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'Forever Summer' in Boracay
I wasn't sure what to expect when I left Manila on a gloomy Friday last week (June 3) en route to one of the best beaches in the world, the island of Boracay in Caticlan, Aklan.
Rainy season came in early this year and I sort of psyched myself that I may be spending the next three days in a drenched paradise.
We arrived in Caticlan ahead of time on a full flight.
Local airline companies have reported 300% to 500% increase of passengers in the last few weeks compared to the period in 2020 and 2021, respectively.
For example, data for the month of May 2022 from AirAsia Philippines showed a total of 336,612 passengers flew to various travel destinations in the Philippines, mostly in Boracay.
This is equivalent to a 567% increase versus the airline's 2021 figure of 50,947 passenger flow.
Most of the tourists are Filipinos traveling to the island once again without the need of any negative RT-PCR test results as long as you have a proof of full vaccination.
It was scorching hot in Caticlan, which would mean applying more sunscreen for protection.
A tip to soon to be Boracay traveler, if you failed to book a round trip in-land and sea travel arrangements online, you can always purchase through the walk-in counters in Caticlan. Travel transferring companies like Southwest can easily be located at the Caticlan airport. Use your senior citizen or PWD ID for discount.
Approaching the island around 5 p.m. was just in time to capture the glorious Boracay sunset, the perfect combination of sun, sea breeze and waves completely validated my desire to take this much needed break.
lt's already rainy season in the Philippines, but Boracay was so crowded it felt like early March on a summer.
Cafés and restaurants were packed, including the signature Boracay establishments which became more popular thanks to TikTok videos with hashtags "where to eat and drink coffee in Boracay."
I knew I had to visit my friend Ms. Lee, owner of Real Coffee and her legendary Calamansi Muffins. The calamansi used for the muffins are from Ms. Lee's own Boracay residence garden.
Calamansi muffins go best with their hot dripped coffee or iced coffee, but I decided to take my iced coffee somewhere else, at my favorite Lemoni Cafe located at the D'Mall of Station 2.
Lemoni Cafe is famous for its sumptuous Pinoy breakfast, perfectly prepared iced coffee (comes with sugar syrup and full milk on the side) and their complimentary lemon water. It has been operating since 2005 and withstood the Boracay rehabilitation and the lockdowns.
The next few days of my stay in Boracay were spent just laying around it's famous white sand and staring at the sea while meditating.
While occasional rain showers in Boracay were advised, oddly enough it was as hot as ever. I realized, maybe being in Boracay on a rainy season is just state of mind, because for those who truly understood the island, perhaps, it's always going to be "forever summer in Boracay."
—MGP, GMA News
