Daddy's Birthday Weekend ~ Amazing at 75

If you are born during typhoon season, you are sure to have lots of rainy (hopefully not flooded) birthday celebration.  It was hard to plan a get-away, so a nearby hot spring-pool party is deemed acceptable.  It is party, where it is actually okay, to get wet (not to mention hot spring water's therapeutic benefits). 


If you are looking for hot spring private pools in Los Banos Laguna~ check Agoda or Airbnb. There is a long list of suitable private pools to fit your budget.  

For my Father's 75th Birthday we decided on renting a 4 bedroom private pool and invite cousins to join us- "they say the more the merrier".

Daddy's Birthday Cakes :P

And tin cakes from Consuelo's.

These were delectable and yummy.  High quality and much recommended!

The place we've rented is huge and can fit 20 persons easy. It also has enough parking for 4-5 vehicles.  The venue is well lighted at night, gated and with CCTV, so there is a feeling of added security and safety.  I personally liked that the place is PWD and senior citizen accessible ~ it fits our requirements spot on!

Here are some of the pictures we've taken:

Our Chef Jeff with Bruce Li  

The pool is invitingly lukewarm ~ the children were in the pool the moment we arrived and swam again before leaving. 

Night to Day Swimming... so "sulit"!

Happy Birthday Daddy!

 

Porta Verde (Gate to Greenery)

 

 

 I snatched an overnight stay for me and my family at Porta Verde Resort in Cavinti Laguna 

through a group buying site. 

 

I thought it would be a perfect-unwind-weekend from the hustles of work; and I was correct!

 
I was surprised at how fast we reached our destination via Lumban-Caliraya-Cavinti Road.  In just less than 2 hours smooth travel from Taytay Rizal we were warmly welcomed by Porta Verde's friendly resort staff.
 
Road condition was perfect (newly paved road, with ongoing widening of the highway), less the toll fees and traffic, if we opted for SLEX. 
 
We would definitely be regular visitors of Laguna and Quezon, from this time on!
 
============================
 
PORTA VERDE is truly breath-taking.  
 
We are surrounded by Mother Nature at its finest, the resort fronts Lake Lumot (a man-made lake), with the Sierra Madre Mountain ranges as our backdrop.  The cloudless starry night accompanied by a symphony of insects completed the "back to nature" ambiance.
 
We felt like camping with the luxury of electricity, soft beds and air-conditioning.  However, there are no televisions and wifi signal was quite low (although Smart gets in sometimes).  This is perfect if you want real bonding time with your family.  
 
The resort has 5 suites and 3 cabanas.  We stayed at the Catmon Terrazo Suites.  It has a sala, a working kitchen and 2 bedrooms-the master's bedroom has a queen size bed, the other bedroom has 2 single beds, in the sala are 2 huge day bed (I would say it could fit 8 comfortably).  There are 2 bathrooms- 1 inside the master's bedroom and another one outside.  The Catmon Terrazo has a spacious veranda with a commanding view of the entire resort.
 
Our package included free boat tour of Lake Lumot. 
 
The boys were so excited they jumped on board the motorized banca and did not bother putting on life vests.  I was shocked to learn after that the lake goes up to 100ft deep and abounds with huge (50kilos heavy) bass fishes (that info should have been given earlier - what if the boat capsizes?...man...). 
 
 
 

 

The lake was calm and the wind refreshing as Lumot Lake is a freshwater lake. 

 
 
Porta has huge grounds for the kids to roam around and learn a bit or two about getting dirty and chasing bugs (my boys had loads of laugh).
 

 

My boys having fun!!!

 
 
 


My boys working out their appetite!


 

The resort pool was cold, but that did not stop my boys from getting wet.

 


  

 

Striking a pose  (or should say taking a break before climbing the stairs)!



The Catmon Terrazo Suite!



The view from the Catmon veranda was just lovely!  I can spend hours just admiring the view.





 

 

 

 
VERDICT:  Price is quite steep and would wait for another deal to come, before returning.  Our package was a real steal at 50% off, paying full, however would be a different story.
  
The resort has no restaurant, so you would have to bring everything in to cook your meals.  This could be a bother to others who would rather just enjoy and relax. 
 
As for our accommodations (I cannot say anything about the other suites/cabanas since I never got to see them).  I am sure the Catmon Suite had been splendid in its heyday.  The structure has aged and traces of which already showing on its interiors, walls, ceiling and furniture. The accommodations looked better in pictures.
 
The view, however, is undeniably perfect and enough for one to decide to comeback for more!
 

PORTA VERDE CAVINTI  is located Lumban-Caliraya-Cavinti Rd, Cavinti Laguna. 
You may contact Telephone: 632 807-8414 or 8405 or Mobile phone: +63 922 813 3950 / +63 907 556 4214  for inquiries and bookings.
 
