BORACAY - Strobe lights, loud music, and cheering crowds lit up parts of Boracay on Tuesday evening as some locals and expats continued the “Laboracay” tradition despite the island’s 6-month rehabilitation shutdown.

“Laboracay” refers to the labor day week when Boracay’s White Beach is turned into a prime party strip that caters to throngs of tourists who drink and dance the night away along the 4-kilometer white sand coast.

Some resorts still celebrate ‘Laboracay’ for remaining tourists in the island. | @ANCALERTS @ABSCBNNews pic.twitter.com/ajT59YWv1f

— Kat Domingo (@_katrinadomingo) May 1, 2018

This year, the few partygoers went to at least 3 bars in Stations 1 and 2 to drink, dance, and dine with their friends and reminisce previous Labor Day extravaganzas here.

“Mas masaya ‘yung ‘Laboracay’ dati kasi sa beach mismo nagpaparty and mas maraming tao,” 26-year-old Eva Lopez who joins annual parties here told ABS-CBN News.

(‘Laboracay’ in the previous years were more fun because we were partying by the beach and there were more people.)

“Pero okay na rin itong ganitong party kesa wala,” she said.

(But this party is better than nothing.)

German Jenny Heyn said she preferred the more intimate celebrations this year than the island’s all-out bash in the past.

“I love it because it’s just locals here and some expats. It’s a celebration for us ‘leftovers,’” she said referring to the remaining tourists here.

Revellers, however, had to pay more for drinks and bar chow at these small parties.

“I’m just disappointed that they charge too much for the drinks. I ordered a rum-cola. It used to be P80 per glass, now I had to pay P220. That’s too much,” Heyn said.