Boracay summers are famous for events that feature lots of fun and excitement and this year is no exception as the celebrated island paradise once again played host to what is undoubtedly summer’s biggest and most successful event -- NESTEA Beach 2007.

The four-day event marks the 11th year of NESTEA Beach, which gets hotter and tougher with each staging. The event was graced by the country’s finest beach volley athletes, the most beautiful faces and bodies and top honchos from the corporate world.

On hand to welcome everyone to the summer hotspot was Malay Mayor Ceciron Cawaling, who was joined by Nestlé executives led by Nestlé SVP and business executive manager Eugene David, Nestlé AVP and NESTEA consumer marketing manager Tina Samaco, Nestlé AVP and head of group brand activation Raymond Villaflor, NESTEA assistant brand activation manager Gabby Posadas, NESTEA brand activation specialist Ronald Chuacokiong, and NESTEA category manager Pyrus de la Cruz.

Also on hand were Philippine Volleyball Federation secretary general and beach volley commission chairman Otie Camangian, Villa de Oro Boracay Beach Resort Hotel VP for administration Pablo Siwa-Belardo, Boracay Mandarin Island Hotel general manager Rick Lopez, Publicis Manila business unit director Charmaine Campañer and executive vice president Ronald Barreiro.

The Boracay event attracted droves of holidaymakers and beach volley fans alike. From 48 teams from 34 colleges and universities nationwide that competed in the eliminations at La Salle Green Hills, 18 teams from 17 schools made it to the semis and final rounds in sunny Boracay. All teams competed for a total of over a million pesos in prizes, with Gabshar Tahiluddin and Yusop Abdulkarim of Mindanao State University Tawi-Tawi winning the men’s title and Janez Armie Igot and Jusabelle Brillo of University of the Visayas taking the women’s crown. Champion teams received P150,000 cash each with their respective coaches taking home a cool P50,000 cash prize as well.

One of the many highlights of NESTEA Beach 2007 were the celebrity matches which were played over the course of two scorching yet utterly exciting days. It featured stirring action from the country’s hottest personalities who played their hearts out under Boracay’s sweltering yet splendid sunshine.

Exhibiting superior beach volley skills were TV personalities Geoff Rodriguez and Tisha Silang, Nestlé’s Andrew Neri and Publicis Manila’s Mondo Armedilla as they outplayed TV personalities Sam Oh and Iya Villania and columnists JR Isaac and Philip Cu-Unjieng to clinch the NESTEA Beach 2007 Celebrity Match Championship.

Other celebrities who took part in the beach volley celebrity matches were TV personalities Brad Turvey, Nancy Castiglione, Karel Marquez, Luis Manzano and Reema Chanco as well as models Bubbles Paraiso, Robby Mananquil, Valerie de los Santos and columnist Amiel Cabanlig.

Further adding spice to this year’s NESTEA Beach 2007 was a series of pumping parties that began with a welcome dinner at Villa de Oro Boracay. Next evening, it was time for a party cum fashion show at Boracay Mandarin Island Hotel, which featured the coolest island wear by Boracay-based designer PJ Arañador. The following evening, everyone chilled out at Summer Place, where Kadangyan performed their cool ethno music.

The ultimate party however was held at Crystal Sand, where the much-anticipated victory party was held. Hosted by TV personalities Brad Turvey, Nancy Castiglione and Karel Marquez, the event was deluged by throngs of people who arrived earlier than scheduled, all of them eager to enjoy another lively and wacky performance from Parokya ni Edgar.

All-girl quartet Wake Up Your Seatmate opened the concert by doing a rendition of their catchy tunes, including the song “Get In It,” which is the official NESTEA Beach 2007 summer theme. Parokya ni Edgar soon followed, which had the crowd extremely excited as the madcap band performed their popular hits. Vocalist Chito Miranda also had the audience in stitches with his spiels when he lightly parodied the country’s other popular bands. Up and coming band Playground then wrapped up the concert with their unique brand of music to put a fitting and smashing end to a very successful event.

NESTEA knows that parties are more fun if it is done responsibly, which is why it also embarked on a beach clean-up campaign in Boracay’s stations 1 and 2.

Celebrities like Brad Turvey, Nancy Castiglione and Sam Oh were generous with their time as they joined in the clean-up efforts that was also participated in by divers, island residents, resort owners and tourists, who enthusiastically picked up pieces of trash that, if left uncollected, could ruin Boracay’s pristine coastline.

Without doubt, NESTEA again proved that it knows how to throw a party that’s fun, exciting and memorable as NESTEA consistently sets the benchmark for all summer parties. Looking ahead, one can’t help but be excited at what the official drink of summer has in store for everyone. Whatever it is, it’s surely going to be one heady summer mix of excitement, entertainment and fulfillment.

NESTEA Beach 2007 was sponsored by Speedo, Mikasa, Villa de Oro Boracay Beach Resort Hotel, Boracay Mandarin Island Hotel, Boracay Gold Crowne Club, Microtel Inns and Suites Boracay, Hey! Jude @ D’ Mall, D’ Mall D’ Boracay, La Salle Green Hills, Schering Plough Coppertone, Crystal Sand and Nautilus by PJ Arañador.