Come to the Cove!

MANILA, Philippines - By now, the picture-perfect island of Boracay is known the world over. Through the years, it has made many a tourist jiggle and jump for joy with its silky white sand stretches and translucent azure waves. If you think you’ve seen it all in this island paradise, then you’re in for a treat because Boracay still holds a lot of pleasant surprises.

A year ago in the seaside mountain terrain of Diniwid on Boracay Island, an exclusive getaway opened its doors to guests who are seeking a unique vacation destination. At Boracay West Cove, your leisurely escape becomes a timeless experience. Its 12 well-appointed villas, which stand out like an architectural wonder atop the age-old rock formation, have been meticulously furnished and customized so you get to greet the morning sun and experience the famous Boracay sunset right from your private lanai.

This was the same view that businessman Crisostomo “Cris” Aquino fell in love with when he visited Boracay for the first time a few years ago. “I have been to a lot of places abroad but it was Boracay that really captured my heart,” says Cris, who decided later on that he wanted to own a piece of the island so he could have a place to stay when he retires. “I loved the sea even back then so I would travel to beaches and resorts outside of the Philippines. Then I discovered Boracay and it made me realize that our country has so much to offer to beach lovers like me.”

Investing his hard-earned money, Cris collaborated with an architect friend (who Cris shares is a Malabon boy so “he basically knows how to build something on the water”) to build his own “paradise-cove” in Boracay. They made use of the island’s indigenous resources such as old molave slabs, weavings and mattings to give visitors an insight into the local culture and lifestyle.

Island-style tropical meets contemporary in Boracay West Cove as the villas come equipped with LCD cable TV with DVD surround, coffee-making machine, private kitchen, split-type air-conditioning and Internet access. Relax and unwind with the sound of the sea at the cabanas situated all over the resort, where you can book for a therapeutic massage while enjoying the stunning sea cliff view. Whatever you need, the friendly staff will willingly be at your beck and call.

For the past year alone, Cris proudly shares that the resort’s occupancy rate during the off-peak season went as high as 85 percent, with Taiwanese and Chinese couples as its main visitors. “Our guests love that the resort is the total opposite of the other stations in Bora. They love the peace and quiet that West Cove can offer to them. Most of our guests are returning,” says Cris, who then reveals that his good friend, Pinoy boxing champ Manny Pacquiao, together with his wife Jinkee and their kids, frequent West Cove. (The resort is popularly known as “Pacquiao Resort” among the locals. West Cove owner Cris Aquino is Pacquiao’s flag bearer in his fights.)

After a successful year of operation, Cris is taking the West Cove experience to a whole new level. Thirteen rooms are being constructed to accommodate more visitors. Soon, Café Crisostomo and Station Zero (an adept name for the resort’s location, coming before Station 1) will satisfy guests’ gustatory pleasures. Requests for a land shuttle and taxi boat to and from Bora Stations 1, 2 and 3 are also underway. The plan, however, that matters most to Cris is the marine life reserve for coral reef rehabilitation and protection of Boracay’s giant clams. “I’d like our beachfront to have like a water park where guests can snorkel and experience the deep-sea natural wonders of the island. I am proud that we do our part in keeping Boracay an environment-friendly place,” he notes.

Revel on the white sand as far as the eye can see. Awake to the majesty of inviting blue waters. Delight in pastel-colored skies that linger long after the sun has come down. Enjoy spectacular sea cliff view from your own room. These are only few of the many reasons why Boracay is still on top of everybody’s must-visit summer destinations. Cris Aquino concludes, “When you go to Bora, come to the Cove. At Boracay West Cove, you don’t just imagine paradise, you experience it!”

(For inquiries, call +63 36 288-4279 or +63922-3231083. You may also log on to www.boracaywestcove.com)