By DYAN CASTILLEJO-GARCIA
with JACKIE CASTILLEJO

Sports Unlimited was in the Philippines' last frontier — Palawan.

The province of Palawan is one of the biggest strips in the Philippines comprising of over 1,768 islands.

In this particular episode, we took our viewers to the charming and unique El Rio y Mar Island Resort in Coron, where we showed them how to unwind and let loose in the water.

We had a number of water toys including the flying fish, banana boat and knee board skis. We even had the chance to do some trekking.

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again “life is just more fun at the beach!”

After a one-hour SEAIR flight from Manila, we landed in Busuanga.

From the airport, there was a 30-minute jeepney ride. For first time foreign visitors, the jeepney ride set the mood and made them feel that they were truly in the Philippines.

After the jeepney ride, we rode a bangka to get to the resort. It was a 20-minute scenic boat ride and there was just something about the islands that set them apart. I have to tell you that once we laid eyes on the sea, a deep calming breath almost immediately followed.

Sports Unlimited was lucky enough to be invited to spend time in two of the most beautiful resorts in Coron— the El Rio y Mar Island Resort which was our first stop, and Club Paradise.

A song and dance performance welcomed us, along with a refreshing tropical drink. It was such a delightful way to start our vacation.

The El Rio y Mar Resort, with its unique flora and fauna combined with the natural beauty that surrounds it, gives the island a serene and romantic ambiance.

The deluxe cottages were made of imported cedar.

When you step out into your own beach front veranda, which all cottages have by the way, it’s like staring out into a big beautiful painting. It had a stunning view of the mountains. Plus, the sound of the waves was rejuvenating.

This island is sprawled across 500 meters of white sand beach and has the amenities and facilities that suit every traveler’s taste for relaxation and adventure.

You’ll never get bored with the outdoor fun that this resort has to offer. Surely, it’s perfectly fine to just bask under the sun, laze under a tree or relax on hammock. Different strokes for different folks. But if you’re made of Sports Unlimited fiber, we know you’d like to get in the water and make a loud splash.

This name alone makes you want to get on it as soon as possible – the flying fish. The thrill that comes with this water toy is the possibility that if you can “fly” high, you could flip over or you could fly out.

We placed Jackie in the middle since she weighs the lightest. Marc and I took the sides. Marc was yelling at the boat man to “crank it up.” For him, the faster, the better. It was fun but it was really scary. There’s only one important tip I can give you when you get on the flying fish— hang on to your dear life. If you’re looking for an adrenaline rush on the water, the flying fish will pass with flying colors.

The good old reliable banana boat was definitely safe and fun. Is it just my imagination or is the banana boat getting longer and longer every year? I remember when five people filled one of them. Now the bigger ones can fit up to ten people. I have to say though that when it comes to a banana boat ride, the more, the merrier.

It’s always more fun when you inject a little more challenge to any activity. Marc always finds a way to do something out of the norm. Know this about my partner Marc, he is notorious for pranks and being on a banana boat won’t stop him. He tried his best to push everyone into the water.

The next toy we decided to play with was the knee board. Believe or not, this is Marc’s first time to try knee boarding but he is really a natural when it comes to any water sport. Jackie and I have tried it before in Camarines Sur as a first stage to learning wakeboarding.

The secret to knee boarding is to make sure that you’re leaning forward and your arms are not fully extended.

It’s always an advantage when you’re light like Jackie because your board just glides through the water. Jackie looked like she really enjoyed her ride.

As for me, I really like getting active in the water and resorts can really keep me busy with all their water toys.

Did I mention that the water temperature is perfect? I happened to notice a few skis lying around the water sports center and I just couldn’t resist them. Skiing is one of my favorite water sports. I just love it. It feels like you’re walking in the water.

After playing in the water, we got serenaded at the beach. Island living is not just about chilling in the water. It’s also about listening to music and soaking it all in. Even my partner Marc who you will rarely see singing was caught up in the moment.

The resort manager Sharmain told us that we can get a stunning view of the whole island from the top of Sierra Delta Mountain, which is just behind the resort. It meant a 30-minute trek on uncharted paths.

The mountain is filled with bamboo trees. The fresh air there was refreshing.

Sharmain was so right that the view from up the mountain sure is stunning. It was lovely. Now I know what the birds see when they fly above the island.

Coron is absolutely gorgeous.

After the trek, we had a dip in an infinity pool. The infinity pool at the El Rio Y Mar island resort is one of the features that really made this place so desirable.

The infinity and the ocean were heaven-like.

I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again, the place is simply stunning.

The best way to sum up our experience in this island is this “when GOD created the earth and wanted to make it beautiful, he thought of Palawan”.