MANILA, Philippines - Families are joyfully rediscovering a distinctly convenient and enjoyable leisure lifestyle at the exclusive Pico de Loro Beach & Country Club. The maiden leisure community within Hamilo Coast in Nasugbu, Batangas, a master-planned destination development of leisure communities, now has a whole club operating in full swing with the new team of leisure professionals to oversee its daily operations and ensure only the best service is offered to its members.
Levi Layug, the club’s general manager, is a true veteran in the hospitality industry. He joined the team in June last year, equipped with 35 years of solid experience in hotel, resort, and restaurant management.
Gabriele Babini, director of operations from Italy, brings with him 25 years of experience in the field of food and beverage in five-star hotels abroad such as in Australia, Venezuela, Italy, Switzerland, Canada, Hawaii, and Las Vegas. He pilots its day-to-day operations as well as that of Pico Sands Hotel, a 150-room boutique hotel that will soon offer overnight accommodations to residents and club members of Pico de Loro.
“I can’t believe I waited this long to come to the Philippines!” he says of his first stint in Asia.
Infusing fresh ideas into the residential-resort development, this new team has started with a refreshed menu in preparation for the opening of the Country Club in May. The concept of dining in Pico de Loro Beach & Country Club is straightforward: comfort food for family and friends. Chef Jose Carlo Santiago, whose culinary experience includes training in Napa Valley in the US and a stint as executive chef of Legend Hotels International, describes the club menu as “all-time favorites — food that reminds one of childhood memories. The food is friendly, not burdened by overwrought planning or artistic plating that can keep guests from enjoying their meals with carefree abandon.”
The Beach Club’s signature dining facility, the Sun Coral Café, goes a la carte on weekdays and offers thematic buffet every weekend, which are mostly Asian and international fare, according to Layug. “We feature American, Filipino, Mexican and Italian cuisine.”
Chef Carlo takes pride in the club’s stone-baked pizzas and pasta offerings. Its pasta alfredo is set apart from the usual with the use of freshly sourced shrimps. Layug also urges guests to try the classic Tagalog beef steak, with its generous portions of seared tenderloin in soy-calamansi sauce with caramelized onions and garlic rice, guaranteed to make guests ready for a full day of play. The ube halaya dessert is also very famous among club members and is said to taste even better than the ube served in Baguio City, because it’s made crispy and served with ice cream, caramel sauce and nuts.
When asked what makes the club’s offerings delectable, chef Carlo reveals a secret: “Aside from combining and contrasting flavors, textures, temperatures, and freshly sourced ingredients on the menu, what ultimately creates an experience of great comfort dining is Hamilo Coast’s inspiring natural environment.”
At the Country Club, the usual sports amenities and facilities are set amid spectacular nature views. One can engage in racquet sports, work out in a gym overlooking the man-made lagoon, or even have a lively session of karaoke in a private entertainment room with views of the beach. No guest will be left disinterested with the recreational facilities available — six badminton courts, two squash courts, a basketball and a tennis court, six-lane bowling alleys, a ballroom that can accommodate 300 persons, a billiards room, three karaoke rooms, a children’s playground, two family pools, two jacuzzis, two lap pools, a kiddie pool, and secure locker rooms.
Outdoors, families can enjoy water sports like scuba diving, wind surfing, kayaking, and snorkeling. Cove visits, fish feeding, and diving expeditions to some of Hamilo’s marine-protected areas can likewise be arranged. On land, beach volleyball and Frisbee games can be enjoyed at the beachfront. For the more adventurous types, there are bike and mountain trails. And for those who simply want to indulge in mind and soul pampering, full body massage and treatments are readily available at the club’s outdoor massage tents.
Know more about Hamilo Coast at 858-0333 or log on to hamilocoast.com. For inquiries on club membership, call 902-8053.