There is no such unique appeal in any of the islands in the Philippines such as this astonishing island in Nasugbu, Batangas.
There is nothing like it anywhere in the Philippines.
A 27-hectare (67-acre) island lies about 14km (8.7 mi) off the coast of Nasugbu in Batangas, it boasts a 20-meter stretch of pristine white sand with rocky cliffs on the backdrop of its crystal clear blue waters, the Fortune Island surprisingly feature Greek-inspired ruins of old columns and statues that impressively resemble the acropolis on the edge of the island - the Parthenon of Greece on top of its highest point is astonishing!
Once owned by Laurentina Pestano, the island is now owned by José Antonio Leviste, a former governor of Batangas, Fortune Island Resort Club openly invite guests to experience its breath-taking appeal to newly weds, group of friends, outdoor enthusiasts, photographers, and family bonding. It is so unique, you will be surprised the first time you see the structures from the boat.
A night on Fortune Island is serene and so relaxing. Pitching a tent is the only choice to stay overnight – great for BBQ’s and hot pots with friends. The entire night can be relaxing inside your own tent. Some group of friends were a bit noisy and drunk over the night. Others went on to stroll the beach and find places for a bit of touch and quickies. In places like these, do what you have to do - in the virgin island.
It was near this island (approximately 900 meters (3,000 feet) northwest of the island) that the galleon San Diego was sunk on December 14, 1600 by the Dutch warship Mauritius under the command of Admiral Oliver Van Noort. The shipwreck was discovered in 1992 by French underwater archaeologist Franck Goddio.
(CTTO: Wiki)
We visited the island to camp, shoot, and spend the night together as friends deeply engaged in photography as a hobby.
Food that we brought from Nasugbu is more than enough to survive the overnight stay in Fortune Islands: Andoks lechon manok, Jollibee burgers and rice, a few liters of water, canned foods, and a burner for hot coffee.
The Photoshoot.
Immediately after pitching our tents and securing important stuff safely inside the tents, we started taking photos on the beach, partly getting wet and blown by the strong winds.
We tried a lot of angles, fighting the light beaming from the sun almost facing us.
Then I decided to include as a backdraft the unbelievable Parthenon on top of the ridge.
On top of the Parthenon, the entire island is almost visible 360deg.
We took a lot of photos from the top, enjoying one another in spite the heat of the sun.
And this perhaps was one of the best photos - timed while mounted on a tripod.
The Small But Terrible.
Shin was our model for the moment, being a photographer and traveler herself, she can pose so nicely that we're so delighted to have her on the crew, as flexible as she can. She's cute, beautiful, and equally "kalog" as the boys.
The One That Got Away.
Sir Arnel was able to persuade Ms. Rysh Badajos, a very lovely steward of Dubai Emirates - for some killer poses and stunning shots on the rocks of Fortune Island.
She's got swag with a class undoubtedly. A kind of woman that men can easily recognized the inner beauty, talent, and will.
(CTTO: Arnel Morado)
The Big Brother.
As noob as I am, I was able to practice shooting my buddies. Like me, Bro. Tom Catarata also loves to travel, trek, photograph, and camp during his free time.
The Banker.
Sir Arnel "Marksman" Morado on the other hand, loves to play airsoft, photograph, trek, and camp - just a bit of travel due to his very busy schedule as a banker.
The Island Paradise.
We recommend the island for groups in tents that love the wild, for those that do not insist on first-class accommodations, for those that ride the waves to much delight in wet moments, and for lovers that simply want to get away with the usual trends. Fortune Island is not mainstream and known to a few that kin to seek fulfilment in travel and explorations - for those that invest efforts in finding great places.
Fortune Island is the best destination for photographers and individuals that loves to pose and post. The sand on the beach is excellent. The rocky formations offer many opportunities to compose really good photos. The Greek-inspired ruins of old columns and statues on top of the cliff are the sure winner. At the southernmost tip of the island, there is a cliff to jump in the waters. The condition for camping at night is not that bad either except for the lack of usable comfort rooms (attention Fortune Island Resort Club!). And the thrilling boat rides with the violent sea surrounding it was super exciting.
Experiencing Fortune Island is a big big surprise to our very little expectations – it’s another astonishing adventure for the Kabalen Shutter Bugs. It is hard to find an island that is equally appealing as Fortune Island.
Life is good but island life is way better.
In life, we have to be very grateful for meeting special people that embrace exactly what we like - Tom, Arnel, and Chin are very special. We have so many great adventures that I will be posting on later dates.
If you find Fortune Island worth your effort, go to Fortune Island Resort in Nasugbu, Batangas, and booked there for the island trip, either day tour or overnight.
Byahe lang.. cheers!
2017 February 25~26, Fortune Island
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