Villa Escudero: a fun way to enjoy Filipino culture

A tropical storm was threatening to ruin our planned excursion last November 22, a Sunday. Thankfully, the heavens decided to set it off course. Our one-day vacation even felt like it was summer! The original plan was for a simple lunch date. But Gemma Cruz de Araneta, our daughter Junifera Clarita's iconic godmother, decided to see not just our little princess but the whole Alas caboodle as well. So off we went to Southern Luzón's famous tourist attraction: Villa Escudero Plantations and Resort. Gemma picked us up from our home a few minutes past eight in the morning and arrived at the resort at around ten to beautiful sunshine.

Arrival at the reception area.

These sombreros are from their Tía Gemma.

The employees were all dressed in traditional Filipino attire: camiso de chino, barò at saya, etc. An affable lady by the name of Sally was our assigned companion. She accompanied us all throughout, from the carabao ride all the way to our cottage.

Gemma already lost count as to how many times she has been to this resort. Her first was when she was nine years old, when the place was not yet open to the public (her family and the Escuderos have been longtime friends). It was my second; my first here was in high school during my late paternal grandmother's birthday. But that Sunday visit was my family's first ever.

My family's first carabao ride, complete with live Filipino music!

My recollections of Villa Escudero, though it happened in high school, were not very vivid. I couldn't even remember what exact year I first visited the place. Maybe I was a bit bored during that time because the first site we visited in the resort was a museum, a place which, admittedly, is not a favorite hangout for city kids. At that phase in my life, I still didn't possess any appreciation or interest whatsoever in culture, art, and history. And instead of being thrilled, I found the carabao ride a bit amusing. Having grown in the city, me, my brother, and an elder cousin were chuckling in secret at the "strange predicament" we were all in: being serenaded by musicians and singers in a carabao-drawn cart. Looking back, I now feel embarrassed and disappointed at how I found all those things funny considering that I was already a young adult. I guess that it is imperative for all Filipino parents to rear their children on how to appreciate our culture.

What I vividly remember about Villa Escudero is that it had an abundance of coconut trees. But during our visit there last month, I only saw a few; I was to find out later during the day from one of the owners herself, Rosalie Escudero-Blume (a friend of Gemma's who we met later before lunch), that the family plantation was not spared from last year's destructive cocolisap infestation, not to mention the lack of government support to replace the many coconut trees throughout Southern Luzón that have already aged. Also, a sizable amount of Villa Escudero's territory has been converted into an exclusive residential area. Still, in spite of rapid modernization all around it, Villa Escudero has not lost its rural charm.

Our first activity upon entering the resort was riding a decorated cart-pulled by a carabao.

Pastoral scenes such as this one can be seen via the resort's carabao ride. The Malepuño (or Malepunyó) mountain range is at the background.

Yeyette was nostalgically delighted to see this mantel (tablecloth) because she and her family used to have one back in her ancestral home in Abra de Ilog, Mindoro Occidental. Her late maternal grandmother wove the exact same design as the one in this photo!

The resort is already prepared for Christmas.

"Cadena de Amor" is the name of our cottage which lies along the emerald waters of Labasín Lake.

Cozying up to the placidity.

The carabao ride brought us to a reception area where we signed up for a cottage. Gemma chose one fronting Lake Labasín.

Now, Lake Labasín and its wooden cottages on stilts were something I do not remember during my first visit to Villa Escudero. After lodging our stuff in the cottage fronting the greenish waters of Lake Labasín, Gemma bade me and the kids to try out rafting. We had to leave Juanito because only kids seven and up were allowed.

Seeing the rafters drifting peacefully from afar made me more excited than my children.

It was a good three minute jog from our cottage to the raft dock. Upon reaching the dock, Imagine my horror when I found out that we have to do all the rowing to ourselves (that's how lazy I am). I thought staff members will do it for us. The first and last time I did some rowing was in the murky waters of Manila Bay way back 1996 as a midshipman for my alma mater's Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps. But here, it's all green and sun. At least, that's a compensation. Besides, we were provided life vests. And best of all, we were assured that there were no crocodiles around. The waters were practically clean and safe. =)

Only two persons were allowed per raft. Since Jefe was the youngest in our group, I had him as my rowing partner. Krystal and Mómay took the other raft. Krystal and I were at the rear of our respective rafts.

