The essential Boy So of La Carmela de Boracay

MANILA, Philippines - Once a year, Boy So of La Carmela de Boracay unwinds. He travels to the US where he finds time to be with his family. “It is something that I really look forward to. It’s a real vacation. Simple lang at laid back. Just to bond with family,” explains Boy.

Last month, Boy had his usual out-of-the- country break. In the US, he met with his friend Boy Abunda, who was scheduled to deliver a talk for a Filipino organization.

Boy leads a very busy life maintaining several businesses ranging from imports, construction to agriculture, hotels and resorts like La Carmela de Boracay. His trips out of the country are a necessary break from his frenzied schedule.

“We are doing fine,” he says of the business outlook. “This year, we are looking at adding more rooms. Currently, La Carmela has 545 rooms.”

The new development will come when the volume of visitors going to Boracay doubles in number. “There are plans to phase out the Q3 planes with the bigger Airbus. Kung maging maganda, we will add more rooms.”

The planned new accommodations are part of the expansion program of the La Carmela chain. Recently, Boy scored a prime property acquisition in Boracay. “Initially, we will build 300 rooms. If things go well, we’ll go with the next phase. Sa first phase, one hectare muna. Susubukan muna kung maganda, pag okay, second phase naman. We will be able to gauge it by next year.”

Always trusting his instincts, which has been an ace in the conduct of his businesses, Boy believes that timing is important. “Hindi ako yung tipong sugod ng sugod lang. Basta by next year, we will be able to gauge the volume of passengers coming in.”

The new hotel site he plans to build will be high end, but not too high, he explains. “Affordable pa rin.”

La Carmela de Boracay started in 2005. “We’re 11 years. But Boy Abunda and I have been friends for 12 years,” he says. Boy Abunda who recently finished his doctoral degree in Social Development, played hugely in the transformation and progress of La Carmela.

With his nationwide influence, Boy would extend his celebrity power to promote La Carmela. In his television shows, Boy would acknowledge, like magic spell, “Boy So of La Carmela de Boracay, maraming salamat.”

The greetings kept everyone interested and fascinated. To the multitudes who watched Boy sending his greetings to La Carmela, Boy So was a virtual friend. La Carmela de Boracay became a byword, a household name.

La Carmela de Boracay had instant recall. It also became a curio. “Eto pala ang La Carmela(ng) sinasabi ni Boy Abunda,” people would say, once they get a glimpse of the resort in Boracay. 

With the connection between Boy So and Boy Abunda established, the chance to spot a celebrity at the resort heightened. There was curiosity.

Boy So first met Boy Abunda more than a decade ago when the former invited the latter to dine at La Carmela de Boracay. La Carmela de Boracay was still in its construction stage when the two met. More meetings and more dinners followed until La Carmela became Boy’s second home in Boracay.

“Boy So is kind and forthright. Diretso magsalita. He is one of the most genuine people I know. Mabuting kaibigan. He is family,” says Boy.

Paying homage to their friendship, Boy So asked Boy to execute the interiors of the new wing (which was added two years ago) of La Carmela de Boracay. Boy also gave a hand in choosing the resort’s furniture and decor, among others. Two penthouse suites of La Carmela are exclusive for Boy’s use, and in fact, the rooms are named after him.

While meeting in the US, Boy Abunda and Boy So had one great bonding moment. “Boy So and his brother Stewart (Bebot/Bot) picked us up at the airport. Bot also served as our tour guide,” says Boy. The meeting was short: Boy only had a week’s stay in the US while Boy So had two weeks.

Boy came with his sister, Borongan City Mayor Fe Abunda, his long-time partner Bong Quintana, Philip Roxas and Nancy Yabut. Boy had with him his wife Loi and daughter Carmela, for whom La Carmela de Boracay was named after.

“For La Carmela de Boracay, we wanted a name that was easy to remember yet catchy.  When we were building La Carmela, lahat ng resort in Boracay gumagamit ng sikat na pangalan sa Manila. I wanted to be original,” Boy So explains.

Carmela was six years old when La Carmela de Boracay started. She is 18 now and will be graduating from college this year.

Soon, she will be involved in the family business and in her eponymous hotel and will put to good use her entrepreneurial skills.

“She plans to take up a course in culinary. These days, she shares her talent in decorating the hotel. She takes charge of the decoration, especially on special occasions celebrated at the hotel,” says Boy So proudly.

Boy So wants Carmela to learn the ropes of the trade, especially the hospitality business. “Importante malaman niya paano makisama sa mga tao.”

Business runs in the family, so it’s no surprise that Boy So wants his daughter to follow in his footsteps. Boy So, who himself grew up in a family of entrepreneurs, started from the ranks. “I was once a checker and a delivery boy. I carried with me a road map. I knew every street and every barangay. I knew the language of the trade. Lahat yan dinaanan ko.”

But everything is history now. Boy So of La Carmela no longer has to concern himself with every nook and cranny. He has people to manage things for him, and he has time to relax with his out-of-town trips. His success is easy to see: His flagship project La Carmela de Boracay is an iconic edifice in the paradise island of Boracay.