GOLDEN TREE SPA BORACAY

Golden Tree Spa is located at Lapus Lapus Boracay specializes in Stone Massage Therapy. It was designed in modern theme providing an ambience of well-being and total relaxation and offers a holistic range of touch therapy and restores to balance your mind and body.

Stone Massage Therapy creates a deeply relaxing and healing treatment that helps the body’s energy and blood circulation. Using both pressure and placement of warm stones on the body and combined with aroma therapy, this therapeutic massage restores energy flow.

Your guests will be greeted by our therapists upon arriving at the spa and you will be served with our authentic Marongay Herbal Tea, its call The Tree of Miracle that provides lots of vitamins to the body. There are 4 Aroma Oil to choose: Lavender, Peppermint, Green Spa and Eucalyptus. Guests will be guided to the room by our therapists, we have 18 private rooms and every room have a private toilet and shower amenities. There are over 30 therapists ready to serve you and your guests. While massaging, your guests can enjoy the view of Boracay Sea and peaceful music of the spa.

Time of Session:

1. 1000hrs – 1200hrs

2. 1330hrs – 1530hrs

3. 1600hrs – 1800hrs

4. 1900hrs – 2100hrs

5. 2130hrs – 2330hrs

We provide pick up and drop off services in any place in Boracay Island, guests are required to be in the spa 15mins before the start of session. Is advisable to be picked up 30mins before the start of session.

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RENEWAL OF TOUR GUIDE LICENCE

The following is an email to express my thought as a Tour Guide in Boracay Island but first thing first I would like thank Tatay Rey & Atty. Helen Catalbas of DOT Region VI in providing us the Tourists Arrival for 2012. For 2012, total arrival of Chinese & Taiwanese is 174,567 and Korean is 156,445. I would like mention these 2 markets since 90% of the tourists in these 2 markets do not speak English and totally rely on the assistance of tour guides in the island. Tour Guides for these 2 markets are Frontliners representing Philippines as a destination for fun and enjoyment. We are also representing Boracay Island as one of the best destination in the world and doing our best to represent well of the island.

When tourists arrived at Caticlan Ferry Terminal, this is the first place of impression after 11/2hrs of bus journey from Kalibo Airport. Tourists are observing and excited to travel to Boracay Island but tourists are asking why are there a group of Officers acting very rude in the terminal towards the Tour Guides. Well, we said they are the Malay Tourism Escorts checking on the ID of every Tour Guides to ensure everybody have renewed their license for 2013. Unfortunately, my ID was being confiscated by the Malay Tourism Escorts and the reason given to me was I haven't renew for 2013 and I was shown of the expiration date on the ID stated January 20. Well, I didn't want to create a scene especially in front of my tourists and surrender my ID but I am not going to rest this matter and would like share this negative experience with everybody and really hope Mayor John Yap may look into this matter.

The expiration of the ID stated January 20 but in the last 18 days, was it possible for us to renew our license as a Tour Guide? First week of January, the Barangay & Malay City Hall just resume office but they were busy preparing for the Ati -Atihan. To renew our Tour Guide License, we need to secure a Health Certificate that will take about 2 days to process and a Brgy. Clearance that will usually takes a week to process. After the Brgy. Clearance, we are then able to secure a Police Clearance that will take 3days to process. All these will take almost 3 weeks to process in normal working days and do you think we can meet the dateline of January 20??? Furthermore, we are not doing nothing in the island. We are also busy representing as a Tour Guide in making Boracay a place of enjoyment and fun, taking care of these non English speaking tourists. We act as their YaYa for 5days when they are in the island and we also have own stress to manage.

As a responsible citizen, I will surely abides to the rules and regulations set by the Malay City Hall even to stay in line for hours to secure a Barangay & Police Clearance to renew my licence. I am an Accredited Tour Guide by The Philippines Department of Tourism and to receive my Accreditation, I must have good standing with Malay City Hall. I just hope the expiration date of January 20 may be reviewed and give us grace period and enough time to renew our licence as Tour Guides. I also hope the Malay Tourism Escort may act with good manner especially in front of tourists to prevent in giving tourists a bad impression of service and attitude since you representing Malay City Hall. This will also affect the reputation of our lovely Mayor John Yap.

