A Garden Paradise in the Making
BY GERARD RAMOS

Even with the energetic efforts of various provinces to position their own wondrous locations as the country’s premier vacation spot for tourists local and foreign, that strip of white-sand beach off the northwest corner of Panay Island remains to be the destination du jour for many sun worshippers near and far. As it has been for many years now.
We are, of course, referring to Boracay Island, where tourist traffic is such that businesses there would now be hard-pressed to cite a lean or low season—well, at least one that fits the definition of the term. Arrivals at Caticlan Airport remain at a steady stream and businesses are in aggressive pursuit to meet the demand, some in the process of opening up new resorts, while others are finding ways to expand.
The Boracay Regency Group, which owns and manages the sprawling Boracay Regency Beach Resort and Convention Center and The Regency Lagoon Resort, is now even more poised to meet the needs and wants of island visitors for urban comforts amid island splendor.
Last year Boracay Regency Group chairman Henry Chusuey acquired Hotel Seraph from its Korean owner, and he is now pouring in millions for a massive makeover to bring what the company has pegged as a value resort, since renamed Boracay Garden Resort, in line with what the market has come to expect from a Boracay Regency property: inviting aesthetics and quality service.
Indeed, don’t let the “value” tag fool you. “The makeover of Boracay Garden Resort, which is ongoing and will continue in earnest in the middle of the year, is budgeted at about P80 million,” said Chusuey to a media group from Manila that had flown in upon his invitation in late April.
“We are very proud of this acquisition,” he continued. “We have a land area [2 hectares in all] and plenty of rooms with which we can do a lot in terms of design.”
As it is, Boracay Garden Resort, located right smack in the middle of White Beach Station 2, has more than enough features and amenities to delight guests even before the completion of its major makeover. The resort has 201 spacious and well-appointed rooms, a mix of deluxe and premier rooms, with several premier rooms featuring direct access to the pool and family rooms that can fit up to six persons.
Each room has a private terrace, Wi-Fi access, bath tub with separate shower area, individually controlled air-conditioning, cable TV, direct dial phone, in-room safe, and coffee- and tea-making facilities.
The sprawling grounds are lush with plants, trees and a landscaped garden decked with swing chairs. There is a kiddie pool and an adult pool to be enjoyed, and just a few steps from all that water fun is a bar and a restaurant to satisfy the nourishment and refreshment needs and wants of guests. The resort actually has three swimming pools but the management has closed down the third one to give way to a planned al-fresco dining area with a pavilion and a koi pond.
Boracay Garden Resort also boasts of private KTV rooms for those who want to channel their inner Mariah Carey, while fitness buffs will no doubt be pleased with the gym and all the pumping-iron goodness that awaits them. Typical of niceties that Boracay Regency resorts endeavor to bring to its guests, a private pathway has been carved out to bring guests from the resort to the beachfront where they can enjoy Boracay’s famed powdery-white sand on the 34 beach beds the resort has laid out for the exclusive use of the guests.
Take in all the natural beauty of the island—but don’t forget to slather on sunblock lotion of at least SPF50—and then make a splash in those clear azure waters. Of course, the pathway also makes it easy for guests to join in the island’s outrageous party scene at night.
And, yes, while Boracay still suffers from routine power interruptions, the resort offers 24-hour standby generators and security.
The lure of this island paradise is not going to wane anytime soon. Said Chusuey of the island’s enduring appeal: “Boracay’s natural beauty is captivating. The nice restaurants, peaceful surroundings and friendly locals add to its charm. Boracay no longer has a lean season. The availability of daily flights and affordable rates make it accessible to people from all walks of life. Travelers never run out of options in terms of accommodation. There are numerous budget hotels but also several first-class resorts. Activities abound throughout the day, and more so at night.”
Those options have only expanded with Boracay Garden Resort, which has partnered with South East Asian Airlines (SEAIR) in offering new leisure and pleasure packages, which include roundtrip airfare via SEAIR, three days’ accommodation, daily breakfast and dinner, with roundtrip land-and-sea transfers. The packages start at P8,406 for triple occupancy and P8,994 for double occupancy, and the promo period is from June 1 to September 30.