Photo by Nikki Victoriano

MANILA, Philippines — Where the Tagaytay ridge slopes down and meets the balmy shore of Taal lake lies a wondrous place.  It seems like the perfect hideaway for a romantic weekend interlude.  It could also be an idyllic reception place for that once-in-a-lifetime dream wedding.  It is also a first-class venue for corporate team building sessions and planning meetings.  And then again, it is an ideal retreat for the family,  away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Club Balai Isabel—along the perfect stretch of Talisay which guests swear gives the most stunning view of the famed Taal Volcano—is all that. And yet, it is Batangas’ best kept secret.

The Idyllic Resort

The resort, just a mere one-hour drive away from Makati via the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) and Star tollway, is near yet so far. It is nestled in a nature-like sanctuary, with full-grown coconut and local variety trees and landscaped gardens, in a 10-hectare property just off the shores of the lake with the volcano island directly across.

One may say there are dozens of resorts in Batangas and Cavite. So, what makes Balai unique?

“The resort has built its major hotel and club facilities around the vegetation and contour of the place to preserve its natural beauty and charm while offering the centerpiece  view of Taal,” Balai’s president Nelson Terrible explained.

Balai is just five years old, with its opening just in 2007. Originally intended as a subdivision project by the Terrible family, the then just starting Balai attracted families and individuals who passed by the main Tanauan-Talisay highway as a venue for picnics, drawn by the magnificent  view of Taal and the warm and calm waters of the lake, even when the place was just filled with raw vegetation and trees.

This inspired Nelson to switch his plan of putting up a subdivision into developing the then three-hectare property into a resort in 2006 instead. The change proved to be providential, as now more people could avail of the Club’s natural wonders and superior amenities.

Reverence for Nature’s Wonders

What sets Balai apart from the other resorts is the passion for the environment and nature. The developers led by the husband-and-wife team of Nelson and Cecille Terrible preserved the natural beauty of the place, even as they blended  the Club’s low-rise hotel buildings, villas, reception facilities and swimming pools around the contour, spaces and flora of the property.

Now, after just a mere five years, it boasts of facilities comprising of 228 rooms that can accommodate as much as 1,200 live-in guests and a clubhouse, functions rooms and three swimming pools, with space to spare for day-tour guests. The low-rise hotels face the shore of the lake, and offer a dazzling view of the volcano within the lake within the volcano.

Nelson avowed that no stone was left unturned to ensure that the man-made structures comprise less than 30% of the footprint of the resort, to preserve the pristine natural beauty of the place and of Taal in general.  The lawns are lined up with indigenous plants and shrubs; gazebos beneath shady trees stand in various parts of the resort, where one can simply read a book, relax in silence and absorb the pure, tranquil air of the resort.

The Idyllic Secret Place

Balai has been a favorite of couples for wedding receptions and pre-nuptial photography, as well as those just wishing to go for a retreat to spend quiet time together.

Cecille revealed that the reception for the Oyo Sotto-Kristine Hermosa wedding November last year was held in Balai. It was a private, cozy affair and romantic photos of the couple against the dusk silhouette of the Taal backdrop turned up on the internet a few weeks after the event.  The public, entranced by the dramatic photographs, was kept guessing about the location of the reception.

The Sotto-Hermosa wedding has added to the mystique of Balai. And yet, without hype, it has played host to many such receptions through the years, as well as many quiet getaways from famous and not-so-famous couples.

This February, Balai pays tribute to the month of love with a promotion where couples can avail of a romantic dinner for two on February 14. Guests can sample the unmistakably romantic locale and the sumptuous feast.

Homage to Taal

Balai has attributed its success in so short a time to the timeless appeal of Taal’s lake and volcano. Thus, complementing the resort’s natural beauty is its adherence to environmental initiatives.

According to Nelson, Taal has been good to Batangas, as well as Tagaytay whose principal scenic attraction has been the lake and the volcano. A native of Talisay, he grew up and resides in the town and advocates through Balai his passion to preserve the whole of Taal Lake, which has gifted Batangas province with its bounty of the famous maliputo, tawilis and tilapia and other marine resources.

In a sense, Balai is the closest eco-tourism resort to Metro Manila. Its green advocacy is evident in its membership of the Zero Carbon Resorts consortium which aims to promote the reduction of carbon dioxide emission among members of the hospitality industry. It practices strict waste segregation and plans to harness biomass-fed energy for the resort in the future.

In its quest to preserve Taal lake, it has pursued the “Save Taal Lake” program to create awareness among the youth in the drive for proper waste disposal, to prevent the degradation of this wonderful water resource for future generations.

Cecille shared that a Japanese guest once told her that the active Taal volcano lends sulfuric air to the entire Taal lake and its environs. “The air here appears to be restorative, helping people and visitors to regain calm and health,” she declares.

The resort boasts of a world-class spa run by Spa Professionals, a private group that operates some of the world’s top wellness centers. It is also in partnership with Adol Ya Linawa Wellness Center and Clinica Manila in providing in-house detoxification and medical check-ups for guests and visitors alike, to make their visit a truly complete experience.

In addition, with the lake right at their front yard, water sports facilities like kayaks, surf bikes, pedal boats and sail boats provide fun and sports activities for children and older guests alike.