By DYAN CASTILLEJO-GARCIA

Welcome to Sumilon Bluewater Resort set within acres of lush, unspoiled tropical paradise is this island edged by emerald waters and gorgeous coral reefs.

This island is the first marine protected area in the Philippines and was made a fish sanctuary in 1974 under the guidance of Siliman University Marine Reserve.

Sumilon is 125 kilometers from Cebu City and is in close proximity to Dumaguete. This resort is every bit as exciting as it is relaxing… It’s an ideal island for all those planning a “ great escape."

From the airport in Dumaguete we took a short five-minute van ride to Siliman Beach where the resort had a boat waiting to take us directly to Sumilon Bluewater Island Resort.

Depending on the mood of the sea the boat trip to the island can take between an hour to an hour and a half.

None of us have ever been to Sumilon. That’s why everyone’s excitement could be felt from the minute our boat took off from the beach.

After an hour and a half there it was: colorful flags waving and greeting us from a huge hilltop towering over a pristine white sand bar. At last, we have arrived in Sumilon island.

For real-life sweethearts Borgy Manotoc and Ornussa Cadness, this was their first time to take a trip with Sports Unlimited. And if we may say so ourselves, we picked the perfect island to take them to.

Both are adventurous. Both are nature lovers. Both are uninhibited. Both are playful. And both love to travel.

Oh, did we mention they are both top models? They're perfect for each other and perfect for Sports Unlimited.

Remember the name, Sumilon Bluewater Island Resort, one of Cebu’s best kept secrets. Twenty-four hectares of pleasure and privacy. An island where you can get away from it all, leave your cares behind, fall in love all for the first time or fall in love all over again…Experience true tropical bliss. Adventure. Relaxation. Room to breath. And all the space you need to play.

This island’s got it all.

Sports Unlimited is wowed with Sumilon.

On the island there is a natural lagoon teeming with high mangroves. Since the ocean was a bit rough we decided the lagoon would be ideal for us to take out the kayaks.

This could be a very peaceful and relaxing activity but since we were three couples, it was only natural for us to turn this activity into a race: first couple to make it to the end of the lagoon and back.

Well at least that was our original plan. In the end, we all went our separate ways and just enjoyed the ride.

When we arrived at the sand bar earlier in the day it was just a sand bar, but don’t put anything past the Sumilon Bluewater Island Resort.

They can do anything you want in any part of the island. In this case, the sand bar became the perfect private venue for our sumptuous.

Picnic, lunch, Sumilon offers wholesome cuisine prepared by their expert chefs. Guests can choose from a selection of specially cooked local delicacies, international menus, tropical dishes or light meals.

The food was delish and lunching right by the beach made everything even more delightful.

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The sun was not at all shy to make its presence felt.

The heat was on and getting into the water for a snorkeling session spelled relief with a capital "R."

The treasures under the waters of Sumilon Island are just waiting to be discovered. There is a vibrant sanctuary beneath.

The protected marine sanctuary makes this area a popular and premier dive site. For non-divers like Borgy and Ornussa, snorkeling was a great alternative to view the aquatic life.

Nothing brings you back to your childhood days more than riding a bicycle. And when you have a special someone on a special island like Sumilon, nothing is sweeter than taking a seaside bike ride together.