WOW Select: Boracay on a budget

Once again I fell in love with the beauty of the Philippines. Despite the number of bad publicity the country has been getting, the Philippines still holds her charm. On my fourth visit to Boracay island, I was mesmerized anew by the pristine white sand beach, the lazy sway of hammocks nestled between coconut trees, the color sails that dot the cobalt blue waters and the sight of happy people enjoying the beauty of the island.

Many stories have been written about Boracay. Many have praised its idyllic allure comparable to all the other great beaches of the world. Sadly, because of the negative publicity in remote areas of the Philippines, Boracay is vicariously affected by such reporting. Seeing the downward slope in the number of tourists visiting the famed island, a group of travel agents, airlines and resort owners with the support of the Department of Tourism have developed a program which aims to promote a proactive vision for Boracay and for the many other equally breathtaking tourist attractions the country has to offer including Palawan, Baguio, Davao, and Bohol.

The tourism plan is tagged as WOW Select under the WOW Philippines promotional flagship. While WOW Philippines promotes the country on an international level, WOW Select targets domestic tourism as a very strong market to reckon with. The people involved in the WOW Select program who have just recently met with Tourism Secretary Richard Gordon are Kelly Boncan, Travel Edge; Eleanor Ng, Orientex Travel; JP Cablaza, Cencorp; Ditas Ramos, Sharp Travel and Brenda Consul, Southeast Travel.

For my first experience of the WOW Select program, I was invited to visit the island of Boracay. Adjectives seemed unworthy of its beauty. Flying from Manila to Kalibo via Air Philippines is one good route to get to the island. An hour bus ride to Caticlan port offers a sneak peak at the rural lifestyle of the people of Aklan, home to the famous Ati-Atihan festival. The winding roads leading to the port gives one a glimpse of how people and nature co-exist harmoniously. In Caticlan, one rides a boat to reach the island. The gentle breeze of the sea readily excites visitors.

In Boracay, Pink Patio resort is one of the representatives of the WOW Select group. Pink Patio has always been known for giving its guests first-class service and amenities, especially now that it has been renovated and expanded.

“We want to let people know that Pink Patio has evolved. That we have the best facilities in the entire land. We have more than 60 well-appointed rooms, 2 suites, a freshwater swimming pool, a fiber glass wall for wall climbing activities, a fully-equipped gym with the latest equipments and conference rooms. We are the best in providing the top amenities to our guests,” exclaimed Pink Patio president Charlie Uy.

Indeed, Pink Patio has the relaxed atmosphere of a vacation hideaway. The manicured gardens add to the wonderful setting. The resort also arranges water sports activities for its guests like the hilariously exciting banana boat ride, island hopping tours, jet ski and scuba diving adventures. Charlie Uy also plays an active part in the search and rescue operations in emergency cases.

Visitors of Boracay will have a field day of fun and excitement. Apart from the long stretch of white sand beach, the numerous water activities, the hours of frolicking under the sun and the friendly games of beach volleyball, the island is peppered with different restaurants offering cuisines that range from the truly exotic to staple favorites. There are also bars and discotheques to party-going people and an area devoted to souvenir shopping.

Boracay is an island of wonderful treats and surprises. Just ask any of the many foreigners who have been staying in the island for months on end, some even call it home.