Heavenly surprises
MANILA, Philippines - Like a heaven cradled in fiery ocean — that’s how I would describe the point we were in on that one cold November night when the gracious people from Club Punta Fuego treated us to a fabulous dinner. In fact, the name itself, Punta Fuego, is a Spanish verse for “point of fire.”
Divine would be an understatement for that night, as evidenced by the collective joyful sigh uttered by our media group as the breathtaking view of the West Philippine Sea was presented to us in full vivid sunset colors while we ascended to one of the elevated locations in the resort — in the middle of a golf course, no less. The darkness was setting in, yet the light spectacle was only starting to unfold. Not of fireworks but of yellow, orange and magenta colors slicing through the horizon, of sunset hues painting a flaming reflection on the water, of lamps and candles flickering in romantic glow under the makopa tree, and of the full moon above directing it all.
“This dinner is my dream for a long time,” Mikel Arriet, general manager for Club Punta Fuego, tells us over that memorable dinner. Arriet says he’s been planning this type of dinner surprise for quite awhile.
And it was a surprise, indeed. But this much I could say for certain: that was not the first awe-gasping surprise of the day. Nor would it be the last.
The first of these surprises is a minute-long ride in the golf cart to our room at the main club at Peninsula de Punta Fuego. We could have easily walked from the reception area to our room, but the golf cart driver reasoned that Club Punta Fuego prides itself in pampering its members and their guests. Another thing the resort is proud of is the maintenance of privacy and exclusivity of the club’s members. “I don’t know if it’s the largest but it is the most exclusive,” Dani Aliaga, director of operations for Fuego Hotels, proudly says.
In fact, Arriet shares that one of the things he doesn’t tolerate is when a famous member or guest stays at the resort and staff would surround that celebrity. “We’re not like that, we’re professionals, and celebrities come here to relax. We want to give them their privacy,” he says. He adds that they screen everyone applying for membership. “To make sure that the security, you know, is guaranteed,” he says.
Indeed, even the open spacious bathrooms of the 33 casitas that lead to an open pocket garden will not give out one’s privacy, nor will the 16 suites designed to overlook the resort’s double infinity pool.
But perhaps the only stalker that the members of Club Punta Fuego would have to deal with is the sea — because the sea watches over them all the time, greeting each member throughout the day and making its presence pretty much known to everyone.
In fact, another surprise for that day was spent at the sea, an early afternoon of cruising and dining on one of the luxurious yachts docked at the club’s Yacht Club. Sailing is one of the favorite recreations of the members and guests of Club Punta Fuego in Nasugbu, Batangas because not every resort offers this luxury.
“I think the unique characteristic and the one that differentiates us the most is we have a marina. I think it’s very nice considering we’re only two hours away from Manila,” Aliaga points out.
Another distinctive feature of Club Punta Fuego is the golf course. “You don’t have many golf courses that are by the sea. So you have a great view, a short course but very challenging,” Aliaga says.
It was in this golf course that we had that amazing dinner, in which a hefty serving of steak cooked by chef Cefri Aviñante was the main course.
Aside from sailing and golf, other activities available to members and their guests are tennis, squash, beach volleyball, billiards and mini golf. At the resort’s Lower Beach, there are amenities for speedboat, kayak, jetski, banana boat, wingtube and wakeboard.
Club Punta Fuego also hold yearly events, like the annual regatta, which, according to Arriet and Aliaga, is their favorite. Aliaga says, “This December, we’ll have the 11th Punta Fuego Regatta. It’s an amazing event, very fun, great event because it is a sailing event, so it’s a very unique one.”
And as Club Punta Fuego satisfies one’s hunger for physical activities, the Club will also satisfy one’s appetite. Three distinct restaurants in Club Punta Fuego promises to do just that, namely the San Diego Restaurant, the Member’s Lounge and Il Jardineto.
In Terrazas de Punta Fuego, a beach destination 10 minutes away from the main club, we had yet another dining surprise. Fresh from the soothing massage after a quick dip at the Turtle Pool, we were greeted with a sumptuous lunch — including delicious lobsters bought from the local fishermen — prepared at one of the 28 cabanas. In fact, Arriet shares that they not only buy from the fishermen to help augment their income, but the Club also supports a foundation that focuses mainly on sea conservation.
Arriet says, “Now, our advocacy is to save the ocean. But what we also do is to teach the barangay children how to take care of the sea.” He adds, “The new generation is going to be conscious of the sea.”
Asked what he likes the best in Club Punta Fuego, Arriet says, “The place, the people. I feel very comfortable here. I love the tropical weather, the sunset is amazing; but last night was the moon. You have the sunset, you have the moon. It’s a combination of so many factors.”
As we were almost done with lunch, someone asked Pia de Villa of Fuego Hotels why she hadn’t touched her lobster. “Oh, that is my finale,” she says. With the cool breeze of the beach humming around us, the blue and clear sea in front of us, my tan reminding me of the sail cruise and the dinner the day before, indeed, the lobster lunch from that trip reminded us what a great finale it was.
(Club Punta Fuego is a membership resort club located at Nasugbu, Batangas. For more details on the membership, call 751-4027 or visit its website at www.clubpuntafuego.com.ph.
For corporate reservations, call Fuego Hotels and Properties at 553-8888 or visit its website at www.fuegohotels.com.)
