Boracay is a tropical island located approximately 315km (200 miles) south of Manila and 2km off the northwest tip of the island of Panay in the Western Visayas region of the Philippines. It is one of the country's most popular tourist destinations. The island comprises the barangays of Manoc-Manoc, Balabag, and Yapak (3 of the 17 barangays which make up the municipality of Malay), and is under the administrative control of the Philippine Tourism Authority in coordination with the Provincial Government of Aklan.
Tourism
Puka Beach, Boracay where the rare Puka shells are found.
Partly because of its wind and weather patterns, tourism in Boracay is at its peak during the Amihan season. During Amihan, the prevailing wind blows from the east. Boracay's main tourism area, White Beach, is on the western side of the island and is sheltered from the wind. During the Amihan season, the water off White Beach is often glassy-smooth. On the eastern side of the island, hills on the northern and southern ends of the island channel the Amihan season wind from the east onshore, onto Bulabog Beach in the central part of the island's eastern side. This makes the reef-protected waters off that beach ideal for windsurfing and kiteboarding / kitesurfing.
Accommodation
Boracay's White Beach.
A number of accommodation types are scattered all over the island, ranging from luxurious hotel types to budget, spartan rooms. Guests can also choose according to location--Station 3 is where most of the cheaper lodgings are located, while Station 2 is meant for those who want to be within close proximity of the bars. Station 1, meanwhile, is where you can find the more isolated accommodations, offering peace and quiet to those looking for a respite from the usual action-packed Boracay night scene. These are usually for the more upscale vacationers.
Boracay is the site of a world-class 18-hole par 72 golf course designed by Graham Marsh. In addition, Boracay now has in excess of 350 beach resorts with more than 2,000 rooms ranging in quality from five-star to budget accommodations, so tourists are sure to find whatever they are looking for.
Boracay also offers a wide range of restaurants, bars, pubs, and nightclubs that bop until morning.
Most Boracay hotels and resorts have Low and High Season price levels, with High Season prices generally coinciding with Amihan Season dates. Some have additional "Super" Peak Period pricing during periods of heavy tourism (usually including Christmas / New Year, Easter / Holy Week, and Chinese New Year periods).
Events
Boracay is one competitive venue for the Asian Windsurfing Tour, with the week-long Boracay International Funboard Cup competition usually being held on Bulabog Beach each January..
Map of Boracay Island.
The well-known Ati-Atihan Festival takes place each January in Kalibo on nearby Panay island. A much smaller Ati-Atihan festival is celebrated on Boracay, usually in the second or third week of January.
Dragon boat races are held annually on Boracay under the auspices of the Philippine Dragon Boat Federation, with teams coming from around the Philippines and from other Asian nations to compete. The races usually take place sometime in April or May.
Since 2003, the Philippine Ultimate Association has been organizing the Boracay Open Asian Beach Ultimate Tournament, an ultimate frisbee event, which is usually held during summer.
The Olympic Council of Asia has announced that Boracay will host the 2014 Asian Beach Games.
The Boracay Dragons, Boracay's ultimate frisbee team, is ranked #1 in the Philippines. They competed in Brazil for World Championship Beach Ultimate 2007. All of the players on the Boracay team were shorter than the shortest players on every other team combined, and only half of the team could afford to fly to Brazil. Nonetheless, the Boracay team took home the most awards undefeated against every other team until the final match in which they lost. Despite being second place in the tournament, the Boracay Dragons are considered to be 2007's most formidable Ultimate Frisbee team.
Languages
Other than Filipino (Tagalog), English is widely spoken in Boracay. Aklanon or Akeanon, is also spoken, as Boracay is part of Aklan Province. The Ati language was spoken by the original inhabitants of the island.[10][not in citation given]
Transportation
On the island, the two main modes of transport are via motor-tricycles along the main road or by walking along the beaches. Pedicabs are also available for transport along the Beachfront Path. Other means of transportation include mountain bikes, quadbikes and motorbikes, all of which can be rented.
To explore around the island's coast, motorized bancas and sailing paraws are available for rent. These are outrigger canoes and are common sight in waters around the island. The sailing paraw is a narrow hulled boat with outriggers either side and with passengers sometimes seated on a trampoline platform between the outrigger supports. These are extremely fast off the wind, but can be unwieldy for inexperienced sailors.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boracay, http://www.boracayisland.org/
Visit and Splash at Boracay Island this Summer
Kabanhawan Festival 2009 in Minglanilla
Take a glimpse of the Kabanhawan Festival in Minglanilla. Or they simpky call it as "Sugat" or meeting of Jesus Christ's resurrection.
MINGLANILLA, CEBU
Minglanilla is a 1st class municipality in the province of Cebu, Philippines. The municipality is bounded on the north by the municipality of Naga, on the west by the city of Toledo, on the south by the city of Talisay and on the east by Cebu Strait.
Minglanilla today has become part of the ever-growing Cebu metropolis, thanks to its close proximity to the main center of growth, the cities of Cebu, Mandaue and Talisay, which together with the city of Lapulapu, informally comprised of what is now called Metro Cebu.
Real Estate developers have developed the area for residential villages and light industries have also relocated to the place.
Minglanilla is located approximately 15 km south of Cebu City. It is bounded on the southwest by Naga City, Cebu; on the northwest by Toledo City; on the northeast by Talisay City; and on the southeast by the Bohol Strait. It has a land area of approximately 15.6 km².
Minglanilla can be reached by taxi or jeepney from Cebu City. Travel time is less than 1 hour.
Tourism
Minglanilla has also been famous for its Lenten event called “Sugat” which is celebrated every easter Sunday. “Sugat” recalls the resurrection of Jesus Christ as he rose from the dead. The event also burns an effigy of Judas Iscariot, Jesus’ disciple who betrayed him. The Minglanilla “Sugat” has methaporphosed into a day-long festival for the town starting in 2005 and is now called “Kabanhawan Festival”.
Things to Do and See
* Campo 7 reforestation
* Tubod Flowing Water Resort
* Palm Beach Resort
* Church of the Most Pure Heart of Mary
* Sugat activities
Political Subdivisions
Minglanilla is composed of 19 barangays, namely: Cadulawan, Calajo-an, Campo 7, Campo 8, Cuanos, Guindaruhan, Linao, Manduang, Pakigne, Poblacion Ward I, Poblacion Ward II, Poblacion Ward III, Poblacion Ward IV, Tubod, Tulay, Tunghaan, Tungkop, Tungkil and Vito.
Population
According to the 2000 census, Minglanilla has a population of 77,268 people in 14,739 households.
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