PICO DE LORO BEACH RESORT AND COUNTRY CLUB

In the Philippines, April and May are the best months to go and explore beaches and resorts. I can't wait to share to you where I had brought my daughter to, during her first visit of my home country.

Hamilo Coast holding the Pico Sands Hotel,
 and the Pico De Loro Resort and Country Club

The salty warm sea breeze welcomed me upon reaching Pico De Loro Beach and Country Club. My eyes squinted with how the sun reflected thru the white sand and attacked my iris with a splendour of the Hamilo Coast's vast horizon. I was engulfing the scenery when I got distracted with a volleyball toss made on my left periphery and it instantly pulled me back into reality hearing my aunt's echoing voice regarding checking in.

Pico De Loro Resort and Country Club is strictly for its members only based on the regulations set for shareholders. However, the resort opens up a part for those who want to experience a great getaway as guests for a fair chance with one of Batangas' assets. In order to set this identification properly, they give you a water proof wristband that should not be in any way removed while you use the resort's facilities. It is actually to distinguish a guest from a member, where members get a full access to the country club's exclusive pool in mind. My auntie had to check that everyone got the wrist bands on just so nobody would be outcasted. Personally, it felt too much but they are concerned with everybody's safety so I complied. This wristband changes colour everyday. Once it gets tampered, damaged or broken, it may compromise your identification, and that's when we are adviced to collect a new one as soon as possible from the front desk, sans the whole process of checking the registered name. Yes, before arriving to the Philippines, around 4 days before, as soon as I confirmed to my cousin that we'll be joining them to this fun getaway, our complete names and birthdays were asked. This is to ensure the person's registration.

So much for that stressful checking of accommodation, allow me to give you a little bit of a trivia why it is called Pico De Loro Cove.

I hope the image had given it justice. So many hikers had documented their achievement of the hilltop but nobody shows the parrot beak like this. In addition to its name, the Hamilo coast where the resort was built and constructed is estimated to be holding 3 coves that have been declared Marine

Diving and snorkelling with my cousins.

Protected Areas (MPA's). Their coves are preserved and well kept. We had rented out a boat to take us into different coves and it was something that I didn't do for a long time. We had visited a private beach along one of the cove's beautiful white sand coasts and it was like a miniature of Boracay's Station 1.

As we started going for a dive, I noticed that the water wasn't that salty. As we stopped meters away from the beach to swim, my uncle noticed that there was not much to see when snorkelling. It was too clean. There were no corals whatsoever. Fishes are around but I think it's because of the bread that they are expecting from the people that stop here. Although it had been said, that 17 species of sea animals can be found in Hamilo coast, I think this can be observed way far off the beaches.

They said many Filipino celebrities rent a property situated around the area for a good month just to rest. It is pricier in this coast than everywhere else because you need to ride a motor boat to get there and it is a private property. It is good to share that Pico De Loro Cove is part of the VERDE ISLAND PASSAGE, a crucial centre of marine bio-diversity within the coral triangle. With its 5900 hectares of land area, only 1/3 is developable. This serves the right of the land to be preserved and remain untouched. That's why it's recommendable to those who are seeking rejuvenation. Nature feeds the souls of those who would be coming here and I assume, all of us from time to time need this.

It is attractive to the preoccupied population in the metropolis because it is estimated to be just a 90-minute drive from SM Mall of Asia. It is the perfect choice for those who wants to take a breath out of office work. The place is family friendly, safe and serene. The sand doesn't match up with Boracay's (It's as white but after facing extreme heat from the sun, it's too hot to step on it barefooted. In Boracay, no matter how hot, it's not painful to the soles, it still remains cool.) but the view is exceptional.

There are over 40 activities you could do here in Pico De Loro naming some: snorkelling, boating, hiking, waterskiing, aqua zumba, pony tour ride and beach volleyball. Besides a haven for people who are dying of having time to unwind, it is open for wedding events since they have the venue for every choice you are considering. A beach wedding, garden wedding or church wedding. It got nice spots to do your pre-nuptial photos too. And there are areas where office and/or corporate meetings can be held. 

