Fortune Island is a resort island in Batangas province in the Philippines. The 27-hectare island lies about 14 kilometres off the coast of Nasugbu town in Batangas.
The Greek pillar in Fortune Island
History
The island was long owned by José Antonio Leviste, a former governor of Batangas Province. Leviste opened the Fortune Island Resort Club on the island in 1995. The beach resort was built along a 20-metre (66-foot) stretch of pristine white sand. Several rest houses facing the water. The resort features a salt-water swimming pool, clubhouse, cabana, basketball court, helipad, desalinator for freshwater consumption, and a small serpentarium, a reptile zoo for snakes. The beach also has an acropolis with Grecian pillars and statues on the edge of the island overlooking the sea. There is also a museum dedicated to the San Diego, a Spanish warship that sank off the island.
This island has since been parceled out into seven lots reportedly titled in the names of three companies: Fortune Resort Club, Inc., Meridian Pacific Hotel Corp., and Batangas Bay Development, Inc. Leviste holds either majority stocks or has interests in these companies.
Some government officials believe that Leviste’s ownership of Fortune Island underwent “scheming procedures” to acquire both judicial and administrative titles. These officials believe that these titles should never have been granted for two reasons, firstly, the island is classified as a marine reserve under Proclamation 1801, issued in 1978 by President Ferdinand Marcos and, secondly, Section 16 of Presidential Decree 705 (the Revised Forestry Code), which provides that “areas less than 250 hectares which are far from, or are not contiguous with, any certified alienable and disposable land" are “areas needed for forest purposes and may not, therefore, be classified as alienable and disposable land.” Some government officials further contend that subdividing Fortune Island into lots was a “ploy” to skirt environmental and other pertinent laws.
The Journey
The Journey
It was a video posted by certain group in Vimeo that captured our attention, a video of an island with imposed Greek structure and now a ruins. Many people including us were not familiar and not knowing that this kind of structure in an island exist in our country.
Out of curiosity, we did search the Fortune Island in certain blog available online, only to find out that there is so much to explore in the island like the shipwreck, the monument of bones, the statues, the lighthouse, and the white sand beach. For some reason, it triggered us to visit the island personally.
The adventure was supposed to be a birthday celebration of a friend, needless to say, he didn't join us due to work matters. We just have to celebrate without the company of the celebrator. The burden of working overtime really sucks, the time you spend with your loved ones shorten in a period of time.
Prior to the event, we invite some individuals to join the group on our adventure to Fortune Island. The amount of couples participated seemingly in numbers, single people or should I say "Walang ka forever" envy them. Just kidding!
We rented a private van on our adventure to the said island. If you want to rode on a public vehicle or commute to the island - ride a buses bound to Nasugbu, Batangas in Pasay or Cubao. Then, drop-off at Nasugbu town proper near jollibee. After, rent a tricycle heading to Barangay Wawa, tricycle fare is P10/head. Lastly, rent a boat going to Fortune Island.
You can contact ate nelly for the rent of boat with this number - 09475747548.
First Day, All participants of the event met in Vito Cruz near Mcdonalds, it was already 4 am in the morning when we start to rode on the rented van. The travel was roughly 1 1/2 - 2 hours long. For a moment we stop-by at Kaybian tunnel, known as the longest underground road tunnel in the Philippines situated at Ternate, Cavite.
The adventure was supposed to be a birthday celebration of a friend, needless to say, he didn't join us due to work matters. We just have to celebrate without the company of the celebrator. The burden of working overtime really sucks, the time you spend with your loved ones shorten in a period of time.
Prior to the event, we invite some individuals to join the group on our adventure to Fortune Island. The amount of couples participated seemingly in numbers, single people or should I say "Walang ka forever" envy them. Just kidding!
The team at Fortune Island
We rented a private van on our adventure to the said island. If you want to rode on a public vehicle or commute to the island - ride a buses bound to Nasugbu, Batangas in Pasay or Cubao. Then, drop-off at Nasugbu town proper near jollibee. After, rent a tricycle heading to Barangay Wawa, tricycle fare is P10/head. Lastly, rent a boat going to Fortune Island.
