Pico de Loro - Glass Chapel by the Hill and Breakfast Buffet

Mornings in Pico de Loro are mild. It's also the best part of the day to get the perfect shot for the westward sprawl of the lagoon - with its sun-kissed reflections and mirror images of the white-washed tenements. I decided to check out the chapel by the hill.

Enshrouded by a sea of vegetation, the chapel seems protected by the rich foliage. From the beach, I walked the wooden plank until I saw the wooden stair that eventually lead to a chapel with walls made of glass - and a roof that looked like it was going to rocket into the sky.

With a 360 degree view of the green surroundings, I was impressed by its concept of being open or "bare". It would be a perfect place to get married in. Marriage after all shouldn't be anything else.

The chapel probably has a capacity of 200, 250 tops. The altar was decked with poinsettias. Imagine if you wanted an intimate wedding, this wouldn't be a bad place to hold it in.

VERANDA

Of course the best part of the structure is the sprawling veranda outside providing lookout point to the scenic Hamilo Coast and some parts of the mountain. A flight of stairs below is a small holding area with a couple of rooms, probably for when you require dressing rooms for events. Or storage of goods.

After the chapel visit, I went back to Pico Sands Hotel for breakfast before it closed at 10. Buffet breakfast is included in the hotel booking. While last night's dinner was a disappointment, this breakfast more than made up for it, mostly because there's a limit to the concept of breakfast food you can serve. But, yeah, I was more than happy with their breakfast. I initially tried their restaurants near the Club House, but they were packed and I didn't want the circus atmosphere. I was referred instead to the Baia Ballroom (below).

Pico de Loro is close to perfection where retreat and relaxation are concerned. There are areas that may benefit from improvements (like their food) or looking into (like their chaotic check out). But on the whole, it's a great place for a visit.

This is the Eye in the Sky!

The veranda just outside the chapel provides great views (below) of the coast.

Glasses as walls.

A floor below the chapel, you'll find this holding room

Front of the chapel.

The way to the parking space and the beach.

Stairs jut out towards the beach.

Free rides with these roving vehicles.

Picturesque lagoon

Condominium units

Pico Sands Hotel

My haul from the breakfast buffet spread.

Baia Ballroom

Pico de Loro Beach and Its Underwhelming Dining Experience

Afternoons in Pico de Loro bristled. The heat percolated around the windless terrain that the short hike from the hotel going to the beach turned a bit uncomfortable. I should have brought my sunglasses or a cap because even the healthiest eyes have limits to the amount of sunlight they can take in. The hotel guard did suggest I wait for the free ride, but me being the "seasoned traveler", rebuffed the valid suggestion. If I could tackle simmering Bagan (Myanmar), why not tropical Nasugbu? Such arrogance indeed. :)

The 1.5 kilometers stretch of beach was interesting, with the cove languorously beckoning westward. There's a red-and-white lighthouse standing on a cliff, probably the one from Barangay Ilingan. There's a wooden pathway that stretches close to the water and goes eastward up a hill to where the chapel looms like a breakable glass. At the base of the northern hill, a restaurant could be seen. Few souls have ventured into the waters, but by late afternoon, people would gradually, expectedly show up to enjoy the ocean.
 

The sand isn't "white" by any measure, although from the elevated hills, it did have that illusion. It's more golden, to be dramatic about it.

While there's a very visible volume of lifeguards at the Club House, there's none to be seen here, although they're probably incognito. But the waves are mild and look safe most time of the day. Still, caution is a better option than regret, go ask the parent who lost a child from drowning? Am I being morbid? You see, caution is never bad.

"TERRIBLE FOOD"

In the evening, I decided to partake dinner at the buffet spread by the beach. I decided on buffet because a la carte dining felt limited for its price so why not up the ante for all that's available, right? I didn't realize this until then that dining by candlelight is actually "dark". I asked for those bite-sized candles but they hardly made any difference. It's probably one of the darkest, dimmest dining experiences I've had in my life. There goes the romantic notion, right?

Food was so-so at best, which was a huge let down, considering the price. The tastiest in the whole spread is the Batangas "atchara" (pickled green papaya relish), I had to come back for it thrice. And if that's the best to be mentioned in a buffet spread, isn't that pathetic? After all, atchara isn't main course. Post-mortem, I read up some "reviews" about Pico's beachside buffet just to find out if it was just a "bad culinary night" for me, but lo and behold, "Foursquare" had a consensus, i.e. that their buffet has "terrible food". One can probably overcome lousy food by compensating with quantity, but "more of bad food" only spells indigestion.

