RP’s next tourist destination now in Bicol

29 April 2006

By Ephraim Aguilar
PDI Southern Luzon Bureau

BACACAY, ALBAY—Smoothly rising as the next tourist destination in the country is the Misibis Resorts, Estates and Spa, a 20-hectare prime commercial and residential estates complex nestled in an island facing the Pacific.

The resort complex has a wide stretch of fine white sand and a scenic view of the Sula Channel—a salty river in a lake’s clothing that links the Albay Gulf and the Pacific Ocean.

The Misibis Resorts, Estates and Spa recently launched the Amalfi Condotels.

The project, a billion-peso amenity, is one of the highlights of the resort development of Misibis, a barangay in the Cagraray Island here, which began two years ago.

“Amalfi” is an Italian word which means “a place that offers a beautiful view of the sea.”

And very true to its name, the Amalfi Condotels—a hotel and condominium combined, the first of its kind in Albay—offers a soothing view of a clean, world-class beach in Cagraray.

The Amalfi is founded on the concept of bringing people to a relaxed lifestyle, from the hurly-burly of the city life to a serene living headed out of town, where one can experience fresh breezes and a picturesque panorama everywhere one turns—displaying the splendor of nature.

This place, one can suitably call a second home, is about 11-hour drive from Manila or a 45-minute plane trip and about an hour-and-a-half drive from the Legazpi City Airport.

Last April 9 was the groundbreaking and first concrete-filling and unveiling of the miniature perspective or diorama of the condotels.

The Amalfi is a nine-structure “condotel” composed of seven blocks of three- to six-story condominiums and two hotels worth at least P1.1 billion.

Architectural design

Every room will be flexible to the taste and creativity of the resident since it has no permanent divisions. With a divider or two, the resident can freely determine space allotment and design for the studio-type interiors.

Amalfi’s architectural design is said to beautifully blend with the natural landscape.

Avoiding the splash of bright colors, RMJM Philippines, the architectural company handling

Amalfi, will be careful to use only soothing tones that will maintain the tranquil mood.

Made different from the common, big city skylines, the structure will have no precise rectangular shapes from the top of the building to the bottom.

The L-type and V-type design of the condominiums will stand harmoniously with the slopes of this seaside property and will help achieve a restful ambiance and an unobstructed view of the ocean.

All materials used in the construction of the “condotels” are meant to complement the splendid outdoors and to maintain the natural atmosphere of the resort. Such materials are the slate walls, ceramic tiles, steel railings, natural tones and wooden structures.

Motor vehicles will be limited to designated areas only to minimize noise and pollution in the complex. Instead, Amalfi will be accessible via golf carts.

Strongest points

Cagraray island can be a perfect hub of tourism since it is nearest to the region’s entry points and is surrounded by seven other wonders of ecotourism in Bicol. Among these are Mayon Volcano, the world’s most perfect cone-shaped volcano; the butanding, the largest and one of the most gentle fishes in the world also known as the whale shark and lurking at the waters of

Donsol town in Sorsogon; and the Sula Channel, the site where the Spaniards used to hide their galleons during typhoon and which until now is a strategic hiding place of vessels during tropical storms.

Others are the Manta Rays, the world’s fifth largest fish, which can be found in between the waters of Ticao Island in Masbate and Bulan town in Sorsogon; the Boiling Lake, which is a naturally heated water from beneath the earth; the underground river, consisting kilometers of stalactite and stalagmite formations; and the Vera Falls, located on a secluded nook of Mt.

Mayon, about 122 meters above sea level, a natural paradise of forest and clear-cascading waters.

All these made Misibis Land Inc. president and chief executive officer Elizalde “Zaldy” Co confident to invest a tremendous amount of money in Cagraray.

Tourism economic zone

Co and Philippine Economic Zone Authority Director Lilia de Lima signed a memorandum of agreement on March 3 certifying Misibis as a tourism economic zone.

This certificate of registration has granted Misibis exemption from import duties and taxes on imported machinery and equipment and income tax holidays for four years, and later, exemption from national and local taxes, except real property taxes on the land owned by the developer.

Earlier, President Macapagal-Arroyo, through Proclamation 998 signed last Feb. 14, designated parcels of land totaling an area of 196,743 square meters for use by Misibis as a special economic zone.

Government support

In a speech during the Amalfi launch, Rep. Joey Salceda of the third district of Albay pledged his support to what he called a “history-maker” project.

As a way of showing his support to Bicol tourism, Salceda said he had initiated, as head of the House committee on appropriations, the P150-million land acquisition at Barangay Alobo in Daraga town where the Southern Luzon International Airport will be built. It is expected to improve the accessibility of tourist destinations here.

He added that a P270-million bridge connecting Sula and Misibis will be built not this year but very soon.

Albay Gov. Fernando Gonzalez said the government had invested a large amount of money in the roads and infrastructure to help develop and promote Misibis as a tourist spot.

In her visit to the beaches here in May last year, President Arroyo said it was one of her agenda to make Bicol one of the popular tourism destinations in the country after Boracay in Aklan, for the region has potentials to boost of economic tourism zones.

Good returns

Gonzalez said the local government expects significant investments in Misibis. He believes that its development is a “sure-win” venture.

“It will open the doors to other investments. And it will help the province in employment generation,” the governor added.

Currently, at least 100 residents of the Cagraray community have been employed by the resort development project, according to Vitchie Ubaldo, operations manager of the Misibis Resort, Estates and Spa.

In a press conference, Co said they expect 7,000 tourists every month. But they will be operational yet next summer when the coffee shops and the initial phases of the condotels have been completed.

By 2010, he said, Misibis will be fully operational.

Added amenities

In its soft opening by April 2007, other projected features of the resort are a cozy entry lounge and coffee shop, poolside sunken bar, restaurant and bar, free-form infinity pool and deck, spa and health clinic, 50 condotels, souvenir shop, recreational facilities and equipment, business center, and additional 15-room villas.

By April 2008 there will be additional 50 condotels, chapel, helicopter rides, basketball court, function rooms, convention hall, tennis court and lap pool.

By April 2009, there will be additional 25 condotels.

And from 2010-2015 there will be an airstrip, golf course, farm lots, flora and fauna collection, fishing lagoon, outdoor amphitheater, cultural heritage center and museum, bowling lanes, driving range, forest park and trail, campsite, canopy walk, equestrian ranch, and marina and yacht basin.