And another dip in Boracay

Of our 7,100 islands, the undisputed holder to the title of most exciting island paradise is none other than Boracay. Imagine that long stretch of fine beach like the giant arm of some opalescent-skinned goddess–beckoning, enticing.

And in the center of that cherished arm lies the island’s grandest treasure–the Boracay Regency, the most luxurious hotel on this island getaway.

The Boracay Regency boasts the most ideal location in the whole of Boracay. Directly in front of Boat Station 2, it’s just a short walk from the quaint shops of the talipapa, the Boracay mall, Allied Bank (the only full-service bank there) and all the frequented hangouts. The hotel features five-star amenities and a freshwater swimming pool, one of the largest on the island.

As soon as I arrived there on a recent visit, I was welcomed by a refreshing tropical drink at the open-air Alfon’s Bar. The food at the hotel was delectable. At Prince Henrik’s Café, which serves Continental and Filipino fare, I feasted on a magnificent array of seafoods: escabeche, grilled prawns with lemon butter sauce, fried bangus and crabs. If one has a preference for other cuisines, one can also try the Tapas Tapas Spanish restaurant, Bulgogi Korean House and Tribu Filipino restaurant.

My room was simply superb, one of the hotel’s 85 air-conditioned and fully-equipped rooms tastefully done in bamboo and rattan while the bathroom uses Romblon marble. But the best part of the room for me was its adjacent balcony–my very own private terrace where I could relax with a view of the spectacular beach right before me. There I could dine, sip teas or just laze away the whole day.

Oh, but I managed to resist the pull of sloth. After a leisurely stroll from my room, I found myself on the roof garden. This, mind you, is a real garden, and on the whole island only the Boracay Regency has it. The hotel was designed to enjoy and make the most of ecology. Near the roof garden is the pool, like a lagoon where one can frolick in privacy. Beside the newly opened hotel annex is a waterfall, the largest waterfall in Boracay with a man-made lagoon filled with hundreds of colorful koi fish. At night, I discovered, the cadence of the waterfall was music as lulling as the soft pounding of the nearby sea.

At night, however, the waterfall is not the only source of music. The reason: Boracay Regency has recently opened its own disco bar. Called Wave, this hip evening destination is the first underground beach disco on the island and probably in the whole Philippines! Every night, a band inundates the large room with rousing pop and rock music, amid a state-of-the-art sound system and dancing lights. The crowd was a fine mix of young and old, Asian and Caucasian, all gyrating under a transparent roof dome. This was Boracay nightlife as it should be!

To make for an even more sizzling summer, Boracay Regency has come up with convenient packages that start at P4,435/person for triple room sharing and P5,590/person for twin sharing. Each package includes three-day two-night accomodation, breakfast and dinner, and roundtrip land and sea transfer. For inquiries, call 523-87-08, 523-87-09, (036) 288-61-11 or fax (036) 288-67-77, or e-mail them at regency@pacific.net.ph.