CRAZY QUILT By TANYA T. LARA (The Philippine Star) Updated April 14, 2012 12:00
No matter how many times you have been there, you
just keep coming back to Boracay. There is something about it that is
always new at each visit, or if not, it is a familiar place that never
gets old.
It’s nothing spiritual, like other beach destinations. It’s just…fun.
Recently I was in Boracay, this time looking at it from a higher perspective — quite literally. Alta Vista de Boracay, the hotel owned, developed and run by DMCI, one of the country’s top real estate companies, provided this perspective as it is perched and spread out on the hillside of barangay Yapac.
Alta Vista is set on four hectares of lush hills. This residential condominium-cum-hotel property is indeed far from White Beach (about 15 to 20 minutes from D’Mall), which is an advantage if you’re
seeking a quiet, restful vacation. Party from sunset to midnight at White Beach and repair back to Alta Vista for a quiet night and lazy morning the next day by the pool.
Alta Vista has 17 buildings and 500 guestrooms, generously sized at 45 sqm. and two lofts at 65 sqm. All rooms have a view of the lush hillsides, a golf course, and the northern part of Boracay.
View of the private Puka Beach from the sea with lush hills in the background.
General manager Bobby Laygo, who has been in the tourism industry for the longest time, is running a tight, efficient ship at Alta Vista. “You go to the Tourism Department and ask if they know me and they will say, ‘Yeah, he’s the oldest man in tourism,’” he says with a laugh.
When Alta Vista opened in 2008, a different group handled operations. A year later, DMCI decided to run the property itself and so they called Bobby, whose experiences run from Subic International to Fort Ilocandia to Mt. Data to the turnover of Camp John Hay. Bobby was one of three people who hoisted down the American flag at Camp John Hay and raised the Filipino flag when the country regained control of the camp.
Of Alta Vista, Bobby says it was “rough sailing” in the beginning. But these days, he’s smiling a lot. For the Chinese New Year in January, the hotel was bursting to the seams with visitors form Mainland China out to celebrate the new year in Boracay.
“Last Chinese New Year, you can imagine 1,500 Chinese talking simultaneously in the lobby and coffee shop. They had a good time. About 70 to 80 percent of my market now is Chinese, then Koreans and Taiwanese. The Russians are coming from November to January. Also, tourists from countries that used to belong to the USSR.”
Alta Vista guests usually take the shuttle (it leaves the hotel every hour) and are dropped off at D’Mall and then take the shuttle back, also every hour, until 12 midnight. Should the partying extend way past (and that is usually the case in Boracay) they can always take a tricycle back to the hotel.
Located at the northern part of Boracay, Alta Vista de Boracay has access to the private part of Puka Beach (along with only two other high-end hotels).
The viewing deck of Alta Vista features infinity pools for adults and kids and a Jacuzzi.
This is where I saw a Boracay I hadn’t seen before. Quiet. Very clear
waters. And deserted. A Bora beach without the crowds? Impossible!
Well, no, not at the private beach that Alta Vista has access to.
It is a wonderful sight, endless blue waters that your eyes will never tire of looking as you lounge on a beach chair, the sky is blue and your gazebo is a beautiful sight with white billowing muslin cloth in the air.
Bobby says a lot of guests usually go to both Puka and White Beaches. Swim in the clear waters of Puka, get their tan, and again in White Beach.
As much as you want a quiet vacation in Bora, the appeal of White Beach never gets old. You have to spend at least a day and a night doing the rounds of restaurants and bars.
After the beaches, it’s time to hit the cliffs. Alta Vista can arrange this tour for you — or even if you want to go island hopping, parasailing and other water sports. One of the more popular activities in Bora is cliff jumping at Ariel’s Point. For about P1,200 you get a boat ride to Ariel’s Point and the fee includes unlimited drinks, along with lunch, a boat ride back to Boracay at sunset. And you can go cliff jumping to your heart’s content.
Bobby says, guests appreciate that they can sleep well at night back in the hotel and are not subjected to the noise of White Beach.
Lounging under the sun is a favorite activity of hotel guests.
He reveals that you can actually own a unit at Alta Vista. Of the 500
rooms, more than a hundred are privately owned, and some of them are
“enrolled” in the hotel operations. “This means we pay 30 percent of our
revenue to them. They can use their unit anytime, provided they give us
enough time kasi baka mamaya ginagamit ng hotel for guests. It’s
not time-sharing, it’s ownership, but with the time-sharing concept.
After DMCI took over the hotel operations, the owners who have their
units enrolled are earning about P12,000 a month.”
It makes a lot of sense for people who want a permanent property in Boracay but get to use it only once or twice a year.
Bobby says even if the hotel is not 100 percent occupied, even if the unit is not used, the owners still get 30 percent.
“There is a Danish national married to a Filipino who comes here once a year to use his unit and he’s very happy that he’s making money out of his unit.”
Fully-furnished following the tropical resort motif, the units come complete with modern-day amenities including a 32-inch LCD television, individually controlled air-conditioning unit, complete toilet and bath amenities, and a microwave oven.
Around the complex, there are amenities to please the R&R requirements of visitors, including clubhouse facilities such as a lounge, a spa, an entertainment room, a game room, and recreational facilities and activities for the enjoyment of both kids and adults. Amenities include an infinity pool and Jacuzzi, landscaped surroundings including pocket gardens and viewing deck.
