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- EDD K. USMAN | Twitter: @edd1819 | Instagram: @bluestar0910 | Facebook: SDN — SciTech and Digital News
ELYSIAN SANDS BEACH RESORT, Dipacula0, Aurora (SDN) — Along a stretch of seven kilometers of white sand here in Luzon’s northeastern part, there are more than 50 resorts dotting the coastal length.
Arguably, many resort owners could have in their mind earning money from their business venture, while a few others did it because they love the sea. Cool breeze, calming blue sea, little waves in perpetual motion. Or just plain loving an expanse of water that does not seem to have an end.
At least a couple resort owners, 55 years old Wilfredo “JunJun” Sore, Jr. and his wife, Maria Wenda Saez, belong to the latter kind. Especially, JunJun. Of which he gladly recalled to SDN — SciTech & Digital News on December 30-31, 2023. A stretch of three days and two nights at the Elysian Sands. If you are wondering what’s “Elysian”, he said it is Greek for “Paradise”.
In his younger days, JunJun traveled a lot, including to Greece. “I love to travel. I went to Greece. I love mythology,” he reminisces.
He said he made a few research while in the European country famous to tourists for its ancient Grecian historical and cultural sites and structures. Remember the Parthenon, among other wonders of Greek ingenuity!
“I wanted to know the Greek word for ‘Paradise'”. He came up with Elysium Fields (noun). Elysian is an adjective, which means “heavenly”, “joyful”, etc. According to Homer’s Greek mythology, Elysian Fields, or Elysium, “is a beautiful meadow in the Underworld where the favored of Zeus enjoy perfect happiness…the ultimate paradise a hero could achieve…basically an ancient Greek Heaven.)
The couple are natives of Gasan, Marinduque. They migrated in 2001 to Jones, Isabela province (around 93 kilometers to Elysian Sands, car travel of two hours), which he said had 11,000 population then, mostly farmers. Around 9,000 in the barrios and 2,000 living in the town proper.
JunJun told SDN they had Php35,000 they brought with them. He and his wife thought of what business they could put up with the money. He made an informal study on what’s the best to offer farmers.
“I was thinking how I can earn even just one peso from each of the residents, especially the 2,000 in the town proper. I put myself in the shoes of the farmers. They love to drink coffee in the morning.”
So, he thought of putting Php10,000 in sugar, another Php10,000 for cooking oil. The last Php10,000 the couple invested on alcoholic drinks such as gin. He thought that in the afternoon, while relaxing, farmers like to drink gin to fight off the fatigue in the farm, tilling the lands. Chilling and sipping their favorite drink.
One of his customers who frequently bought gin from their store and drunk it at their rented small space in the market for Php500 a month suggested that they also sell rice so he did not have to go to another store. They did with an initial three sacks of 75 kilos each. Later that turned into 3,000 sacks, on their way to monopolizing rice distribution in the town.
To make a long story short, a few years after, JunJun made his first million pesos. “The first one million pesos is the hardest to achieve. The next millions just follow,” he says.
More photographs of Elysian Sands:
JunJun said his childhood years in Marinduque were filled with the sight of the sea. “When I was in Grade 3, every time I wake up in the morning there was not day that I did not see the sea from elementary to high school.” He is what one may call a “thalassophile”, a person who loves the sea. “Thalassa” is Greek for sea.
He is now over two decades already in his second home province. In his 16th year of relocating to Aurora, JunJun, apparently, could no longer keep within himself his longing for the sea.
He said he missed the sea because he was born in Marinduque. He said Isabela province is all mountains, there was no way he wakes up with the sight of the sea. He said the “sea is part of his life”.
“So, when I was able to save, I looked for a (beachfront lot).” He chose the lot he had coveted in Barangay Dinadiawan, Dipaculao, because he and his wife had already seen it many times in their visits to Aurora. He bought it for Php6 million. It was full of grass. As they were clearing it of the tall grasses, he put up tents.
“I got an idea when a passersby requested to pitch a tent. ‘Yes,’ I said. “For Php200 pesos.” Every time there was a guest pitching a tent, I immediately poured back the money to buy tents. I have many tents at the end,” he says.
He said he also bought some geese (gansa) to drive away the snakes lurking in the grassy lot. The grass was so thick you can’t see the street when you stand in the white sand beach and the sea when standing in the street. In the middle of the sea and the street was the 2,000 sqm. lot.
