Labor Day at Boracay: Nonstop beach parties, going to bed at 5 AM, and doing it all over again!

There was one time back in March 2015 when one airline launched a promo fare. And dude, it was rationally cheap so I am hundred percent decided on grabbing it. So I asked my friends if they wanted to go to Boracay sometime around September and some of them insisted on securing a flight before May 1st which is Labor Day – in time for Laboracay.

To situate you, Boracay is a small island in the Philippines (7km long and 1km wide) located in western Visayas region. With its powdery white sand, pepsi blue waters and scenic sunset, it is believed to be one of the best islands in the world and possibly the most beautiful in Asia. Laboracay on the other hand, is a term used for nonstop beach parties, binge drinkings, going to bed at 5 AM and doing it all over again. It is pretty much a festival that takes place every Labor day on the island and thus the word, Laboracay.

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Going back to what I was talking about, in just a snap of a finger I got brainwashed by the idea of spending Labor Day in Boracay. Why not, right? I haven’t done it and the idea of going there with my friends excites my spinal chord in a whole new level.

So when I went back to work the next day, I requested a 1 week vacation leave right away. That’s how decided I was! But when the days were approaching closer to May 1st, everyone else acted a little bit sketchy. Like, wow. I got.

I can’t remember how pissed I was. Who will not be? The moment when I knew that none of them were coming with me, I went out alone to buy a ferry ticket to Caticlan (because plane tickets were luxury to buy) and yup, I was in – I was set to go to Boracay all by myself.

I left home with my backpack one afternoon, two days before the labor day and went to Cubao to ride a bus going to Batangas Port. You see, I ran out of time to secure a plane ticket from the promo fare so that’s why I ended up taking the long route!

Sailing on the way to Caticlan at 1:00 AM, I was on the deck of the ship drinking alone listening to the band playing reggae. Until I found out that my friends, Myka & Lewis (who were with me during my 2014 Boracay Trip) were actually already on the island! So after I finished savoring one bottle of beer, I went back to my bed and slept for like 3 hours.

Waking up from a rather long nap, I went back outside to drink coffee and to have morning talks with the crew. I was actually applauding myself for acting so extrovert. And next thing I know, I was already in a tricycle away to White Beach Boracay!

Arriving there was as magnificent as always! It wasn’t in my plans to go back to Boracay that time but hell, when I looked around me, I got reminded why I was there. This place is the island that I claim I belong. And my friends does too! You know, good vibes, chill people, and fantastic feeling 24/7.

I got there before lunch and waiting for the check in, I met with my college friend Myka (which was curing her hangover but has been very nice to see me) to grab ourselves some brunch. Since Myka and Lewis are (one of my favorite) couples, I would love to spend every moment here with them but I’ll be a total jerk to ask if I can join in to their accommodation. HAHA! So I made reservations with Frendz Resort Boracay anyway.

Booking a bed from this hostel was definitely one of the best decision I made from this trip. With its naturally friendly environment, I got a welcome drink and got introduced to everyone! And that, my dudes, means winning new friends that I can spend drinking on my first night.

I was still 2 hours away from the check in so me and Myka went to the beach front in Station 2 to admire the island. And sure, a fun catch up!

I was the only Filipino inside the 6-bed dorm and all of them were solo travelers too back in my hostel. We introduced ourselves to each other and made plans where to get drinks that night.

After that, I went back to the beachfront to get me some refreshers. And while waiting for the watermelon shake, I looked at the scenery in front of me and like always, the jaw-dropping Boracay white beach was telling me to fall in love unlimited times. It was indeed a beautiful moment to be there.

3 hours before the sunset, Myka and Lewis met up with me because I invited them to go with me to Spider House. That place was 20 minutes away from the beachfront via tricycle and upon arriving at the location, we walked for like 5 more minutes until we reached the place.

The place was extremely adorable! Spider House stands on a cliff with a very tropical Filipino rustic bamboo-built guesthouse, chill music, overlooking the sunset from the west Philippine sea, and the fun thing was, you can drink, eat pizza, and jump off of the diving board straight to the sea. We got drunk that night and I was so into the game that I went to my bed 7 AM!

The next day, I found out that Frendz organized this party called “Pasta Night” and I was invited to join in. It was everything I expected it to be, a reggae band playing live, a big dish of free pasta (yes! saved money from the dinner!) and it was also happy hour so meaning all drinks were 50% off (saved money again!) so there I met a hell lot of people from all around the world.

I made friends with cool guys from the USA, Australia, Canada, and Sweden (can I just say that Swedish people are so nice) binge drinking and taking advantage of the hostel’s happy hour until 11 PM. After hoarding ourselves more alcoholic drinks, 12 midnight in Boracay only means parties are just starting. I was so glad we were only 2 minutes walk away from the beach front where people partied like animals.

