Tickled pink in Bora

This is a place where the lush carpet of white sand delights to feel your bare feet and the wind plays with your hair. This is a place where there exists a fun fusion of sun, sea and sand.This is a place called Boracay.

It was an early morning flight to Caticlan on a pleasant Sunday. Just when I’d rather snooze under that cozy comforter, I got up just in time to catch a flight that, for a week already, I had been excitedly anticipating. For the first time, I was off to the country’s beach capital.

It took me approximately 35 minutes to reach Aklan (via SeAir) where we were greeted by its people who were quick to withdraw a welcoming smile. Boracay was quiet when we arrived. The "Bora crowd" was nowhere in sight. Not yet. Perhaps they were still preparing for their Holy Week retreat in this island paradise.

We checked in at Patio Pacific Boracay, formerly known as the Pink Patio. Instantly, I felt some connection because I truly like the color pink. No, liking it is actually an understatement. I love it — to the extent that I signed cadets’ ticklers in high school with a pink pen and in college, named my yahoo account after the color pink. My friend and travel companion Sam Echavez of People Asia kept on teasing me of my "impossible dream" to own everything pink in this world. And here I was, in a place formerly associated with my fave color.

The resort, located on Station 1 of the long stretch of the famous white sand, offers excellent accommodation, state-of-the-art facilities and total dining experience. And I had three days to explore it. With a dozen activities to do, it was hard to decide which one to try out first.

Patio Pacific welcomed its first guests in 1990. Then a modest eight-room resort, it has bloomed to a 62-room with a variety of accommodations to choose from. Most ground-floor rooms open up to a pocket garden, to the delight of nature lovers. There are also select rooms that offer high-speed Internet access.

Today, 17 years later, Patio Pacific Boracay is now considered to be one of the best in the country, representing quality service, distinct Filipino hospitality and total customer satisfaction. From the superior rooms to its first class amenities, Patio Pacific earned a Triple A accreditation from the Department of Tourism and the respect of its clients as well as the people in the industry. Recently, Patio Pacific was awarded second place out of 33 resorts and establishments in the 2006 Boracay WOW Awards, a search for the most outstanding business establishment with the most effective waste management system.

Patio Pacific offers various activities to suit each guest’s mood or preference. For the more adventurous, The Wall is the perfect afternoon getaway. Meet up to the challenge of the first ever wall-climbing facility in the island. Located beside it is the Nautica Pool where a jacuzzi and a snack bar are strategically found. Or you can decide to sweat it out in the Alpha Fitness Gym where the instructors are friendly enough to show you around and attend to your every need.

Guest’s safety and peace of mind are also on the resort’s priority list. Since January this year, Patio Pacific has provided its guests with a free personal accident insurance coverage underwritten by Cocolife. This effort hopes to increase awareness and tourism safety as advocated by Patio Pacific president Charlie Uy, who is also president of the Boracay Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc.

With all these, Patio Pacific, however, is more focused in giving its clientele that total wellness treat. In fact, wellness classes such as Tai chi and Reiki (a Japanese healing treatment) are being held to particularly meet this goal.

On the first day when I was in my most excited state to traverse the long stretch of the island’s famed fine, white sand, I opted to join the Yoga beginner’s class of Ms. Tsu. Even if it meant risking the ink life of my two-hour-old henna tattoo.

When night dropped its cloak, Boracay, contrary to what many told me before, was not at its wildest. Instead, we found ourselves binging on a gastronomic delight with some of Patio Pacific’s delectable offerings. My media companions and I feasted on house specialties like spicy chicken salad curry, Patio Pacific chicken with herbs, chili crab and lots of watermelon and mango milkshakes from their famous Vanilla Lounge.

The following day, for an hour, I availed of a luxurious shiatsu and Swedish massage. I booked the spa after our tiring island hopping and snorkeling to release all my stress. The curious me paused to take a look at the Alpha capsule — the spa’s new addition that incorporates dry heat sauna, aromatherapy, ionized air, massage and soothing music.

In our last few hours on the island, I must say the Tai chi instructor was very convincing in inviting us to attend her Qigong class (Qigong is the mother of Tai chi) even if our feet were very eager to bring us to d’Mall to shop for pasalubong. Well then, wellness activities had taken their place in our three-day itinerary.

This is a place called Boracay — Patio Pacific to be exact. Indeed, life’s a beach.

(For inquiries, please call 845-2222 to 27.)