COMMUNITY

Sightings that deserve to be acknowledged or called out for action By Freida Dario-Santiago DISCLAIMER: If action has already been taken since the photos were taken, we thank those responsible for their intervention.The community deeply appreciates every effort to keep our island safe, clean, and cared for. 👍🏼 THUMBS UP CLEARING OF DISCARDED PONTOON BLOCKS FROM BULABOG BEACH Before (March 2025) and after (August 2026) 📸 Freida Dario-Santiago On August 20 and 21, 2026, we w

By Cris Cahilig Passengers struggle to board a fast craft to Boracay, balancing on narrow gangways with luggage in tow. 📸 Freida Dario-Santiago Editor’s note: We spotted Natives of Boracay and Business Stakeholders, Inc. (NABBSI) co-founder Cris Cahilig’s August 28 social media post featuring a wider gangway prototype and asked her to share how taking action helped turn a longstanding concern into a milestone in the Boracay travel experience. Way to go, Cris! May this inspir

How early Italian settlers helped shape the Boracay we know today By Amanda Virrey Paolo Occhionero, Luigi Barbolla, Marco Biggiogero and his son Leone. 📸 Freida Dario-Santiago Shortly after Boracay started gaining attention as “paradise on earth,” as mentioned by German writer Jens Peters in 1979 in his Philippines Travel Guide, Italians began coming to the island in the late 70s. In December 1978, Mario Sezian flew to the island from his hometown in Valle d’Aosta upon lear

The clouds may linger, but the light always breaks through and a new season begins. 📸 Freida Dario-Santiago There’s a saying that “no news is good news,” which means that all is well in the world. Well, perhaps not quite. It has been an extraordinarily eventful few months, and sometimes it feels as though the news comes at us faster than we can absorb it. Wars and conflict continue thousands of miles away. Extreme weather events have devastated communities. An ongoing global

Visionary, public servant, sports icon and environmental warrior who spent much of her life fighting for the island she loved By Freida Dario-Santiago A FINAL SALUTE - Boracay’s dragon boat teams raised their paddles in salute to fellow paddler Nenette Aguirre-Graf on Bulabog Beach on August 16. Two days later, windsurf boards and kites lined the shore as the PNP escorted her aboard a native bangka on her final journey to Mainland Malay. 📸 Vivid Preglo The Boracay Sun News f

By Rica Velasco Veterinarians and assistants, Vet Mission organizers and volunteers after a successful second day The fifth Veterinary Mission Boracay was held from August 31 to September 3, capping four days of free veterinary care across the island and mainland Malay. The mission had a strong turnout this year, with a total of 1,259 animals treated and 608 spay-and-neuter surgeries performed, 72 more than last year. Treatments also included 512 anti-rabies vaccinations, 13

By Freida Dario-Santiago To commemorate World Kindness Day, we asked a few schoolchildren from the Boracay European International School (BEIS) to tell us, in their own words, what kindness means to them and to give examples of acts of kindness. Why children? Because they have a magical way of seeing things simply and reminding us of truths adults sometimes forget. WE ASKED: What is kindness? What are some examples of acts of kindness? The result is a heartwarming collection

In their own words, longtime friends and colleagues remember the laughter, the “pangungulit,” the generosity, and the friend, mentor and force of nature behind the public figure. Compiled by Azenith Resurreccion and Freida Dario-Santiago These are just a few personal anecdotes from some of the many people whose lives she touched. Nenette’s circle was vast, spanning different facets of island life. Through these memories, we hope to capture a glimpse of the remarkable woman, t

By Freida Dario-Santiago Boracay’s beauty shines year-round, but the island offers two very different experiences depending on the season. From November to May, the northeast monsoon, or Amihan, brings warmer temperatures, sunny skies, and generally calm seas. This is considered Boracay’s peak season, with ideal conditions for swimming, snorkeling, diving, island-hopping, paraw sailing, parasailing, and other beach activities. Consistent winds also make Bulabog Beach a favor

By Julianna Patricia Varga 📸 Ekogram Salt has been a kitchen staple worldwide for thousands of years. It enhances flavor, preserves food, and most importantly, helps the body function properly. Yet despite its essential role, salt often gets a bad reputation. So how much do we actually need, and when does it become a problem? Table salt is made up of sodium and chloride. Sodium is an essential mineral that helps regulate fluid balance, nerve signaling and muscle contraction

