PUNTA FUEGO How it feels to be on top of the world

Call it word of mouth or prestige by association. Like so many others, I wanted to go to Punta Fuego because of what I’ve heard about it, not only as the playground of the rich but also as a magical place. Punta Fuego - meaning point of fire in Spanish - is a flame-shaped peninsula in Nasugbu, the largest town in the western side of Batangas province. It is now developed into an exclusive seaside community of 120 or so hectares - divided into two phases, which is reputedly the best in the Philippines, if not in Southeast Asia.

Going to Punta Fuego from Manila, we took South Superhighway, exited through Sta. Rosa, Laguna and passed by scenic Silang and Tagaytay City in Cavite. You know you are nearing the place when the road signs boasting of some of Batangas’ most famous beaches begin to show - Tali, Matabungkay, Fortune Island and Munting Buhangin, to name a few. Just when you think that the road trip is becoming a tad too long, Peninsula de Punta Fuego’s gated community comes into view.

Peninsula de Punta Fuego

As our van screeched into a halt in front of their beautiful Country Club, I said to myself, "So this is how it feels to be on top of the world". I meant it figuratively because land ownership in Punta Fuego comes with a steep price tag and literally, because the upper floor of the clubhouse offers a stunning panorama of the peninsula encircling the vast South China Sea, with the double infinity pools stretching the view even more. It was a breathtaking scene fit for the movies.

Peninsula de Punta Fuego is a sprawling 88-hectare development of Landco Pacific and Roxaco Land corporations. The property used to be part of a 27,000-hectare property owned by the Roxas family for the past 100 years. At present, it prides itself in being the "Asian Riviera." One need not go to the south of France or the Mediterranean coast to sample the awe-inspiring beauty of those stately houses overlooking the sea, amid a backdrop of the abundant greenery.

Pat Villano, Landco’s VP for Residential Resorts, says the typical settler in Peninsula de Punta Fuego is one who is semi-retired or nearing retirement and who would like to seek a venue for living out the leisurely lifestyle he has envisioned for himself and his family.

"Our residents, who belong to the Philippines’ top families, choose to be here because they want privacy and would like to go back to nature. Being here means you can just walk down the beach, hear the sound of the ocean waves at night and breathe the pure air amidst the soft chirping of birds," he notes.

The Peninsula offers a full range of services and facilities for its residents, as one would expect of an upscale community. It boasts of 12 white sand beaches blessed with the most captivating views. There is also the Upper Beach Club which has a veranda overlooking Long Beach and an infinity pool. The Lower Beach Club, on the other hand, has a free-form family pool, a barbecue kiosk and an old-fashioned pier perfect for launching small boats. Complementing the list are a helipad, the Our Lady of Guadalupe Chapel which features the artwork of National Artist Ed Castrillo and a nine-hole golf course designed by Nelson Haworth. In the works are an allnew marina which will be a full-fledged yacht club with berths for 34 boats and a much-improved Asian-style spa which will offer unique indulgences like a chocolate body rub.

We especially liked hanging out at the San Diego Café which offers an array of delectable international dishes such as burgers, steaks and Filipino favorites like Adobo. One can choose to dine inside or in the outdoor veranda with a view of the ocean. The Country Club, where the café is located, also has a mini-theater, library, boutique and a kiddie center.

We stayed at the casita (Spanish word for "dwelling") which is usually reserved for the guests of club members. The casitas, which are newly-renovated, offer five-star hotel amenities such as cable TV, a mini-ref, comfortable queen-size beds and a bathroom which looks out into a dainty garden.

Terrazas de Punta Fuego

If Peninsula de Punta Fuego is designed along Mediterranean lines, the predominant theme of the adjoining Terrazas de Punta Fuego is "Tropical Asian." This 42-hectare prime seafront property has an 800-meter stretch of fine white sand which is touted to be the "most swimmer friendly" in Batangas.

The best part of Terrazas for me is their Beach Club which has the open-air Café Sol and The Boardwalk with its 18 inter-linked cabanas. Here, one can stretch out for a soothing massage, relax ever so casually in the hammock or hang out in the adjacent Juice Bar. The club also has a billiard hall, a free-form cascading pool and Jacuzzis.

I was most fascinated with the Asian décor and furnitures adorning the toilet and the reception pavilion. Then I learn that it was actually cheaper to import them from Bali rather than buy Philippine-made stuff.

"Terrazas was originally a forest and we developed the area with the preservation of the environment in mind," sales director Deo Ignacio explained. "The trees you see around here are 50 to 100 years old and the landowners, who are the Pedrosas, even took the pains of tagging them for proper id