WIN A FREE AIRLINE TICKET AND ONE WEEK RESORT STAY!
FARM TOURS ETC and VIRGIN BEACH RESORTare sponsoring a contest to give away one free airline ticket round trip from Manila to Cebu and one week free stay at Virgin Beach Resort in a deluxe cottage room including all meals. This is a $650 value. Contest will run for 3 years and a free round trip Manila to Cebu airline ticket and one week free cottage stay (including meals) at VBR will be awarded December 31, 2006, 2007 and 2008.
Send us your story (in prose or verse) about how you met and married your Filipina/Filipino spouse (your love story), your story about the Philippines, your travel to the Philippines, your stay at Virgin Beach Resort, any fiesta celebration you have attended in the Philippines, what makes you unique being a Filipino, or any related subject about the Philippines (its food, celebrations, culture, etc). Length is not important. Articles must be positive in nature.
All items become the property of Farm Tours Etc and Virgin Beach Resort and may be used in our promotional materials. Relatives and employees (and their families) or Farm Tours Etc and Virgin Beach Resort and cottage/time-share owners (and their families) are not eligible. Ron and Fe Perry will be the sole judges in this contest.
Please send to: Farm Tours; 1542 E. Glenwood Ave.; Tulare, CA 93274 USA or e-mail farmtours@psnw.com
THE VIRGIN BEACH SONG
by Mike Wolff
I took a trip to the Philippines;
Where would I go? What would I do?
I was told of a place
Where you can eat and dance and sing;
It's in the north part of Cebu.
...chorus...
I went to...Virgin Beach, Virgin Beach;
I ate to much at Virgin Beach!
I went to Virgin Beach, Virgin Beach;
I ate too much at Virgin Beach!
They had a lot of food prepared for dinner...
There was chicken, rice, and veggies; how 'bout that!
There was pork and fish and fried rice too...
And pineapple, cut fresh and new...
And Ron made sure that everyone got fat!
...chorus...
After lunch I wanted to go swimming;
I grabbed my gear and went to the sea,
But before I even got inside the water...
I heard Junior calling, with more food for me!
...chorus...
Some folks like to drink a lot of softdrinks;
Some folks like to drink a lot of beer!
One thing I can tell you that's for certain...
You''ll gain a lot of weight here!
...chorus...
In the morning I thought I would do some strolling...
So I left the group and started making tracks;
But before I even got beyond the entrance.
Here comes Junior with a big huge bowl of snacks!
...chorus...
So, if you will forget about your diet,
And you want to eat it all up just like me...
Then, my friend, there's something I just have to tell:
That Virgin Beach is just the place to be!
...chorus...
When you're here you'll meet a lot of pretty ladies;
Buy their meals and they won't eat much, just for fun!
But when the guys get up and stroll off from the table,
That's the time these girls indulge and eat a ton!
...chorus...
At Virgin Beach no one can say that they went hungry;
If you miss a meal then it's your own fault!
Perhaps you drank too much and slept right thru breakfast,
Or you swam too far and swallowed to much salt!
...chorus...
Now the group will spend a great day island hopping;
We'll spend some time at Malapascua Beach.
There's some food on board--enough to feed an army;
It's a pig, some fish, and a couple chickens each!
...chorus...
Some of the food contains an awful lot of calories,
And watch the fat and salt in all you eat,
At Virgin Beach, if you don't keep a sense of caution,
You'll look down and you'll no longer see your feet!
...chorus...
We rose before the dawn to see the sunrise;
We saw the colors overtake the shades of grey.
In the air there was the scent of something cookin',
And we knew that our next feast was not far away!
...chorus...
PHILIPPINE EXPERIENCE
by Phil Rosso
Thank you for helping me make the trip to the Philippines to meet the girl of my dreams! I can't begin to express the happiness that I have found meeting and becoming engaged to Melanie. She is the most beautiful, thoughtful, precious young lady in the world and to think that we will spend our whole life together...it just blows me away!
