Lazing around Lakawon Island

Off the northern coast of Cadiz City in Negros Occidental lies this slice of paradise which is becoming a part of the bucket list of many weekend warriors searching for something secluded yet spectacular, a summery sanctuary offering the right dose of reclusion, relaxation, and recreation that’s guaranteed to delight even the most discriminating pleasure seekers–the surreal hideaway called Lakawon Island.

A glimpse of Lakawon Island

Dubbed as the “Boracay of Negros”, Lakawon, a 16-hectare, banana-shaped island found in the northern portion of the province, is fast becoming one of Negros Occidental's tourist magnets because of its pristine white sand that calls to mind that of Aklan’s world-famous island.

Technically, Lakawon, whose name means “to walk” in the vernacular, is more of a sandbar whose white-sand beach faces Negros Occidental, billed as the "Sugar Bowl of the Philippines”, while its rugged and undeveloped side faces the deep blue waters of the Visayan Sea. 

Time was when the hidden sanctuary was frequented by locals seeking serenity over the weekend. Although it’s also been explored by seasoned weekend warriors, Lakawon has remained one of the province’s precious secrets, especially among beach bums who want to keep the unspoiled hideaway all to themselves—until recently.

Roughly 48 km away from Bacolod City, Lakawon can be reached by land via a one-and-a-half hour trip aboard any of the buses bound for Cadiz. Upon reaching the Martesan Bus Terminal in the village of Burgos, guests should disembark and hail a tricycle to take them to the port at Cadiz Viejo, the jump-off point for a 20-minute boat ride to the island.

From what I gathered, Lakawon today is a far cry from what it used to be years ago. There were only a few cottages there and reaching the place was quite difficult. In 2013, it was almost wiped out into nothingness when Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) hit it as well as many parts of the Philippines. Months later, a new resort developer took over the island’s management, transforming it into a world-class destination now known as the Lakawon Island Resort and Spa (LIRS).

The pristine white sand of Lakawon

Still a work in progress, this plush island resort offers guests the much-needed respite from the rat race and rampage of the quotidian life by exposing them to the perks and pleasures of island life. It also boasts of having TawHai, a floating bar that’s touted to be Asia’s biggest.

Before going to the City of Smiles for an official event, I was bent on conquering Lakawon Island over the long weekend. It was my first time to go there and the thought of doing it on my own gave me restless nights. To my delight, Jim and Minnie, two of my Bacolod-based friends, offered to fete me with an escapade in the island after learning I was in town.

Jim, however, couldn't make it on the day we were supposed to go to Lakawon due to some urgent concern. So, Minnie, along with rest of her fambam, picked me up at Planta Centro Hotel in Bacolod and took me to the island. We got stuck several times along the way though. Blame the traffic going northward out of the city, which has become horrendous what with all the road widening projects here and there!

Almost two hours down the road, we finally reached the port of Cadiz Viejo. The resort has a small booking/ticketing office and lounge there for visitors where Minnie made reservations and foot the bill herself—she said it was her way of welcoming me back to Bacolod!

After she paid, we waited for the resort’s motor boat to ferry us to the island. I walked towards the port to while away time. A day tour in Lakawon Island would cost about Php280 per person, broken down as follows: entrance fee, Php110 per person; two-way boat ride, Php150; and terminal fee, Php20.

A glimpse of the island from the port at Cadiz Viejo

From where I stood, I caught a rather hazy view of the island which I captured on my phone’s cam. Moments later, the boat arrived. We were soon aboard the vessel and began sailing towards the island. The tide was low that time so the waters were generally calm and smooth. We reached the island faster than I had imagined. From the shore, we were ushered in by the staff into an umbrella cottage near the beach which could accommodate six people.

