brokebackpacker: Villa Escudero Plantations and Resort

A month prior to my birthday, I had made decision to spend it the way I celebrated in Camiguin Island, but on cheaper note. The place should be somehow relaxing, surrounded with natural beauty, with great food and with something new to offer. I was eyeing Bataan, until a friend suggested that I checked on Villa Escudero’s website (www.villaescudero.com) as claimed, Villa Escudero Plantation and Resort has a worldwide reputation as a showcase for the

Philippines

’ rich cultural heritage, offering a beguiling glimpse of its history, cuisine, dress, customs and natural beauty.

I was engaged on pictures of cottages being offered. There are riverside cottages and apartment style units; each individually designed using indigenous materials like bamboo, anahaw leaves and coconut lumber. Rates are based on the number of occupants per unit, the more the cheaper and are inclusive of three meals. I had decided for an overnight stay, but persuaded by my companions who had prior commitments on following day. Thus, we settled for day tour.

Transportation

It was raining the day before my birthday and it was blessing as the sun shines mightily that morning. We met at SM Dasmariñas, took the South superhighway and allowed to be guided by GPS. After 2 hours and a half we saw archway to Tiaong, Quezon – the very landmark to our destination and immediately turned left.

with some major errors we made it to Villa Escudero guided by GPS

For commuters, there are several bus lines (Tritran and JAC Liners) at Buendia station take public bus with signboard: Lucena / san Pablo, while, in Alabang look for buses going to Lucena (or Bicol) just instruct conductor to drop you off at Villa Escudero.

Archway that serves as landmark to Villa Escudero

Allotted Budget

P 1,400.00 – Day tour package that includes welcome drink, carabao cart rides, use of out door recreational facilities, museum tour, lunch at the waterfalls and cultural show.

P 500.00 – For gas (Dasmariñas – Villa Escudero – Dasmariñas)

P 100.00 – If you wish to go fishing while rafting on lake; you can take home your catch for free (optional)

P 75.00 – For souvenir developed photos taken by in-house photographers (optional)

P 10.00 – Fresh Buko juice; refreshments are charged at Labasin Waterfalls restaurant

Day Tour Activities

AERA Memorial Museum

After registering and paying entrance fee, a lady in baro’t saya approached us and offered welcoming drinks – gulaman. The same lady escorted us to AERA Memorial Museum – a cathedral structure painted in pink and white. Entering arched wooden door, another lady in filipiniana requested us to surrender our belongings at baggage counter area particularly cameras for taking pictures is strictly prohibited. But, my conscience pleaded guilty as I placed my sony cybershot in my pocket and literally stole pictures inside the museum.

AERA Memorial Museum

Nobody was there to assist us; thus, we educated ourselves and allowed to be mesmerized with artifacts and antiques enshrined inside the museum. The core of the collection is its trove of religious art. The superbly executed silver altars, gilded carrozas, ivory santos and mostly collection dating from the Spanish colonial era - truly reflecting Philippines rich cultural heritage, history and natural beauty.

Labasin Waterfalls Restaurant

Done reminiscing the past, we goofed for a moment and had our pictures taken afar from the residential home of the Escudero’s (also painted in pink and white) and at bronze statue of the couple. Then enjoyed a leisurely carabao-drawn cart ride accompanied by musicians and singers serenading us with Filipino folk songs. On the way to resort proper, I just admired Ligaya – name of our carabao, of how strong and hardworking she is - no wonder they are hailed as “pambansang hayop ng Pilipinas.”

Admiring the Escuder Mansion - its off limits

Meet Ligaya - our carabao

We took our lunch at the Labasin Waterfalls restaurant, a unique feature of Villa Escudero. Baggage counter was available to secure our belongings, but this time you can take pictures all you want. It was a breathe of fresh air, bamboo dining tables with banquet set up behind a bahay-kubo and all these with running water from the falls as backdrop.

At Labasin Waterfalls Restaurant

flowing clear spring water while dining

Eat-All-You-Can: Food served was all local dishes starting with vegetable salad (togue, hard boiled egg, baguio beans) in peanut dressing, rice wrapped in banana leaves, selection of viand from grilled tilapia, grilled liempo, guisadong pancit, kalderetang baka (slightly tough in texture), lumpiang gulay and squash soup in bao. For dessert, fresh fruits – watermelon and pineapple. The dining experience with spring water running over our feet was truly delightful.

Eat-All-You-Can Buffet

had been my favorite

Bamboo Raft

Bamboo rafting at Lake Labasin

Its time to burn calories – I applied gained knowledge from rafting at Cagayan de Oro but this time paddling a bamboo raft at Lake Labasin. This I truly enjoyed.

It takes Two to Tango...Bamboo Raft

Recreational Facilities

All sweat from rafting we decided to beat the heat – swimming! There was a Jacuzzi and we spent sometime in it alternating with cold water from the pool. It was Friday afternoon and we owned the area, I guess everybody else was already watching the cultural show which we missed. There’s plenty to do – bicycling, tennis, karaoke, rural village tour, bird watching and a lot more, but, we had so much for the day and had much fun with on my birthday – celebrating in less cost.