Condominium units exemplify a Tropical Contemporary design, with spacious balconies that open out to nature views.
MANILA, Philippines – In the past years, despite economic hardships and political disturbances, the leisure lifestyle has definitely been catching up on Filipinos. Whether it’s a jet-setting overseas escapade or a quaint out-of-town tryst, rest and relaxation have grown to be a must for many urban families. It is this growing sophistication and appetite for the latest hideaways, spas, resorts and leisure clubs that has stimulated the burgeoning growth of the local leisure industry.
One of the latest real estate projects aiming to redefine the leisure landscape is a master-planned, sustainable leisure residential development in idyllic Nasugbu, Batangas called Hamilo Coast by SM Land.
Sprawled on a 5,800-hectare property, Hamilo Coast boasts 13 coves, 25 kilometers of beachfront, forests, mountains, limestone cliffs, and rock formations. A modest portion is devoted to its maiden leisure community — a low-impact, mixed residential and leisure development called Pico de Loro Cove. Within the development are nine buildings of residential condominiums, an exclusive beach and country club, and a boutique hotel. The development is surrounded the sea and mountains with a four-hectare saltwater lagoon at the center.
While traditional developments offer expansive houses and lots to the leisure property market, today’s buyers have become more practical when it comes to choosing a vacation home. Hamilo Coast project director Herbert Herrero says families today prefer a condo development as a leisure address because of its “lock-up-and-go” convenience. As their secondary home, a manageable size of the unit will also suffice for their accommodation needs.
“Pico de Loro Cove aims to infuse urban condo living in a leisure development, which means it’s the right size and offers security and easy maintenance, unlike a house and lot that requires more effort for upkeep,” explains Herrero.
For those who have missed out on the opportunity to own units at Pico de Loro’s initial clusters Jacana and Myna during its launch in 2007, the latest Carola and Miranda clusters still offer a variety of unit types — from typical one-bedroom to three-bedroom units to special unit types such as lofts and penthouse units.
“Owning a condo unit here also entitles them to access world-class amenities at the Pico de Loro Beach and Country Club. And they get to thrive in a protected environment that values and conserves nature,” adds Herrero.
Pico de Loro Cove, along with Santelmo and Etayo coves, has been recently declared as marine-protected area, which restricts fishing in the cove. Partnership with WWF-Philippines is continuous to ensure sustainable development in the areas of coastal resource management, solid waste management, and renewable energy sources.
The Beach Club has been operational since February this year, and the Country Club component is slated for completion by year-end. As the Pico de Loro community continues to take shape, among the excited homeowners who are set to move in at Pico de Loro condominiums are Anthony Welsh, Herminia Reyes, and Alex Claveria.
Welsh, a British expat working as CEO of Payment Processing Corporation, has been in the Philippines for almost seven years and has come to love the country as his second home. As such, he also found it practical to invest in a leisure property where he can head to as often as possible.
“As a frequent traveler and lover of outdoor sports, I’ve been around the Philippines a lot, but I’ve never seen anything quite like Hamilo Coast,” he notes.
The adventurous tri-athlete considered other properties elsewhere but ultimately was convinced to buy a unit at Pico de Loro Cove because of its very significant attribute.
“On the stairs going to Pico Point (Hamilo Coast’s visitor center), there is a small tree on the path, but instead of cutting it, the developers cut the wooden plank to go around that tree. That’s the thing that hit me the most, because I thought is there anywhere else in the Philippines where they would not cut the tree? So before I even saw the country club and the views, I was convinced already about buying a unit.”
Once he moves in, Welsh pictures himself exploring the trails, having small parties with friends at his three-bedroom penthouse suite, diving under or sailing on the waters, or just discovering more about his breathtaking backyard.
Herminia Reyes of The Ad Creator Marketing and Communication firm has worked for more than 15 years in the family-owned business, and is now taking it a little bit slow to enjoy more time with her husband and three sons, aged 22, 21, and 13. It was her sons who also convinced her to buy a junior suite at Pico de Loro Cove after a trip to the site, seeing the natural beauty of the place and just falling in love with all its amenities.
“Weekends are important for me because that’s the time I devote to my family,” says Reyes. “After a tiring week when I get drained with all the work, I look forward to relaxing with my family. We usually go out of town and once a year we also travel abroad. Once a month, we meet with my siblings and their families.”
The 45-sqm, one-bedroom junior suite at Jacana A Building will be turned over to her family soon, and Reyes is certainly looking forward to spending weekends there instead of flying out or taking long drives outside Manila. She is also keen on taking her siblings and their families as her guests. After all, she sees the community not just as a venue for vacations, but one that nurtures and strengthens family ties.
Alex Claveria, president of A Jaycee Chemicals, is a father of four kids aged 11, 7, 5, and 4 with another one on the way!
Based in San Pedro Laguna, their family outings have become much more exciting ever since he procured a 25-footer speed boat that they now take around their frequent jaunts to beaches and other tour spots all over the country.
“My kids love to go the beach and the outdoors. It’s our number one bonding moment. And now with the boat, we have included island-hopping as part of our activities,” he relates.
It was actually during one of those trips on sea when they chanced upon the bucolic beauty of Hamilo Coast and its stunning coves. Claveria immediately asked around and decided to get a unit at Pico de Loro Cove to treat his kids to more marine adventures.
“As a businessman, I believe that Hamilo Coast is one of the best projects on the market today, and it’s a good investment as well. SM Land has a long-term vision and a great plan for the project, and is a trustworthy developer so I am confident that they can deliver on their promises,” shares Claveria.
Aside from the water activities, beach amenities, bike trails and other outdoor features for his family, Claveria also noted the development’s plan to put up a marina within the area where he can dock his boat. “By then, we can go to Hamilo hopefully every week, and our schedule permitting, even every day!”
Pico de Loro’s first condo cluster Jacana will be progressively turned over to the first batch of condo unit owners and their families within the year. Families will soon be enjoying a unique condo leisure home with a convenient location and a plethora of land- and sea-based activities for the whole family.
The Beach Club provides a more social scene with its outdoor venues and restaurants, such as its signature dining facility Sun Coral Café with its sumptuous Filipino comfort foods and international cuisine. Open-air cocktails, on the other hand, are served at Brisa Bar. Mountain trekking and biking, kayaking, snorkeling, diving, a tour around Hamilo Coast’s 13 coves, and bird-watching are but a few of many nature adventures residents can look forward to.
Project director Herbert Herrero further shares that Hamilo Coast is now looking into making the beach life much more pleasant and worry-free for the unit owners who are about to move in.
“The management is planning to offer concierge services, which include room service and housekeeping, so that residents don’t have to worry about anything during their stay. A professional management team will handle all of these as conveniences to the vacation lifestyle that our unit buyers truly deserve,” she explains. “In this day and age of fast-paced lifestyles, a vacation is no longer just a luxury, but a requirement which Hamilo Coast aims to provide.”
Pico de Loro’s convenient condo leisure and country club lifestyle is just one of the many possibilities within Hamilo Coast as a replete and enduring leisure destination.
SM Land is the new brand of property development by SM Investments Corp., offering properties from primary homes and residences to leisure developments and integrated business districts. For inquiries, call 858-0333 or visit hamilocoast.com.