A Weekend Retreat

My constant road trip buddies, my college friends frustrated from a cancelled flight to an island destination were determined to leave the city for another weekend getaway. Nobody wanted to unpack their vacation bags and by sheer determination, it took us less than hour over breakfast to plan this road trip to Batangas.

Laiya, San Juan, Batangas is an hour away from the Lipa exit of STAR Highway. I've often wondered why it's called STAR, maybe because the Governor of Batangas is our much loved Star For All Seasons, I thought. Well, after much Google-ing, I found out that it stands for Southern Tagalog Arterial Road, how unromantic!

From our van, we booked an overnight stay at the Coco Grove beach resort, the package that comes with free buffet meals was very reasonable. The tree houses were comfortable and one could just watch the waves from the balcony.

As we get older, nature becomes our best friend and confidant. Long drives and the laughter that goes with it works better than hypertension medicines. Prayers calm you more than Valium.

Happiness is a choice and sometimes just a Google away.

A refreshing sight, the road to Laiya, San Juan, Batangas lined with Mahogany trees.

Coco Grove

Tree house accommodations in Coco Grove.

Bukayo, sweetened strips of coconut meat.

My friend Beth braving the waves.

The Shrine of Our Lady of Mediatrix built on a 1.5-hectare lot banker/art lover/philanthropist Danny Dolor donated to the Parish of Lipa City.

The main altar of the Shrine of Our Lady of Mediatrix.

Our Lady Mediatrix of All Graces, Carmelite Convent, Lipa City

The beautiful rose window of the chapel.

The garden where it is believed, the Virgin Mary appeared before Sr. Teresita Castillo.

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The House Of Dr. Luis Santos

Our tour of Malolos continues, from the Cojuangco ancestral house http://myrefrigeratordoor.blogspot.com/2014/05/the-cojuangco-ancestral-house.html , our gracious host Melecio Cojuangco brought us to the house of Dr. Luis Santos. Mel arranged the visit with one of the heirs of Dr. Santos, George Imperial . From the outside, one would already be in awe of the sheer size of the house. The house was built in 1933, according to the marker by the gate. Upon entering, you will marvel at the grand staircase, the expansive receiving room and the foyer filled with hard bound medical books and mementos of Dr. Santos' career as a well loved doctor in this town. The second floor was something else, as our group slowly ascended the magnificent staircase, my heart literally skipped a beat at the sight of the ceiling mural and Art Deco details. We found out later that the mural was painted by the great Fernando Amorsolo himself. There was a private chapel in honour of Our Lady of Lourdes

Bespoke Dining At Denlim's Kitchen

I first heard of Denlim's Kitchen from my friend Boboy Consunji . Boboy posted photos of the Denlim's pugon liempo (pork belly roasted in a brick stove) on Facebook, and it caused me a couple of sleepless nights. Dennis Lim , the chef and owner serves only one group a night, and dinner is booked nine months in advance. One day, I got a call from Boboy, there was a booking cancelation and he was lucky to get the slot. Excited for the big feast, I walked Mega Mall from end to end, and ate in small portions three days before our appointed day. Denlim's is in San Fernando, Pampanga, a two hour drive from the metro. Boboy, a Kapampangan was our living Waze and historian, we didn't have trouble looking for the place. Free of corkage, we each brought a bottle of red wine, my good friend James Reyes , and Noel Orosa . We were a happy group of twelve, Boboy's friends. Each dish personally served by Dennis were wiped out in minutes. I especially loved the bread ser

The Cojuangco Ancestral House

Our next journey takes us to a historic town in Bulacan, thirty minutes north of Manila. My road trip buddies, my college friends who all share with me the same fascination for heritage houses were privileged by an invitation from Melecio Cojuangco to visit their ancestral house in Malolos. Mel, his cousin in law Marissa Lopa, Rima Datuin and Evelyn Bautista and I discovered each other's funny bone because of our love for the ice cream served in a huge bowl at Peninsula Manila's lobby. One evening, to justify our appetite, we pretended it was my birthday and we had the string quartet play happy birthday for me, from then on, we became good friends. Mel's grandfather, Jose Cojuangco was born at the Malolos house, very near the Barasoain Church. Jose's mother traded rice from Nueva Ecija, sacks transported by boat via the river at the back of the kamalig to Binondo, Manila. Like most turn of the century houses, the Cojuangco house uses piedra china stones f

My Refrigerator Door

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