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Boracay beach
By Rowell B. Capuz
In
Boracay, once a nearly deserted stretch of beach now a teeming vacation
and leisure spot for up scale tourists from all parts of the world,
summer’s big events are all happening.
Why
not? Workaholics from the city suddenly become sun worshippers, from the
moment their feet are drenched in the crystal-clear water. These are the
same people you see bathing on the shore, sipping their margaritas and
other cocktail drinks in bars, feasting on succulent seafood in
Mediterranean-themed resorts, or simply having their henna tattoo done on
the sand (side) walk. The allure of Boracay does not simply end on its
white, powder-soft sand.
Now
what better way to beat the summer heat—which, by the way, rose to as high
as 39o Celsius in some parts of the metro—than to head to Boracay and hit
the beach?
For
the past nine years, the Nestea Beach Volley has been making a splash on
the island, making things cool and hot at the same time. It is truly one
of the most-awaited spectacles every summer.
Beach volleyball at its best
This
year’s Nestea Beach Volley began early April at La Salle Greenhills with
72 teams from 44 colleges and universities nationwide.
It
took several rounds of intense beach volley action to determine the teams
that would have the chance to claim the coveted Nestea title. Twenty-four
teams from 18 schools have emerged victorious, but only for a moment. For
they still had to battle it out on the sands of Boracay until the best
teams were left standing.
In
the men’s division, the contingent included the winning teams from Luzon
(Adamson University, College of St. Benilde, Far Eastern University, and
St. Francis of Assisi College), Visayas (University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos,
University of San Carlos, defending Champion University of San Jose
Recoletos, and University of Southern Philippines), and Mindanao (Ateneo
de Davao University, Mindanao State University, University of Mindanao-Tagum).
For
the women’s division, Luzon’s College of St. Benilde, Far Eastern
University, Philippine Christian University-Manila, and University of
Baguio; Visaya’s Foundation University, two-time defending champion
Southwestern University, University of San Juan Recoletos, and runnerup
University of the Visayas; and Mindanao’s Holy Cross of Davao College,
Mindanao State University, University of Mindanao-Davao, and University of
Mindanao-Tagum hit the Boracay sand court.
Lords of the sand
“The
continued and overwhelming success of the previous games continues to
inspire us to hold the Nestea Beach Volley each year,” said Nestlé AVP and
Nestea brand manager Tina Samaco.
This
year’s tournament was even more challenging and exciting with over half a
million in cash and prizes given away. As familiar faces from last year’s
games returned, it only goes to show that the Nestea Beach Volley is not
just a fun game—pride and honor (both for the school and the players) were
at stake. Among those who came back to reclaim their place on the sand
were crowd favorite Jayjay Tuazon of Ateneo de Davao, Janley Patrona of
College of St. Benilde (he represented DeLaSalle University last year),
University of San Juan-Recoletos’ Jonrey Sasing (who, together with Joseph
Alguno, won the crown in 2004), and the tandems of Southwestern University
(Florian Gutierrez and Marites Natad) and University of the Visayas (Janez
Armie Igot and Joyce Nuñez), which met at the finals last year.
After
a dramatic semifinals and finals, College of St. Benilde’s Arnold Laniog
and Janley Patrona and Southwestern University’s Florian Gutierrez and
Marites Natad were crowned the ultimate champion in the men’s and women’s
category, respectively.
Winning
teams brought home P100,000 and a trophy each, with their schools
receiving a trophy and a P50,000 worth of sports equipment.
Unseen beauty
Some
people say that if you opt for true relaxation, then Boracay is not the
place you would want to go. The island is teeming with life, there are
parties and events from stations one to three. Reggae beat seems to
surround the island. Privacy may have been lost with the deluge of
visitors it attracts every year. But then again, this is the only face of
Boracay that most of us know.
A
10-minute boat ride from Station two, and you’ll reach Puka Beach, the
north coast of the island. The serene ambience of the place commands
respect and this allows for true relaxation and some semblance of privacy,
too, since there are no loud commotions aside from lapping of the waves
and the distant drone of the occasional motorboat. And as an added bonus,
especially for thrill-seekers, the beach has a small cave on the
beachfront that welcomes whosoever dares to go inside its pitch-black
core.
Staying
at Puka Beach, one might have a clear view of what Boracay used to look
like—minus the tourists, bars and restaurants, hotels, and resorts. While
its white coral sand may not be as fine as that of the island’s west
coast, its stillness as well as its raw beauty is invaluable.
Our
boat headed east and reached Crocodile Island, a small stretch of rugged
coast that looks like a sleeping crocodile (hence, the name). Five to six
kilometers from the shore is a snorkelling spot. The water is so clear you
can see the corals that are 10 to 15 feet below sea surface.
Party till sunup
Nestea
Beach Volley would not be complete without fun games, parties, and more
parties, which were graced by tinseltown’s hottest people.
On
the contingent’s second night, they were treated to a unique kind of
alternative rock, courtesy of the band who calls themselves Makata
(Bamboo’s Nathan Azarcon, Ira Cruz, and Vic Mercado with Gio Alvarez and
Ronnie Quizon as vocalists.)
The
fun games saw some celebrities and top models from Professional Models
Association of the Philippines or PMAP like Rissa Samson, Nicolette Bell,
Marilen Faustino, Fortune Santos, Manila’s current “it” girl Bubbles
Paraiso, Ornusa Cadness, Robbie Mananquil, Valerie de los Santos, Luke
Jickain, and Brent Javier (who is also a Nestea model). Rich Herrera and
Celine de Neindre, the faces you see on the big posters of Nestea, were
nowhere near the island. (But hey, we saw them on posters, anyway!)
Of
course, celebrities were not left behind. Among them were VJ Luis Manzano,
Epi Quizon and Vandolph (who was always seen with his girlfriend Jenny),
Nancy Castiglione, Borgy Manotoc, Ariel and Maverick, Geoff Rodriguez,
beauty queen Tisha Silang, among many others.
Capping
the Nestea experience was a victory party that lasted till dawn. It
started with a fashion show featuring the PMAP models who, earlier, were
sweating it out on the sand court. Then as beach mannequins hit the
makeshift catwalk, dancers provided the night with a dance and fire show
(imagine someone dancing while swinging two burning slingshots in all
directions and you’ll know what I mean).
Bamboo
rocked the house down as the beachfront of Hey Jude suddenly turned into a
Woodstock concert. The band belted out their hits, including some from
Nathan and Bamboo’s previous band RiverMaya like “Awit ng Kabataan,” “Kung
Ayaw Mo, Huwag Mo,” and “Elesi,” at the same time playing their own hits
like “Masaya,” “Mr. Clay,” and “Noypi.” After the concert, then came the
house party with DJ Manolet Dario (who is always seen with Rachel Lobangco)
providing house anthem music. Party people danced the night away like
there was no tomorrow.
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