Old photos bring back nostalgia for Boracay locals


A set of photos is bringing back memories for residents of Boracay Island, the country’s most famous beach destination in Malay town, Aklan province.

The almost 70 photos of Boracay during the 1980s and 1990s are gaining interest after Kashia Krügel Magracia recently posted it on Facebook.

“I wanted to share the beauty of Boracay and I was hoping other people will appreciate the memories there as I did,” Kashia told Manila Bulletin.

The photos of Boracay Island during the 1980s and 1990s. (Courtesy of Kashia Krügel Magracia/Manila Bulletin)

The set of pictures culled from the family album of Kashia, a Filipino German who grew up in Boracay, depict life before the resort island became a renowned international beach destination.

There are photos of the white beach with few foreigners, a carabao and carroza, a resident roasting a lechon, the nipa hut houses, church life, and tons of get-togethers with locals drinking Coke or Pale Pilsen beer.

The 33-year-old mother and wife said the photos were meant to reconnect with the people of Boracay, where her husband Ronnie is from.

While Kashia was encouraging others to identify the persons in the photos, a familial link was unexpectedly established.

“To our surprise, my husband’s great grandfather was spotted in one of the photos,” Kashia said.

Kashia never met Dominador Coching Licerio Sr., but she had a glimpse of the man her husband knew as “Lolo Domi”.

Kashia and her family are currently residing in Germany and wanted to go back to Boracay for vacation, but found it hard with the restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It’s hard for us to plan our vacation, but we miss our family in Boracay. And of course, we miss the beach,” Kashia added.