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Wednesday, June 04, 2003
Ka alegre sa payag
By Ritchie Landis Doner Quijano
Who doesn’t love peace and quiet and being in a sanctuary where one can relax and rejuvenate the tired mind? And who doesn’t want to indulge
in thrill and adventure, to relive youthful desires, in an enclave that’s naturally endowed with giant Talisay trees, coconut groves, the finest white sand beach? True-blue naturalists will find that this most secluded and coveted of coves is heaven.
Ka alegre payag sa Alegre Beach Resort can offer anyone the best of both
worlds, whether it’s silent solitude or live fun action. Going there is a treat for the soul and getting there means a 90- minute ride from the city to the northern town of Sogod, which is exactly 75 kilometers from metro Cebu.
Interesting sidelights of the trip are the sight of historic baroque churches that seem to look far into the sea as well as the way of life of fishing villages of the coastal north.
Alegre celebrates it’s 10th anniversary this year and now is the best time to visit the classy resort, partly because these are the lean months meaning privacy is also enjoyed at its peak. One can have the beach all to himself.
The resort is tucked away in seclusion in a well-preserved 27-hectare
property teeming with lush tropical flora. You’ll notice the resort’s no-nonsense concern for the preservation of the coastal environment once you’re there. Fronting the resort is the House Reef whose boundary is demarcated by white buoys. It’s a marine sanctuary that offers a peek into a
wide variety of marine life like the often-found damsel fish, cuttlefish, groupers and schools of Fusilliers, making it a perfect site for snorkeling. It features an underwater Wall and Bridge that is five to 30 meters deep. To augment the health and life of the sanctuary, management is grafting corals,
culturing mussels and transplanting seagrass.
The resort’s Coral Reef Recovery and Desiltation program has won first place in the Environmental Awareness category of the 16th Annual University of California in Los Angeles Extension Hotel Industry Investment Conference. The sanctuary is also the home of 100 giant clams, takubo, from
Silliman.
There are 20 luxurious duplex cabanas with two bedrooms for a total of 40 rooms in all, but Michael Jordan, the resort’s general manager says they will be building “an additional 96 rooms” to prepare for the busy months ahead.
It’s a great idea to start constructing during the lean months.
This lessens the hassle for clients moving around the resort. Filipiniana-inspired, the cogon-roofed cabanas are in a way grandly designed payags with verandas that offer a a wonderful view of the early morning sunrise. And a spa, yes they will soon be introducing that amenity, too, “definitely this year, in the next six months,” says Jordan. “And for as long as Brian Cockrell is there,” a golf course will definitely be designed for the resort, he adds.
When asked where’s his favorite spot in the resort, he said “the Talisay beach” and pointed to a secluded cove shaded by tall Talisay trees. The restaurant pavilion overlooks the tranquil sanctuary. The menu includes a range of international cuisine. From here, one can go down the coral stone steps that lead to the pristine beach. And while doing this, watch out for sightings of a huge monitor lizard that roams the green vegetation. Jordan said there’s one lizard that lives on the roof of the thatched pavilion.
If you’re one in search of loneliness and opt for solitary confinement, the fully furnished cabanas will provide everything you need. However, if you’re the action-seeking type, there are choices of activities that can give an adrenaline rush, like trekking and mountain biking. Destinations for the guided treks are the Bagatayam falls and Mainit spring. There’s also a sunset cruise that provides an opportunity for whale and dolphin watching, or for the more adventurous, there’s deep sea diving off one of the smaller islands in the north. The resort’s dive shop motto proved to be unforgettable and goes, “a bad day diving is better than a good day at work.” One of the jump-off dive points is Capitan Cillo, a tiny coral island that’s home to a 1950s-built lighthouse. It is said that the island was named after an American captain who ran his vessel aground on the island during the war. Other islands ideal for diving are Calanggaman Island, Kimod shoal, Gato Island, Quatro Islas and Tulang. Or one can choose to engage in extreme aquasports like windsurfing and riding waverunners.
All these are waiting for you in Alegre. Over there you’ll always say “ka alegre sa payag.”
(June 4, 2003 issue)
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