It took us a good ten minutes or so to get our bearings and learn how to maneuver our rafts all around the lake. After some impromptu self-teaching, we were able to row ourselves towards our cottage. Hurrah.

Bamboo rafting (raft 1: Daddy Pepe & Jefe / raft 2: Krystal & Mómay).

After about an hour of rowing under the hot morning sun, it was time for lunch. We returned to the cottage to fetch the others. Off we went to Villa Escudero's most popular site: its waterfalls restaurant, the only place there that I remember so well.

We're flooded not just with water but with mouth-watering Filipino delicacies!

The waterfalls restaurant is right below Lake Labasín, towards its southern end. The waters at that point are dammed to accomodate a hydroelectric plant (the first in the country). At the restaurant proper below it, lunch is served al fresco on bamboo dining tables set in a few inches of crystalline running water from the falls. Diners enjoy sumptuous Filipino dishes as their feet are submerged in ankle-deep waters. Our kids, especially Junífera Clarita, had a grand time dipping themselves while eating. And right after lunch, they swam all around. I would've joined them, but saw no adults dripping wet. The disadvantages of parents who are kids at heart.

Villa Escudero has been around for more than a century, but it was only in 1981 when it was opened to the public as a tourist spot. Gemma remembers how apprehensive the Escuderos were with their plan of converting their plantation into a resort that focuses on Filipino culture. They turned to her and asked her if the idea was of any good; she thought it was marvelous.

The Escudero family apparently made a wise decision. Throughout the years, their resort developed a worldwide reputation as a focal point in experiencing Filipino culture and history in a rustic Filipino setting.

Junífera Clarita y su legendaria madrina.

Junífera Clarita practically led her madrina Gemma from our table at the farthest end of the open-air restaurant all the way to the waterfalls.

Mómay and Jefe enjoying the waterfall of Labasín Dam after our hearty lunch. Little did they know that they're enjoying the cascades of the country’s first working hydroelectric plant by Arsenio Escudero during the early 1900s to supply his desiccated coconut factory.

After lunch, we returned to our cottage to get dressed and prepare for the Philippine Experience Show set at 2:00 PM. With glasses of halo-halo courtesy of Gemma, we were treated to authentic cultural dance performances which were personally choreographed by the late Ramón Obusan, 2006 National Artist for Dance (whose sister I happened to meet two years ago).

Top left: ragragsacan (Lubuagan, Calinga). Lower left: sinquíl (Lago de Lanáo). Top right: Fandango sa Ilao (Pangasinán). Lower right: tiniclíng. Center: curtain call.

The dances, ranging from pre-Filipino (a more appropriate term for pre-Hispanic) dances to those that date during colonial times, were all performed with live music. All performances were deftly executed (at least from the audience perspective), especially those dances that required balance (Binasúan), timeliness of steps (La Jota), and grace (Yacán). It was a treat to watch our own native dances together with hundreds of people, including non-Filipinos. It also gave me an opportunity to examine the mood of the audience objectively — with pre-Filipino dances they were engaged but disinterested; the rhythmic patterns of the musical instruments (mostly percussion) coupled with the dancers' graceful choreography seduced people to take some forty winks during that hot mid-afternoon (I saw one table in front of the stage with two or three unconscious heads). Even Krystal fell asleep, her head propped to the top rail of her chair. The feeling towards the performances, though they were a sight to behold, seemed distant, foreign.

But when it was time for Filipino dances, i.e., those which many people call today as "Spanish Colonial", the atmosphere became lively. Rhythm was partnered with melody with the arrival of the resort's local rondalla group. All eyes were onstage. There was no more giddy head.

Krystal woke up. And that "foreign" feeling had dissipated.

After the show, people lined up to have photo sessions with the country's first international beauty titlist...

...while we had photo sessions with the dancers!

After the one hour or so performance, it was curtain call time. The emcee introduced all the dancers and musicians. Everyone in the hall was surprised when the emcee mentioned that all performers were actually the very same employees who have been assisting all the guests of the resort, from customer service to the accounting department. Those incredible people were doubling as cultural performers! No wonder we saw Sally performing with them in some of the dances!

