What thrilled us to celebrate our mother’s 60th birthday at Villa Escudero Plantations and Resort is their unique dining experience on native cuisines in Labasin Waterfalls Restaurant and the showcase of the Philippines ‘ rich cultural heritage. We skipped the usual beach getaway this time to enjoy a whole day of fun in the hacienda and to embrace our unique culture.  Ika nga, “Iba ang Pinoy!”

The provincial life, the vast coconut plantation, and the fresh scent of country air are what Villa Escudero worthy to visit. It is located in the Tiaong (Quezon) and Laguna (San Pablo City) boundary, a two and a half hour ride from Manila.

We paid for the entrance fee (P1,200/head) at the main pavilion where we were entertained by gracious hosts wearing the traditional baro at saya. The souvenir shop was inside the pavilion but it was closed today. To our delight, we were given refreshing ice-cold teas.

But to our dismay, we were informed that lunch at Labasin Waterfalls Restaurant is temporarily housed in the hacienda’s main hall due to the effect of typhoon Santi who had passed last October. The area was inconvenient to use because of the high level of water.  Sayang!  Anyway, there are other amenities to enjoy so off we went for our day tripping.

A day trip includes a buffet lunch, carabao-cart ride, Museum tour, swimming, bamboo rafting, and watching the Philippine Experience Show.

The Museum was closed that day so we just passed by and looked at it with admiration. At the plaza, we saw sculptures of the Escudero ancestors and World War II memorabilia like warplanes, cannons, and tanks. There were also sculptures of typical Filipino barrio scenes. Pao was fascinated to see the warplanes. Our little Shen was amused looking at a little boy feeding piglets.

Riding in a carabao-driven cart tickled the adrenalin rush. We were all excited when we boarded the carabao cart because it was all our first time to experience the ride. Our carabao was named Mutya. As it moved slowly, we were serenaded by a girl and a boy wearing baro at saya singing original Filipino folk songs.

our carabao-cart ride with “Mutya”

Along the way, we were greeted by stunning picturesque countryside views, lush and verdant landscapes, fresh air, and acres of coconut plantation. There were again sculptures of Filipino scenes like a man courting a woman and other barrio activities.  Indeed it was a feast for the eyes! And our little buddies who were accustomed to urban living had enjoyed our cart ride.

Swimming Pool

We first indulged ourselves with a refreshing treat in the swimming pool. It has adult and kiddie pools. A swimsuit was strictly imposed. Guests are not allowed to wear t-shirts and shorts with a zipper.

While they were busy with swimming activities, my hubby and I explored the rest of the hacienda. We went to see the rooms and houses. We walked beside the blurry lake dotted by cottages and trees. Mount Cristobal was in the background.  It was a clear day and so wonderful to walk around. A little later, we joined them.

Eat All You Can Buffet

Tired and hungry from swimming, we went to the restaurant for our “Eat All You Can” Buffet!  We lined up one by one and chose our desired food to eat. There were kare-kare, beef caldereta, lechon manok, dried fish, steamed vegetables with desserts like banana cue, and tapioca balls.  And later we were munching our yummy lunch!

Philippine Experience Show

By 2:00 pm we headed to the Coconut Pavilion to watch the Philippine Experience Show. The resort’s staff and employees gracefully showcased various dances from Northern, Central, and Southern Philippines. I was so impressed by the choreography, colorful costumes, and graceful movement on stage. Tinikling and Pandanggo sa Ilaw were so good to watch for.

It reminded me of my elementary days where I used to perform cultural dance on stage. The finale is the “Sinkil” which I admired the most and applauded much by the spectators.  It was indeed a lively show and a very good source of dance steps for school or company programs.

Bamboo Rafting

No one from our buddies wanted to get out of the swimming pool so it was my hubby and I who tried bamboo rafting. The raft was composed of long bamboos with two small chairs. It was our first time to ride a raft and since I will sit in front, I was so careful stepping into the bamboo. The water was murky so it’s not good to fall into the water and swim.

I got tired of paddling here, there, and everywhere. Good thing, my hubby was a keen rower. He used his full energy rowing back to the base. Our short pants got wet. We maneuvered so well, we didn’t drop into the hazy lake like the other guests.

Labasin Waterfalls Restaurant

After all the activities, we set off to see Labasin Waterfalls Restaurant, the famed dining area in the hacienda. The 20-feet man-made waterfalls cascaded freely to the area where picnic tables and chairs are set. But as of today, it was so clear. Never mind if we didn’t experience the hacienda’s unique lunch. There is another thing to enjoy in the area. We played with the waterfalls. The wall wasn’t flat at all. It had a curve where my buddies enjoyed the flowing water while lying their backs on the wall.

Our day trip ended up by 6:00 pm. We went back to the entrance through the carabao-cart again. Delighted, we gave courtesy tip to the three staff behind the ride. The souvenir store was closed so we have no collections to keep.  Sad.

Villa Escudero is rich in Filipino culture. It’s good that we brought our kids and my nephews and they enjoyed our day tripping. I was thankful that this resort was open to the public.

It was a memorable day and every one of us had fun.