Escape to Eskaya
The word “vacation” comes from the Latin word vacatio, which means freedom, a release from occupation; from vacare, meaning to be empty, to be free. Ever so often, we need these pockets of freedom— from the suffocating routine of our daily activities, from the oppressive grip of useless worry and stress. Ever so often, we need to unwind, to relax, to be pampered. We need to flee from drudgery, and if we could, to slide comfortably into the lap of luxury.
Is it the bed, the bath, or the view? At Eskaya Beach Resort and Spa in
Although Richard Lim, incoming president of the Greenhills Rotary in San Juan, whose main line of business is salt production and shipping, and his wife, Phoebe, a registered nurse and former campus beauty title holder, had no previous experience in hotel and resort management, they made sure they learned all they could before they plunged into this new venture. They did an informal survey of what high-end hotel and resort guests usually looked for.
“We learned that the Japanese tourists, who are big spenders, usually looked for a good bath,” Phoebe relates. Among their first paying guests (overnight villa rates— with whirlpool bath, private swimming pool or infinity pool— range from $300-$2,150) were a Korean couple on their honeymoon. The low profile wife of a prominent
They also visited the different exclusive resorts in the region— in
Richard, who is originally from Tagbilaran, and Phoebe, who was born and grew up in Loboc, sat down with Architect Francisco “Bobby” Manosa (who also designed the famed Amanpulo Resort in Palawan) and exchanged ideas as to how they envisioned the exclusive Eskaya Beach Resort and Spa. Manosa, a staunch advocate of taking pride in being Filipino, or being Asian, as he likes to say, designed the 15 single-detached villas or balai which feature modern Filipino architecture, with the ample use of bamboo, cogon, and wood together with other sturdy construction materials. The steep thatched roofed villas with high ceilings and large picture windows and sliding glass doors blend beautifully with its verdant and meticulously landscaped surroundings. Phoebe purchased most of the resort’s furniture made of indigenous materials from world-class furniture exporters from the neighboring
Nestled at the heart of
Phoebe remembers how, as a child, she learned to swim across the refreshing clean waters of the wide Loboc River. Today, the river remains clean and green, as it reflects the rich vegetation of nipa and coconut palm trees, banana and other wild plants along its banks. Cruising up the winding river on one of the floating restaurants— a two-banca and bamboo float with a roof, pushed by a small motor boat— and being serenaded while you enjoyed a sumptuous Filipino buffet is an experience you will not easily forget. The 45-minute river cruise is punctuated with a brief stop at the Busay Falls, just before the river bends, where young school children eagerly waiting on a raft entertain you with a well-rehearsed lively song and dance performance. As you cruise back downstream, you get a glimpse of the bucolic lifestyle of the local folks˜ a group of young men sitting lazily on benches overlooking the river, shooting the breeze; an old man taking his siesta on a bamboo cot under the shade of a coconut tree; elderly women sweeping the front yard of their nipa huts adorned with lacey curtains and potted bougainvilleas; young boys recklessly swinging from a rope tied to a tall coconut tree bent low over the river, and splashing into the water just as your boat cruises by. At that moment, you, the observer become the observed, and in your mind, you too have become a carefree player in the passing scene.
In Loboc, you will find one of the oldest churches in the country, while the oldest church can be found in the neighboring town of Baclayon. The first music school was also established in Loboc, Phoebe says. At the inauguration of the Eskaya Beach Resort and Spa recently, the world-renowned Loboc children‚s choir performed before distinguished guests led by Tourism Secretary Joseph “Ace” Durano. Another source of local pride is the fascinating Chocolate Hills in the sleepy town of Carmen. The grass covered limestone hills, more than 1200 in all, 30 to 120 meters high, dry up during summer and turn brown so that the cone-shaped mounds look like “chocolate kisses”. A hidden treasure is the man-made forest planted to mahogany by schoolchildren in the mountain town of Bilar. And still healthy and undamaged are the natural mangroves along the coast.
You can chase after dolphins at sunrise. The friendly and attentive staff at Eskaya will pack for you a breakfast basket of fresh fruits, warm croissants and hot coffee to take with you in your motor banca, which will bring you out to sea, with your own spotter and guide, towards Pamilacan Island where families of dolphins are known to play. And even if the dolphins happen to be too shy to meet you, watching them from a distance in their natural element may be the closest you can get to a genuinely mystical experience. Snorkeling in the clear waters off Balicasag Island, a diver’s paradise, you‚ll feel like you‚ve entered another magical world of giant corals and colorful sea vegetation. Fish-feeding is a delightful activity, as schools of tropical fish swarm around the piece of croissant in your hand, and you might even feel tickled when one of them should innocently nibble at your finger. If you’re lucky, you might see a tiny starfish resting on the coral bed or a delicate jelly fish minding its own business. Here, time stands still.
The sharp rays of the mid-day sun are reflected like shards of glass or diamonds sparkling on the clear surface of the aquamarine sea. It’s a long and lazy boat ride back to Panglao Island. You’re back at Eskaya just in time for lunch. The dining pavilion is appropriately named Lantawan, which means “viewing place”, since it offers a breathtaking view of the sea. You know the grilled salmon with teriyaki sauce, which you savor, is one food memory that will linger for a very long time.
“Life’s not only a beach,” Phoebe says. Eskaya offers many more pleasures a rainbow in the sky after a passing afternoon rain shower; cocktails on the beach at sunset; a light dinner of sushi and sashimi, partaken with pleasant company and conversation, al fresco by the infinity pool; the soothing sound of wooden wind chimes as it catches the evening breeze; a relaxing massage under the stars or in the privacy of your room; and moonshine on the clear water on a sultry summer night. These are the memories that will sustain you, long after the end of your vacation.
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The Eskaya international sales office is located at Rm 106 Grace Bldg., Ortigas Ave., Greenhills, San Juan, MetroManila with telephones 7274927/ 7255597; mobile +639228892882/ +639178129491/ +639189281257; email: reservations@eskayabeach.com, or visit www.eskayabeach.com
