Hamilo Coast --- committed to nurture and protect the marine life

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Home to the most diverse marine ecosystem in the world, the Philippines has been tagged as one of seven biodiversity hotspots across the planet. This means that a high number of endemic or endangered species are found in these tropical isles, which are now a conservation priority region due to the threat of severe habitat loss. Add to this the adverse effects of climate change, and a variety of destructive practices that impact our rich coastal areas, and one could say that our much-touted aquatic biodiversity is constantly imperiled.

Native giant clams re-stocking, spawning and orientation for ocean nursery project of UP Bolinao Marine Lab done in partnership with DENR, Rotary Club of Nasugbu and the LGU.

Fortunately, the Philippines’ coastal communities are relentlessly pushing for sustainable practices that are primed to help preserve our marine rersources. One such community, Hamilo Coast, is unwavering in its campaign to protect and preserve its picturesque sanctuary located in Nasugbu, Batangas.

A 40-hectare premier leisure resort complex, Hamilo Coast is only an hour and a half commute from Mall of Asia via the Cavite Expressway (CAVITEX) and Ternate-Nasugbu road. A development of Costa Del Hamilo, Inc. (CDHI), a duly recognized SM Prime company, Hamilo Coast is a masterplanned community that features the idyllic Pico De Loro Cove, which integrates residential, resort, leisure, commercial, and institutional land uses.

Stepping up its game to protect and nurture the incredibly rich and breathtaking marine life surrounding it, Hamilo Coast recently renewed its partnership with the World Wide Fund of Nature Philippines (WWF). The collaboration will continue to expand and enhance the scope of its sustainability initiatives that have covered coastal resource management, ridge-to-reef management, solid waste management, mangrove reforestation, the use of renewable energy sources, and environmental awareness since the year 2007.

Olive Ridley Sea Turtle hatchlings are immediately released to the ocean as part of Hamilo Coast’s Marine Turtle Conservation Program.

"Hamilo Coast has always made an effort to preserve our marine resources, as it is not only a responsibility but a privilege to do so. Our partnership with WWF manifests our resolve to ensure that our community remains a safe haven for marine life, and that we continue to be a model for sustainable coastal development in the Philippines," shares Ms. Imee G. Francisco, Vice President and Head of CDHI Projects and Operations.

Hamilo Coast has gone beyond expectations to ensure that its slice of paradise remains pristine for the years to come. To fulfill this advocacy, Hamilo Coast currently engages in several marine and environmental activities in partnership with the local government and non-government organizations (NGOs).

Leading such efforts is its collaboration with the University of the Philippines Bolinao Marine Lab, which provides training in the culture and ocean rearing of giant clams through the Giant Clams Restocking and Spawning Program. This activity is a conservation strategy that aims to improve the biodiversity and productivity of stressed coral reef habitats.

SM Leisure Resort Residences Executives and Management team led the Coastal Clean-Up at Hamilo Coast’s Pico De Loro Cove in support of the company’s advocacy to save the environment

 and marine life.

Next, with Hamilo Coast’s beautiful and well-kept beach fronts as favorite nesting grounds of Olive Ridley Turtles, the community regularly implements the Marine Turtle Conservation Program. In this undertaking, Hamilo Coast’s Estate and Sustainability teams proactively monitor and protect the turtle nests until the eggs hatch, after which the hatchlings are immediately released to the ocean.

Hamilo Coast also continues to hold the annual Coastal Clean-Up Program, a highly effective collaboration between the management and employees of Costa Del Hamilo Inc. and the local government. The volunteers collect trash and debris from Pico Beach and neighboring coves, identify the sources of the litter, help change behaviors that cause pollution, and raise awareness on the extent of the marine debris problem.

“As we strive to create a more sustainable future, we are proud of what we have accomplished and continue to do here at Hamilo Coast,” Francisco relates. “While we are very excited to do even more to preserve our aquatic biodiversity, we hope that we may also inspire other communities to do the same.”

For more information on Hamilo Coast, its marine conservation efforts, and its other sustainability initiatives, you may check out the Hamilo Coast official Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/hamilocoastph), website (www.hamilocoast.com), and Instagram (@hamilocoastph).

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ABOUT HAMILO COAST

Hamilo Coast is a master-planned seaside residential community in Nasugbu, Batangas. Developed and managed by Costa del Hamilo, Inc., a subsidiary of SM Prime. It is approximately 90 minutes from Manila via Cavitex and the Ternate-Nasugbu Road. For inquiries, call (632) 7-945-8000 or visit www.hamilocoast.com.

