"Discovering Boracay, Philippines"

As we took the 10 minute pump boat ride from Boracay to Caticlan, I made a last glimpse of the world famous island: it is indeed living up to its claim as the “WORLD’S FINEST WHITE BEACH!”

I thought God love the Aklanons so much! It gave them Boracay: the main attraction of which is its powdery white sand beach which is evenly distributed throughout its shoreline coupled with a very safe gradual deepening of its crystal clear sea water. In the Filipino language, “hindi kantilado”. This fact makes it very ideal for swimming and all kind of beach and sea fun!

With this as the main attraction for tourism, the Aklanons have a champion dollar earner! As soon as it was discovered by the early local tourists and a few foreigners in the late 70’s, word about its beauty spread like wildfire among beach loving tourists. Even without the internet yet at that time, it just became a hot-selling commodity with high market value as throngs upon throngs of both local and foreign tourists visited the island to see for themselves its beauty and have fun.

As visitors of the Island increase, demand for better housing in the form of resorts with rooms equipped with at least the basic commodities like running cold and hot water, food, and electricity soon rapidly increased throughout the past 30 years. Soon enough, resorts sprouted like mushrooms, shops, restaurants and all types of services like motorcycles and pump boats that the tourists will require become available.

If there is one greatest benefit that not only the Aklanons but the rest of the Filipinos have been reaping from the Boracay phenomenon, it is the generation of massive employment. All sorts of services are being provided including of course – prostitution! We met a waiter who hails from Pampanga who is working is Kalinga restaurant co-owned by a german and Filipina wife from of course Kalinga in the Cordilleras. As the waiter puts it, “dito po sa Boracay, diskarte lang ang kailangan, magkakapera ka na” ( here is Boracay, if you are clever, you will earn money). No doubt, every time I see a local approaching us, I could see peso/dollar signs in his eyes!

On the negative side, as Boracay phenomenon required room accommodations, the construction boom put heavy much pressure on the carrying capacity of the Island. All sorts of unimaginable developments are being constructed including would you believe a golf course! Yes! There are visitors who would like to play golf after swimming! The environmental integrity of the Island at this stage is already questionable! For instance, there was a feature on ABS-CBN TV Patrol on the garbage landfill that accommodates the Island’s garbage disposal where question of seepage of liquid from the land fill penetrating into its white beach is a threat that could bring bacterial contamination of the Island’s sea water.

Since the foreigners have dollars whose earning and buying capacities are definitely greater that the local tourists, the local tourists have to contend to live up with the foreigners! They are paying everything is Boracay at dollar rates.

As today’s US economy is suffering a major set back, the tourist arrivals when we were in Boracay compared to same period last year, according to many waiters is 50% less.

Let me close with this scenario: the US economy continue to decline, tourist arrivals would continue to rapidly decrease resulting for the market forces to react with reduced prices of commodities and services! Boracay then will become more affordable to local tourists!

As always,

Edgar Sandalo