In all my travels around the country and with all my affiliations with the various sectors of our tourism industry, I have never set foot in the province of Bataan. I have learned so much about its historical significance, which is why I always had the desire to visit it one day.
So when we, at the Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA), started working on collaborative projects with the Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan (AFAB), I got excited. We then had to seal our partnership with signed documents, and this gave me a reason to set foot in historic Bataan. Finally, what I have always been looking forward to came about.
My PRA team and I took the very convenient less-than-two-hour ferry ride from the Folk Arts Theater area to Camaya Coast, which is located in the southern tip of the province. This premier beachfront resort and residential development offers a stunning seaview right up front and picturesque natural scenery of hills and mountains on the other side. This 450-hectare township has beach clubs, water sports activities, leisure facilities, and dining options, the main reason for our collaboration with AFAB: to offer investment opportunities and residential alternatives to our foreign retirees.
Camaya Coast is owned and developed by Earth and Shore Leisure Communities Corporation (ESLCC), led by its president and CEO Manuel Carlos Ilagan, Jr. The community is so large, it has a total of six subdivisions, and they all have easy access to the beach, which is 3.2 kilometers long and includes two coves. This thriving community also has several waterfalls and a river running through it.
In one of the banquet halls of Camaya Beach Resort, we met with AFAB’s chief executive officer Mohammed Hussein Pangandaman and deputy administrator for operations Attorney Mike Paderanga. We signed our Joint Memorandum Order (JMO) streamlining the issuance of the Special Resident Retirees Visa (SRRV) for our retirees who would choose to invest or reside within the Freeport Area of Bataan (FAB).
This collaborative project will draw in more foreign retirees to invest and reside in the FAB while contributing to its economic growth. These expanded residency options and business incentives will further strengthen FAB’s position as an emerging hub for foreign investments in Mariveles, the biggest town in the province.
After the formal ceremonies, my PRA colleagues and I retreated to our accommodations, the Aqua Fun Hotel, which, I’m sure, my little grandsons would have loved to stay in, as there is a large complex of water fun rides right in front. Looking at the different rides from my hotel room window, I could almost see my grandsons enjoying themselves on those thrilling children’s attractions. Well, this will have to be another staycation destination in the near future!
The following day, my team and I drove to Balanga, the capital city of the province of Bataan. We met with the incumbent, 54-year-old Governor Jose Enrique Garcia III, for the signing of our Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), to promote the province to our foreign retirees as one of the ideal retirement destinations in the country. The MOA also requests the Bataan LGU to help in the integration of our retirees into the local community, for them to enjoy being a part of our citizenry. What made the signing event significant is the fact that Bataan is the first province in the country to formally partner with us (PRA) in advancing retirement tourism and investment opportunities through our SRRV Program.
After completing our official tasks, my team and I, all first-timers in the province, decided to drive to some of the nearby tourist attractions before driving back to Manila. The first stop was at Kilometer 0, where the historic Death March started. The marker is right at the center of town, but it’s surprising to see a fastfood outlet right next to it. When we went there, the historical site was crowded with students loitering around, with some seated on the ground and others on improvised seats. There were also too many public transport vehicles parked around the historical marker, not giving it the respect and the distinction it deserves.
We then drove to the picturesque water dam operated by the AFAB, supplying water to most of the town. The beautiful view could easily be straight out of a travelogue of a European country. It was such a calming, soothing view that I decided to spend a little bit more time just seated on a large stone, facing the dam, de-stressing myself with the calming scenery.
On the drive back home, we were on top of a hill that offered a breathtaking view of Mariveles town below and the blue sea glistening in the sun. We couldn’t help but get off our vehicle to capture the beautiful scene with our cameras. City folks like us always go ga-ga over what nature offers—sights we never see in the concrete jungle.
We would have wanted to visit the Mt. Samat National Shrine to pay our respects to the Filipino and American soldiers who fought for us against the Japanese Imperial Army, but we were told that it would be a very long drive from where we were. We decided to put it off until our next visit. But, thanks to our work, we finally set foot in this historical province and discovered what makes it continue to sparkle in the continuing narrative of our country.
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