Finding refuge amidst nature in Hamilo Coast

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WITH the onset of COVID-19, Filipinos and the rest of the world have had to deal with an unprecedented upheaval in their lives: lockdown. Being confined in one’s home for an uncertain duration, with limited movement and access, required drastic adjustment, with some people inevitably experiencing higher levels of anxiety.

Mechanisms for survival took many forms, including preserving as much of a sense of normalcy as strict quarantines allowed. For many, this meant relocating out of the city, away from urban congestion and higher risks of COVID-19 infection, to more open spaces. Communities like Hamilo Coast in Nasugbu, Batangas, a mere 90-minute drive from Manila, cradled between mountain ridges and the sea, provided ideal locations close to what has proven to be the most powerful antidote to modern chaos: nature itself.

Staying close to nature improves physical, mental, and spiritual well-being.

For many Hamilo Coast residents like human resources manager Jessica Clara Belardo, relocating, for the time being, was not a difficult decision. “Due to the rapid increase in COVID-19 cases in Metro Manila, we decided to look for a secure and less crowded place nearby where we could stay for at least a year and avoid exposure. We found out that Hamilo Coast was the perfect fit for our family.”

Hamilo Coast is obviously on to something. In a February 2021 article on the website PositivePsychology.com, Madhuleena Roy Chaudhury wrote about “The Positive Effects of Nature on Your Mental Well-Being.” where she also cited that “staying close to nature improves physical, mental, and spiritual well-being; it makes us feel alive from the inside, and we should not compromise it for recent developments like urbanization, technology, or social media.”

Chaudhury, a psychologist, mentioned a host of other benefits of being close to nature, including emotional regulation and memory, fighting depression, reducing the stress hormone cortisol, and improving focus and creativity.

There are plenty of outdoor activities to do in Hamilo Coast such as biking while enjoying the views of nature.

This is validated by people who now live and work in their Pico De Loro Cove homes in Hamilo Coast after work-from-home arrangements became the norm. With the stress of traffic and commuting eliminated and the option to hold virtual meetings with a view now available, productivity and well-being have increased significantly. “As a working mom, one of the best benefits I have experienced and am still enjoying is the perfect work-life balance,” says Belardo. “I can do my work remotely and take care of my child and family while enjoying the beach and other facilities. Plus, my son is really having a great time here.”

“The free strong WiFi and internet connection are among the benefits,” says finance executive and general manager Willard Mosquito. “Then there are lots of places to work even outside the unit, such as the Beach Club. You can bike and swim during free time on weekends, enjoying the beauty of nature. There’s also a very nice chapel where you can pray, reflect, and meditate.”

Developed by SM Prime’s Costa Del Hamilo, Inc., Hamilo Coast is considered the first premiere sustainable community in Nasugbu, combining nature and man-made excellence in residential properties and amenities. Many homeowners had, in fact, chosen to settle here even before the lockdowns. When the pandemic came, extra safety and security measures adopted by the Property Management Team on a 24/7 basis, including seeing to homeowners’ needs, made life much easier.

Many homeowners had chosen to settle in Hamilo Coast because the ambience is relaxing, the security is tight, the place is less crowded, safety protocols are being strictly implemented, and the staff is very helpful.

“The ambience of the place is relaxing, the security is tight, the place is less crowded, safety protocols are being strictly implemented, and the staff is very helpful,” says Belardo. “More important, the guards, receptionists, and maintenance guys are very respectful, friendly, and firm on the rules and guidelines,” agrees Mosquito.

Indeed, despite all the chaos in the city, some people have fortunately found an ideal pandemic cocoon.

Hamilo Coast is a master-planned seaside residential community in Nasugbu, Batangas, developed and managed by Costa del Hamilo, Inc., a subsidiary of SM Prime. 

For inquiries, call (632) 7945-8000, check out www.hamilocoast.com, or follow them on www.facebook.com/hamilocoastph or Instagram @hamilocoastph.

Out of the net and into the surf

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The olive ridley turtle release was spearheaded by the Chairman of SM Prime Henry Sy Jr.’s eldest daughter, Jan Catherine Sy (4^th from right), with mom, Jasmin T. Sy (3^rd from right).

