It’s our second time to visit Pico de Loro Cove, a residential resort village in Hamilo Coast, Nasugbu, Batangas. It’s amazing that it takes just about 90 minutes to get there by car, compared to three hours a few years ago.

The big difference is that the route to this seaside property development of the SM Group is now faster through the Cavite Expressway (Cavitex) and the Kaybiang Tunnel on the Ternate-Nasugbu Road.

There are a lot of sports and recreation activities at Pico de Loro, especially for families on weekend getaways. Though the four residential buildings in the property are exclusive to members and their guests, there’s also the four-story Pico Sands Hotel with 154 spacious rooms available to the public.

To the journalist raring to stretch his deskbound body and get a whiff of fresh country air, Pico de Loro is heaven-sent.

Nature trip

The problem of gaining weight from the buffet breakfast, lunch and dinner served here is solved by taking an early morning or late afternoon walk along the pathways surrounding the lagoon at the center of the village. We don’t seem to get tired even as our shirt gets heavy with sweat, because the view is soothing—trees, plants, grass, green sights everywhere, including the tennis court and swimming pool.

This is such a wonderful nature trip that makes us stop and realize that it’s actually the result of a commercial enterprise which puts a premium on respect for the environment.

The developer cleared a wide expanse of land for people to rest and relax in style, but not forgetting to preserve the mountains and sea—without which this whole scene would collapse.

The Premier Room at Pico Sands Hotel has minimal furnishings but offers such a restful sleep that it’s tempting to just laze away the day.

Happy hour

But happy hour at Briza Bar on the second floor of Pico de Loro Beach Club beckons. The San Miguel Pale Pilsen is ice-cold and DJ Brian Abat is playing chill music.

There is stimulating conversation at a table occupied by other journalists and Treena Tecson of the SM Group.

At the center of the bar is a sofa where Willy Tee Ten and two of his staff are enjoying their drinks.

Willy is president of Autohub Group, Philippine distributor of Britain’s iconic car Mini Cooper. He has lent a dozen new models of these cute and sexy cars for the journalists’ use for this fun weekend.

We were still kids the first time we rode a Mini Cooper in the early 1970s, and we wish to own one, especially now that it has gotten more sleek and spacious.

After a few more beers, the music sounds better and we dance a little.

In the morning we make a mental note to go snorkeling, bird-watching, hiking, play billiards and basketball, or perhaps learn tennis—except that it’s time to go home soon.

Oh well, there will be time for all that soon, because traveling to Pico de Loro is such a breeze these days.

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