Beyond Private Paradise
Inside the Luxury Few Will Ever Know
For my family.
This life was never handed to us—we fought for it. But we didn’t escape the world. We simply built a quieter place to face it.
A World Apart
Balesin is more than just an island; it’s a world apart. A private plane to a private retreat carved from lush forest, offering cool air and peace far from the heat of Manila. Few will ever step foot here, but for those of us lucky enough to, it’s a living dream.
Luxury in Every Detail
Bungalows designed to mirror the best countryside beaches from around the world—Mykonos, Tuscany, St. Tropez, Bali—each bringing a piece of the world to this breathtaking paradise. Seven distinct cities, each designed to echo the soul of its origin, where luxury meets nature. Why leave when everything you could ever want is here?
Golf carts replace the need for drivers, offering the freedom to navigate the land. Restaurants, always “fully booked,” but with tables waiting for us—to choose from. The beach, unswam by most, is a sanctuary untouched by crowds. And the massage? Unforgettable. Every detail whispers exclusivity, offering a life few can imagine.
As I sit with my sisters in front of the beach hut, sipping cocktails with exotic names, we talk about their growing children, their friends at elite schools, and our family businesses. We wear tropical clothes that flow with the breeze, our lives wrapped in ease.
Outside the Bubble
But outside this bubble, the world is different. People know heat, sickness, and poverty. Broken sandals, too small and worn from too much walking. Motorcycles, their only wealth, carry them through struggles we can’t begin to understand. Food is not even a staple. It’s a question mark.
The Price of Paradise
In our family, we wear diamonds that change with our moods, collect cars like wine, and live in air-conditioned spaces. Bulletproof cars with leather seats and full-time drivers take us from one secured place to another.
Were we just lucky? No. We weren’t chosen by fate. We fought for this life. We refused to accept what was handed to us. We said no to the word “impossible.”
Where We Came From
We weren’t always like this. When we first arrived to this country, we weren’t different from anyone else. But we're ambitious, determined, hungry for more. We worked, sweated, and bled for this life we now treasure. Today, our villas sit in guarded communities, each home a reminder of hard-earned luxury. Maids clean our crystal dining tables, custom furniture, double-height curtains, and marble from around the world—they are a testament to what we’ve built. Even the fish in our ponds are hand-picked, a privilege few will ever know.
The reality of the country outside of Balesin is stark. We see the smoke from burning trash. We hear the cries of street children, their voices breaking through our peace, their pain haunting our thoughts long after the sun sets. We feel it, deeply. Their suffering breaks our hearts. But there’s nothing we can do to fix it.
Some people lead revolutions; others hide behind mansions. Maybe we are somewhere in between, trying to make a difference. No matter how much we try, we face the futility of it all. So, we create jobs, make products, build businesses, and offer hope to others. While we can’t solve the world’s problems, we can offer glimpses of a different future.
The Weight of Wealth
The luxury we enjoy comes with a heavy weight. Our success wasn’t an accident—it was a choice, a decision to work harder, to refuse to accept the hand we were dealt. With that choice comes obligation. We are shown daily how fragile this paradise is, and how far removed it is from the harsh reality others live.
Opulence isn’t just a sign of success—it’s the reward for what we’ve built, and a reminder of what we owe. It reflects both the world shaped by our own hands and the one we can’t escape. But we know that luxury is fleeting, and with it, the weight of responsibility.
We Made It
Now, we find a way to give back, to help others chase their own dreams, no matter how small.