Guiuan’s secrets revealed
By Tina Arceo-Dumlao
Philippine Daily Inquirer
THAT A top-class resort exists at all in the town of Guiuan at the southern tip of Eastern Samar causes many a raised eyebrow.
Guiuan, after all, is not exactly at the top of the list of favorite destinations of business and leisure travelers. The distinction still belongs to such cities as Baguio in the north, Cebu in the Visayas and Davao in Mindanao.
Lawyer Manuel Go of Cebu, however, firmly believes that it will only be a matter of time before the secrets of this quiet, laid back second class municipality are revealed and it gets its fair share of visitors.
This explains why he and some partners decided to invest in the multi-million The Surf Camp on Guian’s Calicoan Island, which is bounded on the east by the Pacific Ocean and Leyte Gulf on the west.
The Surf Camp on Calicoan’s ABCD Beach opened its large wooden doors to the public in 2006 and the exclusive resort –easily the best in Eastern Visayas – was designed with relaxation and romance in mind.
There are only seven cottages set far enough from each other to ensure utmost privacy, and these spacious and tastefully appointed villas inspired by Thai, Balinese and Filipino architecture are equipped with required modern conveniences such as a television, hot shower and air conditioner.
Complementing the topnotch accommodations are the high quality of service and the acceptable range of food and beverages.
Guests can choose to have their hot meals and snacks brought to their villas, or they can enjoy the company of their fellow guests at the main cottage. And if they feel like throwing a party for family and friends, The Surf Camp staff is ready and willing to prepare a feast.
But the real attraction of The Surf Camp is its access to the best waves in this part of the Philippines, which are perfect for novice and experienced surfers alike.
Summer months are ideal for beginners training on gentle two-to-three-foot waves, while the more seasoned surfers can come during the latter months of surfing season that runs from April to November for the bigger, more challenging waves.
Visitor arrivals reach their peak in October because of the Eastern Samar Surfing Crown, a competition first held in 2005.
Backing the competition, which is part of the Philippine Surfing Circuit, are the Department of Tourism, the provincial government of Eastern Samar, the municipal government of Guiuan and the Philippine Surfing Federation.
Many of The Surf Camp’s guests, however, prefer to just sit back and relax on their lounge chairs facing the sea. The sound of silence is just too soothing to be ignored.
Among the first visitors of The Surf Camp are honeymooners from Korea who are only too happy to take either the commercial flight to Tacloban and then the two-hour shuttle service to Calicoan or The Surf Camp’s private plane from Cebu to the Guiuan airport, which once saw the landing of bombers during World War II.
These days, The Surf camp is hosting more company outings and reeling in an increasing number of corporate travelers yearning for a break from their routine.
It is this anticipation of more travelers going to the Surf Camp and Guiuan that prompted Smart Communications Inc. to invest in the upgrade of the telecommunications system in the area so that visitors would still be able to stay in touch with their office or families through their mobile phone or laptops.
Smart already boasts of the most extensive mobile phone coverage for basic services such as text messaging and phone calls, thus its next step is to expand its mobile broadband services.
“We realize that many tourists and travelers are only able to go on vacation if they get to stay in touch, like check their email,” says Smart spokesperson Ramon Isberto,” That is why we are improving not just our GSM network but also our broadband services in tourist destinations like Guiuan.”
This should give travelers one more reason to get off the beaten path and take a break in rustic Guiuan.
When in Cebu City, please visit gregmelep.com for your real estate and retirement needs.
By Tina Arceo-Dumlao
Philippine Daily Inquirer
THAT A top-class resort exists at all in the town of Guiuan at the southern tip of Eastern Samar causes many a raised eyebrow.
Guiuan, after all, is not exactly at the top of the list of favorite destinations of business and leisure travelers. The distinction still belongs to such cities as Baguio in the north, Cebu in the Visayas and Davao in Mindanao.
Lawyer Manuel Go of Cebu, however, firmly believes that it will only be a matter of time before the secrets of this quiet, laid back second class municipality are revealed and it gets its fair share of visitors.
This explains why he and some partners decided to invest in the multi-million The Surf Camp on Guian’s Calicoan Island, which is bounded on the east by the Pacific Ocean and Leyte Gulf on the west.
The Surf Camp on Calicoan’s ABCD Beach opened its large wooden doors to the public in 2006 and the exclusive resort –easily the best in Eastern Visayas – was designed with relaxation and romance in mind.
There are only seven cottages set far enough from each other to ensure utmost privacy, and these spacious and tastefully appointed villas inspired by Thai, Balinese and Filipino architecture are equipped with required modern conveniences such as a television, hot shower and air conditioner.
Complementing the topnotch accommodations are the high quality of service and the acceptable range of food and beverages.
Guests can choose to have their hot meals and snacks brought to their villas, or they can enjoy the company of their fellow guests at the main cottage. And if they feel like throwing a party for family and friends, The Surf Camp staff is ready and willing to prepare a feast.
But the real attraction of The Surf Camp is its access to the best waves in this part of the Philippines, which are perfect for novice and experienced surfers alike.
Summer months are ideal for beginners training on gentle two-to-three-foot waves, while the more seasoned surfers can come during the latter months of surfing season that runs from April to November for the bigger, more challenging waves.
Visitor arrivals reach their peak in October because of the Eastern Samar Surfing Crown, a competition first held in 2005.
Backing the competition, which is part of the Philippine Surfing Circuit, are the Department of Tourism, the provincial government of Eastern Samar, the municipal government of Guiuan and the Philippine Surfing Federation.
Many of The Surf Camp’s guests, however, prefer to just sit back and relax on their lounge chairs facing the sea. The sound of silence is just too soothing to be ignored.
Among the first visitors of The Surf Camp are honeymooners from Korea who are only too happy to take either the commercial flight to Tacloban and then the two-hour shuttle service to Calicoan or The Surf Camp’s private plane from Cebu to the Guiuan airport, which once saw the landing of bombers during World War II.
These days, The Surf camp is hosting more company outings and reeling in an increasing number of corporate travelers yearning for a break from their routine.
It is this anticipation of more travelers going to the Surf Camp and Guiuan that prompted Smart Communications Inc. to invest in the upgrade of the telecommunications system in the area so that visitors would still be able to stay in touch with their office or families through their mobile phone or laptops.
Smart already boasts of the most extensive mobile phone coverage for basic services such as text messaging and phone calls, thus its next step is to expand its mobile broadband services.
“We realize that many tourists and travelers are only able to go on vacation if they get to stay in touch, like check their email,” says Smart spokesperson Ramon Isberto,” That is why we are improving not just our GSM network but also our broadband services in tourist destinations like Guiuan.”
This should give travelers one more reason to get off the beaten path and take a break in rustic Guiuan.
When in Cebu City, please visit gregmelep.com for your real estate and retirement needs.
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