Why some still move to ‘Blue Zone’ Boracay

Why do people move to Boracay? Apart from the obvious sand, sea, and sun, well, there’s the wind, too. 

Kit is a tech nomad, and after the COVID lockdown was lifted, he asked himself, “What am I doing in Manila when I can be doing the same thing in Boracay and enjoying my true love — kitesurfing!”

There’s also Will, who just turned 50 and was Manila-weary. Being the only unmarried one in their group, he decided to “take one for the team” and go down to the island to manage the café and hotel renovations for CaféGotSoul Boracay (not to be confused with CafeGotSoul Montreal and CafeGotSoul MNL in BGC). 

Dian, a native Cebuana, took a job on the island (Willy’s) much to the disapproval of her friends. This was the start of her career on the island leading up to her management role in Levantin in Bulabog beach.

And then, there’s love. There’s Julia and her seashell eyes.

Swedish-born Julia volunteered to work in one of Mother Teresa’s hospitals in India and traveled around the continent and zeroed in on Boracay. There must have been a strong pull to meet her destiny. This was in 1989. She met her husband and has two children who have chosen to live on the island.

She cuts a tall striking figure, taking early morning walks with her dog along the trails of Mt. Luho, riding around on her bike to oversee her businesses, the Lemon Café in D’Mall, the Dinibeach Bar and Restaurant, and the Diniview Resort where she lives, high up on the hill with a full view of the sunset. 

“Everyone walks around the island, which is very Blue Zone. It’s very natural for us to move around,” she says. “We have access to fresh fish and vegetables. Another Blue Zone check mark. Sourcing your food as close to the source as possible. We don’t serve steaks for example. Not to mention the crisp clean air one can enjoy.”

Blue Zones, according to Healthline, are “geographic areas with lower rates of chronic diseases and longer life expectancy. Diet, fasting, and exercise are factors associated with Blue Zones.”

There’s a strong sense of community in Boracay. Again, very Blue Zone.

Will  enjoys walking across the road to work, and one can feel a real caring relationship with the staff as he shows off the healthy coat of a rescue dog they saved in front of the café a few months ago.

While shooting the breeze with Dian in front of Levantin, a foreigner jogs by. Dian says he jogs 18 kilometers a day. 

There’s also an 82-year-old Japanese kitesurfer, a permanent resident in Bulabog, making his way to the Freestyle Academy Kitesurfing School. 

“Such is island life,” says Dian, whose house is a five-minute walk from her office in Levantin. 

Flying foxes

Living on an island, though, comes with its own challenges. 

The trauma of the COVID lockdown, for instance, seems fresh in the memory of the island residents. While they had zero cases, many businesses had to close down from the obvious drop in tourists. Some managed to open again. Some not.

Add to the previous “clean up” during the Duterte administration in 2018 and a devastating typhoon in 2019, COVID was the last element for a perfect storm. During the COVID lockdown, the island had 40 suicide cases. 

One hotel staff said they all started fishing just to get an income, but they cannot all be fishing. One of the lucky ones retained by the hotels that could still operate also said he had to learn to do all the jobs — security, cook, cleaner, et cetera, since they were working in shifts.

While Julia and other businesses tried to keep their staff, they could not. So, they got together and shared them among themselves, Jony’s, The Lazy Dog, and her own Lemon Café. 

Julia is also the president of Friends of the Flying Foxes (FFF). First established in 2002, this group of volunteers, wildlife specialists, and returning visitors understand the value of the fruit bats (flying foxes) and diligently monitor activities that may harm the ecosystem. 

The bats are vital to health of the forest and are responsible for 90% of the island’s reforestation. FFF has been conducting monthly bat counts since 2002. 

Bat numbers have diminished because of illegal hunting activities and the  bulldozers that keep appearing despite petitions from the stakeholders to stop developments that conduct illegal activities such as cutting trees without the necessary permits and disturbing bat roosts. They also conduct extensive information and education campaigns to raise awareness of the importance of the bats.

FFF is not anti-development; but supports development with the necessary environmental protection regulations implemented and monitored. 

As Boracay thrives on tourism, Julia and many other residents make sure to keep watch of the degradation of its natural beauty. 

Julia says, “We are so lucky to settle down on this beautiful island, the place we are so blessed to call home.”

“The spirit and kindness of the island people and our community in itself, make us all push through, no matter what, and that’s what always keeps us going,” she adds. 

“The care of the island, its environment, people and animals are always a top priority for us and we try to practice what we preach, and hope you feel that in our places.” – Rappler.com