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THE PHILIPPINES
233
June14
Cabanas
Each thatch-roofed, freestanding cabana
has two separate rooms. There’s an inter-
connecting door – larger families or those
wanting more space might book both
rooms. One room was spacious enough
for the four of us to bunk in together in the
two double beds. The enormous marble
bathrooms have a spa, separate shower
and toilet, lots of thick white towels, robes,
and a large wardrobe with a safe.
Cabanas one to 10 are recommended,
as their patios open directly onto a
grassy lawn, perfect for kids to play
safely. Other cabanas rise up the hill and
all have stunning views of the sparking
sea and Bohol Island in the distance.
Kayaks and boats
Messing about in double kayaks is great
family fun, especially when the water is
calm. We paddled about and explored
the rocky cliff faces and a fourth little
beach that’s not accessible by foot.
The kids were keen to do this daily,
enjoying the adventure, playing with
innumerable hermit crabs and looking
at the countless shells.
One morning we took a boat trip to
Capitancillo Islet (
picture, next page
),
a coral atoll an hour’s cruise away on a
traditional outrigger boat. The tiny islet
has a lighthouse built in the 60s and
century-old, crumbling quarters built by
the Spanish. It’s now a protected zone
for diving and snorkelling. A leisurely
walk around the islet takes less than 10
minutes, so it’saplace to relax, eat apicnic
and look at the shells and coral. While
the snorkelling wasn’t great due to the
strong current and poor visibility, we
managed to swim a lap around the
island.
Things To Do
As a break from the beach, we played
bad pool and dangerous darts in the
Games Room. Explore the resort by
bike, or take a walk along the pretty
sea cliff. The hotel also has a half-day
tour which takes in local highlights
including the wet markets at Bogo, a
bush snail farm, the Shrine of Our Lady
of Miraculous Medal and observing the
day-to-day activities.
MADE IN THE PHILIPPINES
General manager Dottie Wurgler-Cronin is an enthusiastic advocate for
Cebuano-designed and manufactured products. In the recent refurbishment
of the stunning restaurant and bar, she used locally sourced products to
showcase the skills of her home island.
Kenneth Cobonpue’s indoor and outdoor furniture crafted from natural
materials makes a dramatic statement in the restaurant and bar; while Italian
designer Carlo Cordano designed and manufactured the centrepiece bar
and buffet in his Cebu factory, using sustainable materials.
filveneer.com
kennethcobonpue.com