White Beach, Boracay, 2016.

The condition of Boracay in 1997 led to the installment of a potable water supply system and a
sewage treatment plant and a solid waste disposal system in Boracay which was operated by the
Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA). The environmental concerns persisted due to
noncompliance of numerous business establishments.

Then-president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo declared Boracay a Special Tourism Zone in 2005, and
in April 2006 she gave the PTA administrative control over the island while mandating the
agency to coordinate with the provincial government of Aklan.

In 2012, the Philippine Department of Tourism reported that Boracay had been named the
world's second best beach after Providenciales in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Due to worsening environmental conditions in Boracay, President Rodrigo Duterte in February

2018 said he planned to close the resort island, which he described as a "cesspool", on April 26,
2018, instructing Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Roy Cimatu to resolve the issue.
[35] In a cabinet meeting, President Duterte approved the full closure of the island for six
months, effective April 26, 2018, to rehabilitate and resolve the environmental issues
surrounding Boracay.[36] On May 30, 2018, President Duterte declared that he planned to make
the entire Boracay a land reform area and wanted to first prioritize the island's residents.

In April 2018, the Philippine Army's 301st Infantry Brigade confirmed that 200 soldiers were
deployed to Boracay to secure the island during its shutdown starting April 26.

On October 26, 2018, Boracay was reopened to the public with work on the island's
infrastructure still in progress. In April 2019, numerous Chinese-owned businesses were opened
in Boracay, and additionally, there are about 300 mainland Chinese residents. In April
2019, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said that the Department of Labor and Employment has
no control over foreign businesses setting up shop on the island, but that it vows to ensure that
no Chinese national could take jobs fit for Filipinos.

lifestyle but the Filipino lifestyle.

It helps a lot that some business owners have busied themselves putting up eating joints where
local dishes are being served. Although the business of dealing with the foreign palate proves to
be tempting, they decide to do justice to the land that owns the island by serving native
delicacies that is not as difficult to appreciate.
 Culture

The first settlers of Boracay were a Negrito people called the Ati, and who spoke a
distinctive Philippine language called Inati. Later settlers brought other languages to the
island, including Aklanon (as Boracay is part of Aklan province), Hiligaynon
(Ilonggo), Kinaray-a, Capiznon, other Visayan languages, Filipino, and English.

The well-known Ati-Atihan Festival takes place each January in Kalibo on nearby Panay
Island. A much smaller Ati-Atihan festival is celebrated on Boracay, usually in the second or
third week of January.

Climate

Weather in Boracay is generally divided into two seasonal weather patterns known locally as
the Amihan and Habagat seasons. In the Visayan language, Amihan means a cool northeast
wind, and Habagat means west or southwest wind; southwest monsoon. The Amihan season
is characterized by moderate temperatures, little or no rainfall, and a prevailing wind from
the northeast. The Habagat season is characterized by hot and humid weather, frequent heavy
rainfall, and a prevailing wind from the west

On Boracay, the main indicator of the switch between the Amihan and Habagat seasonal
patterns is the switch in wind direction. In most years this transition is abrupt and occurs
overnight. In some years there is a period of perhaps a week or two where the wind will
switch between Amihan and Habagat patterns several times before settling into the pattern
for the new season. As a rule of thumb, Boracay will be in the Amihan weather pattern from
sometime in October to sometime in March and in the Habagat weather pattern for the
remainder of the year.

Temperatures in Malay municipality province generally ranged between 25 and 30 °C (77

and 86 °F) in 2009–2019, with a low of 24 °C (75 °F) in February 2014 and high of 31 °C
(88 °F) in October 2018, ranging more widely in 2019, with a low of 23 °C (73 °F) in March
and a high of 33 °C (91 °F) in May. [needs update] During Tropical storm periods,
temperatures can fall below 30 °C (86 °F). Tropical storms can impact Boracay at any time
of year, but are most likely to be seen during the Habagat season.
 Transportation

functions like taxis and are the primary mode of transportation in Boracay

and is separated from Panay island by a narrow strait. The island is located opposite the barangay
n the municipality of Malay, Aklan. Transportation across the strait is provided by boats operating from the
y port.[citation needed] Cagban Port serves as the primary sea transportation hub for passengers going into
the island lacks any formal seaport for cargo transport and waste disposal. Goods are delivered into
ugh an informal port near the Cagban Port.

served by two airports in Aklan: the Kalibo International Airport and Godofredo P. Ramos
mmonly referred to as the Caticlan airport).

ain modes of transport are via motor-tricycles and electric-tricycles (e-trikes) along the main road, or by
ng the beaches. Pedicabs, known as sikads, are also available along the Beachfront Path. Other means of
n include mountain bikes, quadbikes and motorbikes, all of which can be rented. It was reported in October
e island will see modern jeepneys, solar-powered shuttles, and hop-on hop-off buses serviced by Grab, and
artment of Energy will donate 200 e-trikes to the Malay local government under a ₱1.73 billion project
e Asian Development Bank.[90]

pal government of Malay is currently encouraging motorcycle operators to transition to e-trikes in their
efforts to promote environment-friendly public transportation. Diesel-motor tricycles are expected to be
y August 2018.[91]
 Tourism
se of its wind and weather patterns, tourism in Boracay is at its peak during the amihan season (which
rts around the Christmas season and runs through February). During amihan, the prevailing wind blows
t. Boracay's main tourism area, White Beach, is on the western side of the island and is sheltered from the
g the Amihan season, the water off White Beach is often glassy-smooth. On the eastern side of the island,
northern and southern ends of the island channel the Amihan season wind from the east onshore, onto
ach in the central part of the island's eastern side. This makes the reef-protected waters off that beach
eand ideal for scuba diving, windsurfing, and kiteboarding / kitesurfing.

