Construction of Filipino Beach Cottages at Monarch Sands Beach Resort is done in the time honored tradition handed down from generation to generation. The native all around tool is the Bolo or Sundang. Used to chop, cut, pound, pry and scrape the bamboo. The Sundang comes in various shapes and sizes. The typical sundang is a 10 inch blade that is fitted to a 6 inch wooden handle. The blade it self is curved outward like a half moon axe. Fitted with a wooden sheath and tied to the waist by a thin rope. Every farmer, tradesman and fisherman carries one around his waist and no household is without one. Lasting for years, the handle becomes polished and fitted to the owners hand. A man's most prized possession his the Sundang that his grandfather carried and used to build the Beach Cottages that the call home.
The bamboo used to build the Beach cottage at Monarch Sands Beach Resort is cut from local stands of Bamboo. Using the Sundang, the bamboo is cut into 17-20 foot pieces and carried to the building site. The Sundang is used as a scrapper to clean the bamboo by scrapping off the skin and the new growth notches cut off till the bamboo is a smooth cylinder shaped log. The pieces are then placed in the sun or near the sea to dry and cure. This evaporation of liquid in the bamboo hardens it.
The pieces are then separated by their straightness and thickness. Curved or bent sections are removed.
Using a short piece of bamboo as a hammer. The Sundang is used as a chisel to split the bamboo into strips and chopped into lengths. Pieces will be selected to build the floor, of the beach cottages and to complete the beach cottages roof. Slates are placed on top of the roof tresses to tie the Nipa roofing shingles to. Cut in half pieces will be used for decorative inside walling.
Finally, a finish is applied to combat termite infestation and varnish is added to make ever thin polished.
Monarch Sands Beach Resort cottages take advantage of the cool sea breeze at night. Along with the sounds of the ocean, you have a very enjoyable island paradise vacation.
