 60 percent of visitors.



A flurry of summer activities helped boost tourist arrivals in

recent weeks. Who says a regatta is only for yacht owners?

With the help of local fishermen, hobbyists also held a paraw

regatta.



A paraw is a traditional sailboat said to be used by ancient

Malays to reach the Philippines. It requires at least three people

to control and balance.



Kids also made miniature paraws from recycled wood and

plastic. But looking at how well-made they were, we wondered if

their fathers did it for them.



''Tourism becomes more meaningful if it involves the local

community,'' said event organizer Marian Aguiluz-Eastwood.

''Not only do they know Boracay well, they have a stake in its

future.''



Several Manila-based companies cooked up related events.

Bank of the Philippine Islands, for instance, held a Paint a Sail

contest. Top winners were Vic Dabao, Samuel Kintana and C.S.

Cortez.



For the young crowd, San Miguel Beer hosted a rave party at

Beachcomber. There were also nightly fashion shows by young

designers Theresa Eastwood, Ian Goldwyn and Brando Umali.



Nestea held the championship round of its volleyball

tournament. College students from leading colleges and

universities vied for top prizes.



Still, many regulars pine for the old Boracay. There was a time,

said Gadon, when only nipa huts, fishing boats and nets lined

up the seashore.



Kids can frolick freely without fear of stepping on

sun-worshipping strangers. Rave parties and karaoke bars were

unheard of. Rapid changes began to occur when electric power

was installed in the early '90s.



''We can't bring back the old, idyllic Boracay,'' said Gadon. ''But

we can preserve its beauty while catering to the market's

changing needs.''
 

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