cliffview

Before proceeding with this entry, I would like you to do me a favor first. Please leave this page if you do not want to read narration of a disappointed man about a place that deserves praises. If you wish to continue, keep your mind open as this post bans misinterpretation and have its doors closed for absurd baseless remarks. If you would abhor me right after absorbing my story, you can express your rants, but please make me see your point in the most humane way.

Natural stone pool in front of the restaurant

Resort’s restaurant

Overlooking the beach from the restaurant

Cliffview is a resort located at barangay Tagnan, Panglao island, Bohol. Contrary to the information in their website, it is 25-30 minutes away from Tagbilaran airport via private transport.

A week prior to my trip, I was so exhausted with so many things and was looking forward to a relaxing short vacation. For 4 days straight, I can’t imagine that I only managed to sleep for 3 hours every day. I changed my plan then. Instead of touring Bohol on our first day, I decided to stay in a resort in Panglao and unwind all day. Good thing that my travel companion agreed to it. No more Catigbian and no more free stay for our first two days which my friend who has a house in Catigbian initially offered. I rummaged through the internet the night before we fly to Visayas and searched for resorts that would serve as our abode for 3 days. So that tells how I found Cliffview resort. I called the owner 4 hours before we depart from the Manila just to check if we can still book one of their cottages. Reservation was easy since it is low season. Cliffview’s rate for an air-conditioned room for 2 is P2,600 (P3,500 during high season as per manager) including breakfast. Over the phone, I told the manager (owner/foreigner) that we might stay for 3 days. But we have yet to decide when we arrive at the resort. We reached Tagbilaran airport at 1:45pm and picked up by the resort’s service.

Beautiful spot of Cliffview

Taken during sunset

One fine morning at the cliff

Cliffview is a very beautiful, unruffled, and quiet place. Its protruding Balinese inspired cottages perched at the bosom of sea and woodland will hold one’s tongue tied in apotheosis. The only audible sounds around are the humming of trees swaying with the breeze and melodious chirping of birds. At night, when you look at the sky by the beach you will be regaled by the stars whose sparks reflect under the smooth sea while blinking lights from fireflies circling in the milieu will continuously feed your eyes hankering for mirth.

Albeit not the most luxurious resort in Panglao, Cliffview for me is the most charming and unique. It doesn’t acquire the typical beachfront appearance you customarily see in a resort because it lies on a cliff. It is where the owner derived its name. The cliff though is only 2-3 metersabove the sea. One can still go down the beach during low tide but can’t swim for it is the cabin of sea grasses.

Cottages surrounded by abundant trees

Balinese inspired cottage

The manager welcomed and showed us our cottage. We were the only guests of the resort that day. We chose the cottage nearest to the pool overlooking the sea at the side. We then invited by the owner to the resort’s restaurant to discuss our stay and the rates of their packages the moment we got settled.

Before we decide whether or not to stay here for three days, our top consideration was the capability of the resort to provide us other activities such as the countryside tour and island hopping. According to the manager, island hopping and diving might not be pursued at our most convenient time because he needs to talk to the boatman first. He said that it takes a day or two for him to provide us boat that will bring us to various islands of Panglao. We had to inform him ahead so that he will be able to make reservations. Its price is pegged at P2,000. The same rate other resorts offer for such activity. I wasn’t advised about this when I inquired the first time I called. Their countryside tour is P3,000 for the whole day which is a little expensive for me. I tried to haggle if we can get both packages for P4,500. He refused saying that he’s not earning with their packages and he’s just getting commission per tour which I honestly did not believe. Then he started delivering his marketing spiel. He lowered the countryside tour to P2,750 stressing that he would take his commission off to give us discount. I told him that I would have to rent the service-vehicle of the driver (Manong Joven) I talked to prior to my trip because I can save P500 by doing so. I checked their menu and was surprised that it is quite expensive—a meal (a cup of rice and viand for 1) would cost me P350-500, excluding the beverage. They serve each meal with a slice of mango and one banana.

After a while he offered us something.

Manager: Do you want fruits?

Me: Is it free?

Manager: Yes, of course. Why are you thinking that you will be charged every now and then? (This remark appeared unfriendly to me.)

Me. I just thought that there’s no such thing as free nowadays. Anyway, thanks!

When I was half done with my mango, he immediately asked for our payment for 3 days amounting to P7,800. He wanted us to pay it in full. My budget for this trip was only P10,000 excluding the airfare, so I was trying to mentally compute if it is sufficient to sustain our 3 days in Bohol should we decide to avail his offer, considering the fact that we also planned to do other activities that would rob our pockets too. I respectfully said if he can excuse me and travel companion for a while to discuss it first and we will inform him right away about our decision.

Manager: Why?! (He looked irritated while throwing this question at us.)

Me: We need to compute first our expenses in case we’re going to avail your packages, accommodation and the food. (I said calmly.)

Manager: What is your problem?! (He seemed not contented with his first irksome remark by giving this more annoying response coupled with his disgusted facial expressions.)

