Adventures of a Bygone Era: The Philippines in 1984 (page 6 of 9)

Hello, hello,

Oh! Boracay, the promised land 😇

Thanks for these memories. We had followed a little path through the forest, which was still untouched, encountered a pretty green snake that reared up in front of us… and we figured that maybe it wasn’t the best idea… so I think we just let ourselves live for a few days 🙂… with the fishermen and the kids.

That must’ve felt amazing after that evening and the night before! The photos are gorgeous—they really make you want to go (even though I get that things have changed a lot 🤪). I hope there are still some preserved spots left in the Philippines 🙂

I dive into your wonderful nostalgic adventure, just to join in, a mini-interview with the iconic Francophone figure of the Boracay epic...

Roger Deparis... He came to Boracay when there were only 10 beach cabins to rent and a handful of locals to talk to. "We were broke and they were broke, but it didn’t matter. It’s an island where he lived until the end, but he always loved the sunset. 'It’s one of the good things humans can’t ruin—the sunset.'"

Roger decided to stay during his second trip to "Magic Island" in the late '70s. Before that, he worked in the oil sector and had also set up restaurants in Africa, Canada, and France, and in 1980, he opened one in Boracay. "We didn’t have electricity before 1994, and foreign tourists loved it. We didn’t pay for water, electricity, or taxes. It was paradise."

Oh! Boracay, the promised land

YES 🙂

We had followed a small path through the forest, which was still untouched, encountered a pretty green snake that reared up in front of us… and we thought maybe that wasn’t the best idea…

We wandered through the forest, which clearly doesn’t exist anymore—explanations to follow. On the other hand, we escaped the green snake, not very cool I think!

So I think we just let ourselves live for a few days 🙂... with the fishermen and the kids.

YES, we let ourselves live too. Games and photos with the kids are for tomorrow

That must have done you a world of good after that evening and the previous night!

Sure did 😎 we’d entered a different world... phew. It was so beautiful and relaxing that the moment we arrived, we forgot all about our troubles in Bacolod and Mambukal.

The photos are gorgeous

Thanks, but I’m inevitably disappointed with the scan results of the slides 🙁

It makes you want to go (even though I get that things have changed a lot 🤪). There must still be some preserved spots in the Philippines, I hope 🙂

I think Boracay’s done for, but there are tons of other dreamy places in the Philippines.

JRoger Deparis... Came to Boracay when there were only 10 beach cabins to rent and a handful of locals to talk to..

there were barely more than 10 in '84

It's an island where he lived until the end, but he always loved the sunset. "It's one of the good things humans can't ruin—the sunset."

Boracay sunsets 🙂 🙂 🙂 the most beautiful I've ever seen. You think one sunset over the sea is as good as another... but you're wrong. Despite the cost of the slide, I have a mountain of Boracay sunsets—some will be coming soon.

... It was paradise."

a great summary of Boracay 😎 Of all the stunning islands I've traveled, it's the only one I'd call PARADISE.

" I think Boracay is ruined, but there are tons of other dream spots in the Philippines "

Was there already a bar on the beach where you could dance barefoot in the sand? Around Station 2, I think. I was there in '82. Or maybe I’m mixing it up with '91 and '92, when there were already a few more people but it was still really nice. Memories of playing volleyball every evening in the sand with young people from all over Europe.

How awful… that’s all we managed to do 🏴‍☠️ I’m talking about us, all of us—we’ve ruined everything. Bali was a paradise too, and now there’s nothing left And so many others… it’s enough to make you cry. A little too late, though!

In '82, there was Yves, a Swiss (or Belgian) guy who stayed for a long time. In '91 and '92, he was on the beach on the other side of the island, where he took care of windsurfing boards.

It was inevitable! Did you really want to reserve this kind of place just for a few privileged people? Nah, everyone deserves a bit of "paradise" on this earth. Mass tourism made it predictable. There were just a few hundred or thousand of us who experienced Boracay in the 80s—we were lucky to be there at the right time. The beach is still just as beautiful, and the trip is a must for anyone wanting to experience a different side of the Philippines. It’d be a shame to miss out.

The Deparis restaurant is still around, Station 2.

Yes, of course, but we don’t have to destroy everything!

Business is business, it's the same everywhere.

It was inevitable! Did you want to reserve this kind of place just for a few privileged people? Nah, everyone deserves a bit of "paradise" on this earth.

....except it doesn’t really look like paradise anymore, at least not from the sky 😕. Muriel

I was planning to say a few words about Boracay today, and I did the same thing: comparing photos of an island covered in coconut trees in 1980 and covered in buildings in 2020... no comment 😕 What surprises me is your 2003 photo—I thought the beginning of the end had already started by then. Good thing others were able to enjoy this paradise later than expected

Yes, this photo is actually from 1983!

