If the gems of destinations far away are what you seek, you need not go the distance to find one. Nestled in the heart of Batangas is Hamilo Coast, developer of Pico de Loro, one of the 13 marine-protected coves that straddle the coast.
The journey from Manila to Pico is now made shorter with the opening of the picturesque Ternate-Nasugbu highway, which allowed me, my family and close friends to enjoy the languid Batangas beach life without having to board a plane.
The expanse of azure blue waters that meets the eye after exiting the Kaybiang Tunnel is both breathtaking and satisfying. The simple tranquility of pristine blue waters surrounded by the rugged mountain range matches the Zen-feeling of blissful satisfaction. Indeed, we are privileged to have this in our local shores.
Driving through the entrance of the resort, we were pleasantly surprised with more than a few solar panels, reiterating the information we had received that Pico is indeed working by a more sustainable and highly functioning business model.
Pico de Loro also works closely with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and Bantay Dagat (Guardians of the Sea) in the “Ridge to Reef” program. Their activities include management of siltations and erosion of the coast, seeding of giant clams in Santelmo Cove and the prevention of illegal dynamite fishing to more sustainable practices.
The drive up to the hotel got us past the helipad (yes, you can take your own helicopter if you wish), the beautiful chapel of St. Therese of the Child Jesus, the Beach Club, the row of low density affordable condominium and the country club.
On a bright and pleasant day, we were met by the congenial hotel guest relations and front office teams who escorted us to our residence for the weekend — three interconnecting rooms with one of them replete with a loft.
Our family and friends were delighted by the amount of activities made available to us, like tennis, billiards, basketball, bowling, karaoke, massage island/cove hoping, jet-skiing and swimming. We were also satiated with the gustatory selection of Filipino food on offer. It was a welcome respite for us, too, that Pico de Loro had the sheer expanse of the well-developed but still highly nature-centered environment. There were numerous places to walk and to hike. We also simply enjoyed lazing by the pool or the beach and just doing nothing. All these and more are what Pico de Loro and its team of hoteliers can offer.
Our first afternoon was spent simply lounging at the pool of the Beach Club while we nibbled on Filipino fare and delicacies. Music wafted from the Arribata Lounge and allowed us to feel the pulse of the ‘80s and ‘90s while we sipped our mocktails. The dinner offering was a plethora of things like laing, kare-kare, gising-gising, adobo, fried bangus, fresh shrimps and crabs matched with fresh local fruit juices of dalandan, pineapple, calamansi and dayap.
My goddaugther Margaret Ortega, who was visiting from New Zealand for her winter school break, together with her friend Nick Smith (a first-time visitor to our shores), her mom Therese and her grandmother Dolly, and other friends joined us for the weekend. We shared with Margaret that the sprawling seaside haven developed by Henry Sy, the man who built an empire on shoes and department stores, also has a passion for tourism. He believed that tourism is the real growth engine of the Philippines, the one industry where it can compete and be number one. His belief led the SM Group to accumulate tourism-related investments over the years. Thus, the birth of Hamilo Coast, with its maiden community Pico de Loro.
Another engaging characteristic that makes the location of Hamilo Coast highly strategic is its position at the entrance of the Verde Island passage, one of the richest areas of the Global Coral Triangle. For sailing and diving enthusiasts, this makes Hamilo Coast an excellent take-off point to other beautiful Philippine island destinations like Mindoro, Boracay, Cebu, Bohol, and even Palawan.
The Global Coral Triangle is the world’s center of marine biodiversity. It is sometimes referred to as the “Amazon Rainforest of the Seas.”
Bulk of the world’s supply of seafood comes from this area, making it the heartland of the global seafood industry and a crucial resource for food security. The Global Coral Triangle Day, which happens on June 9, is celebrated yearly in Hamilo Coast to highlight the importance of marine conservation in the area.
Pico’s location is set in the “Gold Coral Triangle” of the Pacific, which stretches to Australia, Indonesia and the Philippines.
The worry-free beach lifestyle, enhanced by the presence of the Pico de Loro Beach & Country Club has the most extensive recreational facilities in the Nasugbu area. Residents and club members are able to enjoy the best of land and sea activities all in one club membership. The breathtaking sights and wonders can be experienced by anyone as residential units are ready to own in Pico. Clearly, Pico allows for multi-generation families to bond and spend quality time together.
Sustainability is a major focus at Hamilo Coast. Going green makes sense not just from an altruistic standpoint, but also from a business standpoint, for the value of a property is preserved and elevated when it is developed in an environmentally responsible way.
Our second day was spent island hopping and we snorkled our time away at Santelmo, a marine protected area that had giant clams, jacks, black tip sharks, turtles and more in residence. That evening, the staff who apparently knew the birthdays of some from our group, provided in-house entertainment in the Sun Coral restaurant. Imagine four hotel executives (from front desk, accounting, housekeeping and food and beverage) playing instruments, singing and entertaining all the guests at the restaurant. It was great music and a performance really from the heart. Everyone was so pleased and had a great time.
On our last day, we started the morning with a meaningful Mass set in the glass-enclosed chapel with a serene view of the sea and mountains. We then had an alfresco lunch fronting the numerous pools of the country club.
Later in the day, with our hearts filled with gratitude, we prepared to leave Pico de Loro as many of us had to go back to the reality of a full work week. As we packed our things, one more surprise by the Pico team greeted us. It was our group photo the night before at dinner set in a bamboo frame. What simple joys to capture beautiful memories of time well spent.
Pico de Loro, this gem of a destination, beckons and excites. It invites and relaxes. And we will heed its call to visit again and again.
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For more information on Pico de Loro, call 857-0186, 945-8000, or +639175578367.
E-mail the author at miladay.star@gmail.com.