JunJun deals with people fairly. “Fair and square in life. I don’t cut corners.”
He said he wants guests to feel Elysian Sands Beach Report is their second home away from home. The resort operator, also a proud owner of many of the high-end BMW motorcycles, emphasized that he puts premium on safety and security, and guests having their peace of mind while staying at the resort.
Of all the resorts in the seven kilometers stretch, he said Elysian Sands is the only one with a band, with night lights. Guests of other resorts of the whole stretch come to JunJun’s resort to enjoy. However, Elysian Sands values peace and quiet, thus, there is no karaoke sessions, no drinking, and intoxicated guests are frowned upon.
Elysian Sands survives double whammy: 2019 pandemic & Typhoon Ulysses
Elysian Sands caters to weddings, seminars, theme building, he pointed out, adding he limits guests at 51 persons. To avoid overcrowding and some space. Dogs and other pets not allowed.
Cottages range from Php3,00o to Php5,000 a night of stay. The Php5,000 price is for eight people. There are cottages for two, four, six guests. No restaurant, so cook your own. Many of the cottages have spaces for cooking. Elysian Sands can also help guests order food if they don’t want to cook. For extra head in a cottage, guests have to shell out Php300.
The Elysian Sands operator said when they started, he set his mind on a Php1 million budget for the structures.
Only opened formally in 2018, Elysian Sands was hit by double whammy, the coronavirus pandemic starting in 2019 and Typhoon Ulysses in November 2001. Floods from the strong typhoon’s storm surge destroyed some of the resort’s cottages and they had to be rehabilitated.
But as the pandemic eases out, business is perking up again. Best time to swim, he said, is from July to mid-October of every year as the sea’s undercurrent is mild, thus, no strong waves slamming the shore. The sea is calm, waves are hardly felt in that period.
JunJun had his share of ups and downs. His newly earned wealth entitled him to splurge on the things he loves most. In short, he became a hedonist, a pleasure seeker. He guzzled alcoholic drinks, he traveled. He bought high-end motorcycles, among others that catered to his material desire.
He said he knows “haram” (forbidden) though he is not a Muslim. He feasted on haram, he added. In short, although he is a diabetic, he nevertheless abused his body which cost him millions of pesos for hospitalization and treatment.
Incidentally, after reaching the still young age of 40, he said he “chose contentment.” So, he quit some of his business ventures, leaving only a few. His bouts with drinking turned into an existential threat that sent him to the hospital during which he had a 50-50 chance of survival.
“I was not touched by God. I was kicked by God,” the Elysian Sands Beach Resort owner recalls. That’s when he realized enough was enough of his hedonistic lifestyle.
He often says the resort is his wife’s because it is in her name. He serves only as the resort’s “CCTV”, he likes to say.
JunJun is unselfish in sharing words of wisdom, giving any listener some life lessons from his personal experiences. “This is my life, words of wisdom I happily share.”
Thousands of guests, including celebrities, since Elysian Sands Beach Resort opened in 2018 had “staycationed” here, appreciating the peace and quiet it offers.
In November 1, 2023, the beach resort opened its Infinity Pool, a stone’s throw to the beach. Elysian Sands has 13 cottages. The VIP cottages soon will have second floors.
“I want guests to feel that this is your second home away from home. If you have concern, will do the best of our ability to address it,” JunJun assures. He said many staycationers are repeat guests who keep coming back. (/)
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Editor’s Note:
My family “staycationed” at Elysian Sands Beach Resort for three days and two nights on December 30, 2023, to January 1, 2024. The eight-hour travel by car from Taguig City, Metro Manila, was all worth it, we enjoyed every minute of our stay. Just don’t expect a five-star or high-end kind of stay because Elysian Sands has basic amenities, but with its new Infinity Pool overlooking the sea. Every cottage has its own toilet. Cellular phone signals are not the strongest, ideal for those shying away from digital life for a day or two, or more. For our food, we brought some of our needs, we also went to a market not far from Elysian Sands. We brought portable gas stove. JunJun is a kind soul who personally takes care of the resort’s guests. He is meek and gentle. A person who can’t hurt a fly. He makes guests feel as welcome and comfortable as possible.