Going from Manila to Nasugbu in Batangas is a trip to nature.
The route from Manila to Cavite is a road of lush greenery. As travelers come close to the undulating ridges of Ternate interlinking Nasugbu via Kaybiang Tunnel, more lush tropical boscage slowly appears. After a few downhill slopes, coves start to emerge.
In between the discreet dichotomy of urban and rural, no one expects to see a paradise two hours away from the city.
Spotting soaring terrains and crystal-like waters ahead gives an acquainted feeling that you’re just about to have a pleasurable withdrawal from the real world.
One of the promising locations in the western coves is Barangay Papaya in Nasugbu, Batangas where Hamilo Coast, a development by SM Prime, is situated—accessible in just a 90-minute drive (approx. 72 kilometers) via the Cavite Expressway (CAVITEX) and Ternate-Nasugbu road.
Arriving at the entryway, one is greeted by a wide, expansive property with mesmerizing views—preparing your heart for an oasis of calm and relaxation. The first phase of this resort town’s development is concentrated in a 40-hectare valley within Hamilo Coast, in a protected cove dubbed Pico de Loro (“parrot’s beak”), a home to a variety of flora and fauna.
Guests will be greeted with the first residential community to rise in this beach resort town. Up close, these low-impact tropical contemporary-style condominium buildings, stand against a towering mountain range and circle a man-made lagoon and promenade area—talk about leisure, recreation, and connecting with nature.
Hamilo Coast has recently launched Freia, its beachfront condominium development in Pico de Loro Cove, where future residents can indulge in the spectacular panorama of sea and verdant mountains.
It has an unmatched scenery with a perfect proportion of wilderness and seascape tucked in between terrains that provides the best vantage point looking out to the picturesque West Philippine Sea and Pico de Loro mountains.
Its prime location is a mere five-minute stroll away from the Pico Beach, which boasts 1.5 kilometers of white sand and clear blue waters.
Offering premium seaside living to its discerning clientele, Freia has 223 superior condominium units that include spacious two-bedroom flats and three-bedroom penthouses. Ranging in size from 67 to 392 square meters, these resort-type condo residences are designed with sustainable green living in mind, and exude a contemporary tropical vibe enhanced by its masterfully designed architecture by Broadway Malyan and GF & Partners.
Common areas of the condominium such as the lobby were designed by Budji+Royal with a cutting-edge local and international design concept, utilizing high quality fixtures to give residents a total luxury beach resort experience.
Each spacious Freia unit features large picture windows and an expansive balcony to maximize prime views. Its residents will have exclusive access to upscale, resort-style amenities, among which is an outdoor pool, lounge deck, function rooms, and lush pocket gardens.
Unit ownership at Freia also comes with membership at the adjacent Pico de Loro Beach and Country Club. This lifetime membership gives homeowners access to a wide array of land- and sea-based recreational and sports facilities in Hamilo Coast.
Supporting Hamilo Coast’s commitment to responsible stewardship of nature and the seaside community’s natural topographies, the property also takes pride in features that allow sustainable green living. For instance, natural ventilation and daylighting, photovoltaic roofing, and an efficient waste management system ensure reduced carbon footprints on the part of the residential community.
Offering a wealth of natural beauty, three marine protected areas with endemic marine life are thriving in this place. Exotic birds flit through protected mangrove forests, while pawikan hatchlings scurry to the wide-open seas. Lush forests and tree canopies dot the landscape.
To ensure the protection and preservation of its natural surroundings, Hamilo Coast since 2007 has partnered with the World Wide Fund (WWF) for Nature – Philippines. The use of alternative energy sources, coastal resource management, ridge-to-reef management, solid waste management, livelihood training, and local hiring of majority of its staff are some of the major efforts to achieve the goal of environmental and social sustainability.
Additional photos by Mae Gianina Pascual