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| Sharing in the bayanihan spirit, locals, guests, and tourism service providers take time to help clean up the beaches of Boracay every 5:00 PM for 5 minutes in line with the HIGH 5 Boracay clean-up program. (Photo provided by MBA) |
With its upbeat and almost danceable tempo and easily
understood message on cleanliness and mindful tourism, ‘Isla Boracay’ could
easily become the new national anthem of sorts across the island in the days
and years to come. (Check out the song at https://bit.ly/IslaBoracay).
Written and performed by upcoming musician Daenniel
Fernandez from Palawan State University, Isla Boracay is the grand winner of
the first High 5 Boracay Song Writing Competition, one of the highlights of the
Malay Tourism Week 2023 celebration. Winning P100,000 cash prize though the
efforts of Boracay MICE Alliance (BMA) together with the Local Government
of Malay and the Department of Tourism Region VI, radio stations and
establishments across Boracay would play the song daily every 5:00 PM for five
minutes to signal the start of a regular clean-up drive in the island.
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| Boracay MICE Alliance awarded Daenniel Fernandez (3rd from left), winner of HIGH 5 BORACAY’S Song Writing Competition, with a Php 100,000 cash prize. With him are the runners-up, from left: Rhode Ryan Velez from Iloilo City, Simon Moses Almira from Puerto Princesa, and Jamie Roy from Taguig City |
Malay Mayor Frolibar Bautista already signed the
executive order requiring all establishments to participate in this cleanup
program. So, the next time you’re in Boracay, be sure to join in the fun of
picking up trash, among others, to keep the island clean and safe.
The Philippine’s well-loved and most-visited island
celebrated its tourism week on September 21-23 with the theme, “Thrust on
Tourism and Green Investments,” aimed at highlighting Boracay’s efforts that
have made it a top tropical destination and one of the World’s Best Beaches.
Held at Balabag Wetland Park, the festive program
also included the induction of the Malay Cooks Association and the Savoy Malay
Food Exhibit, along with crafts and arts and food products exhibition.
“To sustain the gain that we had during the closure
and rehabilitation in 2018, we want to involve everyone in our sustainable
tourism campaign including the clients and stakeholders. Sustainable
tourism is a vital approach to ensure the longevity of our beloved Boracay and
the well-being of its residents. It’s about preserving the breathtaking natural
landscapes that have drawn visitors for generations while ensuring the same
landscapes continue to thrive for generations to come,” Western Visayas
Regional Director Crisanta Marlene “Krisma” Rodriguez, who was guest of honor,
said.
To achieve this, she pointed out, we must place a
strong emphasis on green investments: renewable energy, waste management,
eco-friendly infrastructure, and sustainable practices.
Mayor Bautista, who officially welcomed participants
to the celebration, sees sustainable tourism as a way to eradicate poverty and
offer wider opportunities to people of Malay and nearby municipalities. For the
event, he also included student participation via a Quiz Bee competition and
the recognition of tourism front liners who render the Filipino brand of
excellence in his beloved municipality of Malay.
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| Regional Director DOT VI Krisma Rodriguez and Malay Mayor Frolibar Bautista (2nd and 3rd from left) were joined by the Boracay Mice Alliance officers from left: Serafin Javelona, Cleofe Albiso, Claribel Casimero, Malay LGU Chief Tourism Officer Felix Delos Santos, Jr., and Virgilio Sacdalan. |
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Malay Tourism Week 2023 also launched 'Bugae it Malay,' a compilation of traditional dishes of the Municipality of Malay. Said dishes were served for lunch.
“And we are back 24/7,” he announced. “We amped
our security measures, especially for those who prefer the sunset to sunrise
activities. The regulation of 8,000 tourists is in place but we hope
to increase by 12,000 visitors per day as LGU is actively restoring other
beachfront areas in the island.
“Tourism and green investments are the driving force
in our pursuit of preserving what we have and improving what we can. Thus, we
have this symphony of celebration to bring cultural and environmental awareness
as a way forward to resounding success for our beloved island and the tourism
industry,” he said.
For her part, BMA Chairman Cleofe Albiso said: “After
the closure and the pandemic, we made sure that we came in ready. That’s how
positive we are that after the trials, something good will happen.”
“As you all know tourism is our bread and butter, we
live and thrive because of the tourism industry. At BMA, we are positioning
Boracay for meetings, incentives, conferences, conventions, and events (MICE)
offering a combination of leisure and business as well as wellness tourism,”
said Albiso, who is also the Managing Director of Megaworld Hotels and Resorts
(MHR). Two MHR properties, Savoy Hotel and Belmont Hotel, are both located at
Boracay Newcoast.
Currently, BMA has more than 50 partner establishments
within the island. To be part of the organization, email
boracaymiceallianceph@gmail.com or
visit its official Facebook page, Boracay MICE Alliance.
Boracay Newcoast joins Malay Tourism Week 2023
Megaworld Hotels and Resorts’s Belmont Hotel Boracay
and Savoy Hotel Boracay recently joined the Malay Tourism Week 2023 by
sponsoring the Manila media delegates on the island.
BMA Chairperson
Cleofe Albiso, spearheaded the private sector and stakeholders to the annual
celebration. Albiso personally attended to the media guests to make sure
we experience the newly-launch hospitality brand, the Sampaguita Project.
Welcoming us on the island is the iconic Boracay
Keyhole, an imposing rock formation carved by erosion and known in the local
dialect as "lapus-lapus." Nearby is Cove 2, a 300-meter stretch of
secluded white sand shoreline.
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| The MHR Group with the Manila media delegates to Malay Tourism Week 2023 |
A cold towel infused with the Sampaguita scent and
refreshing drinks were served to us upon arrival at Belmont. After the
customary registration, we were brought to our hotel rooms – we got the luxury
rooms which are big enough for a family of five or six.
Situated on the northeastern side of Boracay Island,
Belmont and Savoy, and the soon-to-open Chancellor are located within
Megaworld's Boracay Newcoast estate, a sprawling 150-hectare tourism township
development project.
Our group came in time as Belmont is celebrating its
4th anniversary with a wellness campaign dubbed #MindfulEscapes which runs
until March 2024. A special feature of this campaign is the
Sampaguita-infused concoctions curated by sous chef Paul Aligaen, as well as a
variety of healthy yet tasteful options culled from fresh catch and farm
produce.
Belmont has 442 well-appointed rooms, including 6
differently abled rooms, and luxurious suites aptly themed for children’s
and wedding/anniversary parties. The adjacent 559-room Savoy is famous for its
huge party pool -- the first concert pool arena in the country -- with an adult
wading pool and pool deck with cabanas and lounges.
We had our festive welcome lunch and breakfast at
Belmont while the dinner and sumptuous farewell lunch was held at Savoy.
This side of the island, the Newcoast, is for the
sedate traveler who enjoys the peace and quiet, as well as moments of solitude,
yet has all other amenities within his/her reach and activities like ATV rides,
kayaking, or cycling the e-bikes, among many others.
For more information visit
https://www.boracaynewcoast.com.ph/.
The author poses with the iconic Boracay Keyhole
#Boracay #Boracaytrip2023 #MalayTourismWeek2023
#BelmontHotelBoracay #SavoyHotelBoracay #BoracayNewcoast
#BoracayKeyhole #BMA #BoracayMicealliance
#MegaworldHotelsandResorts
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