Rediscovering Countryside Charm at the Twin Lakes Hotel Grape Harvest Festival (Laurel, Batangas)

 

This coming May 3, at 4:00 PM, Twin Lakes, a picturesque retreat known for its old European architectural style, rustic charm, panoramic views of Taal Lake, cool mountain air and proximity to nature, now offers a European-inspired countryside experience for guests to rediscover the joy of the grape harvest season via its Grape Harvest Festival.

 

Grape Harvest Festival Dinner Buffet

Nestling in the highlands of Laurel, Batangas, Twin Lakes, a comfortable 2-hour drive from Metro Manila, spans over 1,200 hectares and features a 177-hectare lifestyle community that includes residential condominiums, a shopping village and, at the heart of the community, Twin Lakes Hotel. 

 

Twin Lakes Hotel

It also has a one-hectare vineyard cultivating three grape varieties—Catawba grapes, Brazilian hybrids, and Red Cardinals. Catawba grapes are a red American grape variety, grown predominantly along the East Coast of the United States, used for wine as well as juice, jams and jellies.  Brazilian hybrid grapes, combining the disease resistance and cold hardiness of the native grapes with the flavor profiles and winemaking potential of the European varieties, are a result of breeding between native Brazilian grape species and the more widely known European Vitis vinifera grapes.  Red Cardinal grapes are a red table grape variety, originated in California in 1939, known for their large, dark red berries, with a pearly grey finish, that are popular as a table grape and for making raisins.

 

The grapes of Twin Lakes

Traditionally, the grape harvest season is a time of celebration and bringing people together to share in the bounty of nature and the joy of community. At Twin Lakes Hotel, guests are invited to take part in this meaningful tradition through its Grape Harvest Festival, a rare opportunity to experience a fully immersive vineyard living in the Philippines, combining hands-on activities and countryside relaxation.

 

The Wine Gallery

The highlight of the festival includes a traditional grape stomping experience, a scenic walk through the estate’s one-hectare grape vineyard, educational insights into the different grape varieties and harvest cycle, and the chance to hand-pick, for participants 5 years old and above, plump, ripe grapes straight from the vine.

 

Twin Lakes Cafe

The celebration concludes with a sumptuous buffet dinner at the Wine Gallery featuring grape-inspired dishes all for only Php1,299 per person, for in-house guests, and Php1,599 per person for walk-ins.  This special package includes the grape-picking activities, a basket of freshly picked grapes, complimentary tastings of sherry wines and brandy flights, digital souvenir photos, guest live painting, and live entertainment making it a truly unforgettable countryside experience. 

Though grapes are cultivated in certain areas of the Philippines, they remain a rare agricultural sight compared to the country’s more common tropical fruits such as mangoes and bananas. This makes the Twin Lakes Hotel Grape Harvest Festival a truly unique and memorable countryside experience for guests of all ages.  To complete the vineyard escape, stay at Twin Lakes Hotel with room rates starting at Php 7,900 per night, inclusive of an overnight stay with breakfast for two guests (four for the two-bedroom suite), complimentary 15-minute head and back massage, and free access to the grape picking activity on May 3..

For reservations and inquiries, guests may visit www.twinlakeshotel.com.ph or contact reservations@twinlakeshotel.com.ph.  For direct bookings, call +63 917 853 7468 or +63 917 846 1389.

Resort Review: The Zen Villas Resort (Lipa City, Batangas)

 Date of Stay: February 25 to 26, 2025

 

RATING (Scale of 1 to 10)

Location: ******

Rooms: *******

Condition and Cleanliness: ********

Staff Performance: ********

Room Comfort: *******

Food and Beverage: *******

Other Amenities: *******

Value for Money: *******

 

The Zen Villas Resort

This Bali-inspired, DOT-accredited and pet-friendly nature haven, formerly the Rose Villas Resort, is centered around an outdoor swimming pool and a garden surrounded by an assortment of leisure amenities. 

The resort entrance

It features A-frame cabins and luxurious private villas with spacious rooms, all with modern amenities such as Smart flat screen TVs, coffee and tea making facility, mini ref and safety deposit boxes. Free wifi (25 mbps) is available.

