ARTICLES

 

The Hof Gorei Experience

By Jojie Alcantara for SunStar Davao (Witerary)

Photos by Rhonson Ng and Jojie Alcantara

 

When jetsetter Ms. Jeanne April Celerio-Kroelle (a relative of the late and famous Levi Celerio) decided to retire in the Island Garden City of Samal, she and her husband built a resort within 18 months to cater to foreign tourists who are looking for the peaceful island vacation but with complete amenities to their tastes. Thus, Hof Gorei Resort was born.

 

HOF GOREI got its unique foreign sounding name from a picturesque, small dairy farm in the Alps of Salzburg, Austria. Originally designed for the family’s hideaway only, the cottages were made for family guests on short holiday in Davao. However, it slowly transformed into a private beach resort for travelers and tourists.

  

Its accessibility is approximately 45 minutes by boat from the mainland Davao’s Sta. Ana pier to Kaputian, Samal right after Pearl Farm Beach Resort. The resort’s location has a mountainous terrain which affords guests an elevated view of the coastal area, the white sand beach, the Davao Gulf and the majestic Mount Apo.

 

I first met Miss April years ago during a costume party among the Fashion Designers’ Guild of Davao. She was dressed like a sexy diva that she uniquely was, accompanied by close friends Boy Guinoo and Joji Bian. Fast forward to today, when I met her again for a different reason. She invited Rhonson and I to stay overnight to discuss matters for a pictorial shoot of the entire place and the website I was to create for her.

 

We were instantly impressed with 8 different cottages tastefully done in various colored themes from her own concept and creative ideas. I created a logo for her resort using her favorite leaning hut built on a higher plateau. She had exotic animals in cages, but has two pet crows walking around the resort named Wacka and Wacky. A huge pagoda-like building with three stories stood imposingly by the hill overlooking the swimming pool. The place is still undergoing further developments including a huge boat being built on the shore, but she oversees her workers daily to fast track their tasks.

 

Miss April is a fun character whose dry sense of humor came from years of well-traveled experiences and an innate intelligence borne out of being street smart and savvy. In the recent soft opening of her resort, guests were treated to a heavy buffet meal and a musical performance. She accommodated the interview by the media, too.

 

Hof Gorei Resort provides its own boat transfers for easy and comfortable access once you book reservations. For more information, visit the site www.hofgorei-resortdavao.com.

 

Ms. April Kroelle being interviewed by the media