Last week, Mr. Ken Thompson contacted us through our facebook account eager to share his family vacation with the Coco News reader. He sent some photos and a letter about their experience, where the challenge was to keep the letter short enough for the newsletter. With that, Ken is granted the Letter of the Month! He will receive and free stay for two for 3 days and 2 nights with buffet breakfast. Congratulations, Ken!

Here’s an excerpt of Ken’s letter with some of the photos he sent it. Thank you, Ken, for sharing these with us!

Ken with wife Aurelia and daughter Jasmine at the Tamaraw Falls

“We came to Coco Beach in 2008 and stayed for 6 amazing days. When we arrived the staff greeted us with buko juice and necklaces.

The first couple of days were getting comfortable and starting to relax. We then rented a driver and a banka boat and they took us first to the Tamaraw Falls which was beautiful, spent some time there then they took us to the Mangyan village where we got to see some of the hand crafted items that they made as well we purchased some of these items. They then took us back to Puerto Galera where we enjoyed shopping and eating, on our way back to Coco Beach the driver took us to the site of the giant clams where some of us went snorkeling and another went scuba diving and got to see the famous giant clams.

Aurelia giving candies at a Mangyan Village

Jasmine with Evelyn's daughter Cathy

Our daughter Jasmine enjoyed staying with our host family Clotie and Tita Evelyn. Clotie would sit with Jasmine at the pool for most of the day, and I can tell you I have never seen her having so much fun. My wife and I looked forward to the time sitting around the pool waiting to play the happy hour game, it was something that we looked forward to every night not for the free drink that you could win as much as the fun it was playing and competing with some of the other guests.

One of their competitors at the happy hour game

In the evenings it was very nice sitting around the pool and have a very nice dinner, and listening to the great music that played every night. The traditional dancing that I got to witness on our last night there was unforgettable I really enjoyed it.

Service Mama Evelyn with Jasmine

We enjoyed our stay at Coco Beach so much that every time that we talk about the Philippines we always tell everyone about our great stay and tell them that if they ever get to go to the Philippines that they had to make a point of stopping and staying in Coco Beach. The staff and management were very hospitable to us as well the owner even sold me some of your very nice asian place settings which we have still not even opened yet. I can not wait to come back to Coco Beach and would recommend all of our friends to stay there, the next time we come back is going to be in 2011 and will try to convince some of our friends to come with us this time so we can show them how beautiful it is.

Thank You very much for the wonderful time and we can not wait to come back.

Martin with daughter Carla getting a souvenir shot at the Tamaraw Falls

Through the internet and the suggestion of their friends, the Overgaard family decided to spend their holiday at Coco Beach Island Resort. Mama Elsie together with her sons Thomas and Martin, Martin’s wife Marlene and daughter Carla and Mama Elsie’s best friend Helle visited Coco Beach for the first time to spend their family vacation and to celebrate Elsie’s 61st birthday.

First, they had a week cruise on the Hans Christian Andersen, the only cruise ship plying the local shores of the Philippines. They explored and did lot of snorkeling in Palawan while in Coco Beach, they really enjoyed our tropical paradise.

Making friends at the local market

Taking a break...Elsie and Helle captures the view

Last March 18, Elsie celebrated her 61st birthday. It was a simple but meaningful celebration with friends and loved ones. Next day, the Overgaards shopped in Calapan City and bought presents for everyone. They also got a chance to visit the famous Tamaraw falls, enjoyed the panoramic vista of rice fields from the town of Baco up to Calapan City with farmers harvesting their rice. They also visited a rice mill and watched real cockfight were hundreds of people were shouting and betting using only hand signals for their bets.

According to them Coco Beach is very different compare to other resorts. For them, it was like being in paradise in the middle of the jungle.

One of the scholars receives her diploma

This school year, three Mangyan scholars successfully graduated from school.

Glensel Banaag graduated from the elementary level at the Baclayan Elementary School. She had good grades and according to her teacher she was always eager to go to school and dependable in class. This coming school year in June Glensel will be a high school freshman at the Puerto Galera Academy were her older brother Mac-Mac is a senior. She is already excited about going to high school. Her sister Jessel is in Grade 6 this year and her brother Reniel is Grade 4, both are studying at the Baclayan Elementary School. They are the siblings of Iko Banaag who used to be our Mangyan Guide for a very long time. Iko passed away three years ago. All his children are scholars of Coco Beach.

Lucille on her graduation day

Lucille Caringal also completed her school requirements and successfully graduated from the secondary level (high school) at Puerto Galera Academy. Although she is not in the top 10, she still had good grades. She would like to continue her studies at the University and would like to take up Bachelor of Science in Education (BSED) and someday be able to teach fellow Mangyans in her village.

Yamay with Service Mama Angie, who acts as a guardian to the scholars, and her mother Yaham

Yamay Suay does not belong to the Coco Beach Scholarship Program but this school year she will be joining the other scholars. Danish couple Steen and Lotte helped her in her elementary education and she just graduated from Puerto Galera Academy with flying colors. She belonged to the top 10 honor students in her school and was also awarded Most Responsible Student. This coming school year she will be in high school and Yamay promised to maintain her high grades and would like to become a professional someday to help her family. Yamay has 10 more brothers and sisters and she is 7th from the oldest.

At the moment the Coco Beach Scholarship Program has 8 Mangyan scholars including Yamay Suay. The other scholars are Jennyrose Banaag, incoming 3rd year high school and Cecilia Vidal, incoming 4th year for this school year.

The students with sponsors and Teacher Marlyn (second to the right)

Last week, 16 Mangyan children successfully graduated from kindergarten at Bangko Mangyan Village in Bagong Pook, Puerto Galera. All of them finished with honors and awards.

The children are Ariel Sulongkawayan, Marivel Sundalo, Elizabeth Ribon, Aiza Baldo, Vivian Sulongkawayan, Janice Baldo, Jessebel Balinao, Rian Rindog, Isabel Dambilan, Prescious Arellano, John Reniel Sundalo, Jen-jen Tupaz, Isabel Ribon, Jericho Herrera, Marc Jay Larico and John Ray Tupaz.

Adorable children of the Coco Mangyan Project

These children are the brothers and sisters of Mangyan workers who make various handcrafted products at the Coco Beach Mangyan Project located in the same place.

Although she has a very busy schedule running the Mangyan Project, Marlyn Tupaz also gives valuable time teaching these children. The parents, Teacher Marlyn and the graduating children would like to extend their appreciation and warmest gratitude to all those who sponsored their graduation caps and gowns. And to all our guests who have supported the Mangyan Project by buying its products at the Shopping Arcade, we at Coco Beach would like to thank you, too for helping these children have a better future.