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Sunday, February 05, 2006
From Clark to Boracay: A stupendous find
By Dennis E. Dungao
SO MUCH had been said about Boracay, but not many in Angeles City, albeit even Central Luzon, knew that Boracay is actually a stone's throw away from this region.
SEA Air has been ferrying passengers from Clark to Boracay for quite a while now. Flights are Fridays from Clark at 8:00am while the return flight from Caticlan is Sunday. Forty-five minutes is all takes -- being stuck in a traffic jam at the Abacan Bridge during rush hours is longer than that!
Boracay's best-kept secret revealed
Landing at Boat Station One after being greeted by a stringed ensemble wearing flowery attires at the airport, in a seemingly ordinary day at that, and taking a brisk walk to my supposed hotel -- for a moment, I swore it could have been Bacolor or Vigan in Ilocos Sur -- its old world charm was all too consuming. Perhaps it was the hot sun, the air spiced with tangy blooms of different plants and flowers, as antiquated, broken down cartwheels and plows were spread throughout. From right across the garden sits the main building, which seemed to appear like an illustrado mansion of the past century -- a two-storey terracotta house. Scattered around too were cabanas made of nipa and bamboo, the colors reminiscent of an Amorsolo. All these gives a breath of life to this hillside retreat aptly named Escondido. Then a glint of sunlight touching powdery white sand swoop me rightfully where I really am: Boracay.
Escondido in Spanish means "hidden", but whatever its name connotes, it has solved the enigma of how one can find peace and quiet while at the same time won't lose the carefree, fun loving and sociable lifestyle.
A dim haze of mystery adds enchantment to it. The resort is tucked near the Boracay church amidst a bucolic, garden setting. Although you can actually waddle to the White Beach where all social activities and loud parties happen, there is a "Lost Horizons" quality, a feeling of time suspended. To provide a touch of nostalgia and class, Escondido transformed its surrounding into something pleasant -- a concoction of the Filipino's diverse heritage. This hotel is an oasis from noisy and crowded White Beach, a secluded corner.
A place for family and friends
Escondido offers luxuries to augment a most memorable stay in the island paradise of Boracay. It has ten well-appointed deluxe rooms and two suite rooms all equipped with air-condition, cable television, mini bar, in-room safe, electric thermos, telephone and intercom system, and hot or cold showers. Each room designates a certain region in the Philippines -- there's even a Pampanga room, designed and meticulously done in passionate labor of love.
Escondido Resort Hotel is a place for family and friends. Family, group, or even individual activities such as island hopping, diving, snorkeling, windsurfing, banana boat ride, motor biking, horse back riding, and golfing can be arranged by the front desk upon request. But of course, if you're not the outdoorsy type, you can always lie lazy and have your massage done at the cabanas or have a game of scrabble, chess or even sunca.
Escondido is there to be discovered if we dwellers of Pampanga will just pack our bags (bikinis in all sort of cuts is a prerequisite!) and dare to take the skies riding SEA Air at Clark. Something as grand as Escondido needs to be seen and felt -- it must not remain hidden. Its invitation to good life has boundless possibilities. For inquiries and reservations you may call telephone numbers (036) 2884777-Boracay or (02) 4262817-Manila.
For comments and suggestions, mail the author, supremo_babaylan@yahoo.com
(February 5, 2006 issue)
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