## Why Boracay Island Becomes an Ideal Place to Live: A Real-Life Example of Blue Zone Living

What is a Blue Zone? According to Healthline, a Blue Zone is a geographic area with low rates of chronic disease and high average lifespan. These places are special because of the unique lifestyle choices of local residents in diet, exercise, and community living. Boracay Island, a popular vacation destination in the Philippines, is evolving into a living example with Blue Zone characteristics.

### Why Choose Boracay Island: Not Just Sunshine and Beaches

Many people have different reasons for abandoning city life and moving to Boracay Island.

Tech nomad Kit re-evaluated his life after the pandemic. Instead of continuing to work in an office in Manila, he preferred to enjoy kite surfing—one of the most freeing physical activities—on Boracay. Similar decisions are happening repeatedly on the island.

Will, just over 50, tired of the urban pace. As a "lone wolf" in his team, he decided to move south to Boracay and fully commit to running Café Got Soul and a hotel. This commitment reflects his desire for a new life.

Dian from Cebu also took the same path. Despite opposition from friends, she found job opportunities on the island, starting from a position at Willy's and gradually rising to a management role at Levantin on Bulabog Beach, achieving a career leap.

There is also a story spanning over thirty years. Julia from Sweden volunteered at the Dela Rama Hospital in India, traveled across Asia, and finally settled in Boracay in 1989. She built her life here, now managing Lemon Café at D'Mall, Dinibeach Bar, and Diniview Mountain Resort.

### The three hallmark features of Blue Zone are realized here

**A Fluid Lifestyle**

"Everyone on the island is constantly moving, which is the core feature of a Blue Zone," Julia says. Her daily routine exemplifies this: walking along the Luho Hill trail in the morning, cycling between various businesses.

Will walks to work every day, and colleagues witness his caring for stray dogs. A jogging enthusiast maintains an 18-kilometer daily routine. There’s even an 82-year-old Japanese kite surfer still training at Bulabog Beach’s freestyle school. These spontaneous, daily physical activities are the secrets to the residents’ longevity in Blue Zones.

**Localization of the Food Chain**

"Our access to fresh fish and vegetables reflects another characteristic of Blue Zones—getting food as close to the source as possible," Julia adds. This means the menu hardly features imported steaks, replaced by local seafood and seasonal vegetables. The fresh air further enhances this quality of life.

**Community Cohesion**

Boracay’s most indispensable trait is its community spirit. When the pandemic caused many hotels to close and employees faced difficulties, Julia and other operators made collaborative decisions—sharing manpower among Jony's, The Lazy Dog, and Lemon Café. This was not out of helplessness but a demonstration of community mutual aid. Dian’s office is only five minutes’ walk from her home, further strengthening bonds between people.

### Underlying Currents: Hidden Challenges of the Island

Although Boracay appears to be an ideal Blue Zone, reality is not without its troubles.

The pandemic lockdown left deep scars in residents’ hearts. While there were no confirmed cases on the island, a sharp decline in tourists led to many businesses closing permanently. Coupled with the 2018 cleanup and the destruction caused by Typhoon in 2019, COVID-19 became the last straw for many. The island even recorded 40 suicide cases, reflecting severe survival pressures.

Some surviving hotel staff had to learn multiple skills—security, cooking, cleaning—rotating among roles. Others turned to fishing to make ends meet, but this is clearly not a sustainable long-term solution.

### Mission for Environmental Protection: Safeguarding the Future of the Island

Julia also serves as president of Friends of Flying Fox(FFF), an organization founded in 2002, composed of volunteers, wildlife experts, and returning visitors dedicated to monitoring fruit bat populations.

Bats are vital to the island’s ecology—they are responsible for 90% of reforestation efforts. But illegal hunting and unregulated development threaten their survival. FFF seeks a balance between ecological protection and development through monthly bat counts and educational activities. They oppose not development itself but unplanned, disorderly development.

### Cultural Wealth and Perseverance

"We are fortunate to live on this beautiful island; it is our home," Julia says. "The spiritual qualities of the island people and our community bonds enable us to persevere no matter what. It is this spiritual strength that drives us forward."

She emphasizes: "Caring for the island, protecting the environment, and caring for people and wildlife are always our top priorities. We practice what we preach and hope visitors can feel this commitment."

The story of Boracay ultimately is a story of choices—choosing to slow down, choosing to return to community, choosing to coexist with nature. These choices intertwine, gradually transforming a tourist destination into a Blue Zone sample, driven by the persistence and love of every resident.