More summer destinations

We had an exhilarating Cebu holiday, but we are just right smack into the summer. The weathermen say that May is going to be even hotter, so I guess we are not done with planning for the rest of the summer. As the family clamors for respite from the summer heat, I guess the next best thing is go north and south in search of this year’s May destinations.

Coral View

For those going up north, check out one of the newest resorts in Bataan. It is called Coral View Resort. Our crew checked out this newest discovery and came back with "a thumbs up" evaluation of this holiday place.

Coral View Resort is a mere 20-minute scenic drive from Subic Bay and just 10 minutes from the latest Ayala land 320-hectare development, Anvaya Cove. Owner Jun Pineda, an avid badminton player of Valle Verde Country Club, tells the story of how the resort came about. He wasn’t looking for a business prospect, just some raw land where he could build a getaway beach house. A friend showed him this long stretch of beach front property, one kilometer long of white fine sand and Jun fell in love with the place. It was too big for a beach house, and though not quite big enough for a sprawling resort property, the place had potentials because of what he experienced as he watched the tides change. The corals come in view as the tides rise and fall, and he describes this as a once-in-a-lifetime experience. In fact, that is how the resort got its name.

What I found great about the place is all along the one kilometer stretch is a natural breakwater made of corals. The breakwater is just a few meters from the shore, a natural safety net for swimmers. In fact, Jun says that in all the history of the area, they have not had a swimming accident, thanks to this coral breakwater. Nature has its own way of providing, and parents of young children should find this a big plus for the resort.

There are several cottages to choose from, all the options for groups of any size. A large family or a big barkada can have a spacious cottage, or a couple can have a midsummer night’s dream in a cozy nest. Prices range from P2,500 to P6,200.

Coral View Resort has a staff of 18, an amiable crew dressed in khaki shorts and white tees, always cheerful and very service-oriented.

Activities include snorkeling in the crystal clear waters, boating and beach volleyball, karaoke nights and billiards. Actually, just star gazing in the right company, a stroll along the beach line can be great fun, because Jun says that, apart from the fact that the general area is safe and peaceful, the resort boasts of 24-hour strict security. No wonder then that they are fully booked a month in advance. Just opened last year, they have their fair share of corporate bookings. Some weekends see them with busloads of picnic guests, out for a full day of sun and sea to get away from the oppressive heat. Not bad for the newest kid on the block.

Vistamar Beach Resort & Hotel

For south-bound beach hunters, check out the Vistamar Beach Resort & Hotel in Anilao, Batangas.

Unlike the Coral View Beach Resort, Vistamar is a veteran on the block. It was acquired by owner Charlie Leobrera back in the 70s, when Charlie still dreamed about having his own beach house. Now, he doesn’t just have a beach house, he has a full-blown resort to show for the frugal and wise years he invested on while still a young eager stallion with boundless energy and ideas bursting out of his breaches. Charlie developed the huge property block by block, wisely so because he knew he had to develop the market slowly by word of mouth.

And it is this word of mouth that has built a solid reputation for Vistamar. It is now a huge complex, with a hotel. The newest wing has big spacious rooms, fully air-conditioned, with a TV and ref.

They have full F & B service at their al fresco restaurant, and on weekends, they have buffets where one can enjoy the freshest catch of tuna.

Because of its sheer size, Vistamar has cornered the corporate accounts in the Batangas area. While others can only accommodate so much, Vistamar has a total of 92 rooms. The wide range of options include non-airconditioned rooms to super de luxe rooms, which give holiday hunters like you and me more choices.

This part of Batangas is particularly known for its excellent diving spots. I personally tried scuba diving here, getting my baptism of fire at the famed "cathedral", baptized with such a name by Anilao folks. The "cathedral" is a steep dive, steep that is, for novice divers like me. It is a hauntingly beautiful spot, with an eerie stillness, the waters getting a deeper shade of blue as you dive down. It is also a marine sanctuary, and Charlie takes this responsibility to heart. He is a diver himself, and has the deep tan and lean body to show for the years, actually decades of diving in Anilao. He respects the sea and its creatures, and observes the strict sense of "sanctuary" within his area of responsibility. Fishing is strictly prohibited, and one can appreciate this when one comes face to face with the colorful marine life at Vistamar. The tropical fishes and corals are magnificent, the water crystal clear, the shores kept clean of debris at all times.

Diving can’t get any better in this part of town, and weekends find the so-called weekend warriors out at sea as early as 5 a.m. By cocktail hour, you will find them comparing notes happily with ice cold beer in Charlie’s al fresco restaurant. By 10, they’re ready to call it a day, because they will be up at the first rays of the morning sun to go diving again. That is one helluva weekend for diving enthusiasts.

For those who have not discovered the joys of scuba diving, there is always the endless boating and island hopping. There are boats for rent, manned by efficient boatmen, and they are reasonably priced. Of course, for picnickers, they can always settle for simple swimming, and coming out to shore to enjoy a sumptuous lunch because you can grill your fish, chicken or pork chops right in the long cabana where picnic tables are laid. The numerous barbecue pits line both sides of the cabana because there is a big market out there for day-long picnickers as well.

North-bound or south-bound, there are exciting beaches to explore this summer. Coral View’s once-in-a-lifetime experience of watching the corals appear, disappear and re-appear is something worth the trip to Bataan this summer. The over-all friendly atmosphere and easy charm of a medium-sized resort is a welcome alternative to those big, crowded and populous resorts.

Vistamar, on the other hand, offers great scuba diving opportunities, with the bonus of comfortable lodging, and an over-all wonderful beach holiday.

Have a great summer.

Mabuhay! Be proud to be a Filipino.

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