Among the jewels in the crown of Philippine tourism is Boracay, considered one of the best beaches in the world. Its name alone conjures up images of sand and sea. After all, “bora” in Inati means bubbles or the froth of the sea current that matches the color of the sandy shore against which it crashes, and “bocay” is the Inati word for that color—white. But, as Boracay lured throngs of sunworshippers and beach lovers, not to mention entrepreneurs and businessmen, the island idyll gave way to champagne parties and beer bongs and dance-a-thons on the sand that, with all the infrastructure needed to accommodate the swell of arrivals, soon took its toll on the island. Nothing lasts forever, if taken for granted. Thankfully, the island’s cry for help did not go unheard. In an unprecedented move, the national government, through the order of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, closed down Boracay for a period of rehabilitation and to ensure all systems are in place to keep it safe for generations to come.

Legaspi, J. (2019, May 5). #MoreFunForever: LaBoracay no more, but LoveBoracay now and always. Manila Bulletin, p. E-4.