And we finally arrived at the airport
We all fit in the Heli together with the pilot
We were greeted by Boly, the General Manager of Balesin. Dad and Mom know him because he is the husband of one of our Managers in Starbucks, Macy, who is based in Cebu
Plenty things to do in the island!
Beautiful landscaping
Clubhouse
Very interesting to meet Marco Diaz, nephew of Gloria Diaz and cousin of Illac Diaz. Marco was the one who developed the island and made it self sustainable. He told me that what he does is the same as what Illac does for the poor though he does it as a job and for resorts all over the world. He used to work for the Taj group
We did not go anywhere by land except to the club house for lunch and to this very beautiful and humongous Balete tree! Tito Rob made sure he brought us to see this. He told us a story about the Banyan tree in Hong Kong that was in between the Conrad Hotel and the Island Shangri-la Hotel. The Banyan Tree there is known to be the most expensive tree in the world since the two hotels had to build around the tree to preserve it. And Tito Robbie said that this Banyan tree in Balesin is even bigger than that one in Hong Kong
Only Smart network available on the island!
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I have been hearing so much about Balesin from friends. I am so happy I was able to visit and finally see this place.
Tito Rob is the expert as he has been here more than 30 times already. He is such a great ambassador of the place – he really promotes it to all his friends, and I am fortunate he is friends with my Dad and Mom who tagged me along! 🙂 Tito Rob made a good point that It’s only a 30 minute ride from the helipad ( located nearer home than the airport ) to the Balesin airport. Though a plane ride takes 25 minutes, the real time is longer because you have to go to the airport, wait to board, then board the plane. By the time you add up the time for all that – it would be more than an hour from stepping out of your house till the Balesin airport. Unless of course you are taking a private plane ( though you still have to drive to the airport ) 🙂
This is the island as you are approaching it – I was at the back seat of the heli so I could not take a better photo
The photos are in order of how we saw the island. I thought this was a great way to see the island since we had a limited time only to stay
We started approaching the airport
then we turned left to go around the island
That’s us flying over the island
Taken from their website ( Click below to go to their website )
St. Tropez
Still under construction – Costa Smeralda
Mykonos
The view of the island from the tip
Phuket
Bali
landing after the tour- approaching the runway
These are the photos leaving the island
The villas are the Balesin villas which is the Filipino part of the island
This is the Spa which hopefully I can come back to one day
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I try to avoid plane rides and helicopter rides because in reality I am scared! Though its hard to avoid plane rides, its easier to avoid helicopter rides 🙂 But a few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to ride a helicopter for the first time ever in my life! I was so scared but I did not want to miss the opportunity. Thank you to Tito Rob and Tita Helen for making my first helicopter ride a very nice and fun experience. To me this is a blessing and I am grateful
It’s really a different view from the top! Now I understand why real estate people really have to go and look from above to be able to get a feel of the land and it’s surrounding areas. It’s just a totally different world from up there. Here are some shots I was able to take from the helicopter
Leaving Taguig travelling to Balesin by helicopter
Looks overpopulated with not much greens 🙁
But as you move farther- it becomes so green and beautiful
Wondering what this is…hmmm..
Tita Helen says her niece calls this area broccoli 🙂 It does look like broccoli
From the broccoli area we are now over the mountains
And then you will see the island of Balesin. Watch out for this in the next feature. Meantime, the next shots are taken on the way back from Balesin to Manila. Tito Rob flew higher this time and we went over the clouds
Caliraya as pointed out to me by Tito Rob
Pagsanjan
Pasig River
Entering the city
The NEW SM Mall in Taguig
American cemetery
The round about in Serendra before landing back in the helipad
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I have been noticing Howard during his full day visit to the Philippines and I could really see how genuinely happy he was whenever he was with the Starbucks partners. As my brother, Noey, said – Howard only requested for one thing and it was to spend time with as many partners as he could.
The afternoon was spent with Howard and with 600 Starbucks partners. During dinner he expressed his thoughts on the afternoon activities – it seems like it was worth his trip to come over 🙂
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It was a beautiful and touching event!! Again I am blessed to have been a spectator in the event and to be able to witness all of these. Thank you to my brother, Noey and to Starbucks for allowing me to share this here at Heart2Heart! The first video is sort of raw so it is not complete and the beginning was a rehearsal, so please continue to watch and listen to the Coffee Ambassadors when they speak then continue to watch the second video
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I was at the back so this is the view from the back of the flash mob
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To end the day, a dinner was hosted by Lolo Benny in honor of Howard Schultz. It was just family and the Starbucks Managers. After dinner was a beautiful presentation by El Gamma Penumbra – the only Shadow Dancing company in the Philippines! What an amazing performance – Heart2Heart is proud to be PINOY! A MUST SEE VIDEO!!! They had another performance which was Gangnam – though I preferred this first one
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First time to have a filipino dinner prepared by Kai and it was very well done!! Thank you Chef Gilbert Pangilinan! I lost some photos so this is a mixture of photos from my cousins, Catherine and Marie and from Tita Tess. Missing photo of the soup and the cornish hen adobo
Fifteen years of Starbucks in the Philippines and fifteen years of giving back and giving back to the community. Take time out to watch all the videos. Thank you Starbucks for touching everyone’s lives
“Since 1998, we’ve made accessible early childhood education, scholarships through sport and art for development programs, social and agriculture-based entrepreneurship programs, coffee quality training and environment education classes to thousands of children in public schools, children out of school and aging Filipino coffee farmers.
While we’ve grown in number of stores, we’ve also grown in the number of non profit organizations we support – expanding not just the scope of our social responsibility but extending in depth and scale our compassion for the members of our community who work tirelessly against the incidence of poverty.
Few are as grateful to see us endure beyond 15 years as the men, women and many many Filipino children who receive our generosity as we share our success as a business with them.
They would like to thank us now by showing us how we’ve helped them lead lives of dignity and opportunity.”
Zarah Perez-Global Responsibility Manager Starbucks Philippines
Performance by The Paco Market Youth Ensemble, Malibay Choir and Casa San Miguel from Zambales and Tondo
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Starbucks in the Community: Philippines from GlobalResponsibility Philippines on Vimeo.Starbucks Partners and their Community: Philippines from GlobalResponsibility Philippines on Vimeo.[email_link]
Mom made sure that she finished this store for Howard’s visit. After all, it was fifteen years ago when this first store was built and it was also fifteen years ago when Howard Schultz was last here in the Philippines. It’s a beautiful store because it is uniquely Filipino
Love this chalkboard!!!
207 stores and counting!!
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