MANILA, Philippines -It’s not very hard to be envious of Joey Bernardino’s job. Though he has an office in Makati, his work brings him to paradise and beyond. And that is devoid of exaggeration.
“I have an amazing job. And every time I visit our properties, the experience becomes more amazing,” says Joey, the sales and marketing director of Ten Knots Development Corp., the company that owns and operates the El Nido Resorts in paradisiacal Palawan. The company operates as a subsidiary of Ayala Land Hotels and Resorts Corp. Joey has been with the company for two and a half years now.
His unwritten job description is to “make sure that every guest of El Nido Resorts should have a beautiful memory to take home.” Joey has never been remiss in accomplishing this task.
El Nido Resorts is composed of Lagen, Miniloc, Apulit and Pangulasian. “We are strong in the European (especially France and Spain), US, Japan and Korean markets. But our No. 1 market remains to be the Pinoys, who comprise 50 percent of the resorts’ guests,” says Joey, a graduate of Behavioral Sciences from De La Salle University.
Lagen is a flora and fauna sanctuary that is popular for corporate events. The presence of a chapel at the resort, observes Joey, makes Lagen a popular wedding destination, too.
Pangulasian, he notes, is an eco-luxury destination among Europeans and the regional market.
Miniloc, owing to its rustic appeal, is popular among American, European, Korean and Japanese guests who do not only discover paradise but also imbibe the culture of the people of El Nido. “We have staff members who have been with the Miniloc resort for 32 years,” he says.
Apulit, located in Taytay, is an adventure island popular both to local tourists and Europeans. Joey adds that Apulit is the most picturesque among the resorts because of its 50 villas on water with the mountain behind them.
Joey, so to speak, has paradise in his hands. It is the same paradisiacal experience that he has shared a couple of times with his wife Maricris and their two daughters Misha, 18, and Bianca, 14. He adds that his family has a passion for travelling and discovering cultures and traditions of other countries. They were on a three-week trip to London, Paris and Spain recently.
“Ever since my kids’ first visit to the resorts, it has now become a must for them to visit El Nido every year,” muses Joey.
What’s in the pipeline for El Nido Resorts? Joey answers, “We want to take it to a different level. El Nido Resorts is quite a strong brand followed by international clientele. We will develop different islands in the country. Continuous improvement of the brand includes developing resorts outside the Philippines. This has been discussed and is now in its planning stage.”
When it happens, the Philippines and the world will further enjoy not just jaw-dropping and beautiful resorts but outstanding destinations that put premium on respecting the existing community and nature.
After all, the inner allure of Lagen, Miniloc, Pangulasian and Apulit resorts lies in responsible and sustainable eco-tourism. That’s what makes El Nido Resorts even more amazing.