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THE PHILIPPINES
231
June14
While Boracay tends to hog the limelight, there are thousands of
other islands that invite exploration in the Philippines. In Cebu, large
resorts dominate the area close to the airport, but just an hour and
a half north is a relatively unknown piece of paradise. Alegre Beach
Resort, on the fine sand beaches of Sogod, is an idyllic place to
unwind, as KATIE ROBERTS and her family discovered.
SEEINGCEBU
through snorkel goggles
W
ith work, school, sport
and social commitments
accounting for almost all
my 112 waking hours in
the week, there’s rarely time to just veg
out. The diary is bursting at the seams,
and even a Sunday afternoon snooze is
a rare luxury. So our family of four was
eagerly looking forward to an affordable
five-day break on Cebu, an island that
we’d heard only good things about. We
left on an early morning flight with the
agenda mapped out in advance: no
driving, no worrying and no hurrying.
Set on seven hectares of beachfront
(including an orchid farm) and with just
42 rooms, the 22-year-old Alegre Beach
Resort is a spacious oasis built for
relaxation. From the first introductions,
the warm and welcoming staff chatted
to us like old friends. They quickly learnt
all our names, as we did theirs. The
nicknames proved the most entertaining
(for everyone), with waiter July explaining
he was actually born in April. After
listening to the chatter, my cheeky son
said with a big grin to receptionist Apple,
“Hi, you look yummy!”
Apar t from the lush, park-like
surroundings and 100-strong, good-
natured staff, we found much to enjoy
at Alegre.
Reef revelling
Snorkelling must be one of the most
relaxing activities ever invented, and the
eight-hectare reef at Alegre’s Marine
Reserve is perfect for hours of floating
among fish and coral. Cheerful Linda
at the Aqua Sports Centre kitted us out
with snorkels, masks and fins on our first
afternoon, so we could go any time the
urge struck –whichwas about three times
daily! Scuba diving is popular here, too.
Buoys clearly define a snorkelling
area that excludes boats, so it’s very
safe. When local dive instructor Lew
had a half-hour to spare, he showed us
giant clams and a black-and-white sea
snake, and together we looked for the
sea turtles that are often spotted here.
The Marine Reserve is legally
protected. Over the past two decades
the staff at Alegre have worked hard
to preserve this beautiful but fragile
ecosystem. Unfortunately, it is threatened
by illegal work on the foreshore – sneaky