 

Premier Cabin Suite

Premier Cabin Suite interior

Premier Cabin Suite bathroom

We stayed in two of the three elegant, airconditioned A-frame Cabin Premier Villas facing the garden and swimming pools.  Each had a queen-sized bed (with trundle bed underneath and a private terrace.  The private bathroom has a rainshower head, bidet and free toiletries.

 

Family Suite

Cabin Deluxe

There are also other accommodation options.   The similarly A-frame Cabin Deluxe and Premier Room have shared bathrooms.  

Deluxe Room

Deluxe Room interior

Deluxe Room bathroom

The spacious 21 sq. m. Deluxe Room has one king sized bed and sleeps two.  The 23 sq. m. Family Suite (1 queen bed and 3 full beds) accommodates up to the 8 guests while the 25 sq. m. 2-Bedroom Suite (1 king bed, 1 queen bed and 2 full beds) can accommodate up to 10 guests.

 

Swimming pool

Sun loungers and seating area by the pool

Outdoor patio furniture

The well-maintained, rectangular swimming pools (adult and kiddie) have sun loungers and sitting areas.  Around it are a number of covered gazebos with additional seating.  

Roots Farm to Fork Restaurant

Pork sisig

Chicken burger

Its onsite Roots Farm to Fork Restaurant, offering a beautifully presented, a la carte menu of Filipino and international cuisine, serves fresh, locally sourced ingredients from Batangas. 

 

Gazebo

Gazebo

It also offers daily housekeeping, free parking and limited room service.  The resort is a little bit off the beaten path as it is located 3.8 kms. from Plaza Independencia, 3.9 kms. from San Sebastian Cathedral, 4 kms. from Claro M. Recto Park, 4.4 kms. from The Farm at San Benito, 5.6 kms. (a 20-min. drive) from SM City Lipa and 8.9 kms. (a 25-min. drive) from Club Malarayat Golf and Country Club.

 

The resort's Reception Area

Overall, we had a pleasant and very relaxing overnight staycation at the resort. The Cabin Premier Villas we stayed in was very nice.  However, with the trundle bed out (we were three in the room), it was very difficult getting around to the bathroom.  Will try the more spacious Deluxe Room next time.

 

Fountain

Bridge

The staff was very friendly and accommodating.  The restaurant offerings were very tasty, the servings were generous and the prices were reasonable.  The high-speed wifi was consistent and good.  The garden was very nice but, as with most places with lots of plants, mosquitos are ever present and there’s no helping that. 

 

L-R:Jandy, the author, Grace, Beth Espinosa and Reden Espinosa

The Zen Villas Resort: Purok 6B, Brgy. San Jose, Lipa City, Batangas. Tel: (04) 773-3149.  Mobile number: (0956) 736-0719.  E-mail: zenvillasresortph@gmail.com. Website: www.thezenvillasresort.com.

Resort Review: The Cocoons at Club Laiya (San Juan, Batangas)

Date of Stay: September 14-15, 2022

RATING (Scale of 1 to 10)

Location: ********

Rooms: ********

Condition and Cleanliness: *********

Staff Performance: *******

Room Comfort: ********

Food and Beverage: ********

Other Amenities: ********

Value for Money: ********

The Cocoons at Club Laiya

Since its first-ever iteration in the world (the Capsule Inn in Osaka, opened in 1979), capsule or pod hotels (from solo-bed boxes to full-on small-sized rooms) have been around as an accommodation option, spreading to other countries and cities. Here in the Philippines, they always offer something new.  An interesting example is the Cocoons at Club Laiya, part of Landco Pacific Corporation’s 24-hectare development managed by Millennial Resorts, its hospitality arm.

 

The Cocoon area

Here, they converted and utilized large, repurposed large drainage pipes and trailers refurbishing them into experimental, unconventional and cylindrical sleeping pods for an intimate and cozy overnight stay. Built one on top of two (the upper pod is accessed by a steel stair),  they have vibrantly painted beach-themed murals on its exterior celebrating the diverse marine life of Laiya.  Now Instagram-worthy accommodations complete with modern conveniences, robust Wi-Fi for Work from the Beach (WFB) is part of the set-up.