A real-world turtle tale borne out of Hamilo Coast’s conservation efforts to protect marine wildlife. On one early November Sunday morning, an olive ridley turtle (lepidochelys olivacea) that accidentally got entangled in the snares of a fisherman’s net was turned over to Hamilo Coast’s Sustainability Team. Named for the olive color of its heart-shaped carapace, olive ridley sea turtles contribute to the health of coral reefs, which is the first line of defense against storm surges. 

Later that same day, after some recovery time from the stressful experience, the albeit healthy 1.5-foot long juvenile olive ridley turtle safely was released as it flippered its way through the warm sands of Pico Beach towards the cerulean waters of the West Philippine Sea.

The albeit healthy 1.5-foot long juvenile olive ridley turtle safely flippered its way through the warm sands of Pico Beach, all the way to the cerulean waters of the West Philippine Sea.

The turtle release was spearheaded by Jan Catherine Sy, a staunch animal welfare advocate and eldest daughter of the Chairman of SM Prime Henry Sy, Jr., accompanied by the Chairman’s wife, Jasmin T. Sy. Consistent with Jan’s love for animals, the accomplished equestrienne is an integral voice in the various environmental conservancy measures that Hamilo Coast implements.

The turtle release is part of various marine sustainable and environmental initiatives that Hamilo Coast implements, in partnership with WWF and Bantay Dagat.

The active protection of olive ridley sea turtles at Pico de Loro Cove, one of only five turtle species found in the Philippines, is an initiative of the Bantay Dagat community-based volunteer program, which engages fisher folk in coastal villages to safeguard Marine Protected Areas. Since 2008, Hamilo Coast has been a proud partner of the World Wide Fund (WWF) for Nature Philippines and this turtle release is a simple yet significant testament to Hamilo Coast’s unwavering commitment to practice environmental sustainability and preservation in its operations. 

ABOUT HAMILO COAST 

Hamilo Coast is a master-planned seaside residential community in Nasugbu, Batangas. Developed and managed by Costa del Hamilo, Inc., a subsidiary of SM Prime. It is approximately 90 minutes from Manila via Cavitex and the Ternate-Nasugbu Road. For inquiries, call (632) 7945-8000 or visit www.hamilocoast.com. 

FREIA, an All-Inclusive Investment: The current "new environment" and recent enforced home quarantine has spurred people to re-think the purpose of their traditional living spaces and investment portfolio.

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Now, one's "residence" goes beyond the confines and size of their direct home - it involves their immediate community as well. Over the past 3 months, residence investors have quickly realized just how cramped spaces often are in cities and how healthy living in a sustainable community plays a vital role more than ever.

Freia, Pico de Loro Cove’s latest residential offering, features prime view beach condo units with encompassing vistas of the West Philippine Sea and Mount Pico.

Almost overnight, Real Estate as an alternative investment class has gone beyond value preservation and steady yields to now involve personal and familial longevity, safety, and security. In addition to asset diversification, Real Estate is now a major consideration as a logistical haven, should things sour with one's primary residence.

Getting around the complex is easy and convenient. Pico de Loro Cove provides several open-air multi-seat shuttles available daily

As an investment class, FREIA already stands out from the rest with its proposition of premium seaside living and direct West Philippine Sea views.

Offering premium seaside living to a discerning few, Freia features 223 superior condo units that include spacious 2-bedroom flats and 3-bedroom penthouses.

However, the added-value that FREIA offers goes beyond the four walls of the luxury condo spaces. These include benefits of healthy seaside living in a properly-maintained community; staying close to the city yet sheltered from the chaotic scenes that one endures on a daily metropolitan basis; and how an exclusive set of amenities reserved for Unit Owners means control over the amount of exposure to external elements by staying safely within the confines of FREIA’s gated enclave, among family and familiar faces.

Rising developments within Pico de Loro Cove also offer the possibility of moving in permanently into a home located in healthy and restful surroundings.

A calculated environment for young to mature families and retirees, FREIA Building Property Management follows a similar format to the existing condominiums in Pico de Loro Cove, where healthy lifestyle and over-all experience are paramount. This kind of sentiment is strongly echoed in the words of Mr. Abrantes, a Pico de Loro Cove resident who stayed in the property throughout the entire quarantine period, “Taos puso kaming nagpapasalamat sa tulong ninyo sa aming mag-asawa during this 2.5 months of ECQ and GCQ, specially all those food supply runs and prescription refill runs that you afforded us. Words are not enough to express our sincerest gratitude toward the services you have given us. Thanks again for all your help.” Certainly, nothing warms the heart more than to hear compliments from Pico residents, such as Mr. Ed Ong, who opined, “Your efforts brought smiles to all of us!”

