philippines A Vacation Spot on Subic Bay

When a South Korean family thinks about taking a vacation, it often thinks about the Philippines.

That’s why M Castle Company, Ltd., a Korean developer, plans to build a 1,500-acre resort community along Subic Bay in Morong, about 12 miles south of Olongapo City. The project was recently approved by the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, which oversees the development that takes place on property controlled by the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

M Castle has developed some well-regarded resort communities in South Korea, including Ocean Castle Resort on Anmyeondo Island and Duksan Spa Castle in Yesan Chungnam. Both resorts have lodging, meeting space, spas, and other attractions, but no golf courses.

The company has been working on its venture in the Philippines for several years. It believes it can market its to-be-named community not just to vacationers but also to retirees who wish to spend their golden years playing golf in a tropical setting.

The community in Morong will include a to-be-determined number of villas and condos, a 2,400-room waterfront hotel, a marina with berths for 50 boats, a medical center, a wellness center, a water park, a shopping mall, classrooms for English-language training, and a 36-hole golf complex.

It’ll be the first major development to be built on what’s known as the expanded Freeport Zone.