The Cocoon interior

 

The 33 iconic, 10 sq. m. (108 sq. ft.) Poolside and Garden Cocoons have queen-size beds (good for 2 pax), pillows, a comforter, blackout curtains and modern facilities such as window-type airconditioning, a wall-mounted flat screen cable TV, mini fridge, coffee and tea making facility and a safety deposit box for personal belongings.  The interior is designed with star-like lights on the ceiling. There are no phones in the room but staff are nearby to assist with anything.  Instead of magnetic card keys, we were provided with RFID (radio frequency identification) magnetic bracelets to access our pods.

 

RFID magnetic bracelet

Most cocoons have no room for a toilet and bath inside but modern communal bathrooms, just a few steps away, have lockers, lavatories, toilets and spacious shower rooms.   Towels and toiletries are provided.  There are, however, individual cocoons with a toilet for those who wake up at night to pee. For those who want to go to the resort for a day tour, they also have cabanas for bigger groups.  

Club Laiya's white sand beach

 

The Cocoons, a perfect mix of luxury minus the monotony of hotels and the inconvenience of outdoor camping, are a no-fuss, small-sized and a value-for-money place to stay. Cocoons are also available at the 15-hectare Calatagan South Beach (CaSoBe), Club Laiya’s sister cocoon resort. Rates range from Php3700 to Php5,800.

 

The tropical Asian style Laiya Beach Club

By November of this year, a one-of-a-kind beachfront experience will be made available to glampers - two “Camperisti.” Located along the powdery white sand beach, these airconditioned, Airstream-style, 30-ft. aluminum travel trailers can sleep up to six people.  Made in China, it features a bedroom, a bathroom, a U-shaped dinette (with a versatile dining table that makes into a queen-size bed) and a kitchenette with induction cooktop and microwave oven.  

 

One of Club Laiya's two Camperisti

The tropical Asian-style Laiya Beach Club, overlooking the infinity and lap pools and the private white sand beach and its cobalt-blue waters, houses a 24-hour Front desk and the Sands Restaurant (open 7 AM to 6 PM) at the second floor. The all-day Sands Restaurant offers a modern range of Filipino dishes (bulasing, tofu bagnet sisig, hickory porkchops, Chinese-style fried chicken, fish filet with mushroom cheese sauce, etc.) and desserts (mango cheesecake, etc.).  Prices range from Php250 for a plated breakfast, Php229 to 279 for snacks, and Php450 for main course dishes.

 

The beachfront, pirate-themed Captain Barbozza Restaurant and Bar

The beachfront, pirate-themed Captain Barbozza Restaurant and Bar, named after the fictional Hector Barbozza of the beloved Pirates of the Caribbean franchise) serves, on tables-on-barrels, whiskey and beer, hearty chicken and ribs and all manner of hearty cuisine, from noon to sundown. It also has bean bags for lounging around.

 

The infinity swimming pool

The resort also offers jetskiing (Php2,500 for 30 mins, Php4,000 for one hours), parasailing (Php3,000 for 15 mins. for two persons), flying fish (Php1,500-1,800), banana boat rides (Php1,500-3,000 for 15 mins.), speedboat  (Php6,000 for one hour for 6 persons), dragon boat (Php300 for 15 mins. per person) and the disco ball UFO (Php400 for 15 mins. per person). You can also book a sunset cruise on board the Naya, a 46 ft. long catamaran.

 

Beachside cabanas

Cocoons at Club Laiya: Club Laiya, Brgy. Aplaya Laiya, San Juan, Batangas.  Mobile number: (0917) 894-7013 and (0999) 225-3333.  E-mail: inquire@clublaiya.com. Website: www.cocoonc.clublaiya@millenialresorts.com.    

How to Get There: Club Laiya is a three-hour drive from Metro Manila via the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX), STAR (Southern Tagalog Arterial Road) Tollway and the San Juan-Laiya Road.

HISTORIA, CULINARIA, Y CULTURA: A Celebration of Philippine Independence Day Through Food, Fashion & Culture (Taal, Batangas)

 

Historia, Culinaria y Cultura

Last June 8, 2019, the 2-day HISTORIA, CULINARIA, Y CULTURA: A Celebration of Philippine Independence Day Through Food, Fashion & Culture, celebrated 121 years of Philippine Independence via a showcase of heritage food, fashion and culture in the historic heritage town of Taal in Batangas.

