a matter of teys.t

Days and month’s prior to our going to Boracay, DH would reminisce on his boyhood experiences in the island.  Upon reaching Boracay after 20 years he would say things about how it used to be.  He was sad when he saw the concrete road running in the middle of the island.  He kept looking for the Ati’s forest.  The sight of sprouting houses and buildings, much like Wilmington NC real estate,  intensified his longing for the Boracay of his youth.  Sewer residue under the sand, put grief in his heart. Is this development?  What will Boracay be after another 20 years?

In the 1970’s, Sicogon, Iloilo was the darling of the beach comber. It had a world class resort and was just like Boracay.  The developer, a Marcos crony, defaulted his loan leading to the closure of operations in the island.  DH remembers that people in Boracay were quite determined then to keep the island from being like Sicogon.  They wanted to keep their paradise pristine.  Today, Sicogon is the pristine paradise.     My! How the tables have turned! Where are the Boracaynon’s of old?

Tags: Boracay, Development, Sustainability, Travel