Wednesday, May 14, 2008 Hot summer event: The Bora experience By Nelson C. Bagaforo
BORACAY ISLAND -- Covering day-long festivities under the intense heat of the sun in this world-class summer destination would surely put you to bed for an early rest.
But you won't do that, as a grand celebration expected to last until the wee hours of the morning, is in the offing.
That's what actually happened when I was invited by Smart Communications, Inc., the country's leading wireless services provider, to cover the Boracay leg of its Smart Buddy Hot Summer Samahan Year 3.
The Summer Samahan is a series of grand, one-day festivities happening in some of the country's most popular summer destinations.
Its Boracay leg, last May 3, was just great.
The event, hosted by Eppie Quizon and Kat Alano, was a mix of games, freebies, hi-tech stuffs, celebrity sightings and Pinoy music.
The amazing race that started the event in the morning allowed participants to tour the island and engaged them to mental and physical challenges.
This activity was participated in by PBB grand winner Nene Tamayo and Star Circle finalist Paw Diaz.
Foreign and local guests on this tropical island were treated to this one-of-a-kind event -- pampering them with whatever Boracay can offer -- for free.
Day's activities included wall-climbing or body/skim/wake-boarding by a group of friends, while the more daring ones did try a free paraw sailing or banana boat-ride, courtesy of Smart Buddy.
Smart tents were set up on powdery white sand shore, where guests were also treated to thrilling demos of Smart Buddy's newest services and gizmos.
Services such as henna and glitter tattoo, hair braiding and massage were also offered for free.
At night, the celebration shifted to high gear as vacationers were treated to a grand party with the country's top performing bands -- Rocksteddy, Kamikaze and of course the well-applauded Bamboo -- brought in by Smart for the summer event.
The heavy downpour that night, the first time to happen this summer on the island, failed to dampen the spirit of the huge crowd who stayed at the beachfront of Boracay's top resto -- the Bamboo Grill and Restaurant at Station 2.
The party continued amid the heavy rains.
The bands continued to perform their best to the delight of the crowd.
Bamboo has once again proven that he's on top among the rest. He was the most applauded. The crowd cheered and sang with him.
This Boracay experience, courtesy of Smart Buddy, will soon happen in Davao City as Smart Buddy Hot Summer Samahan rocks the city on Friday at the Parking Area of SM City Davao.
So, Dabawenyos get ready to experience the hottest summer ever.
Smart Buddies in the city may join the Davao leg by loading with P30 and completing two transactions, to get the Buddy Pass -- the fully-loaded ticket to all the activities and events.
Two more transactions on-site such as E-load, MMS, wallpaper or ringtone downloads, among others, gets one a ticket to watch the bands perform live in a concert in the evening.
Non-Smart subscribers may get the brand-new Smart Buddy Barkada Trio Pack for only P150. The trio pack entitles one to receive three Summer Samahan Tags and join the party and enjoy the concert at night.
The pack includes three SIM cards, all entitled to the exclusive calling circle promo rate of P3/minute within the three SIMs. The Summer Samahan Tag serves as the entrance pass to the concert at night.
"As we continuously deliver quality services and offer the most exciting wireless features, we also challenge ourselves to look for way to engage our subscribers with relevant events, in places where they choose to be and with activities they will find enriching and interesting," said Bong Mojica, head of Smart's wireless consumer division.
Smart Buddy Hot Summer Samahan Year 3 will have a grand culmination in the hottest spot of the moment, Camarines Sur, on May 25.
