258 passengers stranded in Caticlan due to Seniang

At least 258 passengers were stranded at the Caticlan Jetty Port because of tropical storm Seniang.

Lt. Jimmy Oliver Vingno,PCG-Caticlan Commander said that all of the passengers were either bound to Mindoro or Batangas provinces. They were supposed to ride a boat via the roll-on-roll off (Ro-Ro) vessel.

The PCG has temporarily suspended the operation of the roro as the weather agency has placed Aklan province, including Boracay, under storm signal number 1.

Vingno said boat operations from Caticlan to Boracay and vice versa were given a green light as thousands of tourists arrived. Both foreign and local tourists are arriving in groups in Boracay to celebrate New Year.

"But boat operation to Boracay will be suspended at 6 p.m. due to anticipated poor visibility. Boat operation may resume the next day (Thursday) depending on the weather situation," said Vingno.

Report from the Caticlan Jetty Port administrator said that as of Dec. 27, 1,363,601 foreign and local tourists already visited this resort island for this year.

Artist to exhibit collection in APEC 2015 meeting

 An Aklanon artist is currently preparing to exhibit her artistic collection in this resort island during the second meeting of senior officials of the Asia Pacific Economic Conference (APEC) in April or May next year.

Erlinda Quimpo Wilson said she is already getting in touch with several resorts here as possible venues for her exhibit.

“Negotiations are still underway. Right now I am preparing for the great exhibit,” said Wilson.

Wilson said she considers the year 2015 as one of her lucky years as she also encouraged other local artists to also showcase their talents. Wilson is the chairman of the Aklan Arts Council.

Last October 2014, Wilson showcased her paintings at the GSIS Museum in Metro Manila. She also said she already received invitations to hold separate solo exhibits at the National Culture on Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) in 2015.

One of the most favorite paintings of Quimpo is her impression painting of the old Boracay. She also loves to paint artworks emphasizing messages of tranquility, serenity and peace of mind.

"Art appreciation usually depends on the eye of the beholder. But there is a need to appreciate artworks because it encourages artists to do more," she said.

Most of the visual artist in Aklan are also inspired by the Amorsolo artworks featuring the ordinary lifestyle of the Filipinos.

Quimpo learned her craft in high school and underwent formal arts training in California, USA.

For several years, Aklan visual artists took a backseat in the national arena as many of the artists in the province are discreet in exhibiting their paintings.

"Right now, aside from me, there are Aklanons who are also starting in showing their artworks in Manila," said Wilson.

Thousands of both foreign and local officials and guests are expected to attend the second APEC senior officials meeting here. The first APEC senior officials meeting is slated last week of January 2015 in Clark, Pampanga.

Boracay Hotels now 100 percent fully booked

All hotels in this resort island are already assured of room reservations in time for the celebration of the 2015 New Year revelry.

According to the Department of Tourism (DOT), almost all hotels have reported an average of 70 percent room reservations for December 31 bookings.

Recently, the Agoda.com the Asia's leading booking site has considered Boracay as the 13th best place to celebrate New Year in the world.

Majority of those who made room reservations were domestic tourists. A large number of foreign tourists who also registered were Koreans, Russians and Taiwanese.

Meanwhile, the DOT also reported the arrival of 198 Japanese tourists onboard a chartered airbus direct flight from Japan.

As of this writing, another chartered flight is also being anticipated to arrive from Boston via Philippines Airlines.

Boracay 13th best spot in world for New Year celeb

This world-famous island resort is one of the best destinations in the world to celebrate the New Year.
Boracay ranked 13th on Agoda.com, considered as Asia’s leading hotel-booking website, garnering 2.49 percent of the votes gathered during the site’s current Travel Smart online survey.
In the survey conducted in November, Agoda.com asked more than 7,000 travelers to pick from among 24 destinations where they would like to celebrate the New Year.
Bangkok ranked first with 13.6 percent. It was followed by Hong Kong; Bali, Indonesia; Tokyo, Japan; and Singapore.
Boracay bested other foreign world-class tourist destinations including Las Vegas, Barcelona, Ibiza, and Shanghai.
New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day are considered “peak days” in the island resort.
To usher the coming New Year, hotels and resorts at the beachfront here will hold fireworks displays, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) confirmed.
Most of them have already secured a clearance for the annual activity, Fire Inspector Stephen Jardeleza said over Bombo Radyo Kalibo.
Starting Dec. 31, BFP will inspect the receptacles of the firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices that the hotels and resorts will use, Jardeleza said.
The BFP, meanwhile, warned the public that sky lanterns could cause fire.
Flying sky lanterns is actually a violation of the Fire Code of the Philippines, Jardeleza said./

