What a pleasant surprise Matinloc Resort in Palawan turned out to be! Reading Trip Advisor reports before the trip, Andre and I were alarmed at all the negative comments guests had about food. So much so that we loaded up on goodies just in case we got disappointed. Upon arriving at the airport, Beth, the resort coordinator, was already aware of our apprehension on the quality of the food. She informed us that their kitchen staff knew of our apprehension.

Arriving at the resort way past lunch, Chef Mel himself came up and introduced himself saying he had brief stints at several restaurants in Boracay, including making gelato at the famous Aria. After which he said he would prepare an off-the-menu lunch for us. And it was good! He whipped up a chicken calzone oozing with mushrooms, cheese and black olives.

The next day, Chef Mel prepared another customized meal of fresh squid stuffed with mushroom, zucchini, and cheese served with mashed sweet potato, grilled corn, eggplant, broccoli and honey amaretto reduction. Adding cheese to the stuffing was Andre’s idea.

Breakfast buffet was simple but good. What stood out to our amazement was discovering genuine buttery flaky croissants on the island which we enjoyed with blueberry, raspberry, and orange marmalade, alongside freshly brewed cappuccino.

Chef Mel was gone on our third day, but Chef Sherwin took over preparing our late lunch on our third day. He prepared a dish of three prawns on an omelette bed sprinkled with black sesame seeds, a trio of crunchy vegetable tempura wrapped in nori, steamed vegetables, with a choice of Japanese curry or soy sauce dip. It was as delicious as it was pretty to look at.

Matinloc boasts of powdery white sand on a short beach cradled by limestone cliffs. At one end of the beach was a tall round wooden cabaña with thatched roofing, while the other end had a long cement pier jutting out to the water where boats docked for arriving and departing guests. Lounging chairs with baby blue umbrellas line half the beach, while an infinity pool invites guests to come in for a cooling swim.

While relaxing on the lounge chair, I was so inspired by the view of sea, sky, sand and rock, that I took out my paints and brushes and started to paint. Andre asked me how the lone yucca tree on top of the rock formation got there. A bird, I guess.

Time passed quickly, and I did not notice that my right side was under the sun all the time I was painting, hence, my half a tan! The next day, we made sure we sprayed on suntan protection. It was so potent that I now have white zebra stripes on my arms, while the rest of me is tanned. Hilarious!

Fronting the beach was the sole circular restaurant outlet where meals were served. Its tall open windows allowed guests to enjoy nature’s beauty: the sparkling blue water, the clear blue sky, the pristine sand and the far off islands in the horizon, not to mention the fresh sea breeze and the sound of waves gently hitting the shore. A wooden deck surrounded the restaurant with outdoor plastic wicker chairs and tables under coconut trees.

Large deluxe cabins faced the beach. From the beach, one could see cabins perched high on the hillside with a fantastic view of the sea. Wooden steps led up to these cabins, some requiring more than 200 steps. The builders ensured the cabins were nature-friendly, as many of them were wrapped around tree trunks. Why, there was even a tree house by the garden. At the back of our building, they were building a funicular to bring guests up to the highest cabins. We could just imagine how difficult it would be to go up and down those steps.

Our room, thankfully, was on the first floor of a three story building facing the garden. It was roomy, high-ceilinged with wide wooden planks as flooring, and a separate changing room. A canopied king-sized bed decked with thin billowy netting lent a romantic air to the room. Airconditioning was faultless, amenities first class, and the bed super comfy.

If there is anything they need to improve on is their weak and spotty wifi, as this was possible only by the front desk or at the pier. There was no signal in the room or at the beach.

The staff were very friendly, and the service was warm and consistent. Special mention to K-Zy, Jay-ar and Hannah of Reservations and Front Desk, Beth who met us at the airport, Nelyn and Weng of F&B, and Jocer of Marine Sports.

It was truly a most enjoyable respite, and one we would love to go back to. Next time, we may even opt for the highest cabin with its spectacular view, that is, if the funicular is already working.