It’s not just another island

Strolling along the shore, barefoot on the finest sand in the world and basking in the warmth of the sun and sea – this is a fantasy come true. Boracay, often considered one of the world’s finest beaches, rightfully boasts this title. This island is like no other.

I’ve walked the pebble beaches of Santorini in Greece and visited Palma and Málaga in Spain. These places are spectacular in their own right. In Málaga, I watched a play, explored the Picasso Museum and marveled at the grandeur of its cathedral. In Palma de Mallorca, I also attended a play and visited the magnificent Gothic cathedral, one of the world’s grandest. Spain, after all, is a bastion of Christianity.

Yet, for me, Boracay stands apart. Its sand – soft, fine and unmatched – is the world’s finest. Unlike in Santorini or Spain, my days in Boracay were spent entirely on the beach. I walked without haste, swam in its healing salt waters and immersed myself in the tropical embrace of sun and sea. Here, life slows down; it’s a place to get lost in a good book and savor the delights of global cuisine served by its wonderful restaurants.

But Boracay is more than just a beach paradise; it’s a reminder of the delicate balance between nature and humanity. A few years ago, unchecked overpopulation and pollution led to an algae bloom that engulfed the island. Overwhelmed, Boracay had to be closed for months to allow nature to heal from the wounds inflicted by human negligence.

Thankfully, with every wave that kissed its shores, the island restored itself to its pristine state. Now, with climate change looming large, I wonder what the future holds for Boracay. Will rising sea levels submerge the roads and engulf the very structures built by human hands? The tropical winds may blow southeast today, but the spectre of global warming threatens tomorrow’s tides.

These concerns were echoed at COP 29 in Azerbaijan, where the world’s leaders once again convened to address the climate crisis. Yet, as has been the case so often, no meaningful agreements on mitigation were reached. The development model driven by greed continues to reign supreme, even as the planet teeters on the brink. Fossil fuels still burn, dominating our economies and accelerating the planet’s decline.

The urgency of the situation cannot be overstated. Boracay’s story is a microcosm of what’s at stake globally: ecosystems pushed to their limits, natural beauty threatened and humanity’s future hanging in the balance. If the Templars of old were around, perhaps we’d have a different story.

But here we are – laughing out loud, hoping for change while time slips through our fingers.  – Antonio M. Claparols, president, Ecological Society of the Philippines