If you happened to read my blog about Hacienda San Benito with it's fine-dining restaurant, I have mentioned there that we got some problems finding where that place is. Because another Farm that sounds the same is "The Farm at San Benito" but please don't get confused with them, they are different, and that's where we headed first out of confusion! 

So just to keep you out of any uncertainty, let me explain to you the difference between the two. The Farm at San Benito is a medical and wellness resort, while Hacienda San Benito is a residential farm estate that grows organic crops and has a restaurant which is the Terrazas de Barako. Both were situated in Lipa Batangas but in a different location or barrio. But anyway, i'm glad we visited both and was able to capture some nature photos.

I'm always fascinated by farm lands, organic crops and fruit bearing trees... Blooming colourful flowers in the garden gives me immeasurable happiness. Those are just few of the things that I wanted to achieve before my golden years- to spend my aging days gracefully. Days where fresh and organic fruits and vegetables that are usually hand-picked from the backyards maybe gone and obsolete for some, but for me, it should never go out of style. I, for one, is an advocate of wellness and I am more than willing to pursue this in the next few years of my life.

Just recently, I was blessed to have a fine-dining experience where all the ingredients for the 4-course meal I had, with my sister and a friend, were all organic and freshly picked from the gardens of Hacienda San Benito. Nothing beats the experience of having a healthy meal specially prepared by British Chef Teresa Lobb. 

“Terrazas de Barako” is the fine-dining arm of Hacienda San Benito in Lipa City. The restaurant takes pride in its ever-changing menu which is always inspired by San Benito’s own fresh produce.

Welcome to Casa Villavicencio! The last house that we visited during our walking tour in the historical town of Taal. The house of Don Eulalio Villavicencio, a ship captain, and wife Doña Gliceria Marella de Villavicencio. Casa Villavicencio was named the "wedding house" as it was Don Eulalio's wedding gift to his wife Gliceria. The house has been featured in books, national tourism promotions, publications, and as movie / advertising sets.

My favorite among the ancestral homes that we visited during our Taal Heritage Tour is the Galleria Taal. A camera museum with is the first and only in the country. It is located along the main street of Taal, just a tumbling away from the Leon Apacible Museum and the Agoncillo Shrine. It is an ancestral house and a camera treasure trove wrapped into one.

The ancestral home of the Ilagan-Barrion family houses an impressive and vast collection of vintage cameras owned by Mr. Manny Inumerable himself. Apart from the cameras, it also showcase an exhibit of photos by John Silva, John Tewell, George Bonasay and Sonny Camarillo. The exhibit also includes the only known existing photograph of Jose Rizal's execution.

Basilica de San Martin de Tours or Taal Basilica as some would prefer to call it is one of the oldest church in Philippine History. It is also considered as the largest church in Asia, situated in the heart of Taal, Batangas. I always admire the glamour of its facade every time I pass by going to other towns close to it. I've attended several weddings and baptismal in this church but haven't gone further its premises apart from the altar. 

I had the opportunity to join an exclusive tour to this historical town when I saw this deal on a buying site few weeks ago. I was getting addicted to groupons, acquiring trips and gift certificates at discounted prices through vouchers sold online. Actually, I was just expecting a plain tour inside Taal Church itself, but then I was startled when our tour guide started acquainting us to the different areas of the church which is beyond my expectation. 

Basilica de San Martin de Tours 

The sleepy town of Taal is one of the most visited places here in Batangas with it's famous ancestral houses and the magnificent Basilica de San Martin de Tours (Taal Church). The town's rich cultural heritage has been preserved despite the pressures of modernization and it has always been close to my heart.