This is the Eye in the Sky!

There's a lighthouse up the hill.

From the chapel by the hill to the sea.

Beachside restaurant

My gastronomic haul from the buffet table. The only good thing about this is the atchara so I didn't come back for more. Well, I did return for the atchara. Does that count?

Dinner by the beach is a dim dining experience. I should have picked one of the restaurants of the hotel. 

Pico Sands Hotel front desk and lobby.

Pico de Loro Introduction - http://eye-in-the-blue-sky.blogspot.com/2014/04/pico-de-loro-hanging-loose-simmering.html

Glass Chapel by the Hill in Pico de Loro - http://eye-in-the-blue-sky.blogspot.com/2014/04/pico-de-loro-glass-chapel-by-hill-and.html

Pico de Loro - Hanging Loose & Simmering Down at the Hamilo Coast (Nasugbu, Batangas)

The way to Nasugbu, Batangas feels like one big adventure. If you're not taking a ferry from SM Mall of Asia, then you have a relaxing road trip ahead of you, one that will take you through Cavitex in a zippy, albeit leisurely fashion which is a mere 73 kilometers from Manila (it's almost twice that distance if you go the Tagaytay route). You ply through the industrial areas of Ternate (Cavite), zoom through Kaybiang Tunnel, bask at the awe-inspiring Hamilo Coast via the zigzagging mountain of Nasugbu (Batangas), and in less than 2 hours, you're in this exclusive resort community developed by Henry Sy of SM Malls.

The compound is a controlled environment. You get to embrace serenity. In its entirety, Pico de Loro has Pico Sands Hotel, condominium units for members, Pico de Loro Beach, the Club House's swimming pool, the infinity pool by the beach; basketball, badminton and squash courts; playpen for children; 4 well appointed dining halls and restaurants and several bars. Nope, you won't feel the vibrant mercantile atmosphere of Sy's gigantic malls. Leave the party ambiance in the urban jungle. This is a place to kickback, relax, speak calmly, renew energy and wallow in your authentic smiles.

We opted to stay at the Pico Sands Hotel because we wanted the complete holiday experience of having nothing to do but relax; of breakfast buffets and dinners by the beach. Though warned of congestion and a protracted check-in time (due to sheer volume of guests), we were in our 4th floor rooms in no time. In fact, the whole experience was breezy. We had adjoining rooms (shown below) that looked very clean, the floors glistened. Everything else looked and smelled new, but why not, the place opened in 2011.

The interiors were modern and tasteful, if a tad basic, but the beds were comfortable and big. Our room had a balcony that could only get better if we had a view of the lagoon in the center of the development, but what we had was a view of the mountains instead. It wasn't bad. If you booked via Agoda, which seems cheaper (think P2,000 to P3,000 cheaper) than when you're booking elsewhere, a room facing the lagoon is P1,000+ more expensive than the mountain-view rooms. Yes, you get what you pay for.

The 4th floor hallways are painted in palettes of sandy cream-and-seashell white hues they look so "clean". The minimalist veneer in fact worked so well, your migraine might as well be halfway through convalescence. Once I started navigating around, I saw the series of swimming pools that adorn the Club House veranda: an adult pool beside the serene lagoon; a children's pool with squirting waters; At night, these pools acquire colors imbuing them a sense of drama. Lifeguards man the area until sun down. You may hike your way to the beach (a 10-20 minute eastward walk depending on your speed). But free tram rides could be had if you wait in one of their several stops. Just ask the guard and they'll radio your vehicle for you.

The big picture. this photo only courtesy of their website.

If you want some spiritual peace, there's a glass chapel up a hill with a view of the Hamilo Coast and the sparkling bay waters. Breakfast is included in your hotel booking although if you're a big family, you'd have to make arrangements for the extra meal tickets.

Lunch and supper are on the pricey side, but what do you expect?  Instead of dining a la carte, we opted for buffet because their non-buffet spread seems limited for that sum of money, you might as well fork out a bit more.

