Better side of Boracay

If you ask property developers, one of the most sought-after and fast-developing part of Boracay Island in Malay, Aklan is that located at the back of the so-called Station One.

The reason is obvious. That part of Boracay that most of us are familiar with, or where the White Beach is located, is overcrowded. Gone are days when one can stroll along White Beach undisturbed by the maddening crowd, by commercialism characterized by resorts that have overextended beyond the 25-plus-5 meter easement from the shoreline and by vendors peddling all kinds of stuff and services. At one point, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources estimates that around 300 establishments in Boracay, including hotels, resorts, and residential structures face demolition for being too close to the water line.

One newspaper article noted that studies indicate that the popular white sand beaches of the island-resort are disappearing because of the infrastructure built within the 25-meter perimeter from the shoreline.

The DENR later named 150 establishments violating the 25+5 meter easement rule, including the Cagban Jetty Port which is the point of entry for most tourists going to Boracay.

And we haven’t even discussed the topic of poor water quality in Boracay, even if the DENR insists that the four-kilometer White Beach, where most of the resorts and entertainment sports are located, is safe for swimming. Even the “white” sand no longer looks white because of the dirt and there is too much algae in the water that points to water pollution.

One article by Rappler described the old Boracay as “a pristine paradise where palm trees outnumbered tourists… Now, it has become more of a party hub and an outdoor mall that incidentally has a white-sand beach beside it… a constant stream of people traverse the length of White Beach to get from one bar to another… the tourism frenzy has led to poor waste management with sewage being dumped into Boracay’s once-blue waters… pollution has killed around 90 percent of coral reefs… the stench of its waters and the suffocating crowds…”(http://www.rappler.com/life-and-style/30130-boracay-paradise-lost)

The last time I went to the White Beach a few weeks’ back, I felt claustrophobic, stressed out. I had to go to that part of Boracay everyday for three days because that was where the good eating places were located and where one could buy necessities. I only feel relieved everytime I get back to my hotel, which is about five minutes ride from Station 2 where the shuttles are, because it offers solace away from the maddening crowd.

At first I didn’t know where Hotel Soffia was and it appeared a little farther away if one got used to staying at the Station 2 resorts. It is located at Sitio Hagdan, Brgy Yapak, close to Fairways and Blue Water Resort and DMCI’s Alta Vista de Boracay.  But then, I discovered that it is a short distance from Puka Shell Beach, which is relatively untouched by modern civilization and which serves as a refuge for tourists who want to escape the White Beach mayhem. At Puka, there are only a few small stores selling souvenirs. Its sand maybe not as powdery as that of White Beach but it is white and fine. More importantly, it is silent and relaxing.

According to Flor Melissa Po-Artillaga, director of operations for Hotel Soffia, the hotel is also very near Diniwid Beach, which is actually located right next to White Beach and reachable from Station 1 through a semi-hidden cliffside trail as described by another Rappler article which also described Diniwid as White Beach’ quieter cousin.

Now back to Hotel Soffia. It has 59 rooms, eight of which are casitas, 35 superior rooms, and the rest, deluxe rooms.

Artillaga is not new to the industry, having worked as director for administration of Hilton, and then moving to the Pavilion where she served as general manager for the holding company that owns the hotel.

She says Hotel Soffia may not be as big as the other hotels on this side of Boracay but their facilities and amenities can rival any. But more importantly, it offers peace, quiet, and relaxation after a whole day in the beach.

On my way to and from Hotel Soffia, I noticed that the promise that this side of Boracay holds has not escaped enterprising businessmen who are starting to put up new hotels, resorts and other establishments there. One of them is Double Dragon Properties (of Jollibee’s Tony Tan Caktiong and Mang Inasal founder Injap Sia) which is building CityMall-Boracay on a one-hectare lot across the main gate of Fairways and Bluewaters to become Boracay’s first community mall with a full-size supermarket.

Let us hope that if White Beach was not able to withstand the influx of money and civilization, that Puka and Diniwid could.

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