The Philippines is considered as the “pearl of the Orient seas.” In fact, the largest pearl ever known to man cam( from this country. The gemstone, which weighs 14 pounds (6.4 kilograms), was discovered by a Filipino Muslim diver off the island of Palawan in 1934.
Exquisite pearls have been harvested and cultivated primarily for use in jewelry, but in the past they were also stitched onto lavish clothing. The calcium carbonates in minute crystalline form have also been crushed and used it cosmetics, medicines, or in paint formulations.
As entrancing pearls were most-sought after by the rich and famous, many prominent Filipinos living near the seas cultured pearl oysters. One of them was Daniel Aguinaldo, a wealthy businessmai ecologist and relative of the late Emilio Aguinaldo former Filipino president.
In 1958, while visiting the palm-fringed Samal Island, Aguinaldo by chance discovered a secluded cove with crystal-clear turquoise of waters. It was in this idyllic place that he airlifted twelve thousand white-lipped oysters from the Sulu Sea, raised them, and then harvested mesmerizing pink, white, and gold pearls from them.
“Apart from producing pearls, Aguinaldo preoccupied himself with conserving the naturally beauty of the forests and the surrounding steep mountain vistas on the island,” wrote David Hodges in an article which appeared in Mabuhay, the inflight magazine of Philippine Airlines.
Aguinaldo’s astounding work was carried on by the Floirendo family, who used the tranquil area for weekend recreational trips for family members and friends. Pushed on by friends, they soon realized the potential of the area as a resort. They called it Pearl Farm Beach Resort as a reminder of its former glory as a foster home for fastidious oysters whose survival depended upon an ultra-clean environment.
Although you will no longer find any cultured pearls, the 14-hectare five-star aquatic hideaway, which was opened to public in 1982, is now one of the country’s most up market beach resorts. “This exquisite place in Davao Philippines is what you call paradise on earth,” hailed Secretary Joseph “Ace” Durano, the assiduous top honcho of the Department of Tourism.
No wonder, Pearl Farm has been rated triple A by the tourism department. “That’s an equivalent to a five-star hotel,” explained the London-born Karl Frederick Sims, the resort’s general manager. “We are the only resort in Mindanao who has that kind of recognition.”
Eighty-five percent of those who come to this tropical paradise are locals. “These are people from Davao and other parts of the Philippines,” said the debonair Sims, who speaks five different languages (English, Spanish, Catalan, French, and German).
Locals also include those foreigners who live in the country for quite sometime. The remaining 15 percent are foreign tourists. Koreans top the list, followed closely by Japanese. The other countries represented are the United States, Russia, Australia, United Kingdom, Swede and Singapore.
There are several reasons why guests and visitors flock to Pearl Farm, which is managed by the Fuego Hotels and Properties. For the scuba diver, for instance, the Pearl Farm is a more than a paradise: excellent diving can be had right in front of the resort. This natural haven, which has been declared a marine sanctuary, offers spectacular diving amongst the huge shoals of fish and the giant taklobo clams, without the need for tedious boat rides. Just meters away from the resort are two sunken Japanese World Was ships that await discovery.
But you don’t have to be a scuba diver to enjoy the underwater beholding sights either, as a snorkel and fins are all you need in the shallows near the beach. In addition, the resort also offers a wide array of audacious water sports activities that include wind surfin water polo, jet skiing, water skiing, and banana boat rides. Sea kayaks, hobie cat and wave runners are also available. Alternatively, you can go swimming at the white-sand beach, sunbathe at two outdoor swimming pools, or relax in the rejuvenating Jacuzzi. For drier pursuits, two tennis courts set amidst lush tropical foliage are available during the day and at night. Or, you can play basketball with some of your friends.
For exhilarating days, follow the wooden footbridges and walkways as you meander through the exotic gardens of the resort. Island structures are made of natural materials such as bamboo, wood, rope, stone and coral which blend in with the surrounding landscape. “People love to walk under the trees,” pointed out Citzy Rose Rada, the resort’s guest service officer during the tour.
At night, you can walk off to the three-tiered Parola Bar (nam after the local term for lighthouse), which was once a lookout post for strangers who were not welcome on the island, back in the days when it was still a pearl farm. Amid the relaxing ambiance, you can unwind with a night of music, drink and have exhilarating conversation with friends, or try a game of chess at the giant chessboard.
The newly renovated Maranao Restaurant is the central point of the complex. It features scrumptious Filipino dishes and enticing international cuisine with fresh seafood specialties prepared by its food connoisseur, Chef Juddie Cepe. Mouth-watering fresh fruits—bananas, santol, papaya, green mandarin, mangosteen, mangoes, and rambutan—are served since these exotic fruits grow abundantly in the fertile landscapes of Davao and neighboring provinces, as well as Samal Island where the resort is located. Some of the fruits are sometimes used to good effect in its long list of tropical cocktails.
An exceptional feature of Pearl Farm, which was featured as one of the venues for the 1994 Miss Universe Pageant, are the houses patterned after the stilt houses of the seafaring Samal tribe of Sulu. All in all, there are 19 houses and six Samal suites. There are also two large hilltop buildings with a conference room and game room in between.
The interiors of the different houses focus on the Yakan, Tausug, Maranao and Badjao culture and craft. Placed near the entrance of each houses are a jar of water and a coconut dipper which you may use to wash off the sand after a swim or walk on the beach. Each of the deluxe accommodation affords the guest a magnificent view of the ocean.
At night, as you hit your pillow, all you will hear are the sound of waves which can be a soothing aid to slumber. In the morning, you feel refresh as you wake up from a deep sleep. Going outside your room, you can take a deep breath, smell the fresh air, and experience the warmth of the vitamin D-laden sunshine. If good life can be summarized into a resort, then the Pearl Farm experience is it!
The secluded Malipanao Island, a few hundred meters off Samal Island, is where seven six exclusive villas of the resort are nestled. Grace Glory Go, columnist of the Philippine Star who had the opportunity of staying in one of the villas, wrote: “We were told that each of the villas belonged to one of the Floirendo children and each was decorated according to each o the children’s taste. We can both attest to the fact that Margie has six-star taste to our delight! We both felt totally spoiled as we luxuriated in this private villa and unadulterated island, with view facing the Pacific Ocean that was both soothing and color to the canvass of our minds.”
The Margie Ms. Go was referring to is Margarita “Margie” Moran, the wife of Antonio “Tony Boy” Floirendo. The granddaughter of former Filipino president Manuel Roxas, she won the Miss Universe crown in 1973 in Athens, Greece. Now Davao resident, the enthralling beauty queen runs the resort.
Many who have come to the Pearl Farm have kudos to say. “Wonderful place” was how Sports Unlimited host Marc Nelson described the resort. “Very peaceful,” he added. “We enjoyed it lot,” said Brad Eivens, an American from Texas who spent seven days at the resort with his family. “Food and accommodation were great.”
Pearl Farm is about 1-hour and 30-minute flight from Manila. From the airport, guests have to travel about 50 minutes by car to Pearl Farm Davao Marine wharf. From the wharf, it is a mere 45-minute board ride. All guests are advised to strictly follow the regular boat transfers. Regular boat transfers from the what to the resort are 8:00 in the morning and 1:30, 4:00, and 6:00 in the afternoon. From the resort to the wharf, the regular boat transfers are 6:45 and 10:00 in the morning, and 1:00 and 4:00 the afternoon.
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Tags: astounding work, pearl farm beach resort, pearl oysters, sulu sea, tranquil area