ORDERING OUT

If you want to eat inside your room, you'd have to order and pick them up yourself. Here are the menu dishes and their respective prices: cream of broccoli (P180), caesar's salad (P285), cape cod salad (P360); fettuccine bolognese al ragu (P330), spaghetti carbonara (P395); pico club sandwich (P310), tuna melt (P245), hungarian sausage (320); pico burger with cheese (P295), margherita pizza (P345), tuscano pizza (P450), shrimp scampi (P450); Rice meals - pork adobo rice (P220), mongolian barbeque fried chicken (P330), yang chow fried rice with chinese chorizo; fresh fruit dessert (P170), dulce de leche cheesecake (P220); kid's choice includes three - spaghetti bolognese, fried chicken with rice or fries, fish nuggets with rice or fries (P260 and above). That's what's available (at the time of writing) so don't look for more. And I repeat, don't expect people delivering your order to you. You have to pick your order at the restaurant.

Hamilo Coast has 31 kilometers of coastline and 13 exclusive coves that are gradually being developed into prime properties. In line with these developments, areas have been renamed to suit the modern ambiance. Mount Palay Palay for example becomes Mt. Pico de Loro. Barangay Papaya is lost in the neological but otherwise spiffy term Hamilo Coast. In a few years' time, these coasts would be offering more eye-popping leisure centers for the well heeled.

FOOD AND DRINKS

Just to save a few bucks, you can bring some drinks with you; some chips and those comfort food with you. There supposedly is a convenience store here, Grab and Go, but I didn't see it. There's also a Kultura Butik, your proverbial souvenir shop. There are complimentary water bottles in your room but that's about it.

I've read about some guests who complained about how boring it gets, but as I've mentioned earlier, Pico isn't the party scene. If you're looking for urban vibe, why go to the coast? More importantly, why leave cosmopolitan Manila if throbbing music and dance clubs are what you're after? You've been misinformed about your destination, honey.

ACTIVITIES AND DINING

There are plenty of activities to enjoy - swim at the pool or at the beach, scuba diving, snorkeling, jet skiing, boating, kayaking, wind surfing, cove tours and island hopping; basketball, tennis, badminton, squash, bowling, children's playgrounds, billiards, game room, karaoke rooms, gym and dance studios, library. Dine at any of the following - Lagoa, B&B, Lanai Bar, Pool Bar, Reef Bar, Sun Coral Cafe, Arribada Lounge and Brisa Bar.There's the Rain Spa at the Sands Hotel as well as outdoor massage huts. We had our breakfast buffet at the Baia Ballroom because the other restaurants were teeming with people. The ballroom was of course spacious and food choices were abundant.

I will be featuring the other facets of Pico de Loro in succeeding posts - the beach and the glass chapel by the hill so check them out. It isn't hard to get drawn to this place. It isn't your cheap beach side detour, but I am sure the photos speak for themselves. Sometimes, beauty and convenience can be lavish and that's alright.

This is the Eye in the Sky!

Read a book while submerged in pool water?

Adult pool of the Club House.

Children's pool. The men in red uniforms are the lifeguards.

Boundary between the adult and children's pool.

Swimming pool facing the pond enclosed by the condo units.

Mt. Palay Palay (aka Mt. Pico de Loro) surrounding the coves.

Club House. 

Quiet pathways to the beach and back.

Rolling greens.

Room at the 4th has fast wifi, LCD cable TV, ref, split-type AC, a balcony and a bathroom (no bathtubs).

The adjoining room with single bed. This is one of the hotel's 154 rooms spread on 7 floors.

My balcony

The view from my balcony which is really the entrance to Pico Sands Hotel.

Bathroom.

4th floor hallway.

Pico Sands Hotel's lobby facing the pond.

Pico Bar

The huge painting at the hotel lobby.

Receiving counter at the Club House.

Club House facing the swimming pool.

Pico de Loro Beach and Chapel in the next post. For more information, please DO NOT inquire here. Call 632-464-7888 or 63-917-809-1289. Or visit their website at http://www.picodelorocove.com/

The ferry ride from Mall of Asia will set you back by P500 per person for members and P600 for non-members and will take you 1.5 hours to get there.

Directions to Pico de Loro - http://www.picodelorocove.com/getting-there/car

Kaybiang Tunnel on your way to Pico de Loro from Ternate Cavite - http://eye-in-the-blue-sky.blogspot.com/2014/04/kaybiang-tunnel-philippines-longest.html

Play pen for your tots.

Badminton Court

Billiards

Bowling alley

Pico de Loro Beach and its Underwhelming Dining Experience - http://eye-in-the-blue-sky.blogspot.com/2014/04/pico-de-loro-beach-and-its.html

Glass Chapel by the Hill in Pico de Loro - http://eye-in-the-blue-sky.blogspot.com/2014/04/pico-de-loro-glass-chapel-by-hill-and.html