When I first stepped foot onto the fabled white sands of Boracay, it was a different time and place. No heavy-handed politics, no hardcore environmental concerns, none that I could recall anyway. All I remember was Boracay was an unparalleled paradise – a tropical oasis and one of the few truly international destinations in the Philippines that made every Filipino proud. That was 20 years ago. In the years that followed, Boracay saw an explosion of development. The country’s strong economy led to a construction boom in key money-making locations; Boracay saw new hotels, clubs, and resorts rise. That, and a newly minted working class – young, upwardly mobile Filipinos who not only had cash but a love for travel – turned Boracay into a mecca for vacationers and party-lovers alike. Establishments encroached on the beachfront; parties extended into the morning. Overcrowding became common. This arguably led to more revelry than relaxation. Litter abuse increased. The waters, due to poor waste management and weakly enforced island policies, soon became infested with dangerous algal blooms, or “green tide”.

Abbey, N. (2019, April 12). Boracay – New Ways, New Days. Daily Guardian, pp. 12, 13.