We rented one of these umbrella cottages

For those who want to stay in any of the resort’s cottages, LIRS charges the following: umbrella hut (Php600 good for six persons); family cottage (Php1,200 good for up to 10 persons); small-sized canopy tent (Php600 maximum of six persons); medium-sized canopy tent (Php800 maximum of eight persons); and large canopy tent (Php1,000 maximum of ten persons). Additional fee of Php100 will be charged for every person exceeding the allowable number for each type of cottage.

Weekend wanderers who opt to spend the night can also choose from a variety of well-appointed suites and rooms that the resort offers. The choices include the following: premier suite (Php8,950 per night good for four persons); junior suite (Php4,500 per night good for two persons); pearl’s place (Php3,500 per night good for four persons); and bamboo huts (Php2,500 per night good for four persons).

Additional fees will be charged in excess of the allowable number of guests per type of accommodation. For more about accommodations and rates, you may visit their website at https://lakawon.com.ph.

Wasting no time, we ordered lunch at the restaurant while the rest of our companions, except for Minnie and her driver, changed into their swimwear and took a dip. While waiting for our food, we spent the next several minutes catching up on each other’s goings-on.

As we bantered, I kept throwing occasional glances at the emerald waters. Geez, they looked so inviting! Too bad, I forgot to bring along extra clothing—and my flipflops as well! To my chagrin, I ended up like some wallflower lost in a crowd of beach bums who were having fun with the sun, sea and sand!

Perhaps noticing my frustration, Minnie suggested that I explore the resort and take some snaps of anything that caught my fancy while she finished some of the work she brought along. I didn’t tell my friend though about the one thing that had fueled my desire to see Lakawon—what else but the chance to laze around TawHai floating bar! Juju, our mutual friend, once said it’s a must-try when you’re there.

I kept looking for TawHai. To my dismay, I found out from the resort’s staff that the floating bar has been grounded for maintenance work! Hmmm, bad luck for me? Nah, I didn’t think about it that way. For me, it meant one thing—that a second coming to the island is in the offing! It’s just a question of when.

Summer may have been long over but these days when climate in these parts has become changeable than ever—imagine dark clouds and drizzles suddenly ruining what you thought would be a sunny weekend faster than the blink of an eye!—still brings a craving for crazy and lazy moments at the beach, with or without the sun, featuring sea breezes and soothing reclining seats.

A floating cottage

Good for those who live near the beach. Sometimes, however, you need to go far if only to stake out your place in the sand where you can laze around to your heart’s content. Just like what I did. Lakawon Island is definitely one hideaway you’d never mind going the extra mile if only to experience what it offers. Short as it was, my sweet escape in the island was well worth the hassles of the travel.

So, weekend warrior, what are you waiting for? Start planning a quick escapade to this new tourist magnet in Cadiz City before everyone else gets there ahead of you. Relax, unwind, take a plunge and find time to enjoy the beauty of the seascape and the grandeur of beach life that this fast-rising hideaway offers to those yearning for the life aquatic. 🤣🤣🤣

Nonchalant at the Norfolk Lorega of Bukidnon

Picture a picturesque place here in Mindanao where the air is fresh and nippy, where fogs envelop lofty mountains, where pine trees adorn the lush surroundings and, chances are, Bukidnon would most likely come to mind. Found in the northern part of the country’s second largest island, the landlocked province has practically everything I'd like to experience during a quick weekend wandering up there in the highlands.

Here’s a place where weekend warriors like you and I can be carefree and nonchalant about life and the cares of the world, even for just a few hours. Here’s a place where I would definitely—if and when I have the wherewithal to spare—build a cabin in the woods, a hideaway where I can hide whenever life weighs me down with its twists and turns. And if I were to choose the ideal location for my humble shack, the village of Lorega would be it. 

Located in the town of Kitaotao, Lorega is fast turning into a “village of mountain resorts” where city slickers can spend a day or two hibernating in any of the highland sanctuaries found there—Adrian and Alice’s Place, Alta Monte, Cicada Hills, Highway 81, Seagull Mountain Resort, among others.