Regain a sense of wellness following weeks of enforced confinement in Hamilo Coast.

Everything that one can ask for in a tropical haven, Pico de Loro Cove’s fresh sea breezes make it a vibrant change for those emerging from prolonged confinement.

During the quarantine lockdown, the Hamilo Coast Estate, in cooperation with the Pico de Loro Cove Condominiums and Pico de Loro Beach and Country Club as locators, came together to ensure that one's investment in this seaside sanctuary is professionally maintained, beginning from thorough security and health checks at the Hamilo Coast Main Gate, to the daily upkeep of the landscaped grounds and 1.5 kilometer white-sand beach, to the welcoming reception of the staff. This is summed up well in the positive affirmation voiced by one of the condo unit owners, Ms. Dinah, “I was in Pico de Loro since March...and until today, June 2nd we are still here safe and sound. I am happy the way things were handled for the safety of everyone and at the same time still living healthy and have a normal life...We are very lucky to be quarantined in a very beautiful place, the staff are working with all their effort to cater to us and keep us safe. All in all, I am very happy and satisfied the way things were handled during these difficult times. Thank you to the whole team of Pico de Loro!”

Ongoing construction of FREIA beach condominium.

Spending time at the beach is good for one’s health.

Given today’s varied investment environment, FREIA at Pico de Loro Cove continues to prove that it is in a class of its own, implementing strategies that not only preserve asset value but more importantly, promotes an enhanced lifestyle and personal health benefits.

For more information, visit the official website www.hamilocoast.com or call (632) 7945-8000.

Freira Showroom A Peek Into Beachfront Living in Nasugbo

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The prospect of a quick weekend getaway close to the sea is very enticing, especially to urban dwellers seeking an escape from the stressful city life. 

Imagine this setting not only for the weekends, but as part of your daily life.

Freia, Hamilo Coast’s latest residential offering, is a tropical contemporary-inspired beachfront condominium with breathtaking views of the West Philippine Sea and Mt. Pico.

At Freia, live in a beachfront home where you can frolic in the sun, feel the evening breeze, and where gazing at the horizon affords you some of the most stunning views that nature can offer.

A two-bedroom unit designed by Budji+Royal with tropical contemporary Filipino elements featuring a perspective of the West Philippine Sea.

Take a sneak peek at this laid-back and leisurely lifestyle at the Freia Showroom in Nasugbu, Batangas. Freia is a contemporary beachfront condominium that is set to rise in Pico de Loro Cove at Hamilo Coast. Upon entering the showroom, you are afforded a glimpse of Freias future grand lobby as visualized by renowned design consultant Budji+Royal. A 2-bedroom seaside view unit also dressed up by Budji+Royal, and a 2-bedroom mountain view showcasing a furnished deliverable unit are ready for viewing.

A luxurious tropical resort experience is the recurrent theme of Freias 2-bedroom unit. Distinguished by its open-plan concept, the living spaces seamlessly flow into each other, providing its resident ease in moving around. With a choice of either the sea, the lagoon or a mountain view, residents are greeted by stunning vistas as they enter the unit.

The color palette used echoes a tranquil environment. The beige flooring reminds one of the soft sands of Hamilo Coast, while the rest of the interiors are awash with the delicate hues of taupe, white, and blues, lending a fresh tropical vibe. The play of colors, textures, and finishes complete the overall experience of a modern tropical Filipino design. Mirrors are strategically placed to provide a sense of spaciousness, evoking the wide expanse of sea and mountain.

Master’s and secondary bedrooms of the dressed-up deliverable unit

Freia offers 214 superior two-bedroom units and nine (9) bi-level three-bedroom penthouse units. Each unit will have living spaces that open up to a breathtaking view. Large picture windows plus airy and spacious balconies complement these unparalleled nature vistas. High-quality fixtures will be utilized in line with the element of flair and prime living in the homes.

From masterful design to modern local and international design concepts, Freia will bear the signature aesthetic of its acclaimed project consultants the grand, high-ceiling lobby and building interiors by Budji+Royal and building architecture by Broadway Malyan and GF & Partners.

