Cora Vergel Resort: A Day of Laughter, Food, and Nostalgic Fun

Sometimes, embarking on a quest for the perfect gathering spot can feel like searching for the Holy Grail—minus the armour and quests through treacherous lands. 

Cora Vergel Resort, Tigbauan, Iloilo

​On that fateful day, three brave souls (us) piled into a compact car that seemed to defy all laws of physics on a mission: to find a New Year's gathering place for our class. Picture us like a modern-day Trio of Destiny—no sword fights, just school spirit. Our first clue came from a barangay official—who also happened to be the wildest of our former classmates—as she regaled us with tales of a resort she discovered on Facebook. 

Intrigued yet slightly skeptical (because, let's be honest, some Facebook posts can be as reliable as a cat wearing a backpack), we decided to give Cora Vergel Resort a whirl. Timing is everything, and let me tell you, hunger is an understatement upon our arrival. 

The entrance fee on weekdays? Consumable! A genius marketing strategy that has us feeling like we're buying our way into a buffet instead of a resort. We registered, with dreams of feasting dancing in our heads, and made our way to the cafeteria—which, let our taste buds be known, was not a fine dining establishment but more of a cozy nook of breakfast delights. Since breakfast was the only meal served during the week, we entered a culinary wonderland where even a gourmet connoisseur would declare: "Sure, I'll eat that!" While waiting for the rice to cook (what is this, a suspense thriller?), we roamed around snapping pictures like we were on a tourist mission to make our classmates drool with envy. As the aroma of fried goodness wafted through the air, our potato chips arrived, and let's say they did not stand a chance. They vanished faster than you could say "tapsilog." And when the "tapsilog" finally made its grand entrance—cured meat and eggs happily cohabiting—it was like a culinary concert where we were the most enthusiastic audience ever. Fueled with fries and food for thought, we gathered intel to report back to the rest of our classmates, because who doesn't want to be the insider on the latest resort gossip?

Swimming Pool, Cora Vergel Resort

​In an adventurous spirit, we ventured out to three other resorts in different towns. Each stop was like checking off items on our resort wish list, but Cora Vergel stole our hearts with its charm, diverse activities, and options tailor-made for our collective shenanigans. Now, let's talk about the weather—it rained that morning. But did we let a little liquid sunshine dampen our spirits? Absolutely not! 

Armed with three modes of transportation (and a plethora of snacks that could rival a small grocery store), we arrived, ready to feast like there was no tomorrow. Laughter bounced off the walls as we feasted on our packed delights, turning the café into a makeshift banquet hall. With the rain still falling outside, we opted for the classic fun: hanging out and talking, interspersed with a spontaneous karaoke session. Nothing breaks the ice like heartfelt renditions of "Sad Movies" followed by an ecstatic dance-off. I mean, even our octogenarian friends jumped in on the action—showing us that age is but a number, especially when there's cha-cha and limbo rock on the menu.

Eventually, some of us dove into the newly opened swimming pool while others remained behind, reveling in the harmonious chaos of karaoke. If you think swimming is just about splashing around, think again—it turned into a nostalgia fest where we floated and reminisced, making memories that would last longer than our sunburns.

When the lunch bell rang (okay, it was more of a regular notification, but let's keep the drama alive), we feasted on what could only be described as legendary: chicken "binakol", chicken lechon, seafood paella, "sotanghon, and bihon". The rice was plentiful, like confetti at a parade, because who does not understand that rice is as essential to a Filipino meal as TikTok is to procrastination? 

After lunch, we circled back to the other swimming pool near our karaoke group. The resort had not one, but two sizable pools, and the amenities were sparkling clean—truly a mark of a new and proud establishment.

As the day wound down, nobody seemed eager to leave—because why would we? We were having the time of our lives! Cora Vergel may be an inland resort, but it surely delivered happiness comparable to the best of beachfront outings. Here's to friendship, food, and a resort that turned out to be the perfect host for our laughter-filled reunion!