Ongpin building BIG island resort project

MANILA, Philippines — Alphaland Corp., the high-end property developer chaired by tycoon Roberto Ongpin, has started the development of the 750-hectare Balesin International Gateway (BIG) in Patnanungan Island.

This latest Alphaland project is located 21 nautical miles from Balesin Island Resort, the members-only tropical resort in Polillo, Quezon.

In an update sent to Balesin members and friends, Ongpin said Alphaland has started the development of BIG in March, jumpstarting the 10-year masterplan of the new island resort project.

“In March this year, we started moving earth in Patnanungan Island for our new project known as Balesin International Gateway. Only 21 nautical miles from Balesin, BIG totals 750 hectares of land that we have accumulated over the past five years,” Ongpin said.

BIG will have an international airport, a championship golf course, five to 10 hotels averaging 200 rooms each and about 3,000 home sites.

However, Ongpin said, unlike Balesin, BIG will not be a membership club and will be open to the public.

It will primarily target the international market, “with its international airport allowing visitors to fly directly from their worldwide residences, bypassing crowded Manila,” Ongpin said.

As part of the initial phase of BIG, Alphaland will open a clubhouse, the Alpha Beach Club (ABC), in the new project, which would be approximately the size of the Balesin Sala, with a large pool and about 30 nipa hut cabañas along the beach.

The beach club will be operational by Christmas, Ongpin said.

“There will be no villas at ABC to begin with. The concept is for guests to have daytime visits to ABC where they can view the island, have a nice lunch and then return to Balesin to spend the night,” Ongpin said.

To transport guests to the new island, Alphaland acquired a 12-seater Agusta AW139 helicopter, which will fly from Balesin to BIG in only 10 minutes.

“In addition, we are now searching for a hydrofoil like a Hong Kong-Macau ferry, which will take only about half an hour to get there, with about 100 persons. Before these Christmas holidays, ABC will be operational and will be an additional offering for your Balesin visits,” Ongpin said.

He likewise announced the appointment of Rodolfo “Pong” Ma. Ponferrada effective Sept. 1, as the new president of Alphaland, succeeding Dennis Valdes who has opted to retire early.

Ponferrada’s appointment is a homecoming of sorts after previously working with Ongpin during the early days of Balesin Island Club, starting as general counsel and then rising all the way to executive vice president.

He left Alphaland in 2016 to start his own law firm.