You can contact ate nelly for the rent of boat with this number - 09475747548.
First Day, All participants of the event met in Vito Cruz near Mcdonalds, it was already 4 am in the morning when we start to rode on the rented van. The travel was roughly 1 1/2 - 2 hours long. For a moment we stop-by at Kaybian tunnel, known as the longest underground road tunnel in the Philippines situated at Ternate, Cavite.
The team at Kaybian tunnel
Once you are in the mainland, make sure to buy all the foods and supplies needed on the adventure, just drop-by at the supermarket in Barangay Wawa.
Travel Note:
- On the island there is no electricity and no fresh water available. The only water available are the ones you will bring in.
- The Island is deserted. What is left is an old rooms; dysfunctional toilets and pool, abandoned structures, and damaged statue.
- There are no stores in the island, everything you need like foods/drinks/supplies are available in the mainland.
- Network signal is available.
- Expect the weather to
- be hot and humid.
- Extreme activities like deep-water-soloing, snorkeling, cliff-jumping, and cliff-diving are limited to activity-fit people only. Don't be challenged by others who can do them.
In Registration area, our contact on the boat - ate Nelly met us, she collected the payment for our registration fee and the rent of boat.
Registration Fee: P400/head
Rent of the boat: P6500
The excitement led us to quickly rode on the boat after our met up with ate Nelly.
The team taking a groupie before the take off
Things to Bring
- Camping gear: Tents, sleeping bag or blanket
- Cooking utensils
- Hygiene: Wet wipes, alcohol, etc
- Sun protection: sun block lotion, umbrella, shawl, sunglasses, wide brim hat, etc
- Swimming gear: rash guard, snorkel set, fins, flotation devices
- Flashlight, Headlamp
- Camera
- Personal medication and effects
- Clothes
The Fortune Island opened in 1995 exclusive for the members of the club, well known politicians and celebrities, and tourist who can afford the expenses. By circumstance, the island shut down in 2006 but was leased and reopen for public in November 2013 by a group of Korean National Businessmen.
The Greek pillar structure
Some would say that there is a beauty of abandonment, and that is agreeable. The structure is now a ruins. It resembles a design of Greek Architecture.
The Greek pillar
a closer look of the Greek pillar
The Statues
The old statues of a lion and the naked lady can be an attention seeker, the only left undamaged statues, found just above the Greek pillars.
Statue of a lion
Statue of a naked lady
The Monument of Bones
According to the locals, the bones belong to a woman and her remains were found during the construction of the island building. The plaque labels is a dedication to Former President Fidel Ramos and First Lady Amelita ramos.
The monument of bones
The shipwreck
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.
The structure of the ship was used to be whole, now, it was literally wreck and totally damaged.
Then,
The shipwreck
Now,
Totally damage shipwreck
The Lighthouse
The lighthouse is at the top of the island surrounded by several ipil-ipil (Leucaena glauca).
The sights of Sunrise and Sunset
Once you are in an island, don't miss out the view of beautiful sunrise and sunset. There is a beauty of waiting.
A beautiful sunrise in Fortune Island
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Upon reaching the island, we were attracted of the Greek pillars and the old statues at the top side, the shipwrecks nearby and the Lighthouse at the peak of the island. But prior to the tour of the team on the island, we pitch our tents in camping area, cook our food for lunch, and took a little rest.
The team in the camp area
The amount of tourist during our visit to the island are in volumes, it was the sweet allurement of the Greek structure that attract most of them including us. The hotness of afternoon weather prompt us to take tour on the island and sort out some activities.
Here are some photos of our first day visit,
Here are some photos of our first day visit,
After sorting out some activities on our first days visit, we get back to our camp area and had dinner, and continue to booze. As the night comes, we all rest up our exhausted body.
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Second Day, morning, the team patiently waited for the sun to rise. The sunrise can be the climax of every tourist visit, the pleasure arise when the sun started to rise. There's plenty acts to execute on the rise of the sun like what these folks did:
Kissing the sun
Eating the sun
Dan, on regan mode
The lovers heart sign
A cheers to the sun
Afterwards, all participants and member of the team had some fun activities in the island: Swimming, Cliff jumping/diving, snorkeling, and exploration.
