Viaje de Descanso a la Casa San Pablo

What an excuse to get away.

The Friendster Team went on a team-building activity in Casa San Pablo, San Pablo City in Laguna. Having teen-aged kids, I took my sweetie along for the trip. Well, I needed help in case the kids (the Friendster team, that is) went rowdy and needed a mom…haha.

Living in the south has its privileges. We didn’t need to wake up so early since San Pablo City was only an hour-and-half’s drive from my place. We met the rest of the team at Seattle’s Best in Caltex, just before the Sta. Rosa exit of the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX).

There are actually two ways going to San Pablo City from the Calamba exit. One is through Calauan via Pansol in Los Banos, Laguna. The other, which me Sweetie took, was via Sto. Tomas in Batangas. Coming from Sto. Tomas, Casa San Pablo is at the right side of the street where the main Puregold entrance is located.

Casa San Pablo was formerly called “Kay Inay”(Mother’s). “Inay” was the endearing term for the grandmother of Boots Alcantara, Casa San Pablo’s owner and resident manager. The place is almost unnoticeable from the main street except for its old steel gate with a security guard. Casa San Pablo covers a huge tract of land in the city. The Alcantara family used to own that one-hectare property before selling it to Puregold recently.

Upon entry, the security guard shall guide you to the parking lot. Walking through a path, the swimming pool is the first refreshing site you see. Crossing a small footbridge over a creek, you’re guided to the main reception area which is like your old grandparents’ lanai where old furniture abound.

The rooms are strategically spread out in almost cabana style. Boots said that the rooms were originally designed by popular potter Ugu Bigyan of Tiaong, Quezon, who’s a an old friend. “That was before Ugu decided to concentrate on doing pottery,” Boots confided with a smile.

Trellis entrance

Old iron marks Room 8

Other rooms

Lanai, Lounge area

Sweetie

Casa San Pablo in itself is art. Besides its interiors and furnishings, the paintings and little works of art abound. From the red paper mache horses on the small study table in the living area to the old Lambretta scooter somewhere at the back of the dining hall, everything’s worth a camera shot.The rooms have their own personalities. One was even decorated with Boots’ collection of Matchbox cars. Many paintings and sketches were done by the famous Saturday Club (of artists) who meet Casa San Pablo once-in-awhile for their sessions.

Our Room

Hammock break

The boss is working

Bric-a-brac

There are hammocks tied to pine trees in the garden. At night, candles in small bottles light the place, making it almost surreal. The big garden leads to the Alcantara’s residence where Mommy Vinya lives. Boots jokingly told us that, “My mom is Casa San Pablo’s official guest relations officer.” Indeed, she is. Mommy Vinya was the first to greet us when we arrived. It’s as if you came home to your Lola’s house.

Ýummy food!

Working

Just pictures

Dining at Sulyap

Sweetie & I @ Sulyap

Dining area @ Sulyap

Old stairs

What’s Casa San Pablo without the food? Again, the home-made cooking will always remind you of your grandparents in the province — with a touch of San Pablo’s style and taste. And when I meant the food was super “sarap,” this meant all meals. It’s even as if Lipton’s hot tea tasted more delicious there.

During our brief stay, there was a retreat being conducted for the Southridge School. Our host Boots said he even gave a talk. Interestingly, the rooms and dining halls of Casa San Pablo can be arranged to fit small and big groups alike. Our room was even turned into a honeymoon suite!

Sweetie with Mommy Vinya

Alcantara residence

A pose with Boots

A Lambretta scooter

Besides retreats and seminars, there are many other activities that can be done in Casa San Pablo: videoke, frisbee, stargazing, billiards, and in-room or group massage. For those wanting to catch up with the outside world, there’s free wi-fi. (Yey!)

Scenic Sampaloc Lake

Sampaloc Lake & Mt. Banahaw

The Boatman @ Sampaloc Lake

Since Casa San Pablo is part of the Viaje Del Sol chain of suggested tourist places to go in the south, there are a number of spots to visit, and use Casa San Pablo as your home for a few days. Nearby is Sampaloc Lake, Sulyap Restaurant and Ugu Bigyan’s House.

In all, Casa San Pablo was worth the trip. We went there to re-charge. And re-charge we did.

Day Trip to Tagaytay Highlands

Captivating.

That’s how I’d describe the exclusive enclave of Tagaytay Highlands Golf and Country Club. It’s a for-members-only paradise disguised as a golf and country club. But thanks to Henry Sy, Sr.’s major investment in the venture, his executives get to sample the lifestyle of the rich and famous.