To date, Freia will be the only condominium development in Pico de Loro Cove with its own array of amenities such as outdoor adult and kiddie pools, a lounge deck, function rooms, and lush pocket gardens exclusive for Freia residents and their guests to use and enjoy.

Freia ownership comes with a membership to the Pico De Loro Beach and Country Club, the pioneer leisure club of Hamilo Coast, giving residents access to a variety of first-class sports facilities and outdoor activities. Nestled near Pico Beach, Freia residents have direct entry to 1.5- kilometer shoreline of pristine white sand and crystal blue waters of the West Philippine Sea.

Following the recent launch of its showroom, Freias construction is on-schedule to deliver in a few years time.

Raring to have a glimpse of a contemporary tropical home? Freias showroom is now open for a site visit. Prospective clients can contact the Hamilo Coast hotline (+632 845-8000) or visit Hamilo Coasts official website (www.hamilocoast.com) and Facebook page (Hamilo Coast Philippines) to schedule a private tour.

SM Prime & Hamilo Coast: Defining Beach Resort Living in the Philippines

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Recognized as one of the largest integrated property developers in Southeast Asia, SM Prime offers innovative and sustainable lifestyle communities. Under its portfolio of leisure developments is Hamilo Coast, a master-planned seaside community located along Nasugbu, Batangas. 

SM Prime's Hamilo Coast is a master-planned development, a sprawling beach resort community that encompasses 13 coves. Its maiden development, Pico de Loro Cove, is home to residential condominium developments and a variety of leisure amenities.

Hamilo Coast is a sprawling coastline residential resort town that encompasses three major mountain peaks and 13 coves, three of which are Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). Its unique location at the head of the Nasugbu coastline makes it the gateway to the so-called “Philippine Riviera”.

Bounded by the vast West Philippine Sea and misty cloud-covered Pico mountain ranges in the east, Hamilo Coast carefully integrates residential, resort, leisure, commercial, and institutional land uses into its communities, wherein beach resort living will eventually be spun into an everyday lifestyle choice. 

Hamilo Coast's latest residential development is Freia, a contemporary tropical inspired beachfront condominium with encompassing vistas of the West Philippine Sea and Mt. Pico.

Pico de Loro Cove, Hamilo Coast’s maiden development, is a vibrant community where environmental sustainability thrives. It boasts of a 1.5 km. stretch of fine white sand beach, a 4-hectare man-madelagoon centerpiece with pocket gardens, and a Beach and Country Club that features the most extensive land- and sea-based recreational facilities in Nasugbu. In 2007, Hamilo Coast teamed up with the WorldWide Fund for Nature-Philippines, a partnership that continues to thrive up to this day. One of itsenvironmental programs included declaring Pico de Loro Cove as one of its Marine Protected Areas. Conservation efforts under this partnership include ridge-to-reef management, the use of renewable energy, and guidance on the responsible and eco-handling of solid waste.

The Pico de Loro Cove Beach and Country Club is a lifetime membership club that provides exclusive access to the most extensive land and sea-based recreational activities in Nasugbu, Batangas.

A membership at the Pico de Loro Beach and Country Club is a pass to a whole new world of excitingrecreational adventures. A member has access to aquatic sports like sailing, kayaking, windsurfing and scuba diving and outdoor activities such as hiking, trekking, and birdwatching. Members can also enjoy indoor activities such as billiards, bowling, basketball, tennis, badminton, and swimming.

To enhance, Hamilo Coast continues to elevate beach resort living through its latest residential offering, Freia. Rising a few steps away from Pico de Loro Cove’s beachfront, Freia gives its future residents a breathtaking vista of the serene blue waters of the West Philippine Sea and verdant Pico mountains.

Upon entering Freia, residents are welcomed by a grand, high-ceiling lobby designed by acclaimedconsultant Budji+Royal. The beach condominium will offer 214 superior two-bedroom units and nine bi-level three-bedroom penthouses, each designed with living spaces, large picturesque windows, and spacious balconies, that open up to the owner’s chosen view.

Only a 90-minute drive from the SM Mall of Asia, Hamilo Coast is the premier sustainable beach resort town of the Philippines. 

Hamilo Coast is the SM Group’s premier beach resort town in Nasugbu, Batangas. It is now approximately 90 minutes from Manila via Cavitex and the new Ternate-Nasugbu Road. For inquiries, call (632) 945-8000 or visit www.hamilocoast.com.

