The Ananyana Beach Resort is located on the northwestern side of Panglao Island, which is southwest of the main island of Bohol. Getting there is quite easy and the trip most pleasant. The plane ride to Tagbilaran, Bohol, took just a little over an hour. The resort’s van picked us up at the airport and after a comfortable and scenic 20-minute ride, we were there.

The Ananyana complex is spread over a one-hectare property facing the fine, white sands of Doljo Beach. There are two two-storey structures that house the rooms, a Balinese-style pavilion where guests can lounge and meals are served, a plunge pool for cooling off after a long day under the sun, and a small but inviting massage hut. While the facilities and furnishings have a certain rustic appeal due to the use of such natural materials as wood, stone, and bamboo, the design and overall sensibility of the place is nevertheless cosmopolitan. The Ananyana is relaxed, understated, intimate, modern, and tasteful.

This is exactly what owners Emma Gomez and Patrick Ritter, a German national, were aiming for. The property used to be Gomez’s residence. Seeing how tourism in Bohol, particularly in Panglao Island, was steadily growing, they decided to convert the residence into a resort and name it The Ananyana, derived from the Filipino word anyayahan, meaning “to invite.” They began accepting guests in January 2001. Apparently, the partners hit on the right formula.

Probably because of Ritter’s roots, a big portion of The Ananyana’s guests are European tourists, and they’re not “backpackers” on a budget. During our stay, around 75% of the guests were tourists or expatriates based in Manila. We found out that the foreign tourists typically stay for as long as 15 to 20 days. What’s amazing is that, like our group, many of the guests were drawn to the place on the strength of word-of-mouth recommendations and not due to some glossy brochure or advertisement.

The Ananyana Charm

Certainly, The Ananyana’s strongest selling point is its strikingly clean and uncrowded beach. Most of the larger and more well-known resorts on Panglao Island are located on the southern coast of the island, and the beaches there have become more crowded in recent years. In contrast, you can walk along Doljo Beach fronting The Ananyana and find you have the whole beach to yourself. The waters are normally very tranquil and the beach’s slope is gradual.

The Ananyana also has a unique charm that one will not find in other resorts. Since it is smaller than most resorts, with just eight regular suites and two family suites, it has an intimate and friendly appeal. In the course of our five-day stay, our group was able to chat and exchange pleasantries with most of the other guests. The place has a way of breaking down walls between strangers.

According to resident manager Jessie Naval, they have also gotten high scores for their personalized service. Now that owners Emma Gomez and Patrick Ritter have moved to Spain, they have delegated the management of the resort to Jessie and Gomez’s sister, Elaine, who have worked hard to maintain the high quality of service under their watch. Although the staff do not have the sophistication of personnel in the more famous exclusive resorts and sometimes appear rather shy, they are nevertheless very efficient, attentive, and accommodating. For instance, our group kept ordering special dishes not found in the resort restaurant’s menu and the kitchen was always more than happy to oblige.

The food was certainly one of the highlights of our stay. Jessie says the food they serve has consistently gotten enthusiastic reviews from guests, and this was affirmed by the guests with whom we compared notes. Visitors from other resorts even drop by just to try out the restaurant. You may choose from the Western or Asian fusion offerings on the menu or go for a special off-menu dish. In our case, we wanted to take full advantage of the province’s fresh seafood and vegetables. So while the other guests enjoyed their pastas and pizzas with wine, we made special arrangements with the chef and got to feast on the most delicious grilled stuffed squid, grilled tanigue (mackerel), green mango salad, and the best puso ng saging (banana blossom) cooked in gata (coconut milk).

Quiet Comfort

The resort’s accommodations are more than adequate. The suites are very spacious and feature king-size beds, split-type air-conditioning systems, hot and cold water, the regulation mini-bar, and a balcony or terrace with a view of the ocean or well-maintained gardens. The family suite, which has a mezzanine-type bedroom and a living area with two divan beds, can easily accommodate four persons. Moreover, the family suites’ bathrooms are not only as big as standard hotel rooms but also have pocket gardens. The rooms are conspicuously devoid of televisions and telephones. According to Elaine, they have deliberately kept it that way to preserve The Ananyana’s character as a quiet haven and to encourage guests to check out the resort’s and the province's many attractions.

There is much to do in The Ananyana, but by far, diving is the most popular activity. The Ananyana Dive Center has a whole range of destination choices, two of which—Rico’s Wall and Rudy’s Rock—are said to be world-class dives. Arrangements can also be made for some island hopping or dolphin watching. Since this is Bohol, a visit to the awe-inspiring Chocolate Hills and Baclayon Church (founded in 1596, its walls are made of coral and limestone bound together by egg white) should be included in your itinerary. The sights along the Loboc River are certainly worth seeing but the river cruise accommodations need to be upgraded. You can also rent a motorcycle and ride out on your own to explore the Bohol countryside. The roads are clean, pollution-free, uncongested, and in good condition, allowing you to fully appreciate the province’s green, slightly rolling terrain and their successful tree-planting campaign.

For the security-conscious, there is nothing to worry about. Bohol has no security problems. Nevertheless, according to Jessie, the Department of Tourism, the Philippine National Police, the Coast Guard, and the provincial government have taken precautionary measures, including assigning a Navy ship to patrol the waters between Bohol and Mindanao. Authorities also actively coordinate with the local resorts and with residents to keep peace and order in the communities. It is safe enough that we did see a number of foreign guests venture out on their own in their rented motorbikes.

If you prefer something slower-paced, however, you can always just laze around the beach, lounge in the pavilion’s day beds while cool jazz plays in the background, have your fill of fresh buko juice or iced fruit shakes, have a massage, or take a dip in the plunge pool. The days end early and quietly in The Ananyana. After a satisfying dinner and some conversation, guests retire to their rooms and prepare for the following day’s activities. If it’s nightlife that you seek, you won’t find it here.

When to Go

It may be difficult to book reservations during The Ananyana’s peak seasons, which are the summer months of March to May and the cooler months of December to February, when the Europeans come to escape their winters back home. Jessie recommends the off-peak months of July to September, when the resort isn’t as full and the waters are very calm.

When we were there, the restaurant was scheduled to temporarily close for some expansion work. There were also plans to add four to eight villas to accommodate more guests. Given the number of people lining up to get a booking, the resort can actually take the expansion further. Jessie says, however, that they do not want to grow beyond their capacity, saying a big resort also means big problems. That was reassuring to hear, because the place’s magic lies in the intimacy, tranquility, and warm personalized service that characterize it today. While that magic is still intact, I invite you to visit The Ananyana.