Was there already a bar on the beach where you could dance barefoot on the sand? Around Station 2, I think. I was there in '82. Or maybe I'm mixing it up with '91 and '92 when there were already a few more people, but it was still really nice. Memories of volleyball every evening in the sand with young people from all over Europe.

There wasn’t a single bar on the beach in '84. There were no landmarks like "Station X" like in Copacabana—just a line of coconut trees with a few bungalows scattered here and there. The stations must’ve been in '91–'92. As for volleyball games with young people from all over Europe, that was impossible—we were only 4 tourists!!!

The rest of this little slice of paradise today😎

Roger Deparis... he always loved the sunset. "It's one of the good things humans can't ruin—the sunset."

He underestimated humans, who have an abysmal potential for destruction.

PS: Thanks to everyone for sharing your memories. It’s a pleasure reading about your adventures in these countries still untouched by tourism at the time.

Bizness is bizness, it's like that everywhere.

Yes, unfortunately, it's like that everywhere...

That doesn’t mean we have to be fatalistic—we still have a part to play if we all pitch in.

First, nothing forces us to stay in those big modern accommodations that wouldn’t exist without guests! But we’d have to accept leaving our world of comfort for a bit of adventure... The Beach Comber is now a $127-a-night resort, squeezed between many others... with AC, a pool, a spa, endless buffets, and concrete everywhere—enough to make our friends jealous when we get back... It’s so chic to stay in places like that 😕

On such sites, a simple thatched hut, fans, mosquito nets, good water management, and natural resources—there you have our lost paradises rediscovered... like in Christian’s time... dreaming big... but I’m not fooled, it’s far too late! 😕

It’s also about the political will of these countries, which open their doors wide to investors. Often, it’s the same people in power who are investing... you’re never better served than by yourself! When it isn’t a wealthier foreigner buying up a piece of this fleeting paradise just to make the most of it, right?

There are countries (too few) that have understood that responsible tourism is the best long-term approach... with their parks and strict management of major sites... Canada, Costa Rica, the United States, etc. (I don’t know of any in Asia, except for a few individual initiatives—thanks to all of you for letting me know if they exist).

Christian’s step back makes you think. There’s still time to change our vision of travel and pack a little more respect for this Earth that hosts us... and accept that we can’t go everywhere.

Boracay

Behind the bungalow is the village with a few beautiful houses,

others simpler in the center of the village. This is also where you’ll find the local restaurants, which are quite basic, but the food was good according to my memories.

To introduce Boracay, a small island 5 km long and 1 to 2 km wide, I’m reposting Tongsacado’s photo, which gives a great idea of this paradise in 1984 (date error: 2003) and in 2020.

Boracay in 1984: a village where we stayed, a few simple restaurants, coconut trees, a handful of bungalows, no roads, no tracks, just coconut trees, paths, no electricity, coves—more coconut trees... the tropical paradise for the Western traveler 🙂

At the far end of the 2 km of perfectly white sand, some photogenic rocks.... Stormy evening in Boracay, boats rushing to return (in the background, the large island of Panay).

Only a few backpackers knew about this island; tourism was just beginning. In 5 or 6 days, we only met two other tourists—curiously, neighbors from Geneva, while we were from Grenoble.

Boracay in 2020: On Booking, 228 results with resorts, bungalows, restaurants, clubs... An island almost entirely built up, polluted to the point that it was closed to tourists for 6 months in 2018. To add to Asia’s response, the island wasn’t closed just because of pollution but also to allow a consortium close to the racist, macho, murderous president Rodrigo Duterte (Bolsonaro but worse) to build a mega-casino... I forgot to say *corrupt* 😊. In 1984, the political opposition’s goal was to oust Marcos and hold elections... in 2020, they elected the worst president on earth... when you think some people lost their lives to get to that point.

Back to our paradise, of which little remains according to this photo.

Our days in Boracay passed to the rhythm of the breeze in the coconut trees: just the right amount of activity. We took advantage of this exceptional place to recover from the emotions of the previous days and the fatigue accumulated since the start of the trip.

In the morning, as soon as we opened the bungalow door, children offered us all sorts of things for breakfast.

All that was left was to cut the pineapple and the rest.

And the meal was ready.

After that effort, a little rest while admiring the scenery!

In front of the bungalow 😎.

Every evening, we were treated to the grand spectacle of the sunset. I never figured out why sunsets look different depending on the location, even though it’s simple: a west-facing sandy beach, the sea, the sun, and a boat passing by to improve the photo 😏.

In any case, Boracay’s sunsets are magical, most often with big storm clouds on the horizon during our stay.



Next episode: strolling under the coconut trees, swimming, and playing with the kids.