That being said, they have a lot to offer guests in terms of dining places. Being balikbayans, my cousin from the States came up with the best idea.... to have a boodle fight by the beach. So, we had asked the staff to prepare one for us as it is available in the menu. To my other cousin's estimate, for a Php700+ arrangement, I am sad to say, he found the meal dissatisfying. But here's why:

The menu assured that the food can be shared amongst 10 people but considering our anacondas, and the activities which we did earlier that day, it wasn't going to be enough for 10 people. Most of the activities are physically demanding. It's expected that guests would have a big appetite you see. But some items like tomatoes, boiled salted eggs, eggplants and some other bbq items are not present. It was my first time to actually be in a boodle fight so I don't have that much for comparison. But I am aware of what should be there. For reference if you want to include this in your itinerary as you visit the resort, let me post this picture.

Boodle Fight is a military style of eating where long tables are prepared and food are put on banana leaves.
Viands and rice are ready to eat using bare hands, jugs of water are prepared on the sides
to wash hands before the "eating combat".
With the signal to start the boodle fight, everybody aims for his/her position.
- URBAN DICTIONARY

If you highlight the whole food presentation, it looks satisfying
but it looks miniature in front of us. What do you think?

We also tried dining in the resort's Sun Coral Cafe which offered delicious Filipino dishes and a variety of international cuisines. One of the dishes that ignited my taste buds was tinolang manok but using squash to thicken the soup. Dining in Sun Coral Cafe maybe enjoyed al fresco or by the Reef Bar or pool bar. The Reef Bar is facing the beach where we had the boodle fight.

We chose to dine in Sun Coral Cafe after more than a 2 hour drive from Manila.
Sun Coral Cafe didn't fail us.    

-the view of the Reef Bar coming from the beach shore-
It is pretty setup romantically.

As I returned to home-Kong, I craved for it instantly and I had to ask our yaya to cook it because of that lingering sensation in my head. My buccal cavity welled up with saliva as I thought about the thick chicken soup boiled slowly with squash. I never had that before in my life. I thought it was such a great combination. My daughter loved it too. 

Since my family and I were staying for one night only, we couldn't let a chance pass of night swimming. There was not much people at the time we visited the resort so we pretty much dominated the kiddie pool. We were pretty disappointed when our big floats were prohibited to be used in their pool. And they were very strict as per swimsuits to be used when actually taking a dip. No long shorts, and no t-shirts. I think it was just right to impose this.

To go around the area, there were shuttle rides that stop every 10mins at each building. We were staying at my aunt's colleague's unit located at Jacana. It was said that Pico De Loro Resort and Country Club are owned by SM Primary Holdings. That's why if you'd notice, the so called 90-minute getaway's starting point is from the SM Mall of Asia and their souvenir shop is actually "Kultura" which could only be seen in the SM department stores.

There are so many available units via Airbnb that you could rent if you're planning to visit this remarkable resort. Here are some of the model units you can also look at if you are considering being an owner of one of the units someday.

The hotel can be seen in Agoda as well and the room rates starts from HK$800 up. This price includes breakfast and free wifi. I am going to limit the information to that because nowadays, those are the 2 important things guests ask anyway. Based on research, kids as long as they would use the existing beddings, are free. Until those who are 11 years old. The usual, you check in at 2pm and check out at noon.

A piece of advice from me, units in airbnb got the advantage of offering you a fully furnished kitchen which may help you in saving up with food. If you plan to stay here for a week or two, may I suggest that you combine dining out (since there's no more rewarding than eating fresh grilled seafood by the beach) with cooking your food and eating indoors. If you have kids, make sure you stock up the fridge with snacks and bottled water. You don't want to risk them being cranky because of hunger or dehydrated because of getting a day in the beach. Watch out also for bees that may sting you. The flowers around the units harbour beehives.

Here's a sneak peak of the whole place. Credits to my cousin, JP Gloda for this video.

Pico De Loro had allowed my daughter to bond with my family whom she just knew for the first time as she visited the Philippines for the first time as well. I am thankful for their warmth that made a good trip possible. This vacation will be remembered so well as the great getaway post nuptial of my cousin. Like Angsana Laguna, Pico De Loro Resort and Country Club is a beautiful family friendly place to visit. I give it 5 stars.