Hamilo Coast & WWF: Nurturing a Sustainable Partnership

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On its 11th landmark year, Hamilo Coast and WWF-Philippines’ partnership now stands firmly on environmental programs aimed at not just ending plastic pollution but also at preserving its surrounding nature. Hamilo Coast, with the help of WWF-Philippines, has gone way beyond annual coastal cleanups and has carefully planted sustainability within its day to day operations. 

The Philippines ranks third in plastic pollution in terms of dumping plastic into our oceans. This is largely caused by inefficient waste disposal in the country and poor awareness of the problem. Because of this, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Philippines, has been closely involved in coastal cleanups and other initiatives around the country to instill the importance of tackling this issue. 

Last September 22, 2018, as part of the worldwide movement, Hamilo Coast and WWF-Philippines, bloggers and volunteers join the Coastal Clean Up to save our oceans one coast at a time.

Warriors of the Waters 

Acknowledging that everything that happens on the ridge has a direct effect on the reef, WWF-Philippines and Hamilo Coast continue to implement programs for its Ridge to Reef Management. This includes the declaration of Hamilo Coast’s three coves into Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) – Pico de Loro and Etayo coves, and Hamilo Coast’s main marine sanctuary, Santelmo Cove, where giant clams are being cultivated and a vibrant marine life thrive. Ongoing projects to protect coastal and terrestrial resources include mangrove reforestation, pawikan conservation, marine mammal rescue, and reef monitoring. 

From Solid Waste to Zero Waste 

With efforts to keep the property and surroundings clean and green, WWF-Philippines developed a solid waste management plan for Pico de Loro Cove at Hamilo Coast, including a vermicomposting site aimed at attaining zero green wastes to be sent to landfill. 

Early this 2018, Pico de Loro Beach and Country Club and Pico Sands Hotel shifted a few of its operations to become more environmental friendly. The use of plastics have been replaced with paper straws and cups, good grade stirrers, and takeaway packs, which will eradicate the dumping of non-biodegradable waste of 180,000 plastic straws and 27,000 plastic stirrers annually. 

The Club and Hotel also partnered with WWF-Philippines in implementing a food waste management system, an initiative aimed at urging staff, members, and guests to be more conscious about food resources and waste. With leftover rice noted as one of the highest food waste contributor in the property, the restaurants’ menus now offer rice separately, also considering diners who are non-rice eaters. A campaign to encourage guests to only get the food they can consume in a buffet was also launched in the middle of the year. 

Keeping a resort development clean involves maximum effort. Water quality is regularly tested and monitored while waste water from the different locators within Pico de Loro Cove at Hamilo Coast are processed and recycled to keep the lush landscapes clean and green. 

Living in Harmony with Nature 

Green building strategies were carefully considered in Pico de Loro Cove’s latest luxury beach condominium development, Freia. This mid-rise contemporary tropical condominium building, which offers a spectacular panorama of the sea and verdant mountains, takes pride in its features that allow sustainable green living and consider cost-efficient operations. For instance, natural lighting and ventilation was considered in the building design and solar energy will be used for certain common areas. An efficient waste management system will also ensure reduced carbon footprints on the part of the residential community, thus promising a lifestyle that is not just close to nature but is one with its surrounding environmental bounties. 

Through the years, Hamilo Coast continues to champion sustainable practices through luxury seaside living at par with environmental awareness. Achievements and recognitions, such as its Bronze Benchmark Status from Earth Check in 2015 and 2017, and its exemplary practice on solid waste management given by the Department of Natural Resource’s Annual Environmental Summit in 2017, proves Hamilo Coast is not just a destination, but is also becoming a premier sustainable beach resort community. 

Hamilo Coast is the SM Group’s premier beach resort town in Nasugbu, Batangas, approximately 90 minutes from Manila via Cavitex and the new Ternate-Nasugbu Road. Its maiden development, Pico de Loro Cove is home to the Pico de Loro Beach and Country Club, an exclusive membership club with a plethora of land- and sea-based recreational facilities, and the Pico Sands Hotel, a seven storey, 154- room hotel offering spacious rooms with modern amenities and captivating views of the lush mountains and tranquil lagoon. For inquiries, call (632) 945-8000, or visit www.hamilocoast.com. 

The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Philippines has been successfully implementing various conservation projects since 1997 to help protect some of the most biologically-significant ecosystems in Asia. For more information, visit wwf.org.ph. 

