Prado Farms: A Beautiful Art Junkyard

A trash is an eyesore. But not in the picturesque hacienda farm in Lubao, Pampanga, where almost everything was artistically built out of scrap, junk and recycled materials.

A former LPG tank warehouse, Prado Farms is a 5-hectare farm resort and recreational haven, perfect for soul-searching, leisurely biking, or simply communing with nature. It is owned by a family of artists headed by Reimon Guttierez, who was able to make a gem out of garbage.

The main entrance – a mosaic of rusty and empty LPGs – is already a teaser of what’s more inside.

The receiving area and souvenir shop are full of creative art works, bicycles and novelty items for sale.

The biggest function area has a beautiful and colorful circular art installation like a giant bracelet by the entrance. It also houses a collection of salakots.

The Blue House is a two-story building with walls painted in refreshing blue and vintage collections, also in various hues of blue.

Prado supports a Waldorf system of education for young children. Waldorf education is a humanistic approach to pedagogy. Some activities and recitals of the students are conducted in the theater and auditorium, which are actually made from salvaged parts of an old train station from Pangasinan.

The Yellow House has a library, which bookworms would definitely love.

The Igorot House is the lone al fresco accommodation of the farm.

The eco-hotel offers rustic accommodation. Its in-house restaurant offers delectable and organic Kapampangan buffet lunch na sobrang sarap. Almost all the food served came from the farm, ensuring its freshness.

There is always a patch of art within the hotel premises – be it the balete tree, the gate made from metal scrap, or the LPG belen.

The white chapel is ideal for small, intimate weddings.

It would be fun to take a dip in the swimming pool or just sit by the pond and simply enjoy the lush surroundings.

Prado is devoted to biodynamic agriculture, a method of organic farming that treats soil fertility, plant growth, and livestock care as ecologically interrelated task. Interestingly, the farm raises pigs and ducks that are fed with arugula and ripe mangoes.

Live in the modern farm house, and pretend like a haciendero.

A day at Prado is enough to open my eyes to the charm of a simple farm life, and to the reality that garbage only clutters a place with no hope or dream.

Prado Center for Renewal and Development

Prado Siongco, Lubao, Pampanga

Tel. Nos.: 400-2185, 0920-9030964

Yoki’s Farm in Cavite

What defines greatness is something that outlives you.

Somewhere in Mendez, Cavite is this one-of-a-kind destination – a hydroponics farm, aviary and warehouse showcasing Yoki’s private and impressive collection of Buddha, oriental artifacts and antiques from all over the world.

Though originally a farm, I guess what makes Yoki’s fascinating and a must-see for the curious is its centerpiece – the 30-ft. laughing Golden Buddha, made of carbon fiber. It is just one of the thousands of interesting pieces, along with bronze statues, terracotta warriors, porcelain jars, jade ships, Egyptian busts, vintage typewriters and old telephones, visitors would find within the compound.

There is a little aviary inside the farm. It might transform into a mini zoo soon, since the owners also started to breed rabbits.

Yoki’s is well-known for its hydroponic lettuce of different varieties. Hydroponics is an innovative method of growing plants using mineral nutrient solutions, in water, without soil. The place also grows dozens of flowering plants, vegetables, herbs and wild berry-bearing trees.

I was captivated with Yoki’s Farm. My tour guide kept telling me stories of her Sir Yoki when he was still alive. She said he was really such a kind-hearted person who had an eye for anything charming and appealing. That’s how he was able to amass such a wealth of collection.

I know life ends but wonderful legacy... well it lives on.

Yoki’s Farm

Tabluan Rd., Brgy. Palocpoc 1

Mendez, Cavite

Tel. No.: 0922-8014220