All about Balesin, where Heart Evangelista and Chiz Escudero renewed their vows
Fans of global fashion and style icon Heart Evangelista were treated to a nice surprise late last night after the Kapuso star renewed her vows with husband Chiz Escudero.
Of course, the exquisite fashion her fans expect from her was on full display, from the glamorous Elie Saab gown whose photos she shared with Harper's Bazaar Singapore to the Michael Leyva creation she wore as a second outfit.
The vow renewal was held in Balesin, a destination frequently mentioned during reportage on the travels of the country's rich and famous but may still may be a mystery to your average Filipino just following entertainment and lifestyle news online.
If you're one of those everyday Filipinos who only know of Balesin because of its proximity to the country's rich and famous, here are some facts about the beach playground that is a favorite among the country's upper crust.
Balesin before the luxury
Balesin Island is both an island and a barangay that is part of Quezon Province's Polillo municipality. It is located within Lamon Bay and has a land area of 4.24 square kilometers.
Before it became a playground for the country's upper crust, the island of Balesin reportedly was the home of a contingent of seven Japanese soldiers who coexisted peacefully with the island's local fishermen and their families.
In a column titled “Nation-builders, heroes, and patriots,” Manila Standard columnist Emil Jurado shared that before becoming a luxury resort, Balesin Island was owned by Eddie Tordesillas, who bought the island during the 1960s. In the December 2012 issue of Mabuhay Magazine, writer Lori Blackburn shared that Eddie Tordesillas even planted mahogany trees on the island to create wind barriers.
The ownership of the land eventually went to luxury property developer Alphaland, owned by Marcos-era Minister of Commerce and Industry Roberto “Bobby” Ongpin. It was through Alphaland that Balesin became the luxury destination that it is today.
Beautiful private beach villas in PH to book this summer
Balesin now
The luxury destination that people know as Balesin is actually the Balesin Island Club, which covers around 10 percent of Balesin Island itself. Currently, Balesin Island Club is made up of seven “villages,” three luxury accommodations, and a clubhouse.
The seven “villages” that make up Balesin Island Club are Mykonos, Toscana, Costa del Sol, St. Tropez, Phuket, Bali, and Balesin, all names of recognized beach destinations around the world. The three luxury accommodations are the Balesin Royal Villa, the Balesin Private Villas, and the Balency Regency Private Villas.
Just like its namesake, the Mykonos village has whitewashed walls and blue windows and doors. There are 33 rooms in the village that guests can stay in, named after different gods of Greek mythology.
Meanwhile, the Toscana village takes its inspiration from Tuscany in Italy, with its arched doorways, terracotta accents and textured stone walls. Costa del Sol, on the other hand, is inspired by Spain, with its six “casas” named after famous Spanish destinations -- Estepona, Fuengirola, Malaga, Marbella, Ronda, and Torremolinos.
St. Tropez is named after the famed destination in the South of France and has rooms with high ceilings and balconies facing the Pacific Ocean. Meanwhile, Phuket Village is in the southern part of Balesin and features the distinctive architecture of the famed Thai destination.
Finally, Bali and Balesin make up the last of the seven villages, both taking inspiration from their namesakes. The Bali village includes the Bali Warung, its signature restaurant that serves traditional Indonesian cuisine and the Nusa Dua Bar that serves Balinese cocktails and appetizers. Meanwhile, Balesin village has Balesin Sala, which serves traditional Filipino breakfast and afternoon snacks like the Balesin binakol and kinilaw.
The Villas
Aside from the villages, Balesin Island Club has the Balesin Royal Villa, which it describes as the “venue of choice” for family gatherings, wedding receptions, and corporate functions. Thanks to The Salon that can accommodate up to 150 guests. It has 10 Royal Suites and four Maharlika Suites that come with sea views and can accommodate up to four people each.
Meanwhile, the Balesin Private Villas are privately owned homes that range from four to eight-bedroom properties. All the villas are situated on the beachfront and are maintained and serviced by the Balesin Club.
Finally, the Balesin Regency Private Villas are four private villas that offer 20, 12, six, and 14 bedrooms, respectively. Each Villa has suite rooms, a salon, a business center, and views of Lamon Bay.
How to book an accommodation
One can't just book an accommodation on Balesin willy nilly, which is probably the reason why the destination is a favorite among celebrities. Memberships are required to stay on the luxury island, and while the Balesin Island Club website doesn't list membership fees, an article by PEP.ph revealed the different amounts needed to become a member of the Balesin Island Club.
A gold membership costs P2.5 million, while a diamond membership is worth P4.5 million. Meanwhile, platinum membership can be bought for P6.5 million. Once membership is acquired, members will also have to pay monthly membership dues.
A gold membership allows its holder a free villa stay for seven nights, while a diamond membership allows two-member nominees a two-week stay for free. Platinum memberships give three-member nominees 28 days for free at the Balesin Island Club villas.