Pico de Loro Cove is one of several marine protected areas in Hamilo Coast where marine life is preserved and enhanced in partnership with WWF-Philippines since 2007.

FREIA, the new luxury beach condo development at Hamilo Coast

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Premier beach resort living has always been the ultimate dream of urban dwellers who want to seek refuge from the harried pace of city life. There is no more idyllic setting than one that offers a breathtaking view of the sea and a pristine environment that inspires frolicking on the beach under the sun.

With this vision in mind, SM Prime’s Hamilo Coast presents FREIA, its new luxury beach condominium development in Pico de Loro Cove, where future residents can indulge in the spectacular panorama of sea and verdant mountains.

FREIA indeed provides the best vantage points looking out to the picturesque West Philippine Sea and the Pico de Loro mountains. Its prime location makes it just a five-minute stroll away from the Pico Beach, which boasts of 1.5 kilometers of white sand and clear blue waters.

Offering premium seaside living to its discerning clientele, FREIA will have in its roster 223 superior condominium units that include spacious 2-bedroom flats and 3-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 was interior designed by Budji+Royal with cutting-edge local and international design concepts and high-quality fixtures giving residents a total luxury beach resort experience.

FREIA’s residents will have exclusive access to its 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 Pico de Loro Beach and Country Club, giving homeowners a chance to enjoy a variety of recreational and sports facilities in Hamilo Coast.

Supporting Hamilo Coast’s commitment to responsible stewardship of nature and the seaside community’s natural topographies, FREIA at Pico de Loro Cove also takes pride in its features that allow sustainable green living and consider cost-efficient operations. For instance, natural ventilation and daylighting, photovoltaic roofing, and an efficient waste management system will ensure reduced carbon footprints on the part of the residential community.

Beach resort living can now become an everyday lifestyle option, with Hamilo Coast’s careful integration of residential, resort, leisure, commercial and institutional land uses. Potential homeowners may thus consider FREIA as a luxury retirement home and not just a weekend getaway.

With naturally stunning views and amenity features that are a cut above the rest, Freia is indeed one of the most coveted premium beach condo developments in the country.

Hamilo Coast is the SM Group’s premier beach resort town in Nasugbu, Batangas. Hamilo Coast is now approximately 90 minutes from Manila via Cavitex and the new Ternate-Nasugbu Road. For inquiries, call (632) 945-8000, or visit www.hamilocoast.com

Hamilo Coast takes leadership position in sustainable practices

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Hamilo Coast is a sprawling seaside sanctuary along Nasugbu, Batangas, encompassing three major mountain peaks and thirteen coves, three of which are Marine Protected Areas (MPAs).

SM’s premier beach resort development in Nasugbu, Batangas has once again received the Bronze Benchmark Status from EarthCheck, the world’s leading environmental management and professional services group for the travel and tourism industry. 

This status recognizes Hamilo Coast’s environmental impact through its commitment in achieving sustainable operations based on global standards. Hamilo Coast received its first certification of a Bronze Benchmark status from EarthCheck in 2015.

Pico de Loro Cove is Hamilo Coast’s maiden development. Here, environmental and social sustainability is ensured in its operations to provide premier beach resort living in the country. Pico de Loro Cove was also declared a marine protected area (MPA). 

As can be seen in its maiden development, Pico de Loro Cove, the design and architecture of key structures clearly show attention to energy efficiency, use of renewable energy, and proper waste management.

“Sustainability has always been at the forefront of Hamilo Coast’s vision of providing premier beach resort living in the country and what better way to realize this vision than being recognized with such milestone that further intensify our unfailing commitment to flourishing a sustainable beach resort community,” stated Shirley C. Ong, Executive Vice President for Hamilo Coast.

Together with WWF Philippines, coastal and terrestrial resources are also managed to protect and nurture biodiversity. Ongoing projects include mangrove reforestation, pawikan conservation, marine mammal rescue, and reef monitoring. Marine sanctuaries have also been created such as that located in Santelmo Cove where giant clams are being cultivated.

Santelmo Cove, one of Hamilo Coast’s marine protected areas (MPA), is also an important site for marine biodiversity, where preservation programs such as giant clam seeding and regular reef monitoring are being sustained.

