Bolinao, Pangasinan – “Birdland!” This is what couple Michael Parayno and Joanna Ledesma described their charming place along the shores of Bolinao fronting the West Philippine Sea.
Literally and figuratively, it’s a bird’s paradise and sanctuary for lovers and nature lovers as well.
Michael “Birdman Mike” and Joanna, transformed their two-hectare beachfront land in Barangay Arnedo into a coastal paradise. As wild birds of various species are frequent visitors, they decided to name it “Birdland Beach Club”.
“Birds’ chirping early in the morning as the sun rises coupled with the cool breeze from the sea relaxes your stressed mind,” remarks a guest couple from Manila.
Michael was born in the Philippines, but was uprooted during his formative years when his parents – his father is a doctor and his mother is a nurse, migrated to the US. His love for history led him to take up Asian and American history at University of Berkeley, California, where he became a professor for a little over two decades up until his retirement in 2015.
After several years of being away, Michael came home. In one occasion, he met Joanna, 20 years his junior. There was a connection, a thunderbolt! And, luck has it; he finally gave up his single blessedness and decided to permanent stay in the country.
As both believed that this quaint town away from the city noise is a good place to start a family, the couple decided to buy a parcel of beachfront property with a breathtaking view and transform it into their own little hidden paradise.
On April 2016, the couple opened Birdland to public.
“Unlike other resorts with complete amenities, we can only offer the beauty of nature at its best,” says Michael.
“We are not into big profit. We just need to get enough income to sustain our staffs and us so that we can maintain the environmental pureness of our place,” adds Joanna, who definitely know the business having worked in well known resort South of Luzon as sales and marketing agent.
Nature tripping is the main attraction of this resort – situated near a fish sanctuary in Bolinao, guests have choice – go snorkeling and/or diving; visit the enchanted Cave, or take a dip at the Bolinao Falls.
Or go around the town on a unique bamboo tricycle handmade by Michael.
“Who wants an infinity pool when you have infinity beach,” says Joanna.
“We don’t expect all people to appreciate our place. This place is for those people who understand and love nature, we want our guest to appreciate nature as is, not through man-made aesthetics but through real works of nature, we wanted them to be preserver of nature and not consumer of it,” quips Michael, an environmentalist.
“This is our home and we just wanted to share this piece of paradise to all those nature-loving people.”