As Tour Guide in Boracay, we tried to represent well of the island so that we may continue to be the best island to visit in the world. We continue to make Boracay a place of enjoyment and fun, putting a smile on the face of every tourists when they arrive and depart Boracay Island. We will continue to increase the number of tourists in the island, we hope establishments will continue to give support to the Tour Guides especially Malay City Hall will assist us and give us a helping hand in making Boracay Island the best in the world. Is more fun in the Philippines but is even more fun in Boracay Island! May the Lord continue to bless the works of our hands!

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CHEAP THINGS NEVER GOOD AND GOOD THINGS NEVER CHEAP...

Have you bought something in your life and it didn't last long? You must be wondering why it didn't last long. Well, at times we go around looking for cheap things and hope it will last long. I am not saying that all cheap things are bad but rather don't expect high quality of products with cheap prices. This is the same when you take up a diving course, don't look for a center that will give you a lower price but rather a center that stick to the safety standards of a diving operation or look for a center with years of experiences in the field. As for those who decide to have their own diving equipment, don't just look at the price but rather go for equipment that suit the kind of diving you going to have in the future. I always remind my students, cheap things are never good and good things are never cheap. :-)  

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SOCIAL MEDIA... GOOD OR BAD???

Social Media is a great tool for marketing our businesses but unfortunately, there will always be a group of people taking advantage of it and try to create scam to cheat people. Well, I was a victim of an Internet Scam and would like to share my experience to protect the interest of others. 

Last Friday (8/24), I saw a post in the FaceBook selling iPhone 4s. I was interested and contact the Sellers, she convinced me that the unit was good and ready to send as long as I send payment to her via Wire Transfer. I reviewed her FaceBook and lots of display of different products. I live in Boracay Island and don't have the opportunity to be in the mall, I usually do shopping online and never have the experience of being cheated.

Well, this is my first experience! I was cheated for an amount of Php15,000.00 over the sales of an iPhone 4s. Please kindly be careful if you come across a post with the name of "Sweetand Tempting Gadgets" under the name of Verna Cuyugan Arces with Postal Address: 37 Real Street Brgy. Nalibunan Abuyog Leyte. Her cellphone no. is +63 905 556 7152. She will impress you with her products and services. Please watch out! If possible, please share this blog with your friends so they will be careful of Internet Transaction.

I will be more careful in the future and hope everyone will act like me. It is a discouraging experience but life still have to move on, is not about losing the money since I can earn it back easily but the experience of being cheated.

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BEING A TOUR GUIDE IS NOT EASY!!!

This week has been very challenging! Being a Tour Guide is not as easy as what many people think, having to deal with difficult guests is a challenge. At times their demands and requests are unacceptable! We are in the service industry and our job is to provide good service but we are after all still human and we still need respect.

I have travelled to many countries in my life at a very young age, I went to Malaysia on my own when I was 12 and travelled to the Philippines when I was 18. In my early twenties, I have travelled to USA & different parts of Asia. The furthest I have been is Germany & England in my early thirties. I cannot remember an incident that I have given any problems or difficulties to anybody when I travelled to their countries. Even thought I am a paying customer, I still treat them with respect. Perhaps I was brought up well by my parents, they always remind me not to create problems or difficulties for people.

When guests arrived at the airport, I always welcome them with a big smile. In the bus, I will introduce everything about Boracay Island and different activities they can enjoy during their stay in the island. As a professional Tour Guide, we will assist them with their Check-In and conduct an Island Orientation so that they have a better understanding of the island. I always encourage guests to take up different activities in the island but never impose on them. If they wish to take up the services with me, I will be glad but if they don’t, I will still provide the same service for them.

However; I can’t accept those guests who expect exceeding services and not willing to pay for it. There is a saying; Cheap Things Are Never Good & Good Things Are Never Cheap! If they paid for CHEAP PACKAGES then don’t expect to receive good things in their packages. Don’t expect to eat in expensive restaurants with buffet meals. You are getting what you have paid and as a Tour Guide, we just follow whatever the contract stated. If guests are unhappy with the food, please don’t blame it on the Tour Guide but on the packages that they have paid. For those who are vegetarian, please take note that the island is not easy to be a vegetarian. If you are a vegetarian because of health then you can be selective with the food that you are eating but if you are a vegetarian for the sake of religion then please be kind to others and don’t create difficulty. I believe your religion teaches you to be kind and merciful then please act like one, don’t be a hypocrite!