Such initiatives are also intended to benefit neighboring communities. It is of paramount consideration to Hamilo Coast to enhance not only the areas where they live, but their sources of livelihood as well. And with the assistance of the SM Foundation, community members are involved, motivated, and educated to be prime movers themselves of these sustainability efforts.

EarthCheck CEO Steward Moore has said that Hamilo Coast has taken a significant leadership position in sustainability.

Moore further added: “I would like to congratulate the whole team on their achievement. Hamilo Coast is an advocate of sustainable tourism who dares to make a difference.”

Hamilo Coast is the SM Group’s premier beach resort town in Nasugbu, Batangas. Hamilo Coast is now approximately 90 minutes from Manila via Cavitex and the new Ternate-Nasugbu Road. For inquiries, call (632) 945-8000, or visit www.hamilocoast.com

WWF-Philippines and Hamilo Coast: A Partnership for Sustainable Development

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International Coastal Clean-up Day in Nasugbu, Batangas last Saturday, September 19, 2015, Here's in Mangrove (https://instagram.com/msmyrnz/)

The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) in the Philippines and Hamilo Coast Hamilo Coast, the premier seaside leisure development of the SM Group marked the 30th International Coastal Clean-up Day in Nasugbu, Batangas last Saturday, September 19, 2015, with simultaneous clean-up activities on the shore, at a mangrove area, and underwater. A team of 200 WWF and Hamilo Coast staff, Philippine Army representatives, and members of the media collected a total of 1057.5 kilograms of biodegradable and nonbiodegradable marine debris from the three clean-up activities. Plastics and food wrappers consisted the bulk of the trash collected.

L-R: Hamilo Coast Senior Assistant Vice-president and Head for Property Management Star Tuason, WWF Project Manager Ruel Bate, WWF Vice-president for Sustainable Production Ria Apostol-Lambino, Pico Sands Hotel and Pico de Loro Beach & Country Club General Manager Maggie Garcia, and WWF National Ambassador Marc Nelson (Photo by Myrna Roman)

According to WWF, It is estimated that 8 million tonnes of plastic waste are dumped into the ocean each year. That's roughly 17.6 billion pounds of plastic waste that pollute our seas and harm marine life!

The International Coastal Clean-up Day is an annual movement started by US-based Ocean Conservancy in 1986. 

Hamilo Coast, the premier seaside leisure development of the SM Group in Nasugbu, Batangas, is now practically at the doorstep of Manila with the opening of the Ternate-Nasugbu Road.

Now just a 90-minute drive out of the Cavite Expressway,  what used to be a three- to four-hour journey through Sta. Rosa and Tagaytay, the property’s master planners have long anticipated this groundbreaking road access, so it designed its first community - Pico de Loro Cove - not simply as a vacation destination, but a bonafide beach resort residential community where homeowners can choose to live in their beach homes full-time.

With proximity and full-time living comes a greater footprint on the environment. To minimize the impact of tourism and property development on Hamilo Coast, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) in the Philippines has worked closely with the property’s developers since 2007 to uphold the pillars of sustainable development.

Hamilo Coast has worked with WWF-Philippines on environmental programs aimed at preserving the quality of its natural surroundings. Among the initiatives that have been born out of the partnership are the declaration of selected coves of Hamilo Coast as marine-protected areas, the deployment of Bantay Dagat units to protect the area from illegal fishing, and the cultivation of true giant clams in Hamilo Coast’s Santelmo Cove.

WWF’s ridge-to-reef management project helps protect the corals in Hamilo Coast from sedimentation and siltation, and includes the continuous monitoring of flora and fauna to identify and mitigate any such threats.

(Photo by Myrna Roman)

The deputization of the Bantay Dagat unit at Barangay Papaya helps guard against illegal attempts to fish in marine-protected areas. One of the guards, a Nasugbu local known in the community as “Mang Pete”, once served as a spotter for blast-fishers. Mang Pete has since chosen to protect the coasts of his native Batangas.

WWF has also initiated renewable energy projects at Hamilo Coast. Around eighteen of the street lamps along the main road of the residential community are powered by solar panels, and solar power-assisted air conditioners have been installed in the chapel. 

Waste management activities of employees and residents are closely monitored, with guidelines set to ensure compliance with the waste-management standards of global eco-tourism certification bodies.

For more information on the sustainable tourism projects of WWF-Philippines, visit www.wwf.org.ph. 

To know more about options for full-time living at Hamilo Coast, call (+63 2) 945-8000, or visit www.hamilocoast.com.