An address situated between two coves

By MICHAEL APOSTOL

April 13, 2011, 11:14am

La Puerta Al Paraizo is situated between two coves in a secluded section of the town of Nueva Valencia in Guimaras.

GUIMARAS, Philippines -- When Helen Clarke, a Filipina entrepreneur who does business in New Zealand decided to build her own resort in Guimaras, she christened it “La Puerta Al Paraizo.”  In English, the name means “The Gateway to Paradise.” It’s an apt name for a place located in a tranquil setting. Situated along a clean, secluded white beach with crystal clear waters, Clarke’s place is one of the more prestigious resorts in Nueva Valencia in Guimaras. She admits to never having any background in hotel management but she has always loved creating dwellings that are stylish and relaxing to be in. It was Clarke herself who supervised the construction and landscaping of La Puerta.

“Putting up a resort business here is not easy,” she says. “We did encounter some problems along the way but what kept us going was the enormous potential of the location. And today, it’s the smiles from the satisfied guests that keep us going.”

The guests keep coming in, thanks in part to Clarke’s business partner who makes sure a steady stream of foreign visitors stay at the resort. The place is very inviting. After all, La Puerta is ensconced between two coves, as opposed to the single coves of most other resorts in the country.  

Clarke built several cottages within the property. Some of them come with thatched roofs while others have huge, panoramic picture windows that offer an expansive view of Guimaras Sea. The tropical theme is dominant throughout the resort. It also follows the Asian minimalist look though certain accents and touches are unmistakably Filipino.  Both the cottages as well as the main villa could very well be today’s take on the native bahay kubo. Its Filipino heritage is obvious but it comes with that clean and uncluttered look.

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The island province of Guimaras is celebrating its mango festival this week. For details, call La Puerta al Paraizo at 0926.4135970  or 0927.5079024. Or email:lapuertaalparaizo@rocketmail.com