LOVERBOYZ AVENUE: San Pablo Heritage houses

Last Saturday, March 17, I was lucky to be part of the roadtrip to San Pablo

by friends from AHP, this is not an AHP tour, we dont have an AHP tour

this March since the last Saturday of this month is lent. and it is officially summer.

its also my first time to enjoy the van service of JB. all bnew Grandia,

still top of mind when you need a van that can accommodate the entire gang.

I know some people refer to a van as Hi-ace, much like ‘Colgate’ for toothpaste.

its on its fifth generation, and now, its a household name. and yes, hyundai cant

beat it. nissan nv350 has tried, but still, toyota reigns supreme.

with a grandia, the lucky AHP member reserving a slot will get leather seats in

the cabin. wide windshield and side mirrors a look at the stylish dashboard, with

cubbyholes and a tray underneath the glove box. the console box with sizable

trays perfect for your smartphone and inserts between the front seats.

I was so lucky to get in the front seat enjoyed the view of the road while charging

my 2 gadgets

To keep occupants cool, there’s dual air-conditioning with vents on each row.

Adding to the comfort and convenience are bottle receptacles and cupholders.

Getting in and out is easy thanks to the wide sliding doors. Luggage space is as good

as it gets; all you have to do is fold the fourth row for more volume. now I know

why JB always choosed the grandia as the official service vehicle of AHP during

our monthly tours.

propelling this Hiace is a 3.0-liter diesel, the same engine found on the previous

Fortuner. It delivers 134hp and 280Nm of torque so during a tour with a large

group? the higher numbers are welcome. With space for the entire AHP friends,

a van like this is where you can catch up with each other and share moments while

traveling. For all the mobility in comfort and luxury, choose a van from AHP, save all

the troubles of long driving on sleepless nights, parking and paying tollfees ...

this hi ace grandia holds our excitement, togetherness, fun and laughter as it moves

us smoothly to our desired destinations.

So sorry for the long compliments, I was just very satisfied with this riding

experience.. so on with my story...

our destination? San Pablo. known as the “City of Seven Lakes” and is one of the

oldest cities in the Philippines.

travelling time from Mcdo centris to San Pablo...uhmm less than 2 hrs? or I just did

not notice because I was in the comfort of my seat.

I stepped out of the grandia as Earl greeted us, we crossed this small bridge toward

the front desk. The moment I stood on the other side of that bridge, WOW! I’d been

transported to a different world! the view inside is totally enchanted.

so I manage to take a picture of this bride..

you see improvised walls, tall and old, towered over by huge trees. Dry leaves littered

the ground and the pavilion.

this is our first stop.. Casa San Pablo and we have our early breakfast here.

its a place where one can find tranquility and the ultimate relaxation. didn’t expect that

its located along the highway.. I was thinking they’d be located somewhere in a remote

mountain.

I’m not sure what magic the engineers cast upon their 7-hectare property.

It offers a countryside atmosphere in the middle of the busy city yet the noise from the

outside world doesn’t reach within its walls. now, how? how? what sorcery is this?

So I give this a 5 star!

the environment here is so relaxing you would want to sit or just lie down

but INGAT, dont fall down.

there are 5 hammocks placed in the center where you could carefully lie down

and watch the movement of the sky in slow motion. you could take pictures

of the trees, the green house of the owner. and dream that one day you build

a house and convert a farm lot you acquired just like this one!

and look at this... perfect for your bonding moments.

so here, we have our early breakfast at 9am, stayed for a while and enjoyed

each others stories, laughters, and theres also a short talk by the owner about the

history.

food is simple and delicious as explained by Ms. Ann, the owner of Casa San Pablo.
I loved the food we ordered Tapatan its lutong-bahay meals that would remind you
of good memories of your lola.
Ms. Ann is hands-on in running her the place. She moved from table to table to
engage with the guests, sharing stories, and treating them like old time friends.

look at the cute horses.

these are for antique lovers. you could just sit down and stay away from all the pressure
of the metro and the social world. this area is truly a stress killer.

The area is wide, covered with greenery, with plants growing on the wall and the
pots are lined perfectly outside the rustic and classic rooms. To add more beauty,
there are wooden chairs and tables positioned just outside the room.

two lovers can having their morning coffee while reading their favorite book. the perfect
setting for a love story.

after our early breakfast we proceeded to our next stop. the Calauag house

then we went to Sitio Amor

Mark Fule's house

our last stop is Casa Asinas.

Thanks Mike for the warm reception to your small kingdom, his house is flanked with
old recycled wood with very interesting plants, its a conservationist's dream. an
ancestral type bahay-na-bato which he spotted in another town in Laguna. then
He had it transferred piece by piece on his family's compound in San Pablo, where it
now stands as the lot's centerpiece. a number of old wood furniture can also be seen
all around the area for the house's interiors and integrated to the surrounding landscape.

this is the first house

and here are its interiors

Visitors are virtually transported back in time as one ascends up to the main porch
area. When you get inside the house you'll get amazed with the intricate detail of the
mouldings and Mike's old wood furniture collection.

this is the second house in the Asinas compound...
here are some of the picture of the other house in his collection