First of all, you were absolutely right about the Philippine culture, traditions, families, food and all the other information you gave in your pink booklet...The Philippine Information Book. When I met the family, it was like a totally different world compared to the families in the U.S. that without your information, I would have been lost.
Thank you also for all the times you answered my questions by email and telephone. It certainly was äbove and beyond"what a regular travel agency would give. The discount airline ticket was also less than I would have paid on the internet cheap ticket sites.
As you know, we spent our "honeymoon" at Virgin Beach Resort and for you to say it is a romantic place is an understatement! Most of the time we were the only couple there and what a fantastic time! Your family sure did pamper us with the best food and service I have seen anywhere. We really enjoyed the swimming pool...especially at night time. The beach was great and you have such wonderful neighbors!
We enjoyed talking to the local people when they went to sea at low tide in the morning and evening and they all really think highly of you. I must say that for all the poor people around the area to think of you as their "benefactor" was really an amazing thing.
Anyway, I just wanted to express my gratitude to you and Fe for making it all possible.
I will highly recommend your services and especially your Virgin Beach Resort. I read some postings of some people on the internet that didn't give VBR very high marks, but they are all wrong. It is the most beautiful, peaceful, restful, romantic, delightful place that I have ever visited.
Keep up the good work and God bless you both.
MY PHILIPPINE EXPERIENCE
by Bob P. from Montana
I just got back from the Philippines and I want to thank you for making my trip a success! You are absolutely right...it was a life-changing event and I'm so grateful to you for all your help. I had a great time and I was introduced to the Filipino culture that you described so accurately.
I did meet some of my pen pals, but I really just wanted to get better acquainted before making a decision. The highlight of my month long trip tho, was staying at you "Virgin Beach Resort.
Cebu City was ok, but since I am a "country boy", I really enjoyed Virgin Beach. Instead of the horns, dogs barking and smog of Cebu City, VBR offered peaceful quiet days and nights where the air and water was clear and unpolluted. It was back to nature for me as I could be alone with my pen pal and not be interrupted by all the attractions of the City. We enjoyed the star-lit nites--wow, there are more stars in the Philippine sky than here in the U.S. (well, so it seems)! We listened to the frogs and crikets...and enjoyed the best alarm clock of all...the roosters crowing!
We really loved the beach...water was clear and warm. We were able to swim every day! Took the boat out a couple of times and enjoyed paddling up and down the coast...seeing the neighbors fishing and especially had fun watching the children swimming
Ron and Fe, you really have a great staff at VBR. Junior and his wife Josie took wonderful care of us. Eden and his wife Brenda were always there when Junior had to go to Bogo and they pampered us all the time. Alex became a good friend and I think your other sister in law, Elvie was always keeping the hotel dust free...she was constantly cleaning, dusting and sweeping. The food was plentiful...in fact too much for me and I felt guilty about wasting any food so I asked them to just give me "half portions".
The service at VBR was nothing like anything here in the U.S. Everyone there accepted me and treated me like family. Even your nephews and neices began to call me üncle". They are doing such a great job!
There were other guests while I was there and their comments were the same. Its a shame more people haven't taken the time to get off the beaten path and come visit you there at VBR. Obce they stay there a few nights, they'll fall in love with the place like I have.
I plan to go back to Cebu next year and stay for up to a year. I certainly will spend most of my time at VBR. In the meantime, I'm sending some small gifts to you to give to the staff there at VBR.
By the way, the swimming pool is complete now and looks like your dream of VBR as a tropical paradise is finally coming true.
A FIESTA ATMOSPHERE UNDER STAR-LIT NIGHTS
by Anthony Kintanar, Cebu, Philippines
BOGO TOWN, located 100 km north of Cebu City, is known for being the cleanest and greenest town in Central Visayas. It has colleges, a new public market, and a world class golf course yet still retains its rustic charm.
