Boracay’s hidden garden
BY DIANA A. UY

One would think that when a person already owns, say, almost a third of Boracay’s Station 2, he’d be lounging on one of his beach beds by now, sipping piña coladas while admiring the famous sunset of the paradise island.
Not to the tireless and visionary Henry Chusuey, the man behind Boracay Regency Group. Apparently, for Chusuey, Boracay is a bottomless gold mine for resort-bounty hunters.
Twelve years ago, Chusuey laid out the first stone for what is now popularly known as the Boracay Regency Resort and Convention Center on Station 2. It started out as a small hotel, expanding over the years until it now boasts of a 125-meter beachfront considered the longest in the paradise island. Not a month ago, Chusuey's Boracay Regency Group launched Regency Lagoon Resort Boracay, the first “adult’’ hotel in the island paradise. At about the same time, the business financier would launch Boracay Garden Resort, formerly Hotel Seraph.
So what makes this latest acquisition so special? Three words: Huge, open space. Boracay Garden is a 2-hectare piece of prime property right smack in the middle of Station 2.
“Where can you find an open space as big as this in Boracay,’’ said Chusuey during a media dinner held recently at the resort. “This is what I’m after.’’
Hotel Seraph used to be a Korean-owned property catering to well, mostly Korean tourists. Before the transition, the 201-room hotel enjoyed more than 70 percent occupancy rate until Swine Flu hit, coupled with the economic crisis, leading to a decline in the traffic of Korean tourists to Boracay and to the hotel most especially. Late last year, the owner decided to abandon ship, selling the resort to Chusuey. On December 2009, Seraph Hotel was reborn under a new management and given a new name, Boracay Garden Resort.
The resort is currently undergoing phase-by-phase renovations and reconstructions. The services and marketing focus and strategy have been remodeled as well. Boracay Garden Resort is after all carrying the name of the Boracay Regency Group so it should only be natural that it also promotes reasonable rates, excellent food, quality service, prime location and happy employees. Since the takeover, Boracay Garden Resort has seen a steady stream of international clienteles, ranging from the Europeans to Asians including Koreans and locals.
“We cannot really demolish the [whole] building,” said Chusuey. ‘‘We will remove, repaint something. We will redo the swimming pools, put some koi ponds. I was thinking of putting more plants that’s why I called it ‘garden’ and make the garden [look really] nice because you have this big space. I plan to import stones from Indonesia—the likes you see in all the five star hotels in Bali. We will definitely put the Henann brand. That’s our management company.’’
Comfy and affordable accommodations
Boracay Garden is well-hidden away from the noise and chaos of Station 2. It is not far enough though from the beachfront to not enjoy Boracay’s beautiful views and wild nights. There’s a private, covered access to the beach which is only a mere two-minute walk from the resort. Beach lounges are also available for guests’ use.
All 201 well-appointed rooms of the Triple A, Mediterranean-inspired resort are completely habitable and unbelievably spacious they can fit in enormous Victorian furniture including massive beds (the choices are mainly between a king and a queen size depending on the room) with downy linens and pillows—so much like in other resorts of the Boracay Regency Group. Guests also have unobstructed views of swimming pools with one shaped like an angel. There are 18 premier accommodations with pool access if you feel like jumping into a pool straight from your room. Other conveniences include a free wi-fi and bidet toilets (thanks to Hotel Seraph’s Korean guests heritage) aside from the usual safety deposit box, individually controlled air-conditioning, cable TV, direct dial telephone, hot and cold shower, bath tub with separate shower area, coffee and tea making kit and a personal ref.
Hungry guests can head to the Garden Café restaurant, managed by champion employee of the year and amazing cook Mario Gatmaitan. He traces his roots to a 17-year working stint at Hyatt Hotel and Casino Manila and a two-month managerial training in Singapore. The menu has diversified from Korean dishes to Filipino and international cuisines, highlighting creative duo set meals. Meaning, each plate is served with two meal combinations: poultry and fish or meat and seafood, for example. Among the must-tries include the comforting suam sa mais, a tinola-like medley of ginger, garlic, shrimp and of course, corn; sinaing na tuna, inspired by the Filipino paksiw; prime beef fillet mignon and baby back ribs with hickory barbecue sauce.
There is also a gym for those who want to lose those extra pounds. Or if you’re in the mood for some pampering, world-class Kai Regency Spa at Boracay Regency Resort will take care of that for you. Try the Swedish massage. The experience is simply nirvana. The Kai foot reflexology, on the other hand, can make for a perfect date with that special someone.
The restaurant will soon be turned into a ballroom area. Chusuey plans to put up an al fresco, buffet dining pavilion at the center of the resort. This is to maximize the nice, relaxing breeze coming from behind the resort.
An inexpensive travel
Boracay Garden Resort offers cheaper rates among the hotels of Boracay Regency Group. For instance, deluxe rooms may be booked for as low as P4,000 per person on triple occupancy. The package is inclusive of three days and two nights’ accommodation, free daily breakfast and dinner, and free roundtrip land and sea transfers via Caticlan until May 31.
“When you go on a vacation, always look for value-for-money,” said Chusuey. “The price should be worth it. In my hotels, I do it that way. We charge according to what we can offer. More than that is like robbing your guests. The charge should be less than the value. It cannot be more.”
Boracay Garden Resort has also partnered with Southeast Asian Airlines (SEAIR), known as the fastest airline to Boracay, to offer vacationers more choices and sweeter deals. Guests are offered a discounted travel package to the island which includes a roundtrip airfare, three days accommodations, daily breakfast and dinner, with land and sea transfers for as low as P8,994 for double occupancy and P8,406 for triple occupancy. Promo is valid from June 16 to Sept. 30.
“We want our passengers to travel without the hassle so they can enjoy every minute of their vacation. SEAIR offers the most convenient way to go to the country’s top leisure spots,” said Patrick Tan, SEAIR VP for Commercial Affairs.
SEAIR is now celebrating its 15th year and is now flying to 12 destinations all over the country: Clark, Caticlan (Boracay), Cebu, Manila, Basco (Batanes), El Nido, Tablas (Romblon), Marinduque, San Fernando (La Union), Zamboanga, Jolo and Tawi-tawi.
For more information, e-mail manilareservations@boracaygarden.com.ph or visit www.FlySeair.com.