Laiya

The Lush Resort

Beach resorts—from the rustic Robinson- Crusoe shack to the mid-end bucolic chic treehouse to the high-end modern tropical vacation home—have sprouted with the consequent campers, weekenders, corporate delegates, and even retirees. Through the years you see them trooping to Laiya exponentially during weekends and peaking in the ber and summer months.

Time stops a little in Laiya and it’s easy to get engulfed in the illusion that it’s an island with a laidback, devil-may-care lifestyle. Sunrise is a revelation; an early morning walk will give you more than a glimpse of the inherent local color intertwining with shades of Boracay—empty beer bottles on the sand, congregating pearl jewelry hawkers, the taho (sweet soya drink) vendor, the ubiquitous fake RayBan agent, photos and artworks of henna tattoo samples, early risers with heavy hung-over heads, morning nymphs in bikinis.

Laiya

There are intermittent fishing villages that break the merry continuity of chic (and a few garish) beach resorts numbering more than 20. These are the perfect stops to meet the friendly local people: sari-sari store attendants, videoke operators, and fishermen who work as part-time island-hopping guides. You may find yourself frequenting the village more often for cigarettes, cell phone load, bags of peanuts, or cheap, ice-cold bottles of beer, or the spectacle of impromptu sabong (cockfight) scrimmages. And don’t fret if you see men with bolos strapped on their waists—it’s a standard farm implement to complement their bull ride.

Photo and Article Source: Balikbayan Magazine