Afterwards, we trooped to the children's playground. Our three boys had a grand time running around (something they couldn't do back home), Krystal took it as an opportunity to learn how to ride a bike (the place has an in-house bike rental with one-hour training program for a mere ₱100), while the grown-ups chatted on the grass (Junífera Clarita was having her siesta on her mother's lap). Sally caught up with us. Even Rosalie joined in the fun conversation.

It's never too late to learn how to bike, even if you're fifteen! Villa Escudero has an in-house bike rental and workshop available. Here Krystal is handed a certificate by Red, her trainer.

Rosalie later invited us back to the hall for some good coffee, leaving the kids behind at the playground with Sally. We were privileged to get to know Rosalie more, how she and Gemma go way back, and how she and her family handle Villa Escudero, including their beloved employees-slash-cultural performers. In fact, Rosalie tells us that they don't treat their employees as workers. They treat them as family. And she says this to us in a matter-of-factly manner. She told us how she saw red when a rude customer called her staff "peons". She chose to defend her employees' dignity rather than to accommodate an impolite customer.

How ironic that a more wealthy hacienda in Central Luzón couldn't reciprocate what the Escuderos have been doing to their employees. While the Escuderos treat their employees as family, the owners of this wealthy Central Luzón hacienda treat their workers as peons (sadly, many of them were even shot to death back in 2004).

¡Felicidades a los Escudero! May their tribe increase!

With Rosalie Escudero-Blume, one of the owners of Villa Escudero. I was delighted to learn that she's an AlDub fan too!

Please don't forget to LIKE US on Facebook! And click here to view all photos of our Villa Escudero adventure.

*L*A*F*A*M*I*L*I*A*V*I*A*J*E*R*A*

Gracias Gemma por esa excursión tan memorable y maravilla que regalaste a mi familia. Eres muy amable. Nunca olvidaremos ese día.

A brief visit to the Shrine of Saint Peregrine Laziosi

Since we always pass by his shrine in old Muntinlupa to and from our home in La Laguna Province, Saint Peregrine Laziosi became one of the many saints Yeyette prayed to during her delicate pregnancy last year. After giving birth, she promised to visit all the churches of those saints she sought help for her safe delivery. But it was only last November 14, on a late Saturday afternoon, when we were able to accompany her to the Saint Peregrine Shrine.

Santuario de San Peregrino Laziosi.

Women should wear veils inside churches even if there is no Mass.

Yeyette kept to her promise to come back here to thank Saint Peregrine Laziosi after her safe delivery from a rare pregnancy disorder called placenta percreta last year.

Peregrine Laziosi was born in 1260, the only son of an affluent anti-papal Italian family. An incident with the priest Felipe Benicio (who later became saint in 1671) changed his stand towards the papacy: when a then young Peregrine heckled and struck the elderly priest, the latter unquestionably forgave the young troublemaker. His humility getting the better of him, a remorseful Peregrine took to prayer which eventually led him to a selfless life of priesthood. He gained fame for his preaching and saintly life. Later in his life, he developed a cancerous infection in his right leg. It was decided to have his leg amputated. He took to deep prayer on the eve of the surgery; the next day, the infection totally disappeared. This is the reason why he became the patron saint of those who suffer from cancer and other incurable illnesses (and that his why his image usually shows him with his right knee covered in a cancerous sore). He was canonized on 27 December 1726.

The Saint Peregrine Shrine has a relic chapel which houses an actual rib of Saint Peregrine Laziosi. To those who don't know yet, he is also one of many Catholic saints whose remains remain miraculously preserved. His incorruptible body now rests in his home city of Forlì, Italy.

This shrine also houses something extraordinary: a relic chapel containing a rib of Saint Peregrine. From the relic chapel's dedication marker:

RELIC OF SAINT PEREGRINE LAZIOSI, OSM

(1265-1345)

In line with the desire to spread the devotion of Saint Peregrine, patron of cancer patients, the community of the Order of the Servants Mary in Forlì, Italy donated to the Filipino people a relic in the form of a rib taken from the incorruptible body of Saint Peregrine. The actual body of the Saint is enshrined in the Basilica of Saint Peregrine in Forlì, Italy.

This rib is now in custody of the Fathers of the Order of the Servants of Mary in Tunasán, Muntinlupà. It is preserved in a precious silver reliquary. On October 31, 1998 was solemn consecration of Saint Peregrine Parish and it was during this special occasion that the relic of St. Peregrine was enshrined to the Relic Chapel of the Saint. It is the only outstanding relic in all the world, excluding his body in Forlì, Italy. For this reason, we Filipinos are privileged and loved by the Lord.