For the second time, I cannot remember what happened that night but I know I had fun! All I remember when I wake up the morning after was craving for a glass of chilled orange juice because of bad hangover. Orange juice can be the best sometimes and I love the life in Boracay.

On my third day, I spent the afternoon tanning with my Myka on the beach and grabbing Korean foods with Lewis. Then we went back to the beach again to swim and get more tanned.

On a regular basis, every night in Boracay is like a Saturday night. But when it’s Labor day, the party starts after 10 AM or even earlier. You’ll go to bed with a hype music still playing, you’ll wake up and it’s still playing. So many events, parties, and celebrities. Laboracay can be just too much to handle.

After a couple of days, I checked out from Frendz Resort and went to Myka and Lewis’ hotel room. Not being a jerk here, but they loved me so much they reserved me a bunk bed! And that makes me love them even more.

Some of my room mates also checked out and transferred to another hostel. And that night, Rodrigo, the guy from Brazil invited me to go to their hostel to drink whiskey. So I went to MNL hostel’s roof and met him, Josh, and Phil, the people that I met back at Frendz. And new friends Imane (my soul sister! Every once in a while we make friends from a trip and on this one, she was my favorite) and pretty girls from Norway, Synne and Sarah. Also, Josh invited lovely American girls, Sam and Becca.

Some of my room mates also checked out and transferred to another hostel. And that night, Rodrigo, the guy from Brazil invited me to go to their hostel to drink whiskey. So I went to MNL hostel’s roof and met him, Josh, and Phil, the people that I met back at Frendz. And new friends Imane (my soul sister! Every once in a while we make friends from a trip and on this one, she was my favorite) and pretty girls from Norway, Synne and Sarah. Also, Josh invited lovely American girls, Sam and Becca.

That night was a long night and definitely a fun night! I love that kind of vibe. I mean I don’t hate going to clubs to party, but as I go through growing up stage I’ve realized that I’m more into laid back side. Sometimes I have this weird mood where I’d rather have meaningful talks with people that turned out friends than dance with strangers at a club with bombastic music.The fun continued the next day.

I am not a food person, so I think this was the time that I got introduced into eating Samgyeopsal (a Korean BBQ) and I remember being not a big fan of it as compared to how I am a big fan of it now. Maybe that was because my hangover was so bad. But eating korean BBQ also means raising your glass of Soju and yell chan to everybody. You just can’t say no to it. I’ll say it was still hella fun.

There were a lot of events in Laboracay. Me and Myka were walking along the white beach and we got freebies everywhere! Drinks, metallic tattoo, and the best part was we got our hairs braided for free!

There were a lot of events in Laboracay. Me and Myka were walking along the white beach and we got freebies everywhere! Drinks, metallic tattoo, and the best part was we got our hairs braided for free!

The trip to Boracay wouldn’t be complete without the Fly Fish. Which is basically our favorite activity. Fell in love with it last 2014 and I’m still stragely in love with it!

We walked around the white beach to find the cheapest price for this activity. I wasn’t so sure how did we get so good at haggling? And yup, got it in a very friendly Filipino prize. The activity was super fun. But not as fun as I first tried it with few other friends the year before.

And I know it’s not good to compare things but I just missed all the good laughs and all. I miss how my tummy was hurting from laughing so hard because the faces of my friends were so funny as hell! They were so scared from falling off and so was me, but I tried my hardest to hold on to the ropes even though I was losing strength because of so much laughing.

After all, all we needed was one good Fly Fish Ride.

One thing I haven’t told you about this trip yet is the amount of time I spent being alone. The kind of alone time that is not sad. The joy of being single! The ability to focus nothing but on myself. You know, for it always gives you the time to be yourself with yourself – me time 24/7. And I just watched the film called How To Be Single and it is asked, what if we get so good at being single? Is there really a danger that you’ll get so good at being alone, so set in your ways, that you’ll miss out on the chance to be with somebody great?

Maybe. I don’t know.

Being single is so nice for me because I’m not really in a hurry to be in a relationship. At least that’s my personal take? But it also gets sad sometimes, you know. Like I enjoy to exchange flirty messages to anyone at one point and it’s not on the next. It’s weird.

But I just like it more to hangout with people without thinking of someone else. I don’t want to feel obligated to give back the favor of being cared. I don’t want that yet. I am enjoying to keep my world’s atmosphere to whatever temperature my heart desires. And I can stay out as late as I want and enjoy waking up what the hell time on weekends. That’s the best part!

I really don’t know how to end this post because it is not what I was expecting it to be, but if you’re thinking what happened on the end of this trip: I got really drunk for the last time on my last night, went back to the hostel to shower, and packed my things to prepare myself to bid auf wiedersehen.

So there, I left Boracay Island just when the clubs were playing Closing Time by Semisonic

And I had a great time. Boracay, quality time as always.