A night in Maribago Bluewater

CEBU, Philippines - July 19 was a very special day for me, so, I decided to take a run for it and cancelled all other invitations, including the Hari ng Negros testimonial dinner in Dumaguete City. It was time for me to be selfish and treat myself to a day of solitude and total relaxation. So, three days ahead, I called up Ruben.

Maribago Bluewater Beach Resort (www.bluewater.com.ph), is one of the best places to be in if you are looking for relaxation. And should you want solitude, well, you definitely could not have it in the busy beach front or the main pool fronting Allegro Restaurant, where kids and families enjoy a lot of themselves that you could not help but envy them and be engulfed with the desire to take a dip in the pool and just wash your cares away.

This, however, does not mean that you can’t enjoy a quite Sunday afternoon in Maribago Bluewater. On the contrary, the resort is teeming with coves and spots where you can lounge, have a good read, or take a refreshing nap as you bathe in the warmth of the golden Mactan Sun.

The quieter Watsu Pool by the Yoga Pavilion is such a place, but for me, I decided to spend my lazy afternoon at the pool by the Garden Pavilion, where I was able to enjoy the book I bought from OMF Literature (Tel. No. 032-253-1525), Faithfully Fit by Claire Cloninger and Laura Barr.

Your room can also be a place of quiet isolation. To be confined the whole day is a relaxing experience at Maribago Bluewater. The cottage given to me was by the beach wing and it was the newer one, I was told. There were two queen sized beds and they were installed in such a manner that it would give an illusion that they were floating on air. The bed was comfortably huge with all the works. The light under it completes the oneiric experience that can only be described as heavenly. Indeed, everything that I’ve experienced in Maribago Bluewater was but a dream.

The resort does not settle for anything less when it comes to pampering their guests. From world-class furnishings (mind you, even the beach loungers are Dedon, an international brand of exclusive outdoor and indoor furniture) to ?ber-pompous service, you would feel like a celebrity or some very important person, never mind the clothes that you came in. I just want to point this out because when I arrived I was wearing simple clothes, which made me think that I needed to prepare my rebuttal should I be stopped at the gate. But the guard courteously pointed me to the front desk when I told him I was checking in. It is not a wonder why guests keep on returning to this somewhat homey and humble resort.

Now, back to my room. Well, one of the first things that I would check in a hotel or resort room is the bathroom. In the little cottage that was provided to me, the restroom cum closet has the air of an outdoor shower – very spacious (which is a total under-statement) and complete with stones and pebbles. During the day, sunlight completely fills the room, completing the whole effect. The tub is placed generously in the center, making it virtually the very first inviting object you’d see the moment you open the wide bathroom door. It did not take long for me to oblige the invitation of the tub and immersed myself in warm steamy water. A prelude, I should say, to the invigorating hilot that I was privileged to try later that day.

As I had the whole day ahead of me, I decided to explore the resort – from the white sand beach that is always calm regardless of the weather (but check on the tide levels, lest you be stuck with an ankle deep water) to the intriguing Alegrado Island which is a great venue for exclusive parties and for sun bathing.

Aside from swimming and lounging, Maribago Bluewater has tons of activities for their guests to take advantage of and enjoy. The resort has a dive shop where you can rent or sign up for aqua sport adventures like diving, jet skiing or snorkeling. You can play ball games, Frisbee, or a game of chess with the resort’s giant chess set. Should you wish, you can arrange for a private viewing in the resort’s gallery which houses an expensive collection of works by Cebu’s great artists.

But I would say, that the best experience that I was able to enjoy at Maribago Bluewater was theAmuma hilot at Amuma Spa. A 90-minute treatment, the hilot takes after the traditional massage enjoyed by Filipinos for centuries. It’s a wet massage, so expect to be generously bathed in virgin coconut oil. The feel could never be more authentic.

As with other massage service at the spa, the hilot would start with the traditional foot bath by the terrace. This will then be followed by a ritual where the masseuse would light incense and walk around you as she chants a humble prayer to the spirits. This, according to my masseuse Lovely Quinawayan, would drive away the evil spirits.

Amuma Spa’s hilot comes with a unique layering of heated banana leaves over the treated area. This is then covered by a thick towel, ensuring that the heat would circulate and penetrate your tired muscles. A hot pot of green tea after the treatment ensures over all detoxification.

The interiors of Amuma Spa exude an atmosphere of relaxation. It combines the conservatism of Japanese Zen and the intricacy and exoticness of Southeast Asia. Wood is the main element that would surround you inside the spa, giving a feeling of being one with nature.

As for my chow, well, let’s just say that the resort whips up quite a list of options. During dinner, I was privileged to meet the resort’s food and beverage manager, Mr. Ver Tayao, as well as the charming Weng Eser Jose. It so happened that I was there on a weekend and at a time when they were serving the Chef’s Special for dinner, a four-course kebab meal.

It was heavenly. The appetizer was a trio of Maki Kebab (dragon roll, dynamite roll and California Maki) with sesame soy dip. This was then followed by grilled chicken skewers on salad greens with honey mustard dressing. For the main course, I chose seafood kebab. Other choices were pork and chicken kebabs. Dessert was also skewered, but these were fruits with a rich chocolate dip. Yummy! Complements to the chef! I would suggest for the chef to also indulge the patrons in fairly traded ingredients (www.cebuspftc.com) to make their dining experience extra special.

All in all, my brief stay at Maribago Bluewater Beach Resort was a dream of an experience that I do not want to wake up from. Sadly, reality beckons and I have to answer its call.