Recently, my friends and I made it to one of the newest destinations in the village—the Norfolk Lorega, a two-storey villa whose appellation, I surmise, must have been named after those evergreens from Norfolk, an island in the vastness of the Pacific Ocean. Native to the island, the pine is a key export, being a popular ornamental tree on mainland Australia and the rest of the world. 

It was through some coworkers that I first learned about the Norfolk Lorega. Seeing some pictures which they shared online, I was instantly smitten by the simple yet scenic resort. Wasting no time, I readily contacted my fellow weekend warriors and invited them for a weekend spree in Lorega. To my delight, several of them signified their intention to join the trek—Jacques, Bong, Joel, Marisa, Cheryl and Letty. We missed Butch, Jerson, Manoy and the rest of the gang who didn’t make it. 

It was a cloudy Saturday when we hit the road to Lorega. The spur-of-the-moment escapade was a much-anticipated gathering for us because it’s been a while since our last get-together. It was a two-hour drive along winding roads with rough stretches but I didn’t mind the distance because I was having a grand time laughing at the funny stories of my two passengers.

The resort's furry receptionists

Around lunch time, the three of us reached Lorega while the others came later in the afternoon. And guess who helped the caretaker usher us into the resort? A couple of nice-looking labrador retrievers, Pressy and Messy, (I hope I got their names right.) who happen to be the resort's adorable and amiable receptionists! 

Why head for the hills? Well, we felt the need for some cool mountain air and the comfort of each other’s company. We do this once in a while because we want to nurture and preserve our friendship which has stood the test of time. 

For me, my friends are a source of strength, comfort and inspiration. Having these people I can trust and rely on has helped me through the bad times and has made the good times even better. I’ve known these fellows since college—never mind the year!—and their presence has always made life all the more worth living.

When they’re around, I can be as laid-back, indulgent and nonchalant as I can be. Mind you, these crazy bunch, my fellow college debaters, with their wit and humor (hmmm, should I add sarcasm?), not to mention the camaraderie we’ve managed to sustain, has kept me from going crazy all these years! 

And the Norfolk Lorega turned out to be the ideal scenic place for another reunion of sorts for us. We were fortunate that the mountain resort had no other bookings that week—the place was ours for the taking! Thanks to Jacques who has this knack for tinkering with electronics, we were able to hook his portable karaoke device with the resort’s TV and sound system. Left to our devices, we spent the rest of the afternoon (up to late in the evening) talking, laughing, eating, drinking and singing to our hearts’ content!

Dusk at the resort

Designed for group gatherings, the Norfolk Lorega is about as group-friendly as they come. Visitors of all ages can engage in a plethora of activities to while away time. It has several amenities, including a swimming pool (with cold spring water!), volleyball and basketball courts, a ping-pong table, a TV set, sound system, among others.  It also has a large kitchen area with some basic appliances and cookware where groups can prepare their meals.

Seeing those Norfolk pines scattered all over the resort can be a delight to the senses for those who seek solace for their sagging spirits. Walking around a vast expanse surrounded with evergreens can be therapeutic, so I heard. Alone with those trees can work wonders to the soul. Mind you, those pine trees not only smell sharp and sweet, they’re also the perfect backdrops for those fond of taking and posting pics on social media—either selfies, duofies, or groupfies!

Truly, the resort is an ideal venue for silence and solitude. A time alone to think and be as one pleases, with no intrusions, however, is such a difficult feat to accomplish these days. Not only because we are social creatures by nature, but the demands of family and work make it difficult for us to spend time alone with ourselves. With the world reduced to a global village, detachment is nearly impossible these days.

Still, if there’s any chance coming my way in the future, I’d certainly love to come back to that resort on the hills of Lorega where I can be nonchalant as I please. This time, I’ll make sure it’s a solo sojourn—yes, without my dear, crazy buddies!—if only to smell those Norfolk pines, speak to myself and seek solace in the arms of nature.  😍😍😍