MGM Farm and Café at the Ranch

“Ang taong may damdamin ay hindi alipin.”

- Heneral Luna

I promised myself not to write anything about this until I’ve seen Jerrold Tarog’s Heneral Luna. Mikee felt so proud telling me that portions of the critically-acclaimed film were shot in their expansive ranch, while she was touring me around. So that piqued my interest a little bit that the day after, I immediately watched one of, I think, the most hilarious historical Filipino movies of all times (even if it was supposed to be an action war film) with copious serving of badass lines and crunchy Spanish cursing. In short, it was epic and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Just as much as I enjoyed my latest discovery in Taal, Batangas.

The wooden signage “Café at the Ranch” along the street of Taal was too alluring to be ignored. It was the curious cat in me that eventually led me to this wonderful place of restored ancestral houses and a charming and cozy café right at the heart of a ranch.

The café is the latest attraction of the MGM Farm. MGM is the combined first name initials of the three children (Mikee one of them) of prominent businessman Michael Villano, who has a penchant for acquiring and restoring old houses to its former glory and transporting them to his ranch. The café used to be an American colonial house previously owned by the ex-mayor of Taal.

The main dining area, painted virginal white with capiz windows and adorned with artificial grass wall and flowers, white tables, and inspiring quotes, looks very feminine.

The smaller private room on the other hand, with its horse bust and figurine collection, cowhide wall hanging, wall mounted antlers, and other horse-riding items, appears to be masculine.

The café serves intercontinental cuisine, local food, and those sinfully delicious crepes. Their baked salmon is simply to die for.

Sundried tomato pasta with shrimps

Baked salmon

  

S'mores crepe

MGM also provides overnight accommodation to small groups who want to unwind and get away from the city, and experience a rustic and idyllic ranch life.

The mother house, a lovely bahay na bato from the neighboring town of Lemery, was a gift from Michael’s mother. It is equipped with old and traditional furniture and furnishings typically found in Filipino ancestral houses. It could accommodate maximum of ten persons.

House guests are free to use the ranch’s swimming pool.

The ranch is also home to beautiful horses and several farm animals such as cows, birds, sheep, dogs and peacocks. The horses are the regular star attraction during the Parade of Horses, which is part of the celebration of the town fiesta held every November.

With the pastoral beauty of MGM that comes with verdant and relaxing surrounding, great food, and nice people, it simply isn’t hard to find solace in this place. 

The invigorating fresh Taal air might have cleared my mind because it made me realize that Artikulo Uno may be too severe for everyone, punyetero could be a term of endearment, and wanting more, well, it is often a precursor to heartbreak.

MGM Farm and Café at the Ranch

Mahabang Ludlod

Taal, Batangas

Tel. No.: 0906-5047308

Casa Conchita Bed and Breakfast

We can never go back to the past mo matter how much we wanted to. We can only fondly relive our personal happy moments, look back at our past mistakes and regrets and hopefully learn something from them.

The past. That’s all I could ever think of when I entered Casa Conchita. How beautiful and strange it was blending naturally with the present as if together they belong.

One of the ancestral homes turned bed and breakfast place in the heritage town of Taal in Batangas is Casa Conchita. It was named after Doña Conchita de las Alas Lualhati, an exemplary Taaleña with notable achievements in the fields of education, rural banking and civic leadership in her small town. She was the lola of singer and composer Ogie Alcasid.

The charming two-storey bahay na bato is now being run by gracious and friendly hosts Ramon and Dan who have put so much warmth, love and effort in turning the place into a home and living museum. Not only that, they provide guests with that distinct southern hospitality, treating them as if they were long time friends or family members.

Every part of the casa - from the sala mayor, comedor, azotea to the cuartos - is a repository and showroom of artifacts, antiques, books, family photos, art works and pieces, and old and new furnitures, some were even imported abroad.

But what really captured my heart were those cute teddy bears having siesta on the sofa. Sinamahan ko nga.

There’s also an art gallery of lithographs depicting Taal’s history and Taaleño’s way of life.

The family room of the casa which could accommodate a big clan, is Filipino and Balinese-inspired.

The terrace, which is right beside a pocket garden, is a perfect place to have breakfast of freshly pressed hot coffee with milk and delicious pork tapa with sunny side up egg.

After having a hearty meal, the next best thing to do is explore by foot this Somewhere in Time town - visit the Asia’s largest Catholic church, other nearby fascinating bahay na bato and museums, and discover the town’s heroes and heroines, as well as its interesting history that made it comparable to Vigan and Intramuros.

And since I found out that it is almost impossible to end the day, sunset-watching from the Basilica’s belfry due to the church’s strict cut-off time, the best alternative would be to go down to the beach, which is just a tricycle-away.

Bask in to the serenity and splendour of the surrounding and perhaps inaudibly sing “Sometimes the last thing you want comes in first. Sometimes the first thing you want never comes. But I know that waiting is all you can do. Sometimes.”

Casa Conchita

Calle Antonio de las Alas

Taal, Batangas

Tel. No.: 0927-7228463