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October 13 - 27, 2006
ACCOMMODATIONS and COSTS Laguna, dubbed as the Resort Province of the Philippines, is a haven of fresh and pristine bodies of water. This is the home of the popular Pagsanjan Falls, whose old name is Magdapio Falls. Another attraction is Lake Caliraya. You can also find here Laguna de Bay, Southeast Asia’s largest fresh water lake. Hot spring resorts abound in this lovely province. There is also the Dalitiwan River, located in Botocan, Majayjay which boasts of a rugged terrain, and cool waters – a very exciting adventure. You can go historical tripping as you remember the birthplace of our national hero, Dr. Jose P. Rizal and enjoy a visit to a number of Spanish-influenced churches in intricate Romanesque and Baroque design, mostly restored to their original elegance. Add to that Mt.Banahaw, and Mt. Makiling. One of the most famous hot spring resorts and tourist destinations is the Hidden Valley Springs which is located in a secluded part of Alaminos town. The pools and springs are surrounded by lush vegetation of tropical shrubs, flowering plants and even fruit trees. You can actually pick lansones fresh from the trees. Hidden Valley has a number of springs and pools flowing with hot, cold and soda water. There’s even a “Lover’s Pool” which is separated from the rest of the other pools so as to let lovers have some ro-
mantic moments. A concrete path connects the pools and leads to the jungle’s interior, where a waterfall, popularly known as the Hidden Falls which was used as the backdrop for the Miss Universe contest when it was held in Manila. The resort is owned by the Roxas family, whose patriarch Don Eugenio Roxas oversaw the 1.1 square kilometer property as the family estate until they opened it to the tourist public in the early 1970’s. The film “Apocalypse Now” was also partly filmed in Hidden Valley, and director Francis Ford Coppola was so enamored with the resort that he continued to visit the resort a few months after the final shooting date, prompting the Roxas family to build a helipad for his personal use, which still stands at the resort today. It is a great place to commune with nature. Hidden Valley contains at least 153 species of plant life, most of which are endemic and or endangered and at least indigenous species of wildlife thriving in the virgin forest area. Hidden Valley has well-appointed rooms all exquisitely designed to suit your discriminating needs and complete with all the modern amenities. Open cottages are for anyone’s use.
Casita Regular: 1 Adult - $108; 2 Adults - $165; 3 Adults - $223; 4 Adults - $270 Cottages Regular: 2 Adults - $176; 3 Adults - $225; 4 Adults - $292; 5 Adults - $336; 6 Adults - $408 Casita Deluxe (New with TV): 1 Adult - $140; 2 Adults - $196 Cottages Deluxe (New with TV): 2 Adults - $210; 3 Adults - $260; 4 Adults - $320; 5 Adults - $394; 6 Adults - $438 Child (5-10 years old) rate for Casita Regular and Cottages Regular is US$28. Child (8-10 years old) rate for Cottages Deluxe (New with TV) is US$29. The abovementioned rates include welcome drinks, 2-day buffet lunch, afternoon merienda, buffet dinner, full breakfast, full amenities and use of resort facilities. Day trip (no overnight stay) rates are $40/adult and $20 for children aged 5-10. These rates include welcome drinks, buffet lunch, afternoon merienda and use of all resort facilities. You won’t leave Laguna without any bitbit for pasalubong, will you? In Laguna, that won’t be a problem. If you leave Hidden Valley early or if you have extra days to spend, you can visit other towns such as Paete – the home of wood carvings, papier mache and other handmade paper products or Liliw where shoes from abaca hemp are made. Sweet tropical fruits like lansones, chico, rambutan, pineapple and avocado are in abundance as well as orchids and other exotic plants. Laguna is also famous for its embroidered garments, the jusi cloth made from banana fiber and made into Barong Tagalog. You can also buy their popular “buko” pie, cassava cake and sweets like espasol, preserved beans, macapuno string and macapuno balls, langka, nata de coco, kaong and many others which many Filipinos actually use for their buko or fruit salad. You will never run out of goods to bring to your family and friends. Discover this paradise between two mystical mountains. Visit Hidden Valley Springs.