Sumilon Island Getaway

Who would have thought that one gloomy and rainy saturday in August, 35 Cebu-based bloggers were exclusively taken for day’s tour to one of the country’s best island resort – Sumilon Bluewater Island Beach Resort. The chosen 35 bloggers braved the strong current, the wind, and the rain to experience Sumilon’s breathtaking scenery, lush green environment, and its clear blue waters.

About Sumilon Bluewater Island Resort

Sumilon Bluewater is a 24-hectare coral island, located on the southeastern tip of Cebu – a 2 to 3 hours drive from Cebu City. The island is home of the country’s 1st Marine Sanctuary supervised by Silliman University. It is home to a uniquely clear blue water with different hues of aquamarine. It is also home to a unique sandbar that changes its size, shape, and location depending on the season. There’s also an inland lagoon with its tall green mangroves. On the southside of the island, a lighthouse stands tall surrounded by a protected lush green tree park and a historical watch tower called “Baluarte” used to alert mainland Cebu from marauders.

Sumilon Bluewater Island Beach Resort is owned and managed by Almont Holdings Incorporated and is a sister resort of an equally infamous Maribago Bluewater Beach Resort. The resort’s resident manager – Mr. Greg Perral is as accomodating as his staff. They always make sure your stay would be “An escape from the usual” and they’ll make sure you “discover true serenity.”

Now, who could forget the sumptuous food we ate with all hearts out? - No, not me! The island’s food is cooked deliciously by the resort’s in-house kitchen staff managed by Chef de Partie Buddy Amodia.

The island offers varying activities to soothe a weary soul. One can bask under the sun on their pristine white sandbar. Go snorkeling and see tropical fishes of varying species and colors. You can even go kayaking in their inland lagoon and breathe the scenery with high cliff and lush mangroves. One can also go trekking and be one with mother nature. Canoeing is another activity one can enjoy while in the island.  Now, if you’ve had enough of these activities – you can go ahead and relax in their famous infinity pool near the Pavilion.

For more details you may visit the Sumilon Bluewater Blog.

The Sumilon Experience

Ruben Licera of PinoyWorld gave bloggers this chance to experience tranquility in Sumilon. The same person who gave bloggers a tour in Maribago Bluewater a few months back - which I missed by the way. To Bentot – Cheers to you! Cheers to more events we’ll be participating together!

You can also watch a video about Maribago Bluewater Cebu on the link provided.

It was 4am when my phone rang its alarm alerting me to wake up, take a bath, get dressed and off to SM City Cebu Northwing entrance. It was almost 5:15am when I got into the cab and took a detour into McDonalds Jones Drive-thru. It was already 5:30am when I got off the cab and convened with a few Cebu Bloggers Society members. It was past 6am when the 35 chosen bloggers left the city, on a convoy, via SRP (South Road Properties). An hour later,we all took a quick breakfast in Jollibee, Carcar. Just less than an hour later we we’re all back on the road. The trip was not boring at all, as far as I am concerned, because I was with the bloggers who showed various symptoms of Attitude Problem. LOL.

It was almost noon when we arrived in the mainland receiving area of the resort. We were greeted with cool towels and refreshments to soothe the 3-hour travel stress. We took the bangka and circled the island, which by the way gave us a wavy ride, before we docked into the resort’s port. We were all greeted by the warm smiles of the resort’s resident manager Mr. Greg Perral and his staff.

We were also given an orientation and overview on what Sumilon Bluewater Island Resort has to offer while nomnoming over their mouth-watering Clubhouse Sandwich. A few minutes after the orientation, we toured on some of the resort’s newly developed rooms and took photos - the rooms were all AWESOME, I’d say. We also had the ceremonial camwhoring, uh I mean, picture taking with Mr. Perral overlooking the clear blue waters surrounding the island. By noon Buffet Lunch was served to pacify the bloggers’ hungry stomachs. And oh, by the way, some of us took a sidetrip and had a video shoot before heading for lunch. LOL.

It was past 1pm when everyone changed into their swimming outfits and took the island by storm (though Storm Jolina was giving her Attitude Problem but the bloggers were not deterred even a bit ). We all took the gears and attempted to snorkel despite the waves – attempt failed . Most of us got bruises and cuts from the corals. LOL. When everyone decided snorkeling was not a good idea at all with Jolina’s waves dragging us back to shore, we all went kayaking in the island’s inland lagoon. Everyone took turns while camwhoring at the edge of the lagoon – Fun Shoots, that is!

We all went to the island’s renowned sandbar and took the waves. It was fun standing in front of the waves and feel the seawater drag us back to shore. Some bloggers went skimboarding and took some group shots too. It was here that we all had to experience numerous sandstorms that pricked our skins to red. And oh , how could I forget this place – the sandbar? This is where I lost my digicam to the waves. I took a photo of the group and didn’t notice the big wave coming towards me, it got me off-balance and dipped my digicam. So long, my purple digicam. Oh well, we all had casualties – ask  the bloggers! I, for one, had a cut on my left foot.

It was 6pm when we all got back to mainland cebu and on the way back to the city. We were all tired but there’s that unique smile plastered on our face. Using FUN to describe the bloggers’ experience in Sumilon would be plainly an understatement!

By the way, you might be wondering where are the photos!? I still have to recover them; you know – seawater and all. Well, I still have to grab ‘em from the others too. Soon!

Updates (August 6): I was only able to recover the photos above. :(

And finally – let me say “ESCAPE FROM THE USUAL AND DISCOVER TRUE SERENITY AT SUMILON BLUEWATER ISLAND RESORT!”

Related Posts:

• Rabsin_d – Day with Sumilon.
• Bert Padilla – Sumilon Bluewater Island Resort: A Free Day Tour.
• Wilhelmina – Off to Sumilon we go.
• Mikyu – Sumilon Bluewater Day Tour.
• Doyzkie – To Sumilon we go.
• Aika - Sumilon Bluewater Island Resort.
• Kai - Sumilon Day Tour.
• Mark Tanom - Discovering Cebu: Sumilon Bluewater Island Resort.

Photo Coverage:

• Beejing – Sumilon Experience
• Ethelbert’s Coverage – Laag Cebu
• Wilhelmina’s Coverage – Sumilon Trip
• Mikyu’s Coverage – Sumilon Bluewater Day Tour
• Tibor’s Coverage – Sumilon
• Miong’s Coverage – Sumilon Pics

Related posts:

1. Cebu Bluewater Beach Resorts
2. Summer 2008: part 1
3. Bantayan Island Invasion.
4. SM City Cebu Launches Free WiFi
5. Cebu City DigitalFilipino Club Event 2009