Please see also related article of our relaxing Lake Lumot boat ride.

 

Porta Verde Boat Ride

The Lake Lumot boat tour came free with our Porta Verde overnight package. 

 

It was a 20 minutes tour via a motorized banca around Lake Lumot.  Lake Lumot is man-made reservoir / embankment dam for the Kalayaan hydroelectric plant located in Cavinti Laguna.

 

Sunset view may not be as magnificent as the others we have in the Philippines, but this one is still special, viewed from a man-made lake surrounded by mountain ranges.

 

Tok's Manggahan Foodhaus (and everythingelse)

 

 

Lunch at Tok's Manggahan Foodhaus was purely accidental! 

 

We were on our way home from Porta Verde in Cavinti Laguna to Taytay Rizal via the National Hi-way.  It was  running late and everyone in the car (including my husband-driver) was near irksome from hunger!!!

 

My husband stopped by the first food house/restaurant he saw and before we knew it, we were already seated at Tok's Manggahan Foodhaus for lunch!

 

The restaurant's façade looked exotic and rather expensive. 

 

My family loves trying new things and exotic seems appetizing at the moment.  We were celebrating a special occasion, so I thought an exotic restaurant would be perfect. 

 

However, lo and behold, we were dumbfounded to learn that we entered a canteen "turo-turo" type restaurant (lol, my dad was easy on his pocket this time and offered to foot the bill - he was of course just joking)! 

 

 

 

 

The food was decent and the place seemed clean.

 

The bill:  We were a party of very hungry 9 pax (7 adults and 2 kids) - my husband ordered: everything on the food display table, rice, drinks and dessert and ended paying P500. 

 

Plus: The restaurant doubles as a "pasalubong" center.

On one corner they have sweets, native delicacies from Laguna and nearby Quezon.  On the other is a gift shop, where you can get cute, inexpensive fashion jewelries, trinkets, bags and blouses, slippers.  Talk about maximizing space!

 

 

Tok's Manggahan Foodhaud is located along the National Hi-way of Fami, Laguna.

Please see my related post on Porta Verde Resort.

Rockpoint Hotspring Resort and Spa

 

 

It was a hush-hush weekend getaway for a family of 4 (consisting of  12 adults, 3 kids and 1 baby) for a budget a little under P5,000 inclusive of set breakfast. 

 

We got ourselves an overnight family room airconditioned-accommodation in Calamba Laguna's Rockpoint Hotspring Resort and Spa.  

 

We were travelling with oldies (shh! my mom is going to kill me if she reads this) so the decision to go to a hotspring was not by accident!   

 

We had a very good deal and I am happy, Rockpoint did not disappoint us. 

 

The resort is gated with a 24-7 guard for added security and an ample parking space.

 

Staff were friendly, accommodating and attentive.

 

Food was okay.  If you are not satisfied there are plenty of fastfood chains and Pinoy restaurants a few blocks away. 

 

The place ofcourse is not 5 stars, but you would obviously get more than what you paid for.  

 

 

the resort's zen inspired mini garden just outside the reception hall

getting ready for our free beakfast :P

soothing and relaxing hotspring water

 

Sarap maligo :)

 

 

It was unfortunate, we never got to experience their spa :)  maybe next time!

 

For more information you may visit their website at

www.rockpointhotel-com.web23.winsvr.net

 

Rockpoint Hotspring Resort-Hotel & Spa
119 Alamat Road, Maria Makiling Hot Springs Village, Pansol, Calamba City, Laguna, Philippines 4027

Telephone: (+63) 02 520-8840
(63) 049 545-1372
TeleFax: (+63) 049 545-3235
Cellphone Number: 0928-505-7543

 

 

Yummy Buko Pie

When in Laguna,  must try is the D'Vinia's Buko Pie.

I must say it is the best Buko Pie I have tasted by far!

And don;t just settle for their original buko pie, go a bit adventurous and try their other Pie variants.  I strongly recommend Ube-Macapuno just heavenly.  I swear, if I were pregnant, I would use it as an excurse to make my husband go back to LDB and buy more.

D'Vinia's has 3 branches in Laguna,  visit one and taste for yourself.

Must BUY and Must TAKE HOME :)

Pansol, Calamba City
Tel No: (049) 545-5015
Mobile No: 0919-672-2942 · 0921-214-5090
Bucal, Calamba Laguna
Tel No: (049) 834-2416
Mobile No: 0919-672-2942 · 0916-683-8365
Enchanted Kingdom
Sta. Rosa, Laguna
Contact Person: Siegfrid
Mobile No: 0908-334-3763 · 0919-672-2942 · 0921-214-5090