Travel Tycoon builds island dotted with themed villages mirroring his favourite cities
Creating a green paradise from the ground up
Alphaland’s chairman Roberto V Ongpin is leaving no detail unfinished in turning a small island off Quezon Province into an eco-friendly resort – By J Grindle
M
ine are the only footsteps that can be seen in either direction. The sugary white sand hugs every step I take as I stare out into the ocean that swirls with too many shades of blue to name. A cool gentle breeze slides across my shoulders blowing through my hair as if the island itself has put its arms around me to say… ‘welcome’. Standing on the beach, ankle deep in the warm water, I find it hard to believe that less than one hour ago, I was in the hustle and bustle of metro Manila and now here I am – in paradise.
96 December 2012
My 24-hour Balesin island adventure begins in a luxury departure lounge in the heart of Manila. Within minutes, we board the brand new Cessna Grand Caravan and are ready for take-off. Taking pictures and videos of the pilots in action is encouraged. Before we land, the plane circles around the 500-hectare island, a little over four kilometres long, a green jungle, outlined by its sandy beaches and surrounded by clear turquoise waters. Balesin Island is just a 25 minute flight from Manila. The exclusive members-only resort and club is currently in the midst of construction and “ahead of schedule” according to Alphaland’s chairman Roberto V Ongpin (RVO). “My first goal was to finish the 1,500-meter long runway,” he explains. “Did you know that it is twice the length of Boracay’s runway?” he asks with pride. RVO doesn’t consider himself a perfectionist, everyone around him does. His keen
eye for design has been instrumental in every aspect from the architectural composition, the villa’s interior to the landscaping of the island grounds. RVO is no stranger to massive projects, but this project different. This, is close to his heart. It’s all about the food A “unique experience” is an understatement. RVO’s vision of Balesin Island’s themed villages has brought the best of his favourite cities from around the world to one place. Mykonos, St. Tropez, Costa Smeralda, Bali, Phuket and of course Balesin, each village is just moments away from the other. RVO envisions each village to emulate the exact experience you get in the actual city. No detail has been left unfinished in terms of creative design elements, from the rice terraces in Bali to the stark white with contrasting blue cliffside villas in Mykonos. RVO is hiring top chefs from each city
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to perfect the authenticity of the menu in every one of the themed restaurants. To achieve the authenticity of the international restaurants chefs will stay at the resort for “two to three months, or until the head chef gets it right”. Touring each of the unfinished villages is an adventure in itself. The eco-friendly eight-seat electric golf cart zigzags its way from village to village through the natural roads of the islands jungle. No trees have been cut down in the process of the development. Island project developer Marco Diaz assures us. “Roadways on Balesin Island are formed with the natural pathways of the jungle.” Nothing goes to waste When finished, the island will be completely self-sustainable. If not for the exotic ingredients used for the international restaurants, nothing would have to be imported. Rainwater is harvested and purified
to provide drinking water, while sewage treatment plants provide water for the nonconsumable vegetation. An organic farm is in the midst of development and fisheries are already well on the way. Access to the luxury and beauty of Balesin Island Club comes through an exclusive membership – by invitation only – although some outside requests are considered. One of the reasons is that RVO does not want Balesin to become overcrowded with tourists. Membership fees start at two million pesos (about US$45,500) per share and work its way up from there depending on the individual’s citizenship status. There are also annual club dues, payable either on a monthly basis or for a discount in one lump sum. One share allows the member 14 days on the island for up to four people in any of the island’s themed villages. A longer stay beyond the allotted 14 days will cost about 9,000 pesos (US$200) per extra night.
My second (and last) day starts off with a morning coffee overlooking the sea from my villa’s beach bed, followed by horseback riding in the ocean and jungle and frolicking on the beach. By noon I enjoy a signature massage from the island spa and end with a lunch, stuffing myself with fresh sushi and grilled Japanese food at Sakura. RVO joins us in his private dining room at the Main Clubhouse, smoking a Don Juan Urquijo cigar. He is a passionate man who loves his work, his family and his women. You would think that at 75 he would want to start slowing down, but these days he spends more than one third of his time on Balesin. He’s up touring the island at 8am and does not stop until midnight. When I asked him if this was his last major project, he took his time in answering. Then he looked over at me with those piercing dark eyes, took a long puff of his cigar and said, “you can’t get rid of me that easily”.
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