Beautiful, bountiful Boracay in a book

It was as if Boracay was transported to the city at the launch of the first ever coffee table book on the island held recently at The Podium. The Boracay Lifestyle, the brainchild of publisher Edd Fuentes, was launched via an exhibit featuring spectacular photographs of Boracay, from the mesmerizing blue waters to the dramatic sunsets, and everything else the island offers.

The Boracay touch was definitely at the exhibit, with colorful lamps and lush plants dotting the area. Sumptuous hors d’oeuvres, as well as fine wines, were served at the cocktail launch, which drew well-known personalities and celebrities from the government, business, tourism, and entertainment sectors.

First to arrive at the event were Citibank’s Country Business Manager Nina Aguas and Marketing Director Cecille Fonacier, who immediately purchased copies of The Boracay Lifestyle. Other corporate personages at the event were Louis Vuitton Country Manager Gigi Mabanta with husband Col. Jolly Mabanta, Philips Consumer Electronics’ Elen Torres, RMN Network’s Butch Canoy, Perception Inc.’s Rene Nieva with wife Genny, Virtusio Public Relations’ Romy and Lulu Virtusio, Full Circle Communications’ Milen de Quiros, ZMG Signium-Ward Howell’s J.J. Calero, SM’s vice president for communications Millie Dizon, British Airways’ Violy Echevarria, Natalie Puey and Marissa Saavedra, IBM Philippines’ Richard Burgos, and Keppel Philippines’ Sin Wai Meng and Dennis Zee.

To open the exhibit, guests of honor Aklan Rep. Gabrielle Calizo and Aklan Gov. Florencio Miraflores led the ribbon-cutting ceremony, together with book cover girl and TV personality Lana Asanin.

Among the book’s contributors present were journalists Tanya Lara and Francine Medina, writers Lito Ocampo Cruz and Tina Cabanayan, and photographers Alex Van Hagen, Lester Ledesma, Erwin Lim, Nestor Santiago, and Arnold Jumpay.

Of course, Boracay’s well-known islanders were there. Among the guests were White House Resort’s Bong and Amanda Tirol, Seawind Resort’s Joebert and Susan Cocjin, Paradise Garden’s Chris Geiger, and The Sun Village Resort’s Emer Ibabao. Celebrities from the fashion and entertainment industries also graced the event, such as actor Jomari Yllana and model siblings Raya and Robby Mananquil. Top fashion show director Robby Carmona was also at the launch, as well as fashion designer Efren Ocampo.

Other well-known personalities who attended the event were former Sen. Francisco Tatad, Citibank’s Abby Chan and Aneth Ng-Lim, Louie and Tess Vargas, Export Bank’s Nenette Tirol, and Timstate Resort and Development Corp.’s Joji Monsod.

Top names from Fairways and Bluewater, one of the book’s major sponsors, were at the event, led by Vice President Peng Perez de Tagle with Dickie and Pinky Almazor, Jennifer Alonte, Ana Alegre, Adrian Flores, and Donnabelle Teruel.

The travel and tourism sectors were also well represented. Those who came to the launch were SEAir’s Rachel Bautista, Summit World-Cebu Pacific’s Dorothy Bangayan, Corporate Air’s Art Alejandrino, Asia Travel General Manager Nikki Rocha, Sierra Tours’ Marilou Ngo, Sams Travel and Tours’ Sharon Santos, Cencorp Travel’s JP Cabalza, Corporate Travel’s Anne Raña, Cordym Tour’s Celine Clemente, World Wings Travel’s Jun Rodulfo, Universal Holidays Inc.’s Sheena Kamimura, and New Horizon Travel’s Jen and Che Bejar.

A 220-page hardbound book on the world’s best tropical beach, The Boracay Lifestyle features a collection of amazing photographs taken by the country’s leading photographers and interesting stories penned by top writers and editors of the famous island’s glamorous past, interesting people, unique cuisine, colorful fashion and architecture, arts and crafts, and pulsating nightlife. It also serves as a guide to the island, with its listing of resorts, restaurants, shops and business establishments that make Boracay one of the most vibrant vacation spots in the world.

The Boracay Lifestyle is truly a testament to a Philippine jewel, an island paradise that shows the nature’s boundless beauty and bounty.

The Boracay Lifestyle is published by Fuentes Publicity Network Inc., in cooperation with Fairways and Bluewaters and The Sun Village Boracay Resort. It is available at Fuentes Publicity Network Inc., Unit 6D, Cypress Garden Condominium, 112 Rufino St. (formerly Herrera), Legaspi Village, Makati City, as well as selected bookstores such as A Different Bookstore in Glorietta 2, Bibliarch in Glorietta 3, Fully Booked in Power Plant Mall, Ink & Stone in The Podium, Book Trends in UP Village, Solidaridad in Padre Faura, and Mag.net in Greenbelt 3 and The Loop. For orders or more information, please call 893-9355, 816-3109, 892-6184; fax 812-4797; or e-mail at fuentes@pacific.net.ph or fpni@pacific.net.ph. Special discounts will be given for bulk orders.