VILLA ESCUDERO: CWWE '13

WITH TWO OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL TEACHERS! ONLY IN LSM!

OH YEAH!!!

It wasn't just another day, like any other day that day, November 23, 2013, because, IT WAS OUR FIELDTRIP! which by the way is called CWWE (Classroom Without Walls Experience). We had it in the Villa Escudero located within the boundary of San Pablo City, Laguna and Tiaong, Quezon. Even if it was/landed on a Saturday, I felt the eager and the energy I was expecting(and the ones wasted considering the other two cancellations of our fieldtrip this year) As I woke up at 4:10 am, I really felt excited and hurried to do things- eating, bathing, packing. I was so excited that I kept worrying that I might have forgotten to do something or bring it. Of course, the usual routine started to come by, I came to school, pictures, food, and more pictures. Bus ride is so awesome as usual, but I did get to sleep though. Nonetheless, I got to enjoy it. So many things to enjoy on that day, in that place, but more on that later.

DESTINATION: REACHED!

SELF EDIT | PHOTOS TAKEN FROM: www.villaescudero.com

Hmmm but then, how did this Plantation and Resort started? As stated in their site (www.villaescudero.com), it was founded in the 1880's by Don Placido Escudero and his wife Dona Claudia Marasigan. Back then, it was still a sugarcane plantation, but then it was changed to a coconut plantation 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."

Quite a son, eh?

"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..."

From a simple plantation, into a bigtime resort! How fascinating seeing how hard works pays off.  

I was astounded as the carabao driver (I actually don't know what they are called) said, as we passed by the mansion of the owners, that the owners are already the third generation owners. Although unnamed, I am very well sure their surnames are Escudero (quite a Sherlock Holmes case there).

Before we start things out, I would like to commend the Villa Escudero for the security they have along with the safety they ensure the customers with.

There are so many places here in Villa Escudero to have fun to. There are pools, for all ages!(PICTURES DOWN BELOW) Well I did saw four swimming pools. There are two Tennis courts for those who would want play Tennis. There is also a Basketball court.

They have their own fountain that gave so much detail especially with the plants surrounding it. It was so beautiful. The effort and also the care they put into just this fountain is very conspicuous. It is noticeable in this picture the beauty of the fountain. I did regret something. I didn't get to submerged my hand in the fountain Hahaha. They also have this museum that on the outside, it looked like a church. Well, actually when you get to go inside, the first thing you will see SPOILER ALERT are religious artifacts. In the museum, you will see so many great things about the Philippines.There are Pre-historic items, along with pre-colonial, colonial, republic, and many other more. Too bad, taking pictures inside the museum is prohibited. 

Carabao Cart Ride

WHOOOOOOO!!!!!!!

Along with these places comes with variety of activities! First in the list is the Bamboo Rafting. I didn't get to try it out because of this stupid cast on my arm! Only two people can be accommodated in one raft. I know, just by looking(how sad), that this is fun, seeing my classmates try it out, We also had Palarong Pinoy, although this really isn't part of the Resort Activities. Nevertheless, WE WON FIRST PLACE!! I didn't get to play though, because again of this stupid cast. We also had time to go for a swim! But then I didn't get to. There were many swimming pools to choose from. I don't have to choose hahaha. We also had our Rural Village Tour wherein we get to go around and see some scenery riding from, A CARABAO.......CART. It was really fun! I do remember the two carabaos I got to ride to: Luningning and Madonna. I experienced such peace riding the carabao cart. There are some activities which are not included in our CWWE but can be done in Villa Escudero like bicycle ride, bird watching, and KARAOKE because they have their own KARAOKE HALL! How about that! We also got to watch the Philippine Cultural show which I got to enjoy. I got really amazed at this part when a kid danced "Tinikling" We also had, and is actually the thing the resort is famous for, lunch and swimming at the waterfalls! It was really an experience like no other! We had so much fun, from trying to not slide because of the lumot to the standing up because you slide because of the lumot. I had one of the most amazing experiences I've ever had.

The facilities in Villa Escudero are so well built and prepared. They made it sure that every scenery is pleasing to the eyes. The facilities are so clean. This, of course, with the help of the management and the discipline of the people who are staying. I also observed that they really had an effort in having this resort and plantation as rural as possible. You can really notice the sophistication of the simplicity they bring towards the visitors. Every facility is for the benefit of the visitor. You would see locker rooms for baggages, clean restrooms, and well-prepared lunch setup within the waterfalls. The bahay kubos are well depicted. The chandeliers were oh so perfect- never too sophisticated and exaggerated but also never too mundane. From the roads to the bridges, from the pool to the falls, from the plants to the trees, every detail of the resort is so majestic in a way that you would really be amazed how the resort is structured.

To summarize it all, VILLA ESCUDERO IS ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PLACES IN THE PHILIPPINES. I had realized that these kind of places are worth cherishing and going forth. You will not regret going here. Well, I didn't. You would feel the real Filipino culture and tradition because you would get to see it and experience it. This became an eye-opener to me. This place enlightened me that the Filipino culture should be treated with respect and should be preserved and not be replaced by western culture. In Villa Escudero, you would get to value the Filipino Culture more be nationalistic as we Filipinos can be,