Fortune Island
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Fortune Island is a captivating private paradise with a storied past. Originally owned by Laurentina Pestano, the island was eventually turned over to the government and later acquired by José Antonio Leviste, a former governor of Batangas. In 1995, Leviste launched the Fortune Island Resort Club, transforming the island into an exclusive beach resort along a stunning 20-meter (66-foot) stretch of powdery white sand. The resort boasts several rest houses overlooking the sparkling waters, a saltwater swimming pool, clubhouse, cabana, basketball court, helipad, freshwater desalinator, and even a small serpentarium, a unique reptile zoo dedicated to snakes. One of the island's iconic features is its acropolis, adorned with Grecian pillars and statues that stand dramatically on the island’s edge, offering breathtaking views of the sea. The island also hosts a museum dedicated to the San Diego, a Spanish warship that tragically sank nearby.
Over time, Fortune Island was divided into seven parcels, with titles reportedly held by three companies: Fortune Resort Club, Inc., Meridian Pacific Hotel Corp., and Batangas Bay Development, Inc. Leviste holds either majority stakes or significant interests in these companies.
However, Leviste's acquisition of Fortune Island has been surrounded by controversy. Some government officials believe the process involved “scheming procedures” to secure judicial and administrative titles, which they argue should never have been granted. They cite two major reasons: first, the island is classified as a marine reserve under Proclamation 1801, issued in 1978 by President Ferdinand Marcos; and second, Section 16 of Presidential Decree 705 (the Revised Forestry Code) prohibits classifying land less than 250 hectares, which is isolated from alienable and disposable land, as alienable. Moreover, the subdivision of the island into smaller lots has been criticized by officials as a strategic move to circumvent environmental and related laws.