Boracay Island Local Customs

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This is a week long traditional festival celebrated on the 3rd week of January in honour of the 'Santa Nino' (holy infant Jesus). Hoards of people dressed in fabulous, flambouyant costumes dance through the streets, faces blackened with soot, and marching musicians play drums and xylaphones.
The highlight of the festival occurs on the last day, when groups representing different tribes compete. Costumes, including the headdress, are made of abaca fibers, shells, feathers, bamboo, plant leaves, cogon, sugar cane flowers, beads, trinkets and an assortment of pieces of glass, metals and plastics.
Much drinking and merrymaking goes on in the streets, and you'll be offered drinks on every street corner. Bring your camera, but take good care of it as there is always a risk of theft in a large crowd. Kalibo is an hour and a half away from Boracay, take a bus or taxi from Caticlan.

The sunsets here are among the most beautiful in the world. Much like Key West, all activity here comes to a halt while the sun goes down. The colors are beautiful and the mood will relax even the most stressed mind.

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The Philippines is the only Asian country that is predominately Christian. The numbers are staggering, something like 90% are Christians and of those, 95% are Catholic. Many are DEEPLY religious, although the younger generations didn't strike me as being as judgmental as some of the older folk (who on more than one occasion, warned me of the dangers of burning in Hell forever)
As a result, you will often stumble upon religious images in unlikely places, like caves, or on a rock formation on the beach. The Virgin Mary seems especially popular.

Be a responsible tourist, don't throw trash on the beach, collect sand or otherwise compromise the environment. The island's residents are campaigning to preserve their home - and it's name.

Boracay is NOT "Bora"!

This is the main road from the ferry station to the beach. Narrow and busy, generally, it is safe because the speed is not too high. It took this picture in the tricycle. If you need to transportation ,just stand beside on the street, wave the tricycle to pick up up

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As seen on Fear Factor!
No trip to Boracay would be complete without experiencing the 'delicacy' that is Balut - it is a soft boiled egg containing a partially formed duck embryo, usually between 16 - 18 days old.
Otherwise known as the 'Treat with Feet', Balut were introduced to the Philippines by the Chinese around the year 1800, and are rumoured to be an aphrodisiac. I have eaten them myself, and all I felt afterwards was queazy!
If you are brave enough to try one, flag down a passing vendor on the beach in the evening and you can buy one for around 12 pesos.
Eat it with salt, and have a beer (or several) handy to wash it down with! It's best to peel it gradually, not all at once. Should you feel amorous afterwards, be aware that your breath now smells of duck abortion.

This is one of the Philippines' favourite sports (besides basketball). It is certainly not to everyones taste, and fights can be rather gory. If you particularly wish to see a cockfight, just ask a local; there's an arena near station 2.
Many local people breed roosters at home, and you'll see (and hear) them almost everywhere on the island.

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San Miguel is the most popular beer in the Philippines - its on sale everywhere. This is not a bad tasting beer considering how cheap it is (usually less than 50 pesos). San Mig Light is also available in most bars - this is actually stronger than regular San Miguel but lower in calories (genius!). Other beers you might come across are San Miguel Super Dry, Blue Ice, Cerveza Negra and Red Horse. Beware of the last one as it produces fierce hangovers!