San Peregrino Laziosi.

Click here for more photos of our brief thanksgiving visit!

The shrine is located in Barrio Tunasán, Muntinlupà City and is under the care of the Servite Order (Orders of the Servants of Mary). It's right along the old national road, a few meters away from SM Center Muntinlupa (they're on the same row) if you're coming from the north, and also a few walks away from the boundary of Metro Manila and La Laguna Province if you're coming from the south.

Like us on Facebook! Follow us on Twitter! Up next: a day trip to Villa Escudero! ¡Hasta la vista! =)

Casa Tuâ: San Pedro Tunasán's heritage museum

Museum and Galleries Month is not just about the National Museum or the Ayala Museum. This special month also includes the recognition and promotion of smaller local museums. While bigger museums showcase the artistic, cultural, historical, or scientific history and importance of our country as a whole, local museums tend do the same but on a more local level. Such is the case of San Pedro Tunasán's Casa Tuâ, a heritage museum which also serves as the home of Dr. Welit Guevara.

 

The owner comes from one of San Pedro Tunasán's oldest families. His family's "old school" tastes have greatly influenced his passion for heritage conservation. The house itself dates back to the late 1800s. As such, he has filled his house/museum with over a hundred vintage framed photographs, paintings, and other antique items not only of his forefathers but also of people and places from all over San Pedro Tunasán and its Lagunense neighbors such as Biñán and Santa Rosa.

Dr. Guevara displays old photographs of San Pedro vistas and personalities outside his house in the hopes of attracting visitors. Admission is always free. The bulk of visitors are usually elementary students who just pass by in front of his house. In fact, the good doctor really has them in mind when he first opened up his ancestral home to the public. "Start 'em young" is his goal. To entice them some more, he gives them free candies as they tour around the house. He is hoping that his effort would at least inculcate in their young minds the importance of heritage conservation.

Mómay at the entrance to Casa Tuâ. the house's gallery of old photographs is called "Fondazione San Pedro".

The owner wants to impart his knowledge of Filipino heritage to the youth of San Pedro Tunasán. 

A pañuelo on display which was used by Dr. Guevara's grandmother.

A 1919 photograph of the Church of San Pedro Apóstol taken during the funeral of a certain Antonino Anciano. This is also where Yeyette and I got married two years ago.

The owner of the house proudly displays old letters and postcards from family members and friends. Here's one addressed to  Fr. José Ponce, a former parish priest of San Pedro Tunasán. Yes, this city used to be Spanish-speaking back in the day.

During its younger years, this house used to extend all the way to the banks of the San Isidro River which was then wide and deep.

The dining area's flooring are made of 19th century machuca tiles, the same ones used in the Church of Nuestra Señora de los Desamparados in Santa Ana de Sapa, Manila. Dr. Guevara also said that the parish church of San Pedro Tunasán used to have these tiles in the past.

The interiors of the house are filled with antique furniture.

Dr. Guevara explained to us that this antique mueble is designed with sampaguita flower carvings, emphasizing San Pedro Tunasán's rich sampaguita heritage of the past. In this photo collage, my wife points to the said design.

When asked for the meaning of "Casa Tuâ", the owner clarified that it is not the surname of anyone from San Pedro. It is in fact the old spelling of the Tagálog word for "joy" (an alternate spelling for it is "toua"; today, the word is now spelled as "tuwa"). It's because he wanted young visitors to remember nothing but happy memories after having visited his humble heritage-filled abode.

Casa Tuâ is located right below the San Isidro Bridge near the población. It is, in fact, just a few steps away from the old town church and plaza. Click here for more photos! ¡Hasta la vista! 

Celebrating our blog's second anniversary at an awesome place!

And that awesome place is right here: at home.

We had no specific place to go to, but for sure, we were supposed to go out on a road trip this afternoon. A road trip either to our beloved La Laguna or posh perhaps an out of town escapade to Baguio. There was even talk of flying to either Borácay or Amanpulo. I was actually thinking of bringing all of us to Spain.

Click here to check out more photos of our simple anniversary celebration at home.