Here are some random group photos of our second day visit,
After spending half day exploring, we held back to the camp area and prepare to take off. Due to unknown circumstance of the boat, our scheduled boat ride going back was delayed and we waited for hours, it was already 3 pm in the afternoon when we rode on the said boat. Then, in registration area, we tidy ourselves and return to manila.
What we do
The list given are the activities done by the team for our entire visit, applicable to all tourist of the island.
Swimming
The beach is rocky and full of corrals, and the water is clear as crystal. Nearby, you can sight the abundant and countless shells.
Cliff Jumping/Diving
There are two known place for cliff jumping/diving, the first one is just below the Greek pillar with 5-7 ft depth of the water, compare to the other one below the old statue of the naked lady, the depth measures 9-12 ft. If you're afraid of height and don't know how to swim, don't bother to jump or dive, safety first.
The cliff jumping/diving area below the Greek Pillar,
The cliff jumping/diving area below the Naked lady Statue,
Camping
The island has a wide space for camping, most tourist camp nearby the sea.
Visit the Greek Pillars, Old Statues, Shipwreck, and The Monument of Bones
The main attraction of the island is the Greek Pillars and its statues, in addition, the mysterious shipwreck, and the Monument of Bones.
The list given are the activities done by the team for our entire visit, applicable to all tourist of the island.
Swimming
The beach is rocky and full of corrals, and the water is clear as crystal. Nearby, you can sight the abundant and countless shells.
Some members of the team swimming and having fun
Cliff Jumping/Diving
There are two known place for cliff jumping/diving, the first one is just below the Greek pillar with 5-7 ft depth of the water, compare to the other one below the old statue of the naked lady, the depth measures 9-12 ft. If you're afraid of height and don't know how to swim, don't bother to jump or dive, safety first.
The cliff jumping/diving area below the Greek Pillar,
Rommel jumping from the cliff
The cliff jumping/diving area below the Naked lady Statue,
Jan, jumping from the cliff
The island has a wide space for camping, most tourist camp nearby the sea.
A view of the campers, the sea, the mountains, and the sunrise
Visit the Greek Pillars, Old Statues, Shipwreck, and The Monument of Bones
The main attraction of the island is the Greek Pillars and its statues, in addition, the mysterious shipwreck, and the Monument of Bones.
The team in the Greek pillar
The team in the naked lady statue
Rommel sitting on the shipwreck
Rommel and the Monuments of Bones
Here is a video of our adventure in Fortune Island,
Our Concerns
Fortune Island is not what it seem to be as describe by name itself, it's the other way around, mysterious and abandoned. There are a lot of raised concern regarding the cleanliness of the island, comfort rooms are dysfunctional and there are non-existence of waste containers, considering that it is abandoned, but the management of the island should do something, unwanted matters and trash are everywhere. At least, transform Fortune island into a clean one, a free of dirts and mess.
The abandoned pool with full of trash and the dysfunctional comfort room
The abandoned house
In registration area, the comfort room is quite disgusting and the smell of cleanliness is nowhere to be found. But overall, it's quite accommodating.
Itinerary
Day 1
0200am Assembly time, Vito cruz (Mcdonalds)
0400am ETD from Manila to Nasugbu, Batangas
0630am ETA Nasugbu, Batangas
- Headed to market to buy some goods and foods
0800am Head to Island
1000am ETA at the Island
- Prepare Lunch
1130pm Lunch Time
- Rest, Swimming, Photo and Video Ops
0500pm Prepare Dinner
0600pm Dinner
0700pm Socials
1000pm Lights Out
Day 2
0500am Wake Up Call
0600am Breakfast
0700am Swimming, Photo and Video Ops, Socials
1130am Lunch
0100pm Pack Up; Back to Brgy. Wawa
0300pm ETA Brgy. Wawa
0430pm ETD from Brgy. Wawa to Manila
0800pm ETA at Manila
Source: Wikipedia
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