Philippines’ Boracay island reopens after 6-month cleanup

The island resort was vacated for six months, as hundreds of commercial establishments were demolished under the rehabilitation. (Courtesy DENR Facebook)
Updated 16 October 2018
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Philippines’ Boracay island reopens after 6-month cleanup

  • Public opening is set on Oct. 26
  • The cleanup drive took six months, but officials estimated two years for full rehabilitation

DUBAI: Boracay, the Philippines’ world-famous island resort, has reopened for a test run after it was temporarily closed for a cleanup operation led by the Philippine government, CNN reported.

The test run involved a small group of tourists, who were invited to try the newly improved facilities of the resort off the main island of Aklan.

One of the main improvements done in the island was its sewerage system, which Philippine Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu confirmed as “100 percent” complete.

But while the beaches were signed off as safe for recreational activities, officials said that full rehabilitation could still take up to two years.

The cleanup, which lasted six months, started in April after Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte called the area a “cesspool” because of unclean waters.

Reforms have already taken place in the 6-month duration of the rehabilitation work, and officials have greenlighted a public opening on Oct. 26.

New rules

The government has set firmer regulations to maintain Boracay, including limiting the number of tourists allowed to stay on the island.

According to local media, only 19,000 tourists will be able to enter the island on the condition they present hotel reservation slips. Further, availability of hotel rooms will also be reduced to between 6,000 and 9,000 from a previous 12,000.

Other rules have been announced such as the temporary suspension of all water activities, prohibition of beachside dining, banning of souvenir shops and hawkers, among others.

Officials vowed to implement these rules as the island opens for tourists.


Rhea Seehorn opts for Elie Saab look in Los Angeles

Updated 11 January 2026
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Rhea Seehorn opts for Elie Saab look in Los Angeles

DUBAI/ LOS ANGELES: US actress Rhea Seehorn attended this weekend’s American Film Institute Awards Luncheon in Los Angeles in a monochrome look by Lebanese designer Elie Saab.

The “Pluribus” and “Better Call Saul” actress opted for an ankle-length daytime dress from Saab’s Pre-Fall 2025 collection that featured a sharp collar, cap sleeves and two pockets placed on the bodice.

She was dressed by celebrity stylist Jessica Paster, who regularly works with the liked of Emily Blunt and Quinta Brunson.

US actress Rhea Seehorn attended this weekend’s American Film Institute Awards Luncheon in Los Angeles in a monochrome look by Lebanese designer Elie Saab. (Getty Images)

Other attendees at the luncheon event included Leonardo DiCaprio, Ryan Coogler, Timothee Chalamet and George Clooney.

According to The Associated Press’s Jonathan Landrum Jr., the institute celebrated the collaborative nature of film and television by honoring creative teams — in front of and behind the camera.

Inside the ballroom on Friday there were no acceptance speeches in the traditional sense and no suspense over envelopes. Instead, the AP reported, AFI’s ceremony unfolded as a series of thoughtfully written tributes: eloquent rationales for each honored film and television program, followed by brief clips designed to place the year’s work within a broader cultural and artistic context.

Films honored include “Avatar: Fire and Ash,” “Bugonia,” “Frankenstein,” “Hamnet,” “Jay Kelly,” “Marty Supreme,” “One Battle After Another,” “Sinners,” “Train Dreams” and “Wicked: For Good.”

Television shows recognized were “Adolescence,” “Andor,” “Death by Lightning,” “The Diplomat,” “The Lowdown,” “The Pitt,” “Severance,” “The Studio” and “Task.”

Closing the ceremony was US comedian and actress Carol Burnett, who delivered AFI’s annual benediction, celebrating the honorees’ achievements while reflecting on her own lifelong love of cinema and television.

“I’ve never lost the deep respect and love that I have for all the stories we tell through cinema and television and by all of those behind and in front of the camera,” Burnett said. “Creative collaboration has always remained at the heart of our work, and AFI brings us all together. The world is a better place for having heard your voices.”

The luncheon also featured AFI’s signature March of Time video montage, a sweeping look at cinematic and television milestones from decades past, situating this year’s honorees within the evolving history of the medium.