Boracay is known as an island paradise because of its powder white beaches and crystal blue water, tropical palms and flowering plants, and a healthy marine life under the seas. Boracay is the Beach Capital of the Philippines and is one the major destinations / tourist spots in the world. In fact, Boracay is often called "the world's most beautiful tropical island."
Boracay is one of a cluster of islands of Panay in the Western Visayas region of the Philippines. It is a small bone-shaped island located approximately 200 kilometers south of Manila. Boracay is part of the municipality of Malay in the province of Aklan. It is comprised of three barangays called the Manoc-Manoc, the Balabag, and the barangay of Yapak. Yapak lies in the north, Balabag in the center and Manoc-Manoc in the south. Within these barangays are smaller villages such as Angol, Manggayad and Bolabog. Boracay is under the administrative control of the Department of Tourism(DOT) in coordination with the Provincial Government of Aklan. Boracay island is only about seven kilometers long and 1083 hectares. The center of the Island, where the population of about 16,000 people(as of 2006), is concentrated, is flat and narrow. Both the Southern and northern ends of the island are wider and hilly, with the highest point, Mount Luho which is about 100 meters high is located in the northeast.
Boracay was then called "Land of the Atis" because the first settlers of the island are the Negritos or Atis. The Negritos farmed and fished in Boracay for centuries. During the 1940's and 1950's, the Boracaynons or the people of Boracay, depended largely on fishing and coconut plantation. Copra, the dried meat of coconut, was traded to businessmen from Aklan in exchange for rice and other goods and commodities.
In the 1960's and 1970's, Boracay became popular among families from Panay. When a German writer published a book about the Philippines in 1978, describing Boracay history and the beautiful island in details, the island was introduced to the world. This mark the beginning of tourist "boom" with tourist.
Since then, The onset of tourism changed Boracay completely. As word of its exceptional beauty--specifically the immaculate white sands of White Beach spread, tourists began arriving. Suddenly, from a sleepy, sparsely populated island, Boracay was transformed into a major destination on the international travel circuit. Whether the change was for the better or worse is an open question, but it was certainly a turning point in the history of Boracay Island.
