Getting Your Feet Wet - Villa Escudero

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"Villa Escudero is a self-contained working coconut plantation. It was founded in the 1880s by Don Placido Escudero and his wife Dona Claudia Marasigan. Originally planted to sugarcane, the crop was converted to coconut by their son Don Arsenio Escudero in the early 1900s. A pioneering agro-industrialist, he built the country's first working hydroelectric plant to supply his dessicated coconut factory and Villa Escudero, where he and his wife Dona Rosario Adap built in 1929. Their children opened the estate to the public in 1981. From its humble beginnings, the resort has become a prime tourist destination for locals, overseas Filipinos and a wide array of foreign visitors to the country. It has a
worldwide reputation as a showcase for the Philippines' rich cultural heritage, offering a beguiling glimpse of its history, cuisine, dress, customs and natural beauty a mere two hours away from Manila." - this is what you would read on their website.

One would have visions of grandiose plantation gates to welcome the guests after reading the website description. On the contrary, if you did not keep your eyes opened, you would miss the entrance to the estate. There was practically no gate to speak of and the signage was unimposing.

A fee is required per person in order to enter the premises. This fee pays for a tour of the museum (which was once a church), a ride around the estate on a carabao (water buffalo)-driven carriage (good for 20 people) and buffet lunch in (yes, literally IN) the river by the man-made waterfalls.

The mandatory group pictures and selfies were done in front of the museum under the blazing sun after which we were fielded into the museum by, to my opinion, the most entertaining tour guide I've ever encountered. We went thru the usual historical artifacts and collections of pre-modern Philippine culture which would have been boring for me (I have no interest whatsoever with anything antique) had it not been for this far-from-wholesome comedic tour guide. His witty ad libs and improvisations made me forget we were inside a musty, old church under the mid-day sun.

Next came the carabao ride. I must say, these beautiful animals seemed very healthy judging from their hefty physique and smooth glistening black leathery skin. The "carriage" was reminiscent of the provincial buses in the 1950's and 60's which plied the southern tagalog route. The sides were open and it could seat 5-6 people per row. Seated at the back was a female singer and a male guitarist who sang tagalog love songs as we traversed the dusty lanes of the estate leading to our lunch destination. The experience was reminiscent of the black and white tagalog films in the 60's where farm folk would sing kundiman songs at the end of the movie.

Lunch was next. We had to go down a steep flight of stairs, roll up our pants and wade in icy cool water to find a table and get to the buffet. The food was, for me at least, an ordinary everyday fare. What made the experience different was trying to wade in ankle-deep flowing water without tripping or sliding and spilling our lunch before getting to the table. It's not for dyslexics that's for sure. Lunch wouldn't be complete without the usual pictures taken; pictures of the food, pictures of everyone having fun, selfies and, of course the group pictures by the falls. Heaven forbid that these were forgotten!

Before taking the carabao ride back to our cars, we toured the rest of the place, took pictures by the river and visited the plantations church where, we were told, the owners of the hacienda were buried. Despite the summer heat, we were thankful we got to have a glimpse of life in a hacienda. Now off to the next destination!

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