Standing at the middle of
the Pico De Loro Resort and
Country Club where residences
and a hotel surrounds this lovely river.

Related posts:

1. ANGSANA LAGUNA, PHUKET - this is one resort that holds everything. You don't need to go out for activities. My husband and I had our honeymoon here. And it provided us the best relaxing vacation ever.

2. GRAND COLOANE RESORT, MACAU - If you're aiming to have a relaxing getaway and some golf from the hustles and bustles in Hong Kong, Macau is not just about gambling and parties. You might want to stay in the serene Grand Coloane Resort.

3. A STEP BY STEP GUIDE TO SUCCESSFUL STOCK INVESTING WITH THE EIP COL EASY INVESTMENT PROGRAM OF THE PHILIPPINES - I am proud to say that I am a shareholder of SM, find out how I did it here.

GET INVESTED IN STOCKS FOR A RICHER LIFE

"COL Financial Group, Inc. is the leading online stockbroker in the Philippines established in 1999. It aims to be the most trusted wealth-building partner of every Philippine investor by providing value driven, innovative solutions and easily accessible financial tools to help investors achieve their financial goals.

To date, COL is the fastest growing online stockbroker with over 100,000 customers and PHP 55 billion in customer assets. COL is committed to help you build genuine wealth by providing client-focused products and services."

www. colfinancial.com

WHY INVEST?

Here are some of the important things to achieve as you invest.

1. Become Financially Independent

Financial independence is the ability to be self-sustaining. It means having passive income to enable you to do what you enjoy the most without having to worry about living expenses.

2. Attain Your Financial Goals

Having a plan on how to achieve your financial goals will serve as motivation and create the proper drive towards investing. Whether you have short or long-term goals, investing can help you attain them by making your money work for you.

3. Build Financial Security

Investments are meant to protect and grow the value of your money to help beat inflation. This allows you to take control of your financial health.

4. Stay Ahead

The earlier you start investing, the less money you will need to attain financial freedom. Through the power of compounding, your investments will grow over time and help achieve your goals.

HOW DO YOU INVEST?

1. Pay yourself first

The first and best way to start investing is by saving money. Every time you receive your pay check, set aside a portion of your income for savings prior to expenses.

2. Set Financial Goals

In order to take charge of your financial future, you must set realistic goals that are attainable within a certain timeframe. This will determine the direction of your investments.

3. Choose an INVESTMENT PLAN

Successful investing requires discipline. Select and commit to an investment plan that matches your needs and goals. Taking concrete steps will help guide you in achieving your financial objectives.

WHAT IS THE STOCK MARKET?

The STOCK MARKET is a place where you can buy and sell shares of publicly listed companies. Investing in stocks will allow you to benefit from a company's growth.

*Stocks make your money grow through:

1. PRICE APPRECIATION - An increase in the value of your stock price that can occur as the company continues to earn.

2. EARNING DIVIDENDS - A portion of a company's earnings can be distributed to its shareholders either in the form of cash or stock.



WHY INVEST IN THE STOCK MARKET?

History shows that STOCKS outperforms ALL asset classes.

Compounded Return of Stocks
versus Inflation
(2003-2014)
*The value of stocks was based on the actual performance
of the PSEi from 2003 until December of 2014

BENEFITS OF TRADING WITH COL

1. CONVENIENCE - A user-friendly trading platform that's only a click away.
2. INFORMED DECISIONS - Expert Opinion and Research are offered to all customers.
3. FULL CONTROL - Providing all the necessary tools for the independent investor.
4. ACCESSIBILITY - Available anytime, anywhere online and through mobile devices.
5. AFFORDABILITY - Charging the lowest commission rate available in the industry.
6. CUSTOMER SUPPORT - A dedicated team to assist the customer in his/her trading experience.

HOW TO GET STARTED

In four easy steps:

1. APPLY - Application forms are available and can be accomplished online. Provide all the necessary information.
2. SUBMIT - Submit the application form together with the complete requirements to our office of via mail.
3. FUND - Fund your COL account via our partnered banks through merchant payment online or over-the-counter bank deposit.
4. LEARN - To learn more about successful investing, you can attend COL's various seminars by registering online.

