Swimming with Sharks on New Year's Day
January 12, 2003 | 12:00am
Guess how I welcomed the new year? I went swimming in a saltwater-filled reef pool packed with nine black-tipped sharks at Eagle Point Resort in Anilao, Batangas. Yes, you read it right. Each shark measured over a meter and were escorted by pawikans (tortoises) and groupers. Watching them swirling freely enticed me to submerge myself into the water and join those graceful predators. At this resort, even the sharks were friendly.
It was necessary to have a souvenir photo with the sharks. One morning, the dive instructor and I chased the sharks, which were not given their usual galunggong breakfast, all over the pool to exhaust them. Each time the sharks swam past me, I dove underwater complete with mask, snorkel and wet suit, and the instructor snapped away with his camera. But when the pictures were developed, they showed only my feet together with the sharks. Next time, I muttered, I will hold on to them like Velcro.
Still, I have beautiful photos of sharks and other denizens of the deep courtesy of top photographer Bob Brita. Resort-owner Atty. Ramon Quisumbing and lovely wife Karen gave me an ocular tour of this fabulous eco-resort. Rated among the 100 top resorts in the Philippines, Eagle Point is situated in a tropical rainforest overlooking the sea. No trees were cut but instead were made part of the resort infrastructure.
The resort has the following: air-conditioned cottages with brightly tiled bathrooms and private balconies, as well as three large swimming pools (two freshwater and one saltwater). The upper pool, designed for children, is complete with a white-sand playground, a sun deck and two running waterfalls. The large lower pool has a huge deck for sunbathers. For me, the most appealing is the 30-foot waterslide which connects the upper pool to the lower pool.
Aromatherapy guru Maribel Belo Espino told me, "It’s great to spend the New Year here because children can do a lot of things – island-hopping, banana boat riding, watching videos, stargazing or food-tripping." There’s also awesome fireworks display for kids at 10 p.m. and 12 midnight for adults. Not to mention ballroom dancing, open bar and great food.
"No wonder most of the guests who spend New Year’s Day here keep coming back for that sense of family," enthused my gracious Aunt Tilde Belo.
The resort’s centerpiece is the main core, consisting of the front office, air-conditioned conference room, gift shop, game room, kitchen, the restaurant and bar. The main core’s has a very high ceiling supported by thick narra wooden beams and panels, delightful place to dine in.
GM Tonton Francisco, who graduated from the Culinary Academy of California, ensures that the selection and quality of food are tops. Chef Roberto Cruz (former senior chef of La Scala Opera and Studebaker) whipped up a sumptuous spread of Lapu-lapu Fantasia (sautéed Italian style with white wine), sizzling sisig, gambas, prawn thermidore, beef salpicao and a delicious margherita pizza with anchovies. This pizza is by far the best I have ever tried.
Resident manager Carlos Webb who joined us as we toured the pristine Sepok Island and Redbeach via speedboat. He said many guests feel as if they were transported to a far, exotic paradise when they visit Eagle Point.
"You don’t need to travel to the Caribbean, Fiji, Galapagos or Hawaii in order to find the great treasures of the sea. In your very own backyard can be found the richest marine garden in the world," said John Cogul, CEO of Barcelo Hotels and Resorts, an international chain based in Spain.
An exiting development that will certainly elevate the standards of our hotel industry to world-class level was the recent signing of a management contract between Eagle Point and Barcelo. Barcelo Hotels are among the largest Spanish hotel/resort chain with 138 hotels in 30 countries. It is the leader in Central America, in addition to being the Spanish-owned chain with the greatest presence in the USA. This move to put Eagle Point Resort in the international tourism market is greatly welcomed by Atty. Ramon Quisumbing.
Cogul added, "The 7,100 islands of the Philippines seem to be the forgotten islands of Southeast Asia. This unknown beauty is what we wish to tap and share with the whole world. Only 2,000 islands are inhabited and they’re off the main overland route. Maybe this is one of the reasons why the country has never been overcrowded with a great number of tourists."
He said he believes in the tourism potential of the Philippines which is "the most European nation in Asia" where communication is not a problem because the people speak English. He explained that the tourism market in Thailand is very saturated while the Philippines is a dynamic and progressive market. Barcelo has taken over the management of Pearl Farm in Davao, Asturias Hotel in Puerto Princesa, Sarabia Manor in Iloilo, Taal Vista Lodge in Tagaytay and most recently Eagle Point in Batangas. It was so refreshing to hear such enlightening words from John. If tourism giants like Barcelo believe so much in our tourism, let us start exploring the beauty of our own country first before opting to travel abroad.
That exactly was what we did. Together with my pretty first cousins Maelene Ring and Maribel Espino, we proceeded to check out the waters of Anilao, the diving mecca as many local and international divers certify. For the more experienced, there are challenging deep dives and high-voltage drift dives. The resplendent corals found in these waters make the place ideal for underwater photography.
Anilao has more than 30 dive spots with rich, attractive coral reefs abundant with diverse sea life. It offers clear visibility through most of the year. Two of the favorite dive spots are right in front of the resort. No need to rent boats here, just jump off the pier, move a little and – bingo! – you’re in for the best underwater garden the Anilao waters have to offer.
Perched on the tip of the Calumpang Peninsula, Eagle Point faces the mouth of the plankton-rich Balayan Bay, which is constantly fed by the South China Sea. Divers would be happy to know that many among the local communities surrounding the resort are spreading awareness of the importance of the conservation of the coral reefs. An ongoing project is the anchoring of mooring buoys at the different dive spots. The dive boats are encouraged to tie their boats onto these buoys, instead of using their anchors that damage the corals.
All in all, it was truly an unforgettable way to welcome the new year – from checking out the corals to swimming with sharks at Eagle Point. And if you’re lucky, the sharks might just be Kodak-friendly.
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