Boracay may have become Baywalk plus the sand, but it remains the place to be even after Holy Week. The island paradise was still crowded during the post-Lenten season since sponsors sent stars to occupy Bora and show the residents how to party under the scorching heat of the summer sun.
From April 18-21, every square-inch of Bora's powdery sand was filled with back-to-back events and parties, bands, celebs, semi-celebs, and even has-beens.
CELEBS GALORE! Everywhere you turn, you will come across familiar faces-celebs, actors, models, and rock stars were all over Bora either for official events or on vacation.
A gorgeous and unassuming Angel Locsin was spotted dining at Aria restaurant with Marvin Agustin and friends. Wearing a white sundress, the young actress was swamped by meter-thick fans craning their necks to get a glimpse of the Asian Treasures star.
Arriving at the Boracay Mandarin Hotel, MYX VJs Luis Manzano and Iya Villania barely escaped droves of fans asking for autographs and photos. MYX, as media partner to Nestea, which celebrated its 11th Nestea Beach Volley tournament in Boracay that week, also flew in VJs Nikki Gil and Karel Marquez.
Nancy Castiglione and her "honey" Brad Turvey were dressed in pharaoh clothes as they hosted Nestea's Egyptian-themed Victory Party at the Crystal Sand beachfront in April 21. It was perhaps the wildest, noisiest party of the week, with madcap band Parokya Ni Edgar attracting droves of fans and onlookers alike (enticing them twice to jump over the barricades) with their by-request hits, capricious spiels and crazy parodies of local bands.
Nestea's Celebrity Beach Volley games also showcased sun-kissed studs and gals getting down and dirty on the sandcourt. Among them were models/TV personalities Valerie de los Santos, Geoff Rodriguez, Marco Alcaraz, Tisha Silang, Sam Oh, Reema Chanco, Bubbles Paraiso, and Robby Mananquil.
Marc Nelson, Wilma Doesnt, Angelu de Leon, Say Alonzo, Mich Dulce, Paolo Paraiso and Rachel Alejandro were also among those spotted enjoying the Bora sun and sand.
PUMPING PARTIES. Shindigs were aplenty, and Nestea hosted three in a row: the Italian party and fashion show at Boracay Mandarin Hotel on April 19 where models and celebs strutted their stuff on the catwalk built across the hotel pool. The show featured cool island wear by Boracay-based designer PJ Arañador; Brazilian party and bartending exhibition at Summer Place on April 20 where friends Nancy, Tisha, Bubbles and Geoff created their own alcohol mix with Nestea; and the Egyptian Victory party at Crystal Sand on April 21 where Parokya Ni Edgar upstaged all other performers and events of that night.
The other parties across Bora clubs were hosted by Hit FM, WAVE, NU 107.5, and MYX among others. They flew in bands including Imago, Sugarfree, Six Cycle Mind, Spongecola, Sandwich, Chicosci, the Dawn, Wake Up Your Seatmate, Playground, and the ethno-tribal group Kadangyan.
Even our canine friends had great beach fun in Alpo's dog show last April 22. The summer celebrations didn't stop there as a long list of events continue to fill Bora's calendar for the rest of May.
VOLLEY ACTION. The culmination of Nestea's summer beach fest covered the Boracay station 2 shores with the 11th nationwide beach volley excitement. From 34 colleges and universities nationwide that competed in the eliminations at La Salle Green Hills, 18 teams from 17 schools made it to the semis and final rounds in Boracay. The 3-day beach volley tournament came down to its final game on April 21, with Gabshar Tahiluddin and Yusop Abdulkarim of Mindanao State University Tawi-Tawi winning the men's title and Janez Armie Igot and Jusabelle Brillo of University of the Visayas taking the women's trophy. Champion teams received P150,000 cash each and a trophy. Their respective coaches took home a P50,000 cash prize as well.
The games kept traffic at the beachfront of Hey! Jude @ D'Mall D'Boracay doubly busy from April 19-21.
BEACH CLEAN UP. Aside from the beach volley games and the parties, Nestea expanded their events this time to include pro-environment efforts. Dubbed "Nestea Love The Beach," this campaign prompted underwater and beach clean ups done in both Puerto Galera in March 10, and Boracay in April 20. Residents and schools within the area helped in the beach clean up, while groups of diver friends—with celebs Nancy Castiliogne, Brad Turvey, and Sam Oh—led the underwater leg.
Nestea merchandise were sold in malls and other event venues to support the Love The Beach campaign. Proceeds will go to the Philippine Business for Social Progress and will be used for coastal rehabilitation programs.
With efforts such as these, maybe Boracay is far from turning into Baywalk after all.