Buying goodies at Good Shepherd Convent

Good Sheperd Convent Garden

View from Good Shepherd Convent

Fishing Area

The scenery from the Cable Car Station

The Cable Cars

Our hosts: Tito, Mina and their kids

Waiting for the Cable Cars to arrive

The pool area shot from a Cable Car

Exclusive villas

quick family pic

One of the club’s gardens

More mountains

Mountains at the back

The view of Lake Taal from Tagaytay Highlands

Picture-perfect moment

Jacuzzi Time

a quick pose during chit-chat

Squid balls

Hamburger steak

Pork chops

Pizza!

Yummy halo-halo

The waterfalls

Cottages on the hills

Entrance to Highlands main building

Tagaytay Highlands is easily accessible via the Sta. Rosa exit of the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX). Once you get to the top of the main highway overlooking Taal Lake, turn left towards Picnic Grove. You will pass Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP), part of which has been converted into a Bed & Breakfast inn. I suggest you drop by Maryridge Good Shepherd Convent, just after DAP, on the right side of the road. There’s a sign telling you what you’ll buy: Ube Jam. Besides the super-hit ube jam, sample their halo-halo, lumpiang ubod, and chicken empanada. Don’t forget to take home Tawilis sardines, atchara (papaya and veggie varieties), and the to-die-for sweet-and-spicy dulong!

Now, off to Tagaytay Highlands, which is about 3 minutes away from the Good Shepherd Convent.

My good ole-buddy Tito and his gracious wife Mina were our hosts. They made sure we toured the place, sampled the delicious and affordable food, and relaxed in the club’s jacuzzi and pool.

As guests, we first went to the administration office to fill out a form and get our day pass. There’s a consumable amount of PhP1,800 plus a one-time entrance fee of PhP200 for the whole party. The office is located at the main club where the main dining area is also situated. I believe this is where the golf tee-off is also located.

By car, we went to the where the cable cars were. This is where the fishing area and pool facilities are also located. We first rode the cable cars which could accomodate four adults and one child for each car, which comes in threes. The cable car will take you across the the hill where below is a forrested ravine dotted with banana trees that seem to be untouched. The cable ride ends at the main building where the administration office is. Take some pictures. Frameables are: the view of the golf course, the mountain ranges, exclusive cottages and of course — the Taal Lake and it’s little active volcano.

After a lot of picture-taking, we headed back to the pool area via the cable cars.

You will need to sign-in and get your own lockers. Since the male and female locker reception areas are connected, you can just register in either and get your towels, soap and shampoo. Each person will be charged about PhP250 for use of the pool, jacuzzi and its facilities. Food can be ordered at the pool area where a cool covered space serves as dining-ala-cabana area. There’s always a waiter to serve you in the pool area, so go ahead and indulge. The kids enjoyed the food and the cool water in the pool where a man-made waterfall fit perfectly into the scenery. As for me and my buddy Tito, we squeezed in a 30-minute meeting in the pool area while our wives chit-chatted and the kids explored the place.

Going on a weekend, especially on a Sunday, means going home at about 5:00 p.m. to catch the 5:30 p.m. mass at the Catholic church near Picnic Grove. Tito’s family saw this as more convenient than hurrying home to Las Pinas City and catch the late night mass. As for Sweetie and I, since we already heared mass on Saturday evening, we took time to but fresh flowers along the road towards Sta. Rosa. It’s been relocated from along the main Tagaytay highway to the place where there’s a long billboard at the corner of the Silang-Sta. Rosa highway. Oh, and we bought three dozens of pink Carnations for only PhP350. In Manila, that would have cost PhP450!

Places to stop-over for snacks and quick-buys would be the fruit stands along the road (towards Sta. Rosa), Rowena’s for buko (coconut) and mango pies, mango and ube tarts, and those yummy cream pies, and Mr. Moo for cow, carabao and goat milk products and cheeses.

We usually make a stop-over at Nuvali’s Solenad place for dinner at either Pig-Out, Yellow Cab Pizza, David’s Tea House, or Brother’s Burger. In our many trips to Tagaytay. Have coffee after at — where else? Starbucks.

Back on SLEX, it was a fast and easy ride. You can have a quick- stop for gas or rest at a Shell or Caltex station, where in many of our Tagaytay trips, we’d dine at either Pancake House or Jollibee (at Shell) or KFC (at Caltex).

Exiting Filinvest, it is unusually traffic so we instead take the main Alabang exit where the snag is usually below the flyover where vehicle and pedestrian traffic converge near the wet market.

Nearing our home, the kids are still snoozing and probably dreaming about our day trip to the exclusive paradise enclave that is Tagaytay Highlands.