Same time we also found out that there’s no cellular signal for globe users in the area. Seeing his crass attitude, my travel companion and I were just staring at each other. Right there and then I told him that we’re staying for only one night. Then his behavior turned worst. He asked us again with an irritated tone while swaying his head.

Manager: What made you change your mind?!

I was very candid to explain that staying at his resort would not be convenient to us because it is hard to avail their island hopping package since it requires reservation and there’s no cellular signal which is very important to us. He continued his interrogation.

Manager: But why were you able to contact me?

Me: Because you’re using a smart number. (He held my hand and looked at my cellphone like he was trying to check if I was only lying.)

Manager: Oh. I don’t know that there’s no globe signal here. But why do you need a signal? You’re not going to use your phone anyway.

Me: It is very important to us. Yes, we’re here for vacation but we need to get in touch with our family and friends. And I’m also receiving updates from work from time to time.

Manager: Well, I still don’t understand why you need to get in touch with your family. You should have informed your parents that you’re on a trip in the first place. (I kept my mouth shut.)

My patience almost exploded like a bomb witnessing his insolence after he learned that we are only staying for one night. We wanted to dial the number of our service-vehicle but then it was deadspot in the area of the restaurant. We also cannot abandon the resort immediately and leave because we’re in a secluded place where there’s no public transport. Before reaching Cliffview, you have to pass by at a topsy-turvy street from the highway. It’s his bailiwick and matching his arrogance with the same behavior would not help. What if something happened if we antagonized him? Since I was the one dealing with him, I gathered the much-needed strength to keep my cool and hold my anger. I paid and walked towards our cottage wearing my fake smile.

Our cottage

Pool area

Room interior

View from our cottage

Later that day it was his wife (Filipino) who cooked and served our food for dinner. Though quite pricey, it was delicious. She joined us while we were eating. She was very accommodating and we had a pretty pleasant conversation with her for an hour. Informing her about what transpired during our earlier dialogue with her husband was not necessary because we wanted to put that to rest for the sake of not ruining our first day in Bohol. Somehow, the dinner appeased the disappointment and pique we had earlier. I also found out that it is not actually deadspot in the resort. There are areas where my phone received signals, but it has a very low probability.

I capped the night just remembering the good food and conversation during dinner and the beauty of the Cliffview. At 5 in the morning, I woke up finding myself drenched with sweat. I checked the air-con but it was not working, then the lights were off. In short, no electricity. I went back to bed and by 6:30 I woke up again to check if the electricity has been restored. To my surprise, there’s still no supply in times where I needed to charge my phone and camera. I went out of the cottage to ask any of the helpers what’s happening. I saw one helper cleaning the restaurant and told her about the situation. She said that electricity will be restored at 5 in the afternoon.

We arranged a countryside tour at 8:30am that day with Manong Joven that’s why after taking breakfast I hurriedly went inside the cottage to take a shower. To my surprise again, there is no water and it is almost 8am. We paid for P2,600 plus P400 for the service-vehicle from Tagbilaran to airport just to stay in a resort with no electricity and water for half of the day of our stay?

At 8am, the manager didn’t bother to check on us if we needed water to clean up the fact that he might be awake because I requested our breakfast to be served at 7:30am. I asked the helper to bring us water since resort’s manager is nowhere to be found. When I saw the manager, I approached and told him about our situation. I also said that we should’ve been informed ahead so we were able to put water in the container (which the resort does not also provide unless requested). He said there is brownout the whole morning but claimed that they weren’t notified. (Why do you know that there’s no electricity the whole morning if you weren’t notified?)

Me: Is it a scheduled brownout?

Manager: I don’t know. We always have brownout here, that’s the Philippines. I’m sorry about that. (But the apology was given with arrogance after I frowned and let him feel that I was really disappointed.)

I wanted to vanish from the resort that morning and junk my first day in Bohol due to the treatment reciprocated by the manager to us. The lack of electricity and water supply may be an isolated case. But no matter how isolated the case was, we deserved to be comforted and treated as guests who paid for the service we must avail. Since the resort has no generator, at least, the manager should have checked on us early in the morning, gave us water and apologized for the inconvenience it caused us. However, we were the one who asked the helper to bring us 3 containers of water instead of them doing so. We also felt disgusted towards the attitude of the manager which for us was antagonistic and condescending from the time he learned that we’re not staying for 3 days at Cliffview. Before we left, we told the manager’s wife that we did not enjoy our stay in their place especially the way her husband treated us. I also said that her husband was rude compared to her hospitality. She was very apologetic but it couldn’t pacify our annoyance over what had happened.

Cliffview’s beach

Beautiful sunset

Writing this icky experience is not something I’m proud to share because Cliffview met the benchmark of my ideal resort—isolated, placid, and scenic. In as much as I want to thread good words about it, my experience proves otherwise. Images posted here can give justice to the natural charm of the resort but beneath that charm lies injurious memories I long to forgo. It’s an irony that the place I loved at first glance disappointed me and failed to give me travel worth reminiscing. It’s like finding your greatest love but you cannot recall any good memories of the two of you together.