Club Balai Isabel (CBI), located in Brgy Banga, Talisay, Batangas, is a lakeside resort developed by Techno-Asia Construction & Development. It is the brainchild of Nelson Terrible, a Manila-based entrepreneur who has roots in Talisay.

Mr. Terrible, whose business style is characterized by innovation and building relationships, was not a hotelier, but an accountant and contractor with a strong corporate background in banking and finance.

The seeds were planted

CBI officially opened in April 2007. When the project began, Mr. Terrible’s initial dream was to place the town of Talisay on the Tourism Map of Batangas. The resort started with limited financial resources, relying on a ₱500,000 initial investment. The three-hectare property acquired from Manila Bank was initially intended for a simple subdivision, but corporate inquiries for event use inspired the pivot to a resort. CBI began its journey with just four nipa huts on three hectares of land. Mr. Terrible attributes the success of the resort, which now spans 12 hectares and features 328 rooms, to the "power of pure passion," noting that their greatest investment was not money, but the heart and soul of the people involved.

Celebrating and Uplifting the Community

Nelson Terrible's personal philosophy of putting people first led to the integration of community focus into CBI's core values, meaning they value taking care of the people around them. CBI recognizes that communities form part of their identity, reinforcing the belief that they are not only Batangueno but also Filipino.

This commitment to the community manifests in several operational aspects:

• Local Sourcing: At the resort’s Terraza Cafe & Restaurant, 70% of the ingredients used are sourced from within five kilometers of Club Balai Isabel, with a strong emphasis on regional Batangas specialties.

• Economic Growth: CBI’s growth has resulted in a significant increase in the town's commerce. The resort helped introduce local market products like bitad (dried biya) to clients, leading to increased demand.

Sagip Taal Lake (SaTaLa) Initiative

Mr. Terrible always wished to dedicate time and effort to solving the solid waste management issues in Talisay. Witnessing heavy trash flushing into Taal Lake during the 2020 monsoon rains served as a catalyst for local citizens, including Terrible, to take concrete action and form the Sagip Taal Lake (SaTaLa) organization. Mayor Nestor D. Natanauan of Talisay is one of SaTaLa’s founding members, demonstrating local government support.

SaTaLa implements a comprehensive approach to environmental stewardship and community upliftment:

• Environmental Rehabilitation: Projects like Ampon Baybay Lawa at Ilog (Adopt a Lakeside and Riverbank) directly involve the community in cleaning and restoring the water sources that feed Taal Lake. This program targets the clean-up of the lake shoreline and tributaries, including the 17 waterways in Talisay that drain into the lake.

• Community Engagement and Education:

• Initiatives such as Ginang SaTaLa (SaTaLa Women) empower local women to take an active role in environmental management, with contestants showcasing innovative waste management programs and recycled gowns.

• The Recycled Parol-Making Contest motivates families and students to segregate their wastes properly by turning recyclable materials into festive art.

• These education and enforcement efforts have been highly effective, with the LGU reporting a reduction in dump truck loads of trash from seven to two per week.

• Alternative Livelihoods: SaTaLa supports the Sandigan Pangkabuhayan Sapalt Inc. sa Lawa ng Taal Inc. livelihood program, led by a women's organization. This initiative produces all-natural products like shampoo bars, bath soaps, and herbal capsules, using locally sourced ingredients like turmeric, moringa, and calamansi from Talisay uplands. This not only supports local farmers but offers alternative sources of income, helping to lessen the community's reliance on the lake so it can rest and naturally recover.

Nelson Terrible emphasizes that SaTaLa’s success relies on personal involvement and participation, rather than cash donations.

Through innovative business strategies, a passion for excellence, and an unwavering commitment to his community, Nelson Terrible has transformed Club Balai Isabel into more than just a resort; it serves as a powerful engine for tourism, environmental stewardship, and economic growth, realizing his initial dream of putting Talisay on the map.

Club Balai Isabel's commitment to its hometown acts much like a sturdy mangrove forest: its roots (Terrible’s deep connection to Talisay) anchor the entire ecosystem (the local economy and environment), filtering impurities and allowing the surrounding community to flourish and weather storms.