The Panorama studio suites, at 45 sqm., have a balcony and are equipped with a microwave oven.
Another exciting thing that’s just developed at Alta Vista is that
its F&B outlet is now being operated by InterPro, which runs the
outlets at Manila Polo Club. The restaurant serves Filipino and continental fare and overlooks Alta Vista’s infinity pool.
Indeed, Alta Vista de Boracay gives people a different perspective of the island. Something new, something fun — a real rejuvenating break.
Sunset at White Beach is always an experience.
It’s nothing spiritual, like other beach destinations. It’s just…fun.
Recently I was in Boracay, this time looking at it from a higher perspective — quite literally. Alta Vista de Boracay, the hotel owned, developed and run by DMCI, one of the country’s top real estate companies, provided this perspective as it is perched and spread out on the hillside of barangay Yapac.
Alta Vista is set on four hectares of lush hills. This residential condominium-cum-hotel property is indeed far from White Beach (about 15 to 20 minutes from D’Mall), which is an advantage if you’re
seeking a quiet, restful vacation. Party from sunset to midnight at White Beach and repair back to Alta Vista for a quiet night and lazy morning the next day by the pool.
Alta Vista has 17 buildings and 500 guestrooms, generously sized at 45 sqm. and two lofts at 65 sqm. All rooms have a view of the lush hillsides, a golf course, and the northern part of Boracay.
View of the private Puka Beach from the sea with lush hills in the background. When Alta Vista opened in 2008, a different group handled operations. A year later, DMCI decided to run the property itself and so they called Bobby, whose experiences run from Subic International to Fort Ilocandia to Mt. Data to the turnover of Camp John Hay. Bobby was one of three people who hoisted down the American flag at Camp John Hay and raised the Filipino flag when the country regained control of the camp.
Of Alta Vista, Bobby says it was “rough sailing” in the beginning. But these days, he’s smiling a lot. For the Chinese New Year in January, the hotel was bursting to the seams with visitors form Mainland China out to celebrate the new year in Boracay.
“Last Chinese New Year, you can imagine 1,500 Chinese talking simultaneously in the lobby and coffee shop. They had a good time. About 70 to 80 percent of my market now is Chinese, then Koreans and Taiwanese. The Russians are coming from November to January. Also, tourists from countries that used to belong to the USSR.”
Alta Vista guests usually take the shuttle (it leaves the hotel every hour) and are dropped off at D’Mall and then take the shuttle back, also every hour, until 12 midnight. Should the partying extend way past (and that is usually the case in Boracay) they can always take a tricycle back to the hotel.
Located at the northern part of Boracay, Alta Vista de Boracay has access to the private part of Puka Beach (along with only two other high-end hotels).
The viewing deck of Alta Vista features infinity pools for adults and kids and a Jacuzzi. It is a wonderful sight, endless blue waters that your eyes will never tire of looking as you lounge on a beach chair, the sky is blue and your gazebo is a beautiful sight with white billowing muslin cloth in the air.
Bobby says a lot of guests usually go to both Puka and White Beaches. Swim in the clear waters of Puka, get their tan, and again in White Beach.
As much as you want a quiet vacation in Bora, the appeal of White Beach never gets old. You have to spend at least a day and a night doing the rounds of restaurants and bars.
After the beaches, it’s time to hit the cliffs. Alta Vista can arrange this tour for you — or even if you want to go island hopping, parasailing and other water sports. One of the more popular activities in Bora is cliff jumping at Ariel’s Point. For about P1,200 you get a boat ride to Ariel’s Point and the fee includes unlimited drinks, along with lunch, a boat ride back to Boracay at sunset. And you can go cliff jumping to your heart’s content.
Bobby says, guests appreciate that they can sleep well at night back in the hotel and are not subjected to the noise of White Beach.
Lounging under the sun is a favorite activity of hotel guests. It makes a lot of sense for people who want a permanent property in Boracay but get to use it only once or twice a year.
Bobby says even if the hotel is not 100 percent occupied, even if the unit is not used, the owners still get 30 percent.
“There is a Danish national married to a Filipino who comes here once a year to use his unit and he’s very happy that he’s making money out of his unit.”
Fully-furnished following the tropical resort motif, the units come complete with modern-day amenities including a 32-inch LCD television, individually controlled air-conditioning unit, complete toilet and bath amenities, and a microwave oven.
Around the complex, there are amenities to please the R&R requirements of visitors, including clubhouse facilities such as a lounge, a spa, an entertainment room, a game room, and recreational facilities and activities for the enjoyment of both kids and adults. Amenities include an infinity pool and Jacuzzi, landscaped surroundings including pocket gardens and viewing deck.
The Panorama studio suites, at 45 sqm., have a balcony and are equipped with a microwave oven. Indeed, Alta Vista de Boracay gives people a different perspective of the island. Something new, something fun — a real rejuvenating break.
* * *
Alta Vista De Boracay is developed by DMCI Homes, and is managed
and operated by DMCI PDI Hotels, Inc. For hotel reservations, call
403-2672 (BORA) or 324.8888 for condo unit inquiries. You can also check out www.dmcicondophils.com or www.altavistadeboracay.wordpress.com Sunset at White Beach is always an experience. 
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