BY MIKE ORTEGA LIGALIG

Long before a new international airport becomes operational in this crowd-magnet island town, an upcoming world-class resort presenting itself as a leisure village mall with its amenities and facilities promised by the developer to be unmatched and unprecedented, will soon rise in Panglao and will be baptized as “the Destination of all Destinations” in Bohol. The multi-billion peso project of Monorealty Incorporated is fondly named as “Modala” (aka Panglao Bay Resort), a Visayan word which means “to bring,” had its groundbreaking and blessing of the jobsite yesterday in Barangay Doljo, Panglao. Attended by the province's political bigwigs and renowned architects, businessmen and investors from various parts of the globe, the groundbreaking of Modala was seen as a strong confirmation that Bohol retains its irresistible investment charm despite last year's devastating earthquake. Panglao Bay Resort is a leisure village mall packed with “active lifestyle destination, where one can enjoy fine white sand and lush greenery. Once the project is completed, guests and visitors would be able to experience 700 meters of hip, fun, and exciting resort destination bliss with 47-room village and two levels of unique retail spaces,” Monorealty said in its corporate flyer.

According to Monorealty Inc., “Modala's design is clean and contemporary with a touch of local influence located in a green and natural environment.” Months ago, the Bohol Sunday Post was already tipped off the project through Monorealty Inc. consultant Elvieh Sarmiento, who has been in the front line of bringing Modala to the province. Yesterday's groundbreaking only confirmed what Sarmiento had been telling about in the past. The momentous event yesterday was witnessed by no less than Gov. Edgar M. Chatto, and in a rare appearance, the three congressmen in Bohol – Rene Relampagos, ArisAumentado and Art Yap – attended the groundbreaking and blessing of the project site. In full force of attendance were architects and engineers led by Engineer Manuel Mendoza, president of Monorealty and Monocrete, RizzaMaca-ibay (senior tourism officer at DOT-7 Cebu), provincial board member and lawyer VicencioArcamo, provincial administrator Ae Damalerio, RomyTeruel of Panglao Island Tourism Estate, Msgr. Jeffrey Malanog, former Panglao Mayor BenedictoAlcala, and Jorge Milanes, Doljobarangay captain designate.

Panglao Mayor Nila Montero and TagbilaranCity Mayor John GeesnellYap II had sent their representatives to witness the event yesterday. Gracing the event were group of architects from Hawaii, Vicky Wallace's Bee Farm, NenengArboleras and Ester Pon of Muro Ami Resort, guests from Canada, Singapore, Cebu and Manila, and Rommel Gonzales, president of Bohol Association of Hotels and Resorts. In his speech, engineer Mendoza revealed that he has a concept of building a place like a resort mall but Panglao has Alona and “my purpose is not to compete but to boost local tourism. So I went back to the drawing board, thought of an original concept and decided to build a leisure village mall.” Mendoza said that he has an extensive experience in construction. “I know how to build but do not have the experience to manage a Leisure Villa Mall, so I chose to get the services of the top management group in the country today,” Mendoza said, referring to Raintree Hospitality Group, which is behind Discovery Shores Boracay and the recently opened Costa Pacifica in Baler.

WATG, one of the best destination architects in the world, has been tapped for Modala, together with JSLA, a premiere local architect service. “For the interior design, since we already have the best architects we do not want to settle for anything less, we have to get the services of the best in the industry, the group of Manny Samson and Associates,” Mendoza disclosed. “To enhance the beauty of the place without compromising nature, the expertise of Architect Paulo Alcazaren of PGAA will come in, as one of the renowned urban planner and landscape architects in Asia,” noted Mendoza. The Monorealty president stressed: “We have the best of the best in their respective industries on board, and now we work together to give you the Destination of all Destinations.”