There’s no lack of adulation for Coron as a top Philippine vacation destination. Ask any travel-hungry Filipino – or even any foreigner sojourning in the Philippines for that matter – what are in his travel bucket list, and this sought-after destination in the northern reaches of Palawan, which in itself is internationally heralded as among the world’s most beautiful islands, would most likely figure in that list. With its pristine azure waters bejeweled with magnificent marine life, as well as with historic sunken World War II warships, and stunning seascapes of emerald islands bristling with lofty limestone cliffs, Coron, offers a plethora of nature activities and is undeniably an enchanting adventure playground.

An escape to Coron is a true treat in itself, and while one may find many options as to where to stay in this idyllic getaway town, one boutique resort stands out as an equally idyllic hideaway place. Situated in Sitio Jolo and just a 30-minute or so scenic drive from Coron’s Francisco B. Reyes Airport is The Funny Lion. It is a property handled by the One-Of Collection hotel management group which operates several other highly rated hotels such as Amorita Resort and Momo Beach House in Bohol and Santa Monica Beach Club in Dumaguete. The Funny Lion offers guests a luxuriously intimate haven insulated from the busy and crowded town center.

This November of 2019, The Funny Lion celebrated its fifth anniversary, holding a special dinner with invited guests from the local government, fellow industry practitioners, community stakeholders and the media. It was a sumptuous affair, attended to by The Funny Lion’s representatives, including CEO Nikki Cauton, COO Lyba Godio, chief of strategy Joy Ann Denoga-Bautista, director for marketing Kata Agamata, and resort manager Michael Mahinay. They looked back at the resort’s history and traced its growth.

BEING REGAL MEANS GIVING BACK
It’s quite funny how the funny name of The Funny Lion came to be. It all started when Cauton and his family visited the Calauit Safari Park, a wildlife sanctuary on Calauit island, which is similarly located within the northern region of Palawan. The park is home to giraffes, zebras and other large African mammals which were translocated there during the Marcos era. Nikki’s son wondered though why there were no lions, and it was from this lack of lions, or perhaps from the whimsical fancy to complete Palawan’s collection of African animals, that the resort’s name was conjured up.

Since its establishment, The Funny Lion has admirably built a reputable name for itself, delivering an impeccable one-of-a-kind array of experiences for its guests. Yet more admirable than its success in the business is the resort’s advocacy in helping the local communities of Coron better the lives of its stakeholders. The Funny Lion has carried out literacy development and nutrition programs for local school kids, in cooperation with the non-government organization Advancement for Rural Kids, as well as espoused eco-friendly practices in the operations of the resort and supported local livelihoods through patronage of local products.