BATAAN, Philippines -- Bataan-a historical, scenic province in Central Luzon-hardly makes a blip in the awareness of travelers, except perhaps Corregidor which, being an island, is disconnected from the overall charm and beauty of the peninsula. Jutting out from Luzon shaped like a sock, Bataan is wrapped around with the slate blue certainty of the South China Sea; in it is an undulating, sometimes jaw-dropping, landscape, making the trip to Mariveles, for one, as an interesting sojourn between terrain and water.
Now that the trend points toward seaside development (the Philippines having one of the longest coastlines in the world has its perks), developers are now exploring Bataan. Why not? The province is close to Manila as it can get and its proximity to its much sophisticated cousins (Subic of Pampanga and Clark of Zambales) makes it attractive, all the while maintaining its bucolic and under-developed look. And what it has in plenty is something that cannot be bought or artificially created: historical legacy. Bataan is not called "The Cradle of Heroes" for nothing.
One of the first developers to brave the uncharted waters that is the waterfront real estate of Bataan is Earth and Leisure Communities, headed by Manuel Carlos Ilagan Jr. Their first project, Camaya Coast (www.camayacoast.com) already gleams with seaside amenities such as a restaurant, an infinity swimming pool, an event hall, a boutique hotel, among others. The boutique hotel-white and clear-cut modern-harks to a Miami influence; the interiors, however, lean toward an Asian contemporary look.
The condominiums for the investors, which are now being built, share the same aesthetic modernist temperament, amid the lushness of greenery and the unimpeachable view of the beach and the sea. Some of these condominiums, whose site is now undergoing land development, will be perched on some of the property's most spectacular heights, as if to affirm that view is all.
At 350 hectares, Camaya Coast has enough natural wonders to titillate even the die-hard urbanist: cliffs, coves, waterfalls, a snaking river. The main draw, however, is the shore that is a stretch of white sand (not exactly white, but blonde, definitely better than that of Puerto Galera). The main property is slightly tangential to the sunset; a burst of orange scatters across the sky to signify oncoming dusk.
Compared to similar developments (notably in Batangas), Camaya Coast is designed to be more affordable. In-house financing of up to 10 years is available and those who are working within a particular budget can choose from an array of condo space configurations, house-and-lot combos, and land cuts. The premium (that doesn't have a price tag) lies in the lifestyle that seaside living evokes: a contemplative appreciation of natural beauty and a place in the sun to bask in it.
