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DISCOVERING “TAGAYTAYTAY"
by
Philip Cu-Unjieng
Reprinted from Wry Bread, The
Philippine Star, 12 June 2005
Leave it to my
six-year-old, Luca, to turn our out of town weekend into
tongue twister country. With feckless abandon and his winning
smile, all throughout the week, he’d be asking, “Pops, when do
we go to Tagaytaytay?” or “How long to get to Tagaytaytay?”;
reducing my two older boys to uncontrolled fits of laughter.
We didn’t know whether we were coming or going, heading to
Tagaytay, Taytay, Rizal, or some undiscovered mythical town of
Tatagay. And of course, the moment we entered the South
Superhighway, his eyes were firmly fixed on his GameBoy, and
we had to stop at both Shell and Petron stations (minutes from
each other) to get drinks, chicheria, and more drinks and
chicheria. While all the time, there already was a fully
packed cooler in the back of the van.
Staying at the
Discovery Country Suites, situated on the Tagaytay ridge, just
left of the welcome rotunda; this was our weekend of male
bonding, just me and the three boys. No educational agenda --
other than “ Look at the volcano!” or “Look out and enjoy
nature” (to which, Luca looked up from his GameBoy, gazed out
the window, and drolly muttered, “trees, plants, more trees,
chickens” and went back to his GameBoy). This was slumming at
its best; hours in the Jacuzzi Whirlpool, gorging on the
excellent in-house cuisine of Verbena Restaurant, and, in the
words of resident manager Sunshine Rocha, “picking out from
the video library for a movie marathon,” and catching the NBA
playoff games and replays.
Country Suites is one of those secrets just begging to be
discovered big-time. A large house on the ridge that has been
converted into a Bed and Breakfast… and more; its seven really
well-appointed themed rooms, ranging from 33 square meters to
the Victorian-style master suite (Oxford) that clocks in at 72
square meters. All inspired by warm, cozy, country living, the
other rooms are named Andalucia, St. Tropez, Ceylon,
Nantucket, Siam and Nara.
The kitchen is run by executive chef David Pardo de Ayala who
used to run the kitchen at Soleil. The restaurant is open for
breakfast, lunch and dinner, and you don’t have to be residing
at the Country Suites to enjoy the food at Verbena. My boys
loved the Tomato and Mozzarella Pot starter; and “attacked”
the Black Angus dish that serves two, and the lamb chops.
During our merienda outing (from the room to the verandah),
Quintin ordered the Gruyere and Dijon sandwich and favorably
commented that he’d be having the cook back home whip up the
same thing. Matteo and the Garlic Mushroom Carbonara had a
serious bonding session, until he had to share with his
brothers, who all rated the pasta four toques, or did they say
tukos – hmmm, perhaps they were referring to the big lizard
that serenaded us one night.
Breafasts at Verbena come country-fied and capital-H hearty.
If as Matteo proudly exclaimed, you rate breakfast as your
favorite meal of the day, then you can’t go wrong at Country
Suites/Verbena. Even if you want to go healthy, with fresh
fruits and freshly baked bread, they will bring you baskets
that just tantalize and overwhelm.
The whirlpool is in the back garden and provides one a
wonderful view of Taal as one soaks to de-stress and relax. Of
course, Luca decided it was a wonderful place to do laps and
cannonball jumps – and we can now confirm that voices carry,
and a wonderful echo can be achieved if you scream loud
enough.
While the published rack rates of the rooms start at
Php10,000, this is inclusive of complimentary country
breakfasts, wine tasting with cheese and hors d’oeuvres in the
evening, Wi-Fi access, daily newspapers and parking. One has
use of the whirlpool, access to the mini-library and movie
library, and the game room. (In Manila, one can call
683-8383). Sunshine was relating how several multi-nationals
have been booking the whole place for special seminars and
team-building exercises; that it’s not just family bookings
and
honeymooners.
My only critical comment about Tagaytay would be that with all
the quality resorts, houses, restaurants, eateries and hostels
sprouting all over the place, it seems strange that there’s
still a dearth of things to do throughout the day. Unless yo
play golf, and end up at the Tagaytay Highlands, your options
are in fact still quite limited. And perhaps that’s one area
the tourism-related associations should look into. Looking at
Taal Volvano, horseback-riding, and dirt bikes – these put the
amenities and activities as specific, and narrowed to a
particular age and type of person. Steps should be taken to
create more diversity.
The tranquil, scenic setting of Tagaytay conjures up a
bucolic, magical atmosphere – only broken that weekend by my
Luca’s incessant chattering. As Quintin and Matteo agreed, it
always seemed like Luca wanted to make sure even the
inhabitants of Taal island would hear his every word and
kuwento; that “Tatagaytaytay” would never forget he, and my
other two “Tasmanian Devils,” were
there.
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