AWARE and compliant of the prevailing health protocols, our family observed a milestone -- the 7th birthday of granddaughter Jillian, sole daughter of my son, Jonathan and wife Karen.
Off we went to Bale Balayan resort in nearby Bamban town, specifically at sitio Virgen delos Remedios. It was a virtual reunion for the family: Joben and Ingrid, with children Nash, Jeneva, Jeorgina and Dudut; Jonathan and Karen with sole daughter Jillian; Jerome, still a bachelor; Juancho and Tei with children Junho, Cazieca and Joshua;Janine, a solo parent with children TJ, Tiffany, Thea, Trevor and Mace with handler Sarah or Airah, Jovito, likewise a bachelor, Kristine with friend Jervis, Reginald Don and Sophia with friend Van van.
We arrived at the venue at about 1:00 p.m. and we were checked in at Kash villa, a two-storey affair, for an overnight stay. It has passable amenities: good running water and air-conditioning unit for each room and a spacious room upstairs.
The kids, accompanied by adults, swam the whole afternoon of Saturday and on Sunday morning.
Bale Balayan, situated about three kilometers from MacArthur Highway sits on a half hectare property of Lanie Turla Valencia and supervised by Allan Canlas, the all-around handyman/driver who ferried us from our residence in Fiesta to the venue and back on Sunday afternoon.
Featured on the pages of Sun Star of April 6, 2021 was the V Farms. Bale Balayan is a similar enterprise but it caters mostly to families which gather for events such as birthdays. It sits on a 3 hectare property of the Valencias, although only a half hectare is presently developed while the two and a half hectares await development. Fruit-bearing trees abound in the whole property. The developed portion, site of the Bale Balayan, has gazebos, a swimming pool and villas. Under construction are more villas.
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Bamban town, headed by Mayor John Feliciano, is now making strides in development.
Manufacturing firms like Bounty Fresh which supplies poultry products and feeds and Rusi which manufactures motorcycle sidecars have set up plants in Barangay Dela Cruz.
Buildings set aside for Pogo operations and workers have been built behind the Bamban municipal hall and reports have it that soon the operations of POGO and workers will move therein from the Clark Freeport Zone. This alone will contribute billions of pesos to the coffers of Bamban which make it more financially viable and competitive.
More businesses are forecast to set up camp in Bamban town in the near future.