Paradise Regained

The two buri palms still tower above the rest, and the island is as inviting as a tropical paradise is supposed to be. When you arrive at the jetty the welcome is heartfelt and genuinely warm. This week-end, after a four-month hiatus, Dos Palmas Arreceffi Island Resort once again strikes up the welcome chord for tourists and visitors.

Life in this tropical island resort was rudely interrupted last May by bandits who came under darkness of pre-dawn and took hostage 27 guests and staff. Two of the hostages have, as of now, not been released; resort owners opted against a more bongga re-opening in deference to their continued captivity.

For now, in the public’s mind it is impossible to dissociate Dos Palmas from the kidnapping. Despite the stigma, they’re keeping the name, in an "up yours" gesture to the bandits, telling them–and the world–that we’re still here, we’re proud to be here and we will prevail.

Dos Palmas was established in 1998 as a family’s commitment to the country, to the environment and to the tourism potentials of one of the country’s most beautiful provinces. Development of the island was undertaken with the greatest respect and concern for nature; no short-cuts were taken in terms of waste disposal and sewage treatment, for example. Even during the months the resort stopped operation, its marine research projects continued. The mangroves and coral reefs around the island are alive, thriving and teeming with life.

Despite financially lucrative offers from foreign resort and hotel chains, management decided to keep it Filipino–Dos Palmas is the only Filipino owned and managed island resort of its class in the country. "We want to show naman that we can make it, na kaya natin," they aver.

Dos Palmas–as well as other resorts throughout the country–needs to be encouraged and supported in their efforts to resuscitate domestic tourism. For starters, sky-high domestic airfares should be brought closer to earth: round trip (on PAL) to Palawan is about $145, to Hong Kong (also on PAL) it’s about $100. You can fly to New York and back (not on PAL) for less than double your Palawan ticket cost.

Despite that, the guest list at Dos Palmas is growing; reservations for Holy Week are filling up. Our islands offer some of the best vacation spots in the world; let’s cast a vote of confidence for Dos Palmas and show those bandits they won’t win. Bay Cottage 01–here I come.