Villa Escudero, Philippines

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1. Villa Escudero

2. Villa Escudero Plantations Villa Escudero is a resort opened in 1981, boasts its reputation as one of the prime tourist destinations in the Philippines, offering a myriad of Philippine artifacts and specimens ranging from dresses, cuisines, religious art to warfare artillery and armor. The coconut plantation was originally built in 1929 by Don Arsenio Escudero, one of the pioneer agro-industrialist, and was later opened to the public after 52 years.  It has developed a worldwide reputation as a focal point to experience Philippine culture and history in a beautiful rural setting.

3. Location Villa Escudero Plantations is 800 hectares (2,000 acres) of working coconut plantation and hacienda, located 10 kilometers south of the city of San Pablo, Laguna province, on the border with Quezon province in the Philippines. The estimated travel time from San Pedro, Laguna is two hours.

4. History Villa Escudero Plantations was founded in 1872 by Don Placido Escudero and his wife Doña Claudia Marasigan . It’s originally a sugar cane plantation. The crop was converted to coconut by their son, Don Arsenio Escudero in the early 1900s. Don Arsenio Escudero is a pioneering agriculture industrialist. He built the country’s first working hydroelectric plant – Labasin Dam – to supply his desiccated coconut factory and the Escudero Plantation house, which he and his wife Doña Rosario Adap built in 1929. In 2008, 415 hectares (1,030 acres), more than half of the estate, was converted into an exclusive residential development called, Hacienda Escudero.

5. Al fresco Labasin Waterfall Restaurant One of the highlights of the Villa is the Al fresco Labasin waterfalls restaurant situated below the spillway of the dam. The water is very clear and cold though there is no guarantee if it is safe to drink. Lunch is served on bamboo dining tables set in a few inches of crystalline running water from the falls. The experience of dining on delicious local dishes with the sparkling waterfalls as a backdrop with clear spring water running over your feet is a truly singular and memorable experience only Villa Escudero can offer.

6. AERA Memorial Museum First stop is the  AERA Memorial Museum  – founded by spouses Don Arsenio Escudero and Doña Rosario Escudero. The museum is a replica of a long-gone Franciscan church in Intramuros highlighting collections of colonial and religious art. Aside from these, the museum also have archaeological artifacts found within the plantation, rare coins, clothing, weaponry, even some of José Rizal’s original documents such as “ Mi Ultimo Adios ” (My Last Farewell) and other items of interest collected in their travels around the world. Unfortunately, photography inside the museum is strictly prohibited.

7. Escudero Ancestral House

8. Bamboo Rafting Guests who wish to get more exercise or take a closer look at the scenery can have a go at bamboo rafting in the man-made Labasin Lake. The rafts, which can seat two people, do not come with a boatman, so those who are up for the challenge are sure to work up a sweat.

9. Cultural Show

10. Carabao -cart Ride / Jeepney