Bali in Zambales

Our office had our annual planning seminar at a resort along Pundaquit Beach in San Antonio, Zambales. Punta de Uian is a relatively new resort in the area that is fast becoming a popular destination for families and offices holding reunions, seminars, workshops or outings by the beach. We were generally pleased with the facilities at the resort especially the venue for seminars. The cottages were also nice for big groups though their rooms for single or two occupants are quite regular and not so different from other hotels or resorts I've stayed in before. The complex though is quite impressive with the man-made lagoon surrounded by Balinese-inspired cottages and the effort for the Ifugao/Igorot inspired cottages on one part of the resort.

Guard post at main gate

Lounge inside male comfort room

Cubicle doors at the male toilet

Seminar room

Balinese inspired wall at seminar room

Doors to the female (left) and male (right) comfort rooms

Stylized bird cage at the lobby

Check-in counter at the lobby of the seminar venue

Posing at the receiving area of the lobby with Balinese windows/mirrors adorning the wall. Other furniture are also Balinese inspired and are supposedly imported from Bali, Indonesia.

Hallway to the dining area

Buddhist figure and Balinese drum and lamps in front of the intricately carved doorway

Seated on Balinese furniture

Statues, ornaments and buffet cabinet

Close-up of Balinese window/mirror on the wall

More furniture (sofas?) along the hallway to the dining area

Ceiling, lamps and cornice

Many of us commented that it took a lot of effort and funds to be able to put up this Balinese-inspired venue. It was impressive in the sense that the designer seems to have every detail covered and money did not seem to be an issue with the building interior. The only thing missing to complete the (out of country) experience was perhaps uniforms for their staff. Their staff are kind, efficient and organized but overall, I think Punta de Uian is still a work in progress and should be more impressive in the coming years. I hope they are able to maintain the facilities as more people flock to San Antonio and Pundaquit Beach. The location, after all, is a good jump off point for Capones Island (where there is a light house) and the coves located to the south and hidden by the mountains, among them Anawangin Cove.

-