Palawan boasts of crystal clear waters and lime stone cliffs. Lakes and blue lagoons surround the island of Coron, just a few minutes from the mainland. For the dive enthusiasts, coral reefs and WWII wrecks abound. The area has so many beautiful land and seascapes that a number of small luxury resorts have flourished here. These resorts cater to foreign and local tourists alike. We have some of the best resorts in the world, complemented by the excellent weather and tropical scenery. These resorts are tucked away in coves that provide privacy and quaintness as well as protection from the elements. Each has a distinct style of Filipino vernacular architecture.
Less is more.
Some resorts take inspiration from the homes of our brothers in the southern tip of the archipelago, the Badjaos, who build their houses above water on stilts. Elevated planks, likewise on stilts, interconnect the units. Other resorts are built along the limestone cliffs, this time, like the homes of the natives of the Mountain Provinces.
In both cases, the units blend into their surroundings and much of the existing landscape is left intact. This system brings the least damage to the environment.
For more daring developers, bathrooms open up to the outdoors to achieve the feeling of being in the open air. But, unlike the Badjao houses though, waste and effluents do not fall directly into the water below. It is collected by sewerage treatment systems so as not to pollute the waters. It is good that there are now more resort owners who are responsible enough to take care of the environment, which directly provides them their livelihood.
No easy feat!
Simple as they may seem, developing seaside resorts such as this is no easy feat. From choosing and acquiring the ideal island that offers interesting terrain, sheltered from the elements, to considering the impact of the project on the environment they would be showcasing, is just the beginning.
The next step is carefully planning and considering everything from comfort, maintenance, security, privacy, transportation, safety, self sufficiency as to power supply, fresh water supply, waste management, air-conditioning, communication system, and entertainment options on the island.
The choice of building and decorating materials is another major factor. First of all, salt water causes corrosion; therefore, the use of metal must be left to a minimum. There may be a lot of indigenous materials found in the vicinity like multicolored lime stones, bamboo, drift wood, thatch, etc. that can work better towards the overall appearance of the structures, as well as prove to be more economical.
These resorts are much more complex than real estate development on the mainland, where utilities are readily available. And all these are undertaken just for you to be able to appreciate what nature has to offer.
Unfortunately, untoward events near these remote areas, which happen only quite rarely, are highly publicized and warnings are issued haphazardly declaring travel to the countryside unsafe. This discourages tourists from coming in. It’s an unfair analysis, not just for resort owners and their workers, but more so for the tourists who ultimately miss out on the best travel destinations.
The cost of accommodations may be a bit higher than at our Asian neighbors. But, what we have here are personalized, exclusive resort developments with limited number of rooms to ensure privacy and avoid congestion, compared to 300-room resorts in other parts of Asia which may not offer the same kind of quaintness and honest to goodness rest and relaxation.
Local tourists would always compare the cost of a trip to an island resort to an international destination. There are times when the international destination is cheaper but if it is rest and recreation one is after, the local alternative is, all things considered, the better deal. There are a lot of Filipinos who can afford to visit the US and Europe, but have not seen much of our islands nor felt the hospitality of our kababayans. I believe our country is safer than most parts of the world and has much more to offer. If we continue to turn a blind or critical eye to it, we will be missing a lot. Many of the structures in Europe were designed by man. Nature, of which we have an abundance, is designed by God.
There are so many local sites we should be proud off. Let’s share it with the rest of the world.
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