For those who drink, do take note that not all Tour Guides drink! Perhaps I can consider the few in the island that don’t drink and smoke. I am a PADI Master Instructor & an experience Technical Diving Instructor, I take good care of my health and I don’t smoke and drink. Furthermore; I always believe being a responsible Tour Guide, one shouldn’t drink. If you drink with guests and you are also drunk with guests then who will take care of them and bring them safely back to their resort? As a professional, I don’t drink with guests but there are guests will complain that I don’t drink with them. Well, I am a Tour Guide and I am not a bartender.

We are Tour Guides and we are not Saints, we can’t control the weather. There are also many things beyond our control but just imagine some guests will ask questions such as why is it raining, why is it flooding or why is it so hot in the island? Some guests will be unhappy with the Tour Guide because of the rain & sun. During the journey to Boracay, we have clearly stated that walking is part of the adventure so is normal for us to work from Station 3 to Station 1 or even Friday’s Beach. If they don’t wish to walk then pay to take tricycle but when I mention they need to pay for the tricycle, they will be unhappy! There were some who even complain, why Tour Guide is taking the tricycle with us without paying?

We also have feeling as Tour Guides, we are also human! We also need respect! At times these guests thought we are in service industry and we should always be service orientated and expect exceeding services. They have forgotten about respect, they have forgotten about basic manner as a human being! At the end of the day, they will be classified by us as BAD GUESTS and this also bring disgrace to the country they are coming from. Worst! A disgrace to their parents because guests with bad attitude, we usually said they don’t have proper upbringing by their parents!

As a Tour Guide, we will always do our best. We always hope guests will come with smiles and leave the island with smiles. We will always do our best to provide the best services for our guests, make them happy. For guests that took up services with the Tour Guide are usually those who are happy with the service but those who usually complain are those who are not willing to pay extra for other services and yet expect exceeding services. I always wonder why spent so much money in the airfare and do nothing in the island. Is more fun in the Philippines but is even more fun in Boracay! However; if you don’t do anything then nothing will be fun in the island.

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TOUR GUIDING IN BORACAY ISLAND...

I was honored and privileged to be interview by GMA Network under Jessica Soho about Tour Guiding in Boracay Island. Apparently; there are too many foreigner Tour Guides in the island and it seem to be so easy to secure a permit to be Tour Guide. By securing some requirements set by Malay City Hall and making an initial payment of Php20,000.00, a foreigner can be a Tour Guide in the island. You may be wondering what about Working Visa? You will be surprised by making payment of Php30,000.00, they will be issued with a Special Work Permit for 6months and this can be renewed after expiration. I always wonder what is a Special Work Permit? If you are working in the Philippines and you are a foreigner then you must secure a 9G Working Visa.

Furthermore, are these Tour Guides trained? Have they attended the Tour Guide Course organized by Department of Tourism Philippines in Kalaw Manila? Last 2008, I attended the Tour Guide Course organized by Department of Tourism, it was 1 month course and I learnt so much about guiding and most important, I learnt much about the history and cultures about Philippines. Being a Tour Guide is not just about going to the airport to pick up guests then try to sell them activities in the island and send them back to the airport after 5days in the island. What about history? What about cultures? I always wonder if they know about the history of Boracay? If everybody can be a Tour Guide then why is there a need for us to attend the Tour Guide Course organized by Department of Tourism? Why do I have to waste 1 month of my time attending the course? According to the rules and regulations set by Department of Tourism Philippines; if you are a Tour Guide, you must be accredited and to be accredited, you must be trained! How many accredited Tour Guide are presently in the island?

During the interview, I was questioned about the number of foreigner Tour Guides are more than the local Tour Guides. What do I think about it? Well, I believe everybody can market the Philippines in regardless of Nationality. I am a Singaporean living in the Philippines for more than 10years and presently hold a Permanent Resident VISA in the country. I have travelled to different parts of Philippines and promoting the country is part of my passion. Indeed it is more fun in the Philippines and I believe that as long as people are trained then they are qualify to be a Tour Guide. If the local Tour Guides are willing to pick up Mandarin as their language then they are qualify to guide the Chinese and the same goes to the foreigner, if they are willing to be trained by Department of Tourism and attend the Tour Guide Course then they are also qualify to be a Tour Guide in the island.

