Villa Escudero – Filipino Dining in a Waterfalls Restaurant

Modernization and industrialism could sometimes gobble signs of cultural identity, making us forget what and how things used to be traditionally. Hence, finding ourselves in Villa Escudero can be likened to finding tidbits of what is culturally Filipino during the 1800s.

Location

Villa Escudero is located in Barangay Tiaong, San Pablo City, Laguna.

Driving Directions

Take the South superhighway and exit at 50A (Lucena, Legaspi, Batangas exit). Turn left at the Sto. Tomas junction. Head straight down, by-passing the town of Alaminos and San Pablo City proper. Slow down upon seeing Quezon arch and turn left immediately after.

When you see the Quezon Province arch, turn left.

The Plantation / Resort

A coconut plantation and resort in Laguna, Villa Escudero aims to promote the Philippines’ rich cultural heritage by offering a ‘beguiling glimpse of the country’s history, cuisine, dress, customs and natural beauty’. This may be a good destination to foreign tourists who have not been to Philippines’ countryside and is up for some cultural experience.

An entrance fee of P1,250 for adults and P625 for children during weekdays (they charge P1,400 for adults and P700 for children during weekends, including Fridays) was inclusive of lunch buffet from 10am to 2pm and allowed us to enjoy the amenities of the plantation resort.

A Cultural Glimpse

From the gates of Villa Escudero, a carabao-drawn cart ride took us to the resort’s Waterfalls Restaurant as we were serenaded with folk songs by musicians in native Filipino costumes.

Along the way, we reacquainted ourselves with the values possessed by Filipino people and the day-to-day lifestyles of our ancestors and those living in rural areas, which are exhibited in the form of colourful miniature statues.

The Waterfalls Restaurant

We arrived at Labasin Waterfalls Restaurant, just inside Villa Escudero, at 2:00pm, which was the cutoff time for their buffet. There were very few dishes left. However, the staff was kind enough to replenish the food on the buffet table, and even bringing several servings to our table.

With our feet dipped in about 2 feet high cold water, we savoured a variety of Filipino cuisine as we listened to the gentle laps of the waterfalls.

Other Day Activities

After eating, we went to Villa Escudero‘s man-made river where 2-seater rafts were docked and available for use for free. We wanted to paddle a raft, but the staff advised us that we need to know how to swim so we could use it. Children must also be at least 5-feet tall in order to use the rafts. Although life vests were provided, there was no visible evidence of safety measures or lifeguard assistance in case of water mishaps.

The staff presented fishing as an alternative, with a rental fee for the fishing rods. Fish in the river includes tilapia and bangus. Your catch is yours. You may have it cooked or you may take it home, if you want to.

Villa Escudero has a small swimming pool, but it was under renovation when we were there. It also offers room accommodations in their large riverside cottages and apartment style units for overnight stay. These rooms are made of indigenous materials such as bamboo, coconut lumber, and anahaw, the Philippine national leaf. Room rates starts at P2,350++ per person and is inclusive of three meals.

For the rest of the afternoon, we simply hanged out in its bar, sipping coffee and milk tea as we shared fond stories.

The AERA Memorial Museum

Before we left, we inspected real military tanks and warfare guns displayed on the hacienda’s grounds.

We capped off the day with a visit to the AERA Memorial Museum, a replica of a long-gone church in Intramuros with carnation pink painted walls and trompe-l’oeil ceilings. It was a 2-storey museum with the first floor housing intricately carved images dating from the Spanish colonial era, and the second floor is an eclectic collection of ceramics, gold, silver, ivory, ethnographic dioramas, costumes, and weaponry from around the world. A few items that struck me the most include a shrunken head placed in a jar, and a Japanese flag handkerchief from the World War II stained with blood. The items in the museum were truly fascinating.

A replica of a long-gone church in Intramuros, the Aera Memorial Museum stands attractively in a carnation shade.

Conclusion

4 out of 5 stars

Villa Escudero is a place to go if 1) you want a rustic Philippine setting with staff clad in kimona and kamisa chino (native Filipino costumes for women and men respectively), 2) you are fine with the idea of relaxation without doing anything much other than taking in a breathtaking scenery away from the hustle bustle of the city, 3) if you are inclined into learning cultural and historical tidbits of information.

Villa Escudero may still be improved by providing more options for day activities (as simple as making sungka, a Philippine mancala game, available or giving lessons on breaking a coconut open). This may especially be done on weekdays when there are no cultural shows at all, for a more enriched cultural immersion. The Waterfalls Restaurant may also be improved by adding a halo-halo bar where customers may make their own halo-halo with a variety of ingredients to choose from. This would be a fun, personalized, and cultural experience as halo-halo is a truly Filipino dessert.

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Address: San Pablo City, Philippines

Telephone Nos.: (632) 521-0830 / (632) 523-0392 / (632) 523-2944

Fax Number: (632) 521-869

E-mail: info@villaescudero.com

Mode of payment: Cash or credit card