Yes, no amount of worries brought by Typhoon Kristine extinguished the fun and excitement. The storm’s threat was no match to not one, not two but a triple treat.
Last week’s trip showed that Panglao can offer all the fun. With a maiden flight by Cebu Pacific from Clark International Airport (CRK) to Panglao International Airport (TAG), one can always undergo what I had experienced over there.
The triple treat came in the form of three gems that Panglao is proud of. No wonder that tour operators, tourists already joined the local residents over there in celebrating (read:boasting) these beauties.
Oceanica Resort
Bejeweled by a 1-kilometer beachfront (the longest one in Bohol), this place is oozing with class. It is a destination marvel that can cap your beach holiday.
The beach is so carefully manicured and well set-up, with towering coconut trees casting welcome shadows over beach beds, chairs, hammocks and other relaxing facilities.
Uniquely designed villas complement the wonderful seascape that can cater to families, barkadas, honeymooners and even corporate entities whether for a break or teambuilding. There is just the exact type of room and facility for everyone, with 78 rooms and villas nestled in a tropical oasis.
All these, not to mention, the courteous and well-trained staff like Joveline May, who welcomed us. We thought she was gonna be our tour girl, but nah, she was more than that. Aside from being an artist herself, she multitasked for us – served drinks and towels, adjusted itineraries, called on other host parties. This one-of-a-kind staff is not present in any resort I have been to. She was simply amazing.
North Zen Villas
A gift from nature. A gift to nature.
Distinctively a natural wonder with its lush mangrove forest that encapsulates this 4-star resort in an ocean-capped setting.
Stepping into the Bamboo Walk, a 500-meter man-made bamboo bridge, the beauty does not merely lie on the ingenuity and concept of having this structure. It can also be found on whistles of sea breeze and the mild water slaps onto the mangrove roots. Hearing those just lifted me onto a different state of relaxation. One that says how enjoyment can complement the preservation of nature.
The place is just uniquely special with the wellness spa, a pool surrounded by gardens and palm trees.
Again, no amount of thick cloud cover spoiled the fun here. In fact, that even made better our experience in this terrific place. Oh lest I forget, this is made up of 21 villas where the average floor area is 71 square meters –something that is way bigger than the size of houses offered in the market today for middle income earners.
In here, I found competent staff and professionals. If Oceanica has Joveline May, this one has a Renan Baguhin. Both May and Renan are hardworking fellows and can singlehandedly market the resorts themselves. Their boss Fe Ginete, marketing director, also found the time to dine with us despite her scheduled trips to the other islands in the south.
South Farm
Our trip to Panglao was capped by a workshop – candymaking – at South Farm, a 9-hectare property that promotes rural and handmade handcraft. It is a destination where the family can sit down to learn crafting clay pots, weave baskets, and coconut oil making, the Boholano way.
Our group tried cooking “kalamay” as they call it locally. It is not what one may think of it as a rice cake but coconut candies. And we enjoyed it despite the strong winds and rains that stopped us from going around the nature-based, family-oriented property.
On a fine day, the family would surely enjoy the day tour that helps promote agri-tourism and eco-farming activities.
P2P
Yes, P2P for Pampanga to Panglao where in a jiffy (less than 2 hours), we can all hop to this wonderful destination. On a daily basis, Cebu Pacific flies to TAG from CRK and vice versa.
For full enjoyment, one need not go out of Panglao. As in my experience, that storm’s threat was made into a treat.