Bogo is also a springboard to other towns and islets with fine sand beaches, reefs, deep caves, windy hills and sugarcane fields, fruit orchards, and other nooks for those who want to be near nature.
One of these fine places is a quiet, secluded, yet fun place called Virgin Beach Resort. Ron Perry, a California farmer, arranged for WHAT'S ON to visit this resort, which is managed by the brothers of his Bogohanon wife, Fe. Virgin Beach Resort is located in Barangay Malbago in nearby Daanbantayan town, about 17 km. from Bogo.
Alighting from the private jeepney that took us over a rough, although paved, road from the highway, we were immediately greeted with music from a local rondella group. We thus settled in our respective rooms amidst strains of guitars and bandurias playing traditional local tunes.
The resort immediately strikes one as festive yet restful. The architecture is basically Filipino, and the furniture is of good hardwood material. The reception area has a lounge where guests can talk, read, listen to music, or watch television, much like the living room of a cozy home. Books and video tapes line a wall, and a videoke machine is in the center.
The main lodge has 10 adjoining rooms, each air-conditioned and provided with its own bath facilities. The interior is done in functional but pleasing Filipino designs, accentuated with laminated photographs of smiling friends or guests of the resort, adding a homey kind of atmosphere. There is also a "budget"dormitory, which still provides a good level of comfort.
The grounds of the two-hectar resort are excellent. The concrete pathways are lined with flowering plants. There are cottages, benches and shaded tables dotting the area near the beach itself. At the other end, near the gate, a lofty water-tank kiosko affords a view of both sunrise and sunset.
The food, put simply, is good and plentiful. Virgin Beach Resort primarily offers Filipino Cuisine, with American and European dishes. All kinds of drinks--from fruit juices to alcoholic beverages--are also available. A truly refreshing treat is the array of native fruits...mango, melon, papaya, pineaples, bananas, etc...which may be ordered any time.
But the best thing about the resort is probably its festive and welcoming atmosphere, which is actively shared by the local folks. There is even a weekly song and dance tilt held at the resort, after which a fiesta is held.
The management of Virgin Beach allows local folks to pass by and fish in its area. In view of all this, the resort is generally viewed fondly by folks in Bogo and D'nbantayan.
Then there is also the unhampered view of the stars. On a clear night, one can actually see the constellations, a rare sight in the urban glitter, or even in some other towns in the province. Leyte and its islets gleam in the distance over a calm sea.
Virgin Beach is slowly but surely taking on its full shape. Established in 1993 by Ron and Fe, it has, over the years, grown in terms of infrastructure, much of which was built by hand, and services, which are built by heart.
Ron Perry, a consummate host, makes sure that the guests get as much enjoyment and relaxation during their stay. Guests may also arrange to go island-hopping, scuba diving and take on other adventures. Ron is at present offering time-shares for sale. Virgin Beach is now in the process of expansion. The swimming pool is complete and Ron has plans for a water slide and spa. Ron, and his wife Fe, and their family hope to spend many productive endeavors on the resort, a place which is truely "a tropical paradise".
VIRGIN BEACH EXPEREIENCE
by Eric Jacques
Thank you so much for providing me with a wonderful Philippine Experience. As a first timer to the Philippines, Farm Tours and Virgin Beach Resort were hands down the best wat to "get my feet wet".
Ron, your experience and knowledge of the Philippines took a lot of confusion and worry out of my trip to visit my pen pal. We shared quiet romantic moments, and also socialized with the other guests, with whom we had much in common. We have made some great new friends who were all there for the same reasons--a love for the Filipino culture and traditions and the desire to find their perfect mates.
The staff was very courteous and very professional. They have a keen awareness of the needs of the guests and the quality of the service was to notch! The meals were GREAT! I cannot compliment the kitchen staff enough!
I would highly recommend Farm Tours and VBR to anyone who appreciates a great vacation without worries, but full of new and interesting experiences. Thanks for the great memories!
