The greatest diamonds can be found in your own backyard. A new kind of luxury destination has invaded the Philippine shores and we have never been prouder to have such an unrivaled development in our country.
With the stunningly beautiful and ecologically sustainable Balesin Island Club, located in the cerulean Lamon Bay situated in one of the islands of Polillo, Quezon Province, there is no need to travel far for a luxury holiday. This 500-hectare tropical island paradise, owned by Alphaland Corp., has 7.3 kilometers of pristine white sand beaches and seven themed villages all in one destination. In fact, it is so close for that much-needed respite, being just 25 minutes away by plane but far enough to bask in the freedom of leaving everything behind to attend to what truly matters: quality time for the heart, mind and soul.
There is no better place to celebrate life, love and the pursuit of well being whether alone or in the company of loved ones than in the exclusive members-only Balesin Island Club where no stone has been left unturned in the name of passion and perfection. Yes, these two words-“passion†and “perfection†are the staunch values that Bobby Ongpin, the indefatigable visionary behind this stunning development, lives by. His infectious zeal for ecological sustainability is truly admirable.
Can you imagine, in this idyllic property, Tito Bobby’s strict instruction remains to date: there will be no cutting down of any trees. If the tree is blocking the road, they must build around it. If it is situated in the middle of where the water reservoir will be, create an island for it. All coconut palms were uprooted and relocated to other plots where they could continue to grow higher and mightier.
Truly, Tito Bobby, a very close friend of our late father Vincent Dayrit, is a responsible steward of nature’s treasures. This is the way life on the island is carried out. Their philosophy resonates: “Balesin is an exquisite rebuttal to the idea that world-class luxury and authentic sustainability are ultimately incompatible.â€
With this kind of loving care, we can be assured that we, together with the generations after us, will continue to enjoy this paradise. This makes it a priceless investment to last many lifetimes. Tito Bobby revealed that only 10 percent of the 500-hectare pristine paradise will be developed; the remaining 90 percent of verdant rainforest, undulated terrain, limestone cliffs, white powdery sand will be protected jewels for posterity. This is what having a master plan means: it tells you the extent of your development. Worthy of emulation, this responsible philosophy is truly humbling and inspiring.
My father always believed in investing in properties that the family can enjoy. In this sanctuary, memories created are priceless. Over the recent Holy Week, I was privileged to visit Balesin for the very first time, where I celebrated my birthday, which coincided with Easter Sunday.
My eldest sister Jaqui and brother–in-law Boom Boncan, who are members of Balesin, lovingly arranged the weekend escapade. From the time we disembarked from the British Aerospace (BAe) Jetstream 32 aircraft that flew us to Balesin from the well-appointed Alphaland hangar in Andrews Avenue, each step we took was one of awe and admiration. Here, we reveled at the seven themed villages inspired by the most exotic and luxurious island destinations in the world, namely Mykonos, Costa del Sol, St. Tropez, Toscana, Bali, Phuket and of course, Balesin. You are definitely spoiled for choice here.
In the gregarious company of my other sisters Michelle with husband Benny Soliven, Yvonne Romualdez with her children Carin and Cito, my niece Christel Boncan and her fiancé Mike Constantino and our dear friend Pamboy Pastor, we were whisked off in golf buggies to the main clubhouse for a sumptuous Filipino buffet breakfast. For lunch, we sampled Sakura, Balesin’s own authentic Japanese restaurant featuring the most sumptuous tepanyaki dishes, sushi and sashimi creations by Chef Edo. Our only brother Mark and his family were in Pampanga for the Holy Week festivities and they called to send their well wishes. If you wish to be online, mobile communication and Internet services are powered by Smart network.
Affable Balesin manager Marco Diaz toured us around the island paradise and showed us the newest developments like Costa del Sol and additional villas in the Mykonos village that will be completed very soon. He also pointed out the plots where several kinds of rare and edible yet underutilized Filipino fruit-bearing trees will be planted by UP Los Baños agriculturist Dr. Roberto Coronel.
A new addition to the property complex is a 6,000-square-meter Ifugao village, a CSR project of Alphaland, constructed to thank and provide continuous livelihood to artisans and woodcarvers originating from the An-a tribe in the Cordillera region. These master carvers have skillfully created the amazing woodcarvings and furniture in Balesin. Members can even commission them to create authentic Ifugao homes and woodworks of their choice. They maintain all proceeds.
One can choose from a multitude of activities and amenities the club provides like horseback riding, an extensive sports center, samba classroom, indoor badminton courts, paintball equipment and airsoft target range. One can also luxuriate in its destination spa.
For our first night, we were billeted in the Phuket Village overlooking rugged cliffs above the sea. Our villa epitomized the richness of Thai culture, as evidenced by the use of multiple roof tiles, undulating serpentine shapes and pointed roof projections. A gorgeous stretch of white sand beach fronts it with a verdant forest guarding the sanctuary like a sentinel. The second night, we were privileged to experience the exquisite water villas that languidly stretch above the cool waters of the bay.
At the Phuket Salathiep restaurant, we savored authentic Thai cuisine for dinner followed by special birthday blessings and prayers led by Pastor Raji Rich with his son Sammy. Thereafter, we darted off to St. Tropez village where a dramatic palm tree- lined driveway led us to a grand entrance. Savoring delicious banana-Nutella crepes, we were magically drawn to the panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean from the expansive lagoon-style swimming pools.
Another highlight of the trip was the experience of fishing at the fish pen where the chef delightfully cooked our fresh catch to suit our preferences. The rest of the day was spent swimming in the crystal clear waters and catching hermit crabs by the sandy shore.
Finally, for our farewell dinner feast, we dined at the restaurant in the Mykonos Village. The white-washed structures with its blue windows and doors transported us to the astonishing Greek isles.
My birthday celebration seemed endless as we explored the Bali village where guests can indulge in authentic Indonesian cuisine, enjoy the unique wrap-around porch of each villa, relax in their Jacuzzis and the pools teeming with warm waters. A most ideal haven for cocktails and stargazing is the Nusa Dua Bar. That magical night of bonding with family and friends, I gazed at the horizon shimmering like diamonds that reminded me of bright stars strewn against the Atacama Desert skies of Chile. Like poetry in motion, a falling star darted high above as I whispered prayers for loved ones who were not with us on this festive milestone.
Aboard the 25-minute flight en route to Manila, I recalled all the precious moments spent on this island. I gratefully viewed the glorious sun sparkling on the immaculate froth of the turquoise waters around Balesin Island Club that reminded me of my sojourns in the Maldives. My heart smiled as I realized, the greatest diamonds can be found in your backyard. All you need to do is take the time to appreciate them.
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For inquiries and more information, call 846-6205 or check the website at www.balesin.com.