From where I am, I can see forever
Wh er e I am is paradise. Where I am is Kandaya. Ensconced at the northern tip of Cebu is a paradisiacal place called Kandaya Resort. It is an impressive seven- hectare haven (nestled on a 14-hectare property) in the town of Da an bantayan . Immaculate white is the color of Kandaya, which is constantly kissed by the azure blue of the sea and sky in the morning and enveloped with bright stars at night. Daytime breeze makes the resort a virtual playground for sun worshippers who kayak or snorkel in its waters or swim in its infinity pool. When nighttime settles, one’s soul is invoked to settle, too — either by the poolside for a yoga session or by the bar at the Kusina restaurant for a shot of martini or a glass of mojito.
Man and nature are the conduits of joy and excellence that reside in Kandaya. The imprint of God at the resort is indelible — present in every beautiful sunrise and sunset that mesmerize the guests, felt in the ripples and waves that lap the shore of the resort, savored in the sweet embrace of the Kandaya air.
Martin Salimbangon Yeung is the man who connived with nature to bring forth the beauty of Kandaya so it will be easy for others to discover this haven and be enamored by the partnership between mortal and divinity. Martin, the gentleman son of Mariquita and Carlos Yeung and the romantic husband of Claudia Bezerra de Souza, is a go-getter dreamer whose focused determination always results in the fruition of whatever he lays his hands on. “It is in Kandaya’s mission to be a brand leader in active and fun hospitality. We do it by pioneering a new wave of inspirational and personal experiences at the resort. We aim to enrich the lives of like-minded people. We involve the local community in our pursuit of excellence. And we always remember to protect the environment we live in,” says Martin.
The resort, Martin explains, is named after Kandaya, the legendary chieftain and protector of Daanbantayaan.
Martin’s determination to share Kandaya to the world is solid, unflinching even in times of challenges, the biggest of which was the Super Typhoon Yolanda in November 2013. The resort, informs Martin, was already ready to welcome guests when Yolanda struck the area. With clockwork precision, Martin and his men did major reconstruction at the resort. Late last year, the resort started to embrace its guests to a taste of paradise in Kandaya.
The resort has 40 rooms. Of these, 18 rooms are housed in the main building of the resort while 22 are villa accommodations. There are four types of villas — Garden Villas, which offer guests a view of their own private landscaped garden; the Garden Pool Villas, each with a private pool; the Beach Pool Villas with a private swimming pool and outdoor garden; and the Ocean Pool Villas each with its own private infinity swimming pool and a direct access to the white sand beach of the resort.
At the moment, Kandaya has only one dining outlet named Kusina. Dining at Kusina is an epicurean treat. Entrees like Tamarind-glazed pork belly, pastrami of Parrot fish and Scallops with fennel gel, squid ink emulsion, tomato olive dressing and crisp pancetta become more enjoyable and sumptuous when served with a smile by the restaurant staff. Kusina is a stateof-the art restaurant that bears what appears like humongous inverted bird’s nest wooden structures as dining coves.
Because it is a paradise, expect the spa at Kandaya to bring your body and soul joy and relaxation. It’s best visited after a friendly game of tennis (yes, the resort has a tennis court), a day of MMA (yes, the resort has a mixed martial arts area) or simply a day at the sea (diving is best done at the Kandaya property in Malapascua, an island 25 minutes away via speedboat).
Traditional healing modalities are among the techniques used by the trained masseuses at the Kandaya spa. The spa at the resort is a paradise within a paradise — from its comely layout to its calming scent. In every gentle or dexterous pampering you get from the therapist is a pass to dreamland. You wake up rejuvenated; your spirit inspired.
“What are you supposed to say about a paradise?” former President now Manila Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada tells me when asked of his thoughts of the resort during its opening. Estrada, a close friend of the Yeungs and a lover of beauty, seems lost for words in describing the beauty of Kandaya that nurtures him that moment.
You enter Kandaya with excitement and joy in your heart after a 25-minute private chopper ride or a two-and-a-half-hour scenic drive from Cebu City. It is the same joy that is sustained throughout your stay. You leave Kandaya a fulfilled traveler but you know the wanderlust in you will yearn to return. And you just have to give in to the wishes and whims of your heart.