In order for your building to become interesting, it has to exude a certain kind of personality. If you collect and display what represents your experience, character, interests, and individuality, you create an ambiance that extends the depth and beauty of your soul.

The Design

This realization from the book, Creating a Beautiful Home by Alexandra Stoddard, is apparently portrayed by JaFe Surf and Sail Camp Resort, our abode for four days in Pacifico, Siargao Island in December 2013. Before getting to the place, our friends Jen and Shal assured us we will find the displays uniquely pleasant, but we couldn't exactly figure out what they meant until we got off the habal-habal and saw what most people would consider 'trash' all over the open pavilion.

Look up!

We usually conclude that garbage should be segregated and thrown into the bin, but not the amiable owners of the resort. Jack and Ferelyn, in which JaFe was derived, thought they could create something extraordinary out of the junk. So as we walk passed the enormous pointing hand sculpture at the entrance, we saw plate numbers, signs, posters, shoes, and maps hung or nailed on the left side and surf boards, masks, treasure chest, photos of random people on the right.

Stones, photos, masks and surfboards

"The architect said we can get all the materials to decorate this building on this island," Jack eagerly explained to me. This explains why most of the ornaments are locally sourced: bamboo chandeliers, stone stage wall, drift wood furniture, timbao (a type of bamboo) frames and moldings, shell or recycled plastic curtains, water bottles crafted into flowers, coconut shells turned into garden mushrooms, winnowing baskets serving as canvas, etc. The creative list just goes on and on; every nook and cranny (and their mini-van too) is embellished with anything that tickles your curiosity, opens up your senses, and prompts your ingenuity.

Coconut mushrooms

During our stay in the northern part of Siargao, we got stuck in this resort for a day due to the rainy weather. I felt relieved we checked in at Jafe Resort because it gave me time to look around and check the details, helped the staff paint some Japanese fans for their Christmas party, and took a book from their pile and read it on a native hammock with the sea breeze swinging it. I was on a vacation indeed!

Art session!

The Owners

"What made you pick a butterfly?" I asked Jack about his tattoo.

"I was going around Costa Rica when a blue morpho rested on me. Our guide said I must be a lucky guy because this type of insect is naturally shy," he recalled.

That was just one of the stories I heard from Jack, a New Yorker who decided to settle in the Philippines with Ferelyn. He used to be a fifth grade teacher, the most probable reason why his childlike, spontaneous, and worry-free disposition is so evident every time he entertains guests. His humor brought in the thrill in his tales on how he preserved a sea snake, dealt with a bully student, or shared any episode in his life. This open-minded man serves as the art director and uniform designer of the resort. In some instances, he works as the chef, too.
Ferelyn, on the other hand, is one of the most supportive wives I've ever met. Her experience as a RAFI (Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc.) museum staff in Cebu helped her appreciate her husband's ideas and become an outstanding host. To complement with Jack's skills, she takes charge of the accounting, marketing, and other technical sides of running a business. Having lived in Siargao for about seven years, she could also answer questions about the island, and its major tourist spots.

Ferelyn (behind the yellow table) packing goods for the Christmas party with the resort staff

Putting up JaFe resort wasn't part of their plan. Jack and Ferelyn just used to visit the latter's sister, a resident of Siargao, for a short break from time to time. They decided to purchase the beach side lot only when its owner got sick and needed financial assistance. Since then, they fell in love with the sea breeze from the east and mountain breeze from the west. They described the area as exhilarating, refreshing, and free from the noise and air pollution of a metropolis.

Ferelyn and Jack, the power couple

I would admit that I fell in love with the place even more because I fell in love with the couple. Their tandem evokes inspiration; that feeling you experience once but lasts a lifetime. One night at the resort, Ferelyn taught Jack how to use the DVD player. When Jack could finally play some music, he danced as if there was a disco ball above him. When Ferelyn saw it, she did the same thing in front of me. I couldn't help but smile at their cute performance and silliness. On my way back to the room, I wondered how many couples crazily danced that night.

The Rooms

What to Eat