Boracay Island
Boracay is a tropical island located approximately 315km (200 miles) south of Manila and 2km off the northwest tip of the island of Panay. Boracay is only seven kilometers long and shaped like a barbell.
Its premiere four-kilometer long beach, appropriately named White Beach, was rated the best in the world by the Sun Herald in Australia, National Geographic, Yahoo Travel and Harper’s Magazine — and for good reason.
Through its 40,000-year history, the Philippines and Boracay Island have been under everything from Buddhist kingdoms from India, Islamic kingdoms from Malacca (present-day Malaysia), crown rule under the Spanish, commonwealth domination under the Americans, Japanese occupation during World War II,
a home-ruled dictatorship in the latter-half of the 20th century, and finally, democracy in the late 1980s.
The modern history of Boracay as a tourist’s dream destination, however, begins only in the 1970s. But it was not until the 1990s that Boracay even got electricity. Today, Boracay still remains a pristine travel destination offering modern day conveniences.
Boracay’s two primary tourism beaches, White Beach and Bolabog Beach, are located on opposite sides of the island’s narrow central area. White Beach faces westwards and Bolabog Beach faces eastwards. But the island is blessed with smaller beaches as well.
“There’s more to Boracay than sun and partying…the lush tropical greenery and the comforting quietude of the place beckon clients to throw every thought of work, work, work behind. A burned-out city soul needs this more than ever. It’s a place, to borrow a phrase from a former guest, “for rediscovering oneself.””
FRANCINE MARQUEZ – METROACTIVE MAGAZINE, MANILA