1, it was reported that Megaworld Corporation, a real estate development group led by Andrew Tan had
20 billion to develop tourism estates in Boracay and Cavite. The planned Boracay project, Boracay
nvolves four hotels with 1,500 rooms, a plaza and an entertainment center.

s in Boracay include Discovery Shores, a luxury five-star resort managed by a Filipino hospitality group
Discovery Leisure Company Inc. and owned by Discovery World Corp. The building, with 88 suites, a spa,
estaurants and bars, stands at Station One on the White Beach, and has been described as
i chic than hidden oasis."

as the highest density of merchants that accept bitcoin outside of El Salvador. There is a movement to dub
itcoin Island" and bootstrap a circular economy similar to Bitcoin Beach.

Leisure activities
ctivities available on or near Boracay include horseback riding, scuba diving, diving
keling, windsurfing, kiteboarding, cliff diving, parasailing.

he site of an 18-hole par 72 golf course designed by Graham Marsh. In addition, as of 2010, Boracay has in
350 beach resorts offering more than 2,000 rooms ranging in quality from five-star to budget
ion. In addition, Boracay offers a wide range of restaurants, bars, pubs, and nightclubs.

illy's Rock

natural rock formation, Boracay's Rock, juts prominently directly in front of Willy's Beach Resort.
 Cultural attraction Outdoor activity Culinary experience

Puka Shell Beach Scuba Diving The pig out burger and
Fries

My 3-day Itinerary in Boracay

 1. Puka Beach

Entrance Fee: As of writing, visitors have free access.

Island Hopping Rates: P1000 – P3500 per boat (depending on the size of the boat)
Scuba Diving Rates: P1600 (if you ahave PADI license already); P3500 (3-4 hours beginner
course + 1 dive)
Tourist Attraction Fees: Parasailing (P750 – P2500 per person); Paraw Sailing (P1000 –
P1500 per person); Standup Paddling (P300 – P500/hr board rental); Fly Fish (P550 –
P600); Cliff Diving package (P1600/person); ATV Ride (P800 – P1000/unit)

2. Scuba Diving in Boracay

FUN DIVE
Rate per person: 2,400Php per person for 45minutes
This is for divers who already have their PADI Certification
Explore the underwater surrounding Magic island’s corals, fishes and other colorful sea life
that you will never forget forget!
Fun Dive (8:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 12:00 NN & 2:00 PM)
Our friendly coordinator will escort you to the water sport location.
This is for divers who already have their PADI Certification. Explore the underwater
surrounding Magic island’s corals, fishes, and other colorful sea life that you will never
forget!

3.The pig out burger and Fries

 Budget TripCosts
in Boracay
Transportation  Davao Airport to Boracay – Php 4,000
 Terminal Fee – Php 100
 Environmental Fee – Php 150
 Ferry ride from Airport to Boracay Island –
Php 50

Lodging  Hotel in Station 1 – Php 2,000

food  Breakfast at Andoks – Php 220

 Lunch at Jollibee – Php 300
 Dinner at Hannayah - Php 200

Activities  Scuba diving – Php 700

 Paddleboarding – Php 75
 Crystal Boat ride – Php 50 per pax
 MY REFLECTION

One of the greatest

lessons you’ll learn
through travel is that we
need very little to be
happy. And it’s not cars,
phones or clothes that
make us happy – it’s our
experiences.

People come to the

island of Boracay not
because of parties, diving,
swimming or water sports.
Many other islands offer
them already. It is the sand
that makes Boracay
unique from others.

The challenges I
have encounter during this
trip is that you have to
know first the place, the
 The History of Boracay

Pre-colonial period
Before the Spanish colonization of the Philippines in the 16th century, Boracay was populated
by Ati people. It was known to the Iberian conquerors as Buracay. At the time of contact with
the Europeans, Buracay had a population of one hundred people, who cultivated rice on the
island and augmented their income by raising goats.

The Tumandok people also established an indigenous presence on the island,[19]

[better source needed] although the identities of the two indigenous peoples is often conflated.
Boracay was previously part of the province of Capiz. It was under the jurisdiction of the town
of Buruanga until the municipality of Malay was established on June 15, 1949. The
municipality, as well as the island, became part of Aklan, which became an independent
province on April 25, 1956.

Before the advent of tourism, Boracay was largely an agricultural community. Around 1900
A.D., Sofía Gonzáles Tirol and her husband Lamberto Hontiveros Tirol (a town judge on the
Panay mainland) took ownership of substantial properties on the island from „Orang“
Sacapaño. They planted coconuts, fruit trees and greenery. Others followed the Tirols, and
cultivation and development of the island gradually spread. The production of copra and
fishing were major industries in the island.

However, due to overharvesting by fishers and the destruction of coral reef due to cyanide
fishing, the fishing industry saw a decline. By the 1980s, the price of copra had declined,
encouraging tourism as an alternative source of income for the island.

In 1978, President Ferdinand Marcos issued a proclamation naming Boracay among a number
of islands, coves and peninsulas declared as tourist zones.

Foreign tourists in Boracay, 1985.

Tourism came to the island beginning sometime in the 1970s. In 1970, the movies Nam's
Angels (released in the U.S. as The Losers) and Too Late the Hero used filming locations on
Boracay and Caticlan. There was an influx of Western tourists after German writer Jens Peter
called it "paradise on Earth" in his book about the Philippines in 1978. In the 1980s, the island
became popular as a budget destination for backpackers. By the 1990s, Boracay's beaches were
being acclaimed as the best in the world. However, in 1997, tourist arrivals to the resort island
dropped 60 percent due to the increase of coliform bacteria from poor sewage and septic
systems on the island.