Sining sa Taal

The “Sining ng Taal” Art Exhibit, at Tampuhan Café, Galleria Taal and Casa Gahol, featured the artworks of Mr. Oliver Y. Roxas (artist and designer), Mr. Randy Roa (visual artist), Mr. Jose Alain Austria (history professor and self-taught artist), Ms. Robelyn C. Canto (babaylan of the Manobo tribe noted for her hand embroidery), decoupage and collage queen Ms. Arlene F. Barbaza (of Artefact & Ressurection Furniture), Mr. Binggoy De Ocampo (Ressurection and Found Objects gallery owner), Mr. Lawton Ladao (a Bulakeno artist called the "Illustrator of Memories") and Mr. Herminio Tan (a sculptor who transforms bones into wearable art).

Taal Mayor Fulgencio "Pong" Mercado and Theo Arnold cutting the ceremonial
ribbon opening the "Sining sa Taal" art exhibit

The opening and ribbon cutting was graced by Taal Mayor Fulgencio “Pong” I. Mercado, former Ambassador of the Netherlands to the Philippines Theo Arnold,  acclaimed fashion designer Mr. Lito Perez, Mr. Oliver Roxas, Mr. Jay Bato-on, Mr. Rogie Reyes, Mr. Nathan De Leon, Ms. Mildred V. Vitangcol (Chairman of the Board of St. Peter Life Plan, Inc.), Ms. Beth Victoria (Publisher of Bravo Filipino Magazine) and Mr. Zardo Austria (cultural arts and fashion impresario).

Guests at the opening

Guests posing in period attire

The Historia aspect, aiming to educate visitors on interesting and little known facts about Philippine significant segments in Philippine history, particularly on the aspects of art and architecture, featured the following activities:

• Talks by experts on Philippine History Art and Architecture
• “Camino de Taal” are guided tours to historical places and heritage houses in Taal —especially the houses of illustrious Filipino families that have helped achieve Filipino nationhood.
• Film showings featuring momentous period films that showcase the skill and soul of noted Filipino filmmakers.
• “Kasaysayan sa Kanto,” a 2-day Photo Contest (by Kanto Salted Caramel Vodka) where amateur and professional photographers will display their snapshots of Taal’s historical places.

 

Kasaysayan sa Kanto

The Culinaria aspect will featured the following activities:

• Pop Up Lunch highlighting Culinaria Filipina.  Here the Malolos Congress menu (Package Cost: PhP3,500) will be recreated and served in Villa Tortuga, one of Taal’s ancestral houses.  Dining in 19th century splendor, attendees will be required to put on full period costume.
• 2-day Calle Tienda Crafts and Food Fair, held at Taal’s Social Plaza (Calle Mariño-Agoncillo), will feature food stalls serving local and fusion Filipino delicacies and artisanal crafts.
• Food demos, along Calle Jose Diokno, where topnotch Filipino culinary artists will conduct demos on popular Filipino delicacies, traditional cuisine, and long-lost heritage menus.

 

1899 Malolos Congress Menu

Kundiman ng Lahi

Cultura, the distinctive Filipino culture which marries Western and Eastern influences into one fluid and vibrant way of life, became the inspiration of 3 centerpiece events namely:

• The “Mutya at Ginoo ng Kultura,” the first ever search for the male and female ambassadors who embody Filipino cultural ideals and promote heritage tourism by advocating the preservation and conservation of local culture.
• The “Kundiman ng Lahi” is a concert, in cooperation with the Lyric Opera of the Philippines (LyrOpera), of well-loved Filipino music (featuring performers Ana Feleo, Randy Gilongco, Mary Patrice Pacis, Tonton Pascual, Mheco Manlangit, Carlo Miguel Bunyi and pianist Peter Porticos) that highlights the different aspects of the Filipino psyche.
• The grand “Historia en La Moda,” a fitting finale, is a fashion exposition gala that traces the evolution of traditional Filipino attire from Pre-Hispanic times to the genteel days of the Pre-World War II era.  It will feature the masterful creations of Manila’s top fashion designers (Lito Perez, Ditta Sandico, Edgar Madamba, Allesandro Sy, etc.) as they capture the transformations of the Philippine traditional wear.

Historia en la Moda