Huma on my mind

Each year, I vow to visit the Maldives. This year, there is no need to do that because the Maldives has come much closer to me. An island paradise where tropical dreams reign is called Huma Island Resort & Spa in Busuanga, Palawan.

Huma is a Mediterranean-themed sanctuary mixed with Filipino architecture. It is characterized by bespoke excellence, laudable furnishings and all the creativity one can hope for in a tropical destination.

Like an emerald floating on the waters of Busuanga, Huma entices the soul to frolic in nature’s bounty and glory. Among the 1,000 islands of the Palawan chain emerges a most fascinating and luscious slice of paradise nestled in half-moonlit creamy coves where the sunrise and sunset are majestic. It has been some time since I heard about Huma resort but as they say, all good things take time. And it was definitely worth the wait.

My best friend Bum Tenorio Jr., our dear friend Yvette Lee (who dives the depths to take photos of the denizens of the deep) and I were extremely excited to take the seaplane to Huma. An extra treat was that we flew on a private seaplane with the owner of Huma himself, Dr. Hamad Al-Tuwaijri. The plane took off from the jetty behind the Folk Arts Theater at the CCP Complex in Pasay City.  It was an hour flight expertly maneuvered by pilot Eric Brill as we flew over Batangas, Mindoro and the turquoise waters of Apo Reef.

Dr. Hamad said he believes in investing heavily and is exploring tourism potentials on our shores.  He also shared that Huma was named after his son, Ibrahim. Ibrahim’s  sister, at two years old, started calling her twin brother Huma, which became the name of this beautiful property in Busuanga.

Huma is actually Dr. Hamad’s flagship resort property outside Kuwait, where he has businesses in construction, aviation, retail and hospitality.  He shared that his holding company has acquired several properties including Tahaina olive oil factory in Kuwait. A very amiable gentleman, he welcomed us to his magical and unforgettable paradise.

 “To do the work , you must enjoy your job,” he said. He believes in starting projects, leaving them to competent management teams and monitors the progress and development from wherever he is in the world. His vice president for administration, winsome Sheila Macadangdang shared that Huma feels fortunate that they hired the best local staff from the vicinity. The company provided training to prepare the staff for their specific jobs. Sheila added that they will be opening Huma in the Maldives and have very exciting projects in Oman, Boracay and Manila in the near future. 

For those seeking private escape, barefoot luxury and unparalleled memories, it is high time you visited Huma. It is a private resort whose facilities and food outlets are exclusively for their in-house guests.

It is true that some places are better experienced than explained. Palawan is one of the most spectacular places on earth and Huma is a priceless gem complete with all the necessities and amenities of a five-star resort. This postcard-perfect destination is simply an illumination of the ethereal. It is a sanctuary where fairies seem to bathe. Being pampered at Huma is simply returning to the bare essentials but this time with resplendent luxury.

Island hopping, snorkeling and scuba diving are premium experiences one can indulge in at Huma. We swam in the infinity pool to our heart’s desire, even sampled the children’s pool for fun and tried the fitness center and the walking trails. There is also a library with billiards table and a boutique where you can avail yourself of beach necessities and souvenirs for your loved ones.

Abundant marine life characterizes the seas in the vicinity of Huma. Ace diver Yvette Lee took several dives and shared what she saw. According to her, Huma has two signature dive sites that it can be proud of. The first one is an easy beach entry that is considered a “muck-dive” for macro photographers. Gobies, shrimps, panda clown fish, nudibranchs and other critters dear to muck diving enthusiasts can be found in the sandy slope.

There is also the wreck of a sea plane, which is now a sanctuary to schools of sweetlips, batfishes, red emperors, lionfishes and groupers.

On the other side of the island where the reefs have a healthy current passing through, the steep walls are lined with soft corals, sea fans, black coral trees and inhabited by schooling yellow-tailed fusiliers, lobsters and a juvenile turtle. She also pointed out the cluster of grape corals, which are unusually large and prevalent here as compared with other Philippine dive destinations. Huma also offers easy access to the shipwrecks Coron is famous for and the resort can arrange “dive-safaris” for serious divers.

The verdant and virgin forests that embrace the resort like a sacred sentinel are a welcome respite that guards 81 contemporary over-water villas, Beach villas, Family villas a Presidential Suite, and over-water spa complex that resembles the villas on stilts in the Maldives. Worthy to note, the accommodations and gourmet dining in Huma are offered at very attractive introductory prices.

It also has a variety of restaurants serving the most sumptuous international cuisine. We explored the resort’s wine cellar and Dr. Hamad explained that they have almost 5,000 bottles of their Lebanese wine called Chateau Musar, which has been ranked seventh in the world. The wine cellar provides private dinners with wine pairing and special sommeliers.

The best place at Huma to have wine and cheese cocktails is at Rudy’s Bar, named after the late best friend and trusted Filipino engineer of Dr. Hamas. The air-conditioned cozy bar is made of bamboo and had sand for its flooring.

The resort only uses a special kind of olive oil from Puglia, which cannot be placed in transparent bottles because exposure to the sun will alter its taste. Huma’s chefs from Italy, France and Japan prepare the authentic cuisine in the island.

We had the privilege of having Dr. Hamad prepare our lunch at Alfairuz Lebanese Restaurant, which included a sumptuous mezza platter (hummus, baba ganoush, mutabel and fattoush). For our main course we had a delicious lamb shank, shish tawook and kofta. Huma also has its own herb garden with mint, parsley, arugula, oregano and okra.

Try the resort’s foie gras, grilled seafood with dollops of coconut cream, perfectly grilled calamares, basil risotto with prawns and lamb chops with cauliflower puree. The flavors of Huma may be experienced intimately through its private dining, which can be arranged exclusively. Wedding proposals, weddings and honeymoon experiences are also appropriate here.

Over a hearty dinner, we had the pleasure of dining with gracious GM Whilhelm Bolton, an expert restaurateur who has three decades of international experience in hotel management, F&B, business development, operations and planning. He completed his degree in Hotel Management in South Africa. His personal credo: “I love what I do and do what I love.” No wonder the operations, management and cuisines of Huma are unparalleled.

An interesting activity we experienced with in-house dive master Harry Chamas is free diving. He defined it as “spending time in the underwater world while holding your breath.  It gives you the freedom to dive down and really experience the underwater world in a 3D environment.” 

We also met winsome Roxane Nicholls who is in charge of yoga experiences. Roxanne shared, “I love to work with people and have the opportunity to help people in any way to the best of my abilities, that is why I have chosen yoga and massage as a career path.”

After a fulfilling free dive, jet-skiing, hobbycat sailing, snorkeling and scuba diving, it was high time for the best traditional signature massage in the most spectacular Kapuruan spa we have ever experienced in our lives. Fiberglass bottom squares complement the spa’s floors and you can see a myriad of fish swimming as you enjoy your massage treatment. The masseuse expertly focuses on every sinew and muscle for relaxation. There is a connection between the masseuse and the one being massaged so that there is a unity forged with loving compassion and kindness.

The sun was beginning to set as we sipped our Lebanese rosé wine and clinked our glasses at the resort’s Blu Bar to the good life.  Yes, there is no need to travel far to experience the most scintillating beaches and turquoise waters. At Huma, they are just a short flight away.

Yes, dreams do come true. In Huma, they still do.

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For reservations, Email reservation@humaisland.com or call 553-0119.

Email the author at miladay.star@gmail.com.