Koreans put bounty on shooter’s head

 The Korean community in this resort island will give a P50,000 cash reward for any information that could lead to the arrest of the shooter of a Korean spa manager here.
The reward will expedite the resolution of Jin Won Lee’s case, according to Senior Inspector Fidel Gentallan, the new Boracay Tourist Assistance Center chief.
“We welcome the efforts of the Korean community,” Gentallan said. “We are doing everything we can to arrest the suspect.”
Lee is currently recuperating in a private hospital in Kalibo, Aklan. His attacker remains unidentified as of press time.
Police recently released a facial composite sketch of the suspect.
Investigators were yet to determine the motive behind the shooting.
The island’s tourism is booming partly because of the Koreans, who remain to have the highest population here among other foreign tourists.

Crime of Oppurtunity

Incidents of snatching in this resort island is being considered a “crime of opportunity.”
Foreign tourists are the common victims, said Senior Inspector Mark Evan Salvo, Boracay police chief.
His office conducted a study and found out that snatching is the most rampant crime in Boracay, said Salvo.
Foreigners mostly complain of their wallets and electronic gadgets such as cell phones, tablets, music players and digital cameras being stolen.
“We have arrested some suspects. We found out that many of them did not have criminal records. This made us conclude that snatching here is more of a crime of opportunity – that is, it happens because there is an opportunity for the culprit to do so.
Among the foreigners, the most common victims were the Chinese, Korean and European tourists, said Salvo.
His office, however could not provide specific numbers of victims.
Most of the complainants do not pursue charges after having recovered their stolen valuables, he explained.
To deter snatchers, the Boracay police has enhanced its visibility.
“We always remind tourists, too, to be vigilant,” said Salvo.

Tourists in Boracay urged to stay safe as typhoon approaching Philippines

The Aklan provincial government on Friday asked tourists coming to Boracay Island, the world-famous resort, to stay safe as the country expects zero casualty from incoming Typhoon Hagupit (local name Ruby).

There should be no boat available starting from 6 p.m. on Friday until Typhoon Ruby passes away, Aklan governor Florencio Miraflores said. Besides, tourists bound to the Kalibo International Airport were advised to stay at Kalibo, the capital of Aklan.

"We were informed that there are three planes scheduled to fly for South Korea Friday night. We advised them to depart early at Boracay before 6 p.m. or they will be stranded," said Miraflores.

"We also advises tourists to coordinate with the Department of Tourism, their travel agencies and continue monitoring the weather, " added Miraflores.

Boracay Island has more than a dozen unique beaches and many coves. Travel website TripAdvisor rated Boracay island as the second best beach destination in the world and the No. 1 in Asia.

BFI to hold ‘Xmas party for a cause’

The Boracay Foundation Inc. (BFI) will hold a Christmas party-cum-fund-raising event on Dec. 14.
Each member is encouraged to pay P650, said BFI staffer Raffy Cooper.
“The proceeds will be used for the rehabilitation of a holding facility for street children in Boracay,” he said. “[The initiative] is in cooperation with the Department of Social Welfare and Development.”
The Department of Tourism earlier expressed concern on the impact of mendicants, especially children, on tourism.
Cooper also encouraged the public to come to BFI’s another fund-raising event: the 1980s Party Outfit at Hennan Lagoon.

‘Turn Boracay wastes into Christmas décor’

 The Holy Rosary Parish here is encouraging local and foreign tourists to celebrate the Yuletide with simplicity.
One of the ways to do this is to use recyclable materials in making Christmas decorations, said Fr. Arnold Crisostomo, parish priest.
“Catholic residents in Boracay would always try to show tourists our tradition every Christmas. We should show them our simplicity and faith,” said Crisostomo.
Malay’s Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office is undertaking a “recycled Christmas lantern” initiative.
Crisostomo is encouraging the public to support this initiative.
Through this, the local government shows not only simplicity but also a way to conserve Boracay’s environment, said the priest.
A Christmas tree and lanterns made of recycled materials are currently being displayed in Barangay Balabag./

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Boracay prepares own version of Ati-atihan Festival

The Malay Tourism Office has officially released the schedules of the Boracay version of the annual Ati-Atihan Festival.

In a schedule released Tuesday, the first ati-atihan event 2015 will happen on Dec. 15. This is where the mechanics for the festival will be officially presented to both participating tribes and sponsors.

The 2015 Boracay Ati-atihan Festival will start on Jan. 9 to be participated in by the barangay councils, parishioners, organizations and cooperatives establishment owners.

There will also be an Employees Night at the Balabag Plaza.

Jan. 10 is also focused for the youth.

An annual fluvial parade will be held at 6 a. m. on Jan. 11, followed by a high mass; and a beach dancing parade in honor of the Sto. Nino.