For more information, you can visit their website at www.colfinancial.com or email us at help desk@colfinancial.com


Testimonial:

I had my account with COL Financial four months ago and so far, I have never had problems except on the remittance part into my account. As advised, you should give their office 24 hours for your new available amount to reflect online but I have had an experience that it took longer than that. But their help desk was quick to revive this when I emailed them. So, as far as online service is concerned they are fast and efficient to answer. I aim to keep my account for long term holding a mutual fund and with this quick responses, they make me feel that they are worth of my trust.

They are also abreast with some of the news updates that you need to get hold of in terms of the stocks you are investing on. So, everything is just but a click away. It's super easy to use and very informative.

Main source of information: COL Financial Philippines
Related posts:
1. A STEP BY STEP GUIDE TO SUCCESSFUL STOCK INVESTING WITH THE EIP COL EASY INVESTMENT PROGRAM - Invest your hard earned Php5,000 (HK$1,000) in mutual funds here.

2. CASHFLOW - Know the importance of it. Learn it now and learn it fast.

3. ENTREPRENEURSHIP - Some of small business owners that may give you an insight of some of the important elements you should consider in living your own dream business.

A Step by Step Guide to Successful Stock Investing with the EIP COL Easy Investment Program

(To those who wishes to read this in your preferred language, there's a pull down button on the upper left of the site that would cater to your understanding.)

Have you ever dreamed of owning a franchise of Jollibee?
Have you ever dreamed of spending 24/7 with your family
rather than getting employed 24/7?
Are you interested in making your money earn
while you sleep?
You've been wanting to invest but you don't know
with who? where? and how?

My friend, here's a solution if all of these
questions are applicable to you.

START INVESTING YOUR HARD
EARNED MONEY TODAY!
Because if not now, when?
And if not you, who?

One way is to invest in the stock market.

But before you dodge the bullet, fear not, for there's a guide

you could use in learning about stocks as you earn dividends along the way

SAFELY.

Why I emphasised on that?

The reaction of the majority of the people hearing
about investing on stocks? Super scared
with how it operates that they repel from the idea.

I was like that before. But I chose to roll up my sleeves and

know a little about it until I got hooked.

Afterwards, I was thinking that it's not that scary after all. In fact, I have never felt so driven
when it comes to "investing" until I learned
about the Basic Laws of money.
I agree with Edward Lee as he believes

that all of us need to be educated financially.
This way, we would have the advantage of combining

what we know with the single most important commodity in the universe,

TIME.

Last week, I was blessed to be able to attend a seminar that gave me an insight of what I should learn before entering any form of investment. They've taught about how Philippine Stock Market
could help overseas foreign workers to save a portion of their income and make it grow
over time. After understanding how stocks work,
a safe platform by COL Financial Philippines was offered.

"COL Financial Group, Inc. is the leading online stockbroker in the Philippines established in 1999. It aims to be the most trusted wealth-building partner of every Philippine investor by providing value driven, innovative solutions and easily accessible financial tools to help investors achieve their financial goals.

To date, COL is the fastest growing online stockbroker with over 100,000 customers and PHP 55 billion in customer assets. COL is committed to help you build genuine wealth by providing client-focused products and services."

www. colfinancial.com

I have a basic understanding of money that I would like to share to you. Money is a very powerful tool that may aid you in your pursuit of happiness. If you read it carefully, money should be considered the "means" to be happy. It is NOT, per se what will make you happy. Our reason for happiness differ greatly. Mine is to be "truly" rich. And when I say "truly" rich, this means, NOT being wealthy because of money but being wealthy in how many people I've actually helped and empowered to attain financial freedom. As inspired by Edward Lee himself when he gave the talk in the "free" seminar I went to, it's because of his advocacy to help Filipinos to be financially educated, that's why I'm as well, freely giving out this information. Call me a dreamer but I think if every Filipino would take the Basic Laws of Money seriously, the Philippines could also be saved, economically speaking. It's been a long time. I thought with all honesty, Philippine economy is hopeless because of the corruption. But this is our light at the end of the tunnel.

