Till we meet again,Boracay

On the virtual eve of the planned total closure of the world-renowned island, Boracay is pulsating, with tourists savoring every bit of what the island still has to offer. And even in the throes of a closure, Boracay has much to offer — powdery off-white sand (white in certain stretches), crystal clear blue-green waters, blue skies and a diverse selection of restaurants and bars.  According to online sources, some two million tourists, mostly foreign, visited Boracay last year and more were expected this year until the government decided on its full closure due to reports that its beach water has become contaminated due to violations in sewerage by certain resort owners. The planned drastic shutdown is feared to cost government P20 billion in gross receipts.

Though the closure order is controversial, the biggest resort group in Boracay, the law-abiding Henann Group, has braced for the closure without losing hope that it would be either done in phases, or shelved.

(From left) Monica Tiosejo, the author, Ed Ramirez, Gigi Montinola and Chino Ramirez.

Concerned about the livelihood of the almost 2,000 people employed by Henann’s six resorts on the island, chairman Dr. Henry Chusuey has mapped out a humane plan for them, even if it will cost him P100 million.

“I will pay my employees 50 percent of their salary even if they’re considered on vacation, which is far more than what the Department of Labor requires,” Chusuey told me over lunch at his newest resort, the beachfront Henann Palm Beach Resort. Opened only on March 29 this year, Henann Palm is the group’s sixth resort in Boracay. This property features 244 world-class rooms, three swimming pools, direct pool access rooms, a suite overlooking the beach and a stunning beachfront location in Station 2.

Since Henann is celebrating its 20th anniversary this summer, Chusuey and his stunningly beautiful wife Ann, and sons Alfonso (Henann Group president), Karl (vice president for marketing) and daughter Christina have also decided to celebrate the milestone by honoring employees who have been with them from the very start. As the biggest homegrown resort group in the country today, Henann prides itself on having an all-Filipino workforce showcasing what Filipino hospitality is all about. (The name Henann was derived from his name HENry and his wife’s name, ANNa.)

Henann Palm Beach Resort courtyard.

“When I first visited Boracay, it was love at first sight; I fell in love with the island right away,” Chusuey says. Thus, he decided to build a resort on the island and named it the Boracay Regency.

 Boracay Regency, now Henann Regency Resort & Spa, started out with 43 rooms, a swimming pool, a restaurant and 65 employees trained according to international standards. The resort focused on offering quality accommodations and facilities at a very reasonable rate, thus attracting more and more patrons.  In the beginning, Henry handled reservations himself.

Henann Regency Resort & Spa now has 302 rooms, almost seven times more than its original 43. In 2009, Henann acquired its neighboring Korean-owned Hotel Seraph and named it Henann Garden Resort. Four months after the acquisition, the company opened its third venture in the island, the Henann Lagoon Resort.

 In November 2016, the group opened its first beachfront resort in Station 1, called Henann Prime Beach, which has 154 rooms. The group didn’t stop making waves and in 2017, it opened Henann Crystal Sands, which was designed by renowned architectural firm Palafox and Associates. Last March, Henann Palm Beach Resort opened its glass doors to the public.

(Seated, from left) Panamanian Ambassador Rolando Guevara Alvarado, Israeli Ambassador Effie Ben Matityau, Jayelles' Roselle Rebano and Johnny Litton with Lizia Lu; (standing, from left) Henann VP for marketing Karl Chusuey, Jayelles’ Suzette Morelos and Ina Bugayong, Henann's Dindo Salazar, Russian Ambassador Igor Khovaev and Jayelles' Tara Litton.

“Our customers are always our priority,” says Chusuey when asked the secret to his success. He eschews feng shui, believing instead in the tenets of customer satisfaction. Between “lucky” and “comfortable,” he will choose comfortable. For instance, though having 20 steps is seen as malas, and 17 steps is swerte, Chusuey prefers the former because it makes for an easier climb for hotel guests.

“We want to give them splendid accommodations,” believes Chusuey.

Thus, during a dinner at Henann Regency beach front for his guests, who included Israeli Ambassador Effie Ben Matityau and wife Lizia Lu, Russian Ambassador Igor Khovaev, Panamanian Ambassador Rolando Guevara Alvarado, South Korean Ambassador Han Dong-man and wife Jang Sook Yun and everyone’s ambassador of good will Johnny Litton, the Chusueys honored their staff.

The following were recognized for 20 years of service: Joel Bonifacio, assistant housekeeping manager for rooms; Maria Cil Francisco, linen supervisor; Rey Lomugdang, beach attendant; Mandolino Montuya, team leader for bell and transport; Dominador Moreno Jr., maintenance head; Junnifir Salinas, assistant housekeeping manager; and Freddie Tindan, general cashier.

Henann Palm Beach Sky pool(left). Henann Palm Beach Resort beachfront(right).

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If the planned closure pushes through, Henann will have a more festive celebration of its 20th anniversary when the island reopens.

Till then, we bid goodbye to an island that never seems to lose its allure despite the fact that more and more people are partaking of its luster, its beaches, its party vibe, and the serenity of its other hidden coves.

As Karl Chusuey told us over the weekend, the gathering to mark Henann’s 20th was a nod to “a joyful present and a well-remembered past.”

Goodbye — for now — Boracay.