I have never been to Villa Escudero but been hearing this a lot whenever an OFW relative arrives. I wonder, what's with Villa Escudero? Is it like Hacienda Luisita in Tarlac with a mall, hotel, or village? Oh well, one picture led me to this place and thanks for my friends who wanted to go here too and to experience what's within the picture below.
There were many parked cars when we arrived. We walked to the reception area and was greeted by one of their staff complete with their native costume. A glass of gulaman drinks were offered as a welcome drink. The fee for the day tour was Php 1,400 for weekends, which includes everything they have to offer. We don't have any reservations in advance so we have to wait for 1pm or earlier depending on the arrival of people with reservations. We have 3 hours to spare and wait.
One of the main attractions here at Villa Escudero were the Indigo-banded Kingfisher and the Spotted Wood Kingfisher, which could be found anywhere within the 2,000 acres property and could only be found in Philippines specifically in Luzon, Catanduanes, Marinduque, Negros and Panay islands only.
Villa Escudero doesn't only accommodate day tours but also overnight stays for those who want to wonder around the vicinity of not just only the Villa Escudero itself but also other tourist spots in Laguna, Batangas and Quezon, which includes mountains, lakes, beaches, old churches and houses.
After everything was settled, our first stop was the church-turned-museum. You may walk through the roofed walkway going there or walk by the Victorian-styled garden which was very lovely.
As a rule to every museum, video and picture taking was not allowed. You have to leave it at their package counter at the end of the roofed walkway. The Escuderos' really had a massive collection of preserved animals and animal parts, shells, statues, different currencies, national clothes, weapons, artilleries, antique jars, plates, figurines, miniature things, Philippine president's clothes and memorabilias.
The museum was really educational and you may opt to have a tour guide for some historical facts about a certain item you'll see.
Beside the museum, there's another Victorian-styled garden with a pink house at the other end but there's a sign which says 'Do Not Enter, Residential Area' so I just took a picture. Infront of this was the monuments of the couple Escudero, who started all of this. There was even a Japanese-styled bridge at the other side of the house.
A vintage tank, artillaries and an airplane, which were donated by the Armed and Air Forces of the Philippines were showcased outside.
After one and a half hour of cultural history, we decided to ride a carabao going to the man-made falls. There were many mode of transportation within the Villa: there's this vintage school bus like truck, jeepneys, golf carts and the old-school carabao drawn carriage.
All of the carabao were female and had their names displayed to avoid confusion and to distinguished one from the other. This one is Luningning. Poor carabaos, they have to walk back and forth carrying people around the resort.
Life sized human structures were scattered around the resort featuring the daily activities of the people during their time. There were also animal figures and E.T.
This is the Arsenio Escudero Hydroelectric Power Plant, which was the Philippine's first-ever hydroelectric power plant, which powers the whole Escudero property.
A real river leads the water to Lake Labasin to their plant, where it ends at their falls to produce electricity, which is man-made.
Lunching out? It's More Fun In The Philippines!
Below the falls was a unique and one of a kind experience you'll ever have. Imagine, eating just below a falls where your feet could feel the coldness of the water free flowing below your table. This was also the picture from Facebook which prompted me to go here. Isn't it a great and innovative idea to attract tourists?
It was already 12 noon and we asked the waiter if we could already eat our lunch since we were walk-ins, he gladly assisted us and promised to find us a vacant table for 5. Just a few minutes, he was already calling us and had our seats in one of the few tables near the falls. Good job!
You may opt to have your feet wet while eating or just plainly enjoy the view from the balcony. You may leave your footwear at their designated rack. This was only the first half of their dining area.
And the other half is here, more space for every family and for everyone. The buffet lunch is included from the package but it excludes the drinks which is available for a minimal amount but they serve service water for free. Restrooms are located at the other side.
Two buffet tables with the same viands are placed on both half to control the hungry crowd. From upper left to right: They serve some veggies and hard-boiled eggs as an appetizer. Rice and pansit as a staple food was there. Roasted chicken, beef kaldereta and vegetable lumpia as their main dish but grilled tilapia was the best-seller. Squash and malunggay as their soup. For the dessert, they don't have fruits but as an alternative they have kamote que, sago and gulaman with pinipig and carabao's milk.
I was supposed to go back for a second round but since I didn't had breakfast earlier, I felt really full after having a second round of rice. I had fresh buko juice for my drinks straight from the shell, which is worth Php 30. The buffet is only available during lunch time from 11am and only ends if there's no more visitors coming.
After eating, kids can't help it but to play along the running waters from the falls. The falling waters looks like a frozen water at the picture. It's sound were really relaxing and makes you want to sleep after eating.
No need for electric fans around because you'll feel the coolness of the air from the evaporating water that falls below plus the luscious trees that surrounds the falls.
People starts to vacate the place around 1:30pm because of the cultural show by 2pm so if you only walked-in and doesn't like too many people 1pm is just right to have your lunch, the only downside of it was you'll just have to feast from what's left on the buffet table.
After picture-taking, we started to get sleepy because of the relaxing ambiance so we decided to explore the resort above.
There are four swimming pools located near the power plant, two pools for the adults and two for the kids. Lockers and changing areas were provided too.
At the side of the pool was a wooden dock for rafting. You may used the rafts for free complete with life vests and a paddle but it's a ride at your own risk and you must know how to swim because the water is 30 feet deep. Only two persons are allowed to ride per raft. Fishing was also allowed here while you are rafting or just fish at the dock.
Currently, this is their dining hall along the Labasin Lake. When it rains, the buffet lunch are held here and not at the falls.
We forgot that the cultural show will start at 2pm, we decided just to go to the church instead and rode another carabao named 'Sexy'.
The coachman of 'Sexy', dropped us at their church. The church is located where almost 90 percent of the employees are living. According to him, the owners let them use the lot while working at the resort but at the employee's expense on their house.
After our moment of prayer, the coachman told us that a private cemetery was located below the altar that's why it was elevated from the ground. We decided to go to call it a day for Villa Escudero and headed to our friend's house in San Pablo for some rest before heading to Isdaan in Calauan, Laguna.
The place was very relaxing far from the city noise and was really big. The resort was only a portion of the 800 hectares of land but the rest was coconut trees and a residential village called Hacienda Escudero.
For the service, they were very accommodating, always greet their guests and always welcome to guest's inquiries.
For the food, other guests expected something more from their menu like the Filipino favorites like the kare kare, dinuguan, adobo and other Filipino delicacies. The kaldereta and tilapia was good, there was even a grilled pork after we ate but didn't had a chance to taste it. The kamote que was selling like pancakes and even the foreigners liked it. c",)
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Villa Escudero Plantations and Resort
San Pablo City, Laguna, Philippines
(near the border of Tiaong, Quezon)
Manila Office
1059 Estrada Street, Malate 1004 Metro Manila
Telephone Nos.
(632) 521-0830
(632) 523-0392
(632) 523-2944
Fax Number:
(632) 521-869
E-mail: vespar@pldtdsl.net
Website: http://www.villaescudero.com
Resorts opens at 8am; Chapel opens from 2-5pm; Museum opens from 8am to 5pm
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