But as fate would have it, our princesita Junífera Clarita has a fever. And the effects of Typhoon Lando are still being felt all around us. Other than that, Krystal, Mómay, Jefe, and Juanito had classes today.

So many excuses.

We'll try to do better next year. Hopefully, this would be the last time that our family travel blog's anniversary will be celebrated at home. But hey, that doesn't mean that home is not an awesome place to celebrate a travel blog's milestone. It is where the heart is, in the first place. =)

Please LIKE US on Facebook! And don't forget to vote for us at the Bloggys 2015! ¡Feliz segundo aniversario a nosotros!

La Familia Viajera is nominated to the Bloggys 2015!

La Familia Viajera is elated and very honored to have been nominated to the Philippine Blogging Awards, otherwise known as Bloggys 2015! What's this award-giving body all about?

To put it simply, #bloggys2015 is a nationwide blog awarding event in the Philippines. It continues the legacy of recognizing Filipino bloggers through a variety of niches and industries across the nation.

Paul Agabin

CEO, Essays.ph 

Looking at the list of nominees in the Travel and Places category where our blog is included, we'll be up against giants in the local travel blogging scene. Yes, our chances are slim. But we'll still go ahead for the sake of fun. After all, being nominated is already an honor. So if it's OK with you, please vote for us in the said category. To vote, please click here. Our blog URL is lafamiliaviajera2015.blogspot.com.

¡Muchas gracias de antemano!

Coffee and more at The Snuggery

If yesterday was National Coffee Day and tomorrow will be International Coffee Day, what type of coffee day is it today? Whether it's Externational Coffee Day or Coffee Day In Between, we don't care. All we know is that we wanted some coffee. But not from the usual coffeehouse around the block.

So we first went to Museo de San Pedro, only to find out that they're doing some inventory.

By the way, it's the only museum that's not a museum. Yeah, confusing. I've been there once when it was still new, when Mayor Calex Catáquiz was still the mayor. He showed me around. The place was filled with his photos. We were served some expensive coffee which tasted like an ordinary 3-in-one, and I liked it. That's why me and my family went there this afternoon. Too bad the staff weren't prepared for us. Anyway, we'll feature our brief visit there in a future blogpost. Right now, we simply wanted some weird coffee.

Good thing my wife remembered having seen a new hole in the wall coffeehouse by the main highway several weeks ago. So off we went. We were not disappointed. They served us some weird coffee. And more.

Snuggery is a British word. It means a coSy and comfortable place. Yes, I keep on emphasiSing on  the letter S. Snuggery is a British word.

Freedom wall. Post anything non-offensive.

We only tried one type of coffee. We ordered ours cold. I think mine had too much ice because it tasted almost like water. My wife probably didn't experience such travesty because she liked hers. Despite that, it was well OK. It would have been perfect without too much ice, though. Or if the mixing was right.

It looks like peanut butter on top of mayonnaise. But no. It's The Snuggery's specialty called "ice-blended Snuggery Machiatto". You've already been warned earlier — not much ice.

The food made up for whatever disappointment I had with their macchiatto.

These nachos didn't last for a full minute.

Their honey-glazed wings with potatoes have all the right spice though they were a bit bland for Yeyette.

Enjoying some chili cheese fries.

Their tomato and garlic pasta is a winner.

All items are on this board. Affordable.

Yeyette with the owners of The Snuggery. All four share duties in running their snuggly li'l coffeehouse.

The place is small, probably won't be able to fit twenty patrons. The air is heavenly because of all that cooking which customers can see (and because of lack of exhaust ventilation). And to think that they have here live acoustic performances at least once a month. They have one this coming Saturday night (October 3). Do drop by when you have time. The place is right in front of the San Pedro College of Business Administration at the old national highway.

And try their coffee hot.

Follow The Snuggery on Facebook! And don't forget to follow us, too. ¡Hasta entonces!

Our AlDub-inspired sixteenth anniversary!

My sixteenth anniversary with my wife Yeyette falls at a time when the whole country is in love — and for the first time in history, I should say! Yes, we're also smitten with the AlDub love bug! And I guess only true-blue AlDub fans will get what the picture below means.

♪ Icáo lang ang aquing mahál ♫

❤ A very happy anniversary to us! Cahit simple láng, basta't masayá at nagmamahalan, OK na camí. ❤