By Freida Dario-Santiago With the rainy season upon us, be vigilant about dengue prevention. Dengue fever is a viral infection transmitted by female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, which thrive in tropical climates and breed in stagnant water. Cases typically rise during the rainy months, when frequent rainfall creates more breeding sites around homes and communities. There is still no specific antiviral cure for dengue, so early consultation, proper hydration, and close monitoring

Emergency response incident prompts review of Boracay's response system By Rica Velasco An emergency involving an 11-month-old infant has prompted discussions about Boracay's emergency response system. This includes response times at the scene and the transfer of patients to hospitals on the island and the mainland. The issue started as a complaint from Boracay resident Cris Cahilig. It has since grown into a wider discussion involving the Municipal Government of Malay, the M

By Freida Dario-Santiago The annual Boracay Veterinary Mission is set to return for its fifth consecutive year, bringing together veterinary professionals and local government partners in a continuing effort to promote responsible pet ownership and keep Boracay rabies-free. The initiative is organized by the Vet Mission Boracay team in partnership with the LGU Office of the Municipal Agriculturist of Malay. Participating organizations include the Office of the Provincial Vete

Should the Philippines set a legal age for social media and AI before technology shapes our children more than we do? By Pauline Reitzer 📸 CookCenter.org When Austria announced plans to ban social media for children under 14 in March 2026, it joined a growing number of countries trying to better protect young people online. Australia had already made headlines by becoming the first country to ban social media for children under 16. France now requires parental consent for ch

By Pauline Reitzer Boracay has long been known for its powdery white beaches, water sports and active outdoor lifestyle. Now, another sport is quickly finding its place on the island: pickleball. News anchor and TV host Cheryl Cosim and movie director Avel Sunpongco joined the author (leftmost) for a fun but intense morning in Masey. 📸 Abegail Clarino Combining elements of tennis, badminton and table tennis, pickleball has become one of the fastest-growing sports in the worl

By Freida Dario-Santiago Road Rehab, Drainage Project Set for 2027 Residents of Sitio Diniwid may finally see relief from a flooding problem that has plagued the community for decades. Funding has been secured for the rehabilitation of Diniwid Road and the construction of a drainage system designed to address the area's long-standing flooding issues, according to an update from Malay Sangguniang Bayan (SB) Member Hope Pagsuguiron. The announcement followed a June 10 coordinat

From Musical Bingo to Solar-Lit Road How the Bulabog Lighting Brigade Brought Light to Bulabog Beach Road What began as a simple conversation among residents has resulted in a brighter and safer Bulabog Beach Road. Frustrated by the lack of lighting in the area, members of the community launched the Bulabog Lighting Brigade (BULB), a grassroots initiative aimed at raising funds for solar-powered street lamps. Leading the effort was restaurateur and community advocate Ronaldo

Eala’s her-storic Wimbledon run is just the beginning. By Freida Dario-Santiago ROAR. The Philippines’ Alexandra Eala after winning her first-round match against Mexico’s Renata Zarazua in the 2026 Wimbledon Championships. 📸 Jaimi Joy, Reuters “In my mind, I always knew that this was what I wanted to do.” That simple statement from Alexandra “Alex” Eala perhaps explains everything. Long before she became the pride of Philippine tennis, before Centre Court applauded her, befo

The Department of Tourism’s refreshed campaign, Discover More to Love, encourages travelers to find their own reasons to fall in love with the Philippines. Tourism Secretary Dita Angara-Mathay recently explained that the campaign is evolving into something more relatable and personal, less about telling people what to love and more about allowing them to discover it for themselves. Which got us thinking: brilliant, and as it should be. Especially when it comes to Boracay. Thi

“Cheers” to island heroes and moments that matter Making the Message Stick By Dominic Napat Editor’s note: The "No to Boracay Bridge" campaign is gaining tangible traction across the island. A grassroots initiative by Humble Islands PH is distributing custom-designed stickers to oppose the unsolicited bridge project contract awarded by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to San Miguel Corporation (SMC). Special stickers designed by Humble Islands are circulat