Why is the COL EIP for me?

The COL Easy Investment Program is a convenient and easy investment plan that allows you to build personal wealth in the stock market over a period of time. You no longer need to monitor your investments daily and you can take advantage of the ups and downs of the market by applying the simple strategy of peso-cost averaging.

What is PESO-COST AVERAGING?

PESO-COST Averaging is a time-tested and reliable method of investing that is easy to understand and apply. It is a personal wealth building strategy that involves investing a fixed amount of money to buy shares of stock at regular intervals over a period of time as a passive, long-term investment in the stock market.

When preparing to invest successfully with the COL EIP, ask yourself 4 questions:

1. HOW MUCH DO I WANT TO INVEST (on a regular basis)?

"Our recommended investment amount is 20% of your SAVINGS."

2. HOW OFTEN would I like to invest?

"Choose an interval that you can commit to regularly invest your fixed amount of money - weekly, monthly or quarterly."

Note: There are no penalties if you skip a date, but try to maintain the discipline to invest regularly.

3. HOW LONG would I like to continue my investment plan?

"Tip: The longer your investment plan, the greater your potential returns given the power of compounding."

4. WHAT DO I BUY?

The COL Advantage? Because Peso-Cost Averaging only works when you're invested in good companies, COL provides a Premium Growth Stock List, evaluated by our experienced analysts for you to choose from.

It is imperative to know that Filipino Overseas Workers were placed as the highest contributors to the Philippine's GNP funding it roughly around 21%. Sad to say though, only 1% of that entire 21% are investing. Presented with this data, could you imagine if the other 20% are also investing and are earning while they sleep? I believe there'll be abundance in funds both personally and economically. The investor would gain adequate amount of money (perhaps more) because of the shares bought and since the power of compounding interest is so great, you'd go for long term investing that the Philippines would benefit from its reserves as well. My own personal knowledge is limited that's why COL Financial are putting out youtube videos out there because they believe ignorance of this kind of information is hindering the Filipinos from realising the beauty of investing. Not only that, the beauty of investing EARLY is the key.

Benefits of the EIP:

1. No need to monitor the stock market. Have time for your more important priorities while enjoying the benefits of your COL EIP at the same time.

2. Minimize your risk by investing in the long-term and maximise your potential returns.

3. You only need a small amount of capital to get started. Open a COL EIP account for a minimum investment of P5,0000.

4. All these benefits of a simple and easy reliable investment strategy at the lowest-allowable commission rate of 0.25% of the stock amount purchased.

Get Started!

COL Financial Group, Inc. is the leading online stockbroker in the Philippines established in 1999. It aims to be the most trusted wealth-building partner of every Philippine investor by providing value driven, innovative solutions and easily accessible financial tools to help investors achieve their financial goals.

To date, COL is the fastest growing online stockbroker with over 100,000 customers and PHP 55 billion in customer assets. COL is committed to help you build genuine wealth by providing client-focused products and services.

I would be posting further development in terms of my own investment sans the figures (I claim) I would make. But, if there are stocks that is not worth buying, I'd freely give out the info as given to me as well. For now, I'll establish my COL account first, give it time to earn some and then prove to you readers that it's real. Truth be told, we can all be "truly" rich altogether.

Our Thank God for Financial Literacy Crew with Mr. Edward Lee himself.
Founder and Chairman of COL Financial Philippines
June 4, 2015, Hong Kong

You can leave your comments below if you need clarifications and if you need additional information. The purpose of this post is to educate. To those who know me personally, we have a group called "Thank God for Financial Literacy" that are willing to give effort on how to assist you with further financial education. A couple of our members have already started their accounts and has started trading. Experience wise, it's better to ask those who have it already. Please let us know. There's also a chance for non-Filipinos to join. The potential is limitless. Just have the right mind set and dream with a purpose. God had given us talents and he wants us to use it in its maximum. 

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3. HK Disney Auditions, June 2015 - "Find Your Light". Grab the opportunity.