Perhaps is time for Department of Tourism to consider about doing a crash course for those foreigners who wish to be accredited by the Department. I also wish that Malay City Hall will review their rules and regulations in the days to come, set new standards for Tour Guiding in the island. If you want to be a Tour Guide in regardless of Nationality, you must be accredited by Department of Tourism and all foreigners are to secure a proper 9G Working Visa to work in the island. Being a Permanent Resident of the Philippines, I did my obligation by paying my Income Tax annually but how many Tour Guides are fulfilling their obligation to BIR?

The tourism industry are booming in the island, there are going to be more direct flights to Kalibo Airport and we can expect more tourists in the island. The government are doing their best to market the Philippines and the Officials of Malay City Hall are also doing their best to market Boracay Island. We need to uphold the standards of tourism in the island and continue to maintain Boracay Island as one of the best beaches & islands in the world. Is more fun in the Philippines but is even more fun in Boracay Island!

Mabuhay...

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MY TEACHER...

Time flies! I been a Dive Professional for already 20years, it seem like yesterday. For those who were trained by me and enjoyed my instructions, have you ever thought who trained me? Well, never forget those who have given you an opportunity in life and before I continue to write more in my Blog, I would like to acknowledge my Master; Steven Lim.

He given me an opportunity to excel, believe it or not I was a shy guy when I was young and I could not believe that I will ever become a Diving Instructor. This guy saw the potential in me and given me the opportunity to become a Diving Professional. It was not easy but fulfilling and attending so many courses in my life, he is still the best instructor I ever encounter in my life. I really thank him for what he have done for me and I will never ever forget my Master.

Through him, he given me a good foundation as a Professional and I became a PADI Master Instructor at a young age of 24years old. He given me a quote that I will never forget in life... A Good Diver Is Always Learning. I believe this also apply in our daily life that we never stop learning and upgrading ourselves. I took his advise and continue my education in diving, my last adventure was taking up the Advanced Trimix Instructor Course under Technical Diving International and I went to a depth of 125m with a total bottom time of 100mins underwater. It was the greatest achievement in my life and I plan to break a record of 180m in 2012. I also plan to continue my education and become a Closed Circuit Rebreather Instructor in 2012.

Thank you Master Steven Lim for giving me the opportunity in life without your guidance and advises, I may not be as successful as a Diving Instructor. 

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MASTER PETER TAY

I been asked to start blogging online to promote my services in the cyber world. In this first blog, I am going to start writing about myself. My name is Peter Tay, a Singaporean Chinese living in Boracay Island Philippines. I been living in the Philippines since 2002 and travelled to many parts of the Philippines. I have travelled around the world and still feel Philippines is the most beautiful country to live in. People are friendly, many nice places to visit and most important, there are many nice dive sites.

I been a Professional since I was 18years old, was trained by the Singapore Military. When I was discharged, I was a full time diving instructor. Thru diving, it brought me to many places in the world and given me many opportunity. I was privilege to work with PADI Asia Pacific as a Sales Representative at a very young age and started my first diving school at 24 in Singapore. I have taught more than 5000 students of all levels and received numerous awards for Outstanding Customer Services & Letters of Commendation for excellent Instructions. 

I am presently a PADI Master Instructor & TDI Advanced Trimix Instructor with over 20 Diving Specialties. I am also an Emergency First Response Instructor Trainer. Teaching diving is my passion, I love teaching and enjoyed teaching students who have fear of water. Even though students who are afraid of water are not easy students but the sense of satisfaction when the student is able to complete the course and become a PADI Open Water Diver. After the course, they will give me a big hug and thank me for my instructions. This make my day as a diving instructor. If you would like to know more of my services in Boracay Island, log on to www.boracayscubadive.com for more information. You may email me at masterpetertay@boracayscubadive.com if you have any questions. Blogging is new to me and I am going to start blogging everyday as much as I can. Please add on any comments. Look out for more blogs in the days to come... :-)

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