Villa Escudero Plantations is an of working

coconut The coconut tree (''Cocos nucifera'') is a member of the palm tree family ( Arecaceae) and the only living species of the genus ''Cocos''. The term "coconut" (or the archaic "cocoanut") can refer to the whole coconut palm, the seed, or the ...

plantation A plantation is an agricultural estate, generally centered on a plantation house, meant for farming that specializes in cash crops, usually mainly planted with a single crop, with perhaps ancillary areas for vegetables for eating and so on. The ...

and

hacienda An ''hacienda'' ( or ; or ) is an estate (or ''finca''), similar to a Roman ''latifundium'', in Spain and the former Spanish Empire. With origins in Andalusia, ''haciendas'' were variously plantations (perhaps including animals or orchards), ...

Tiaong Tiaong, officially the Municipality of Tiaong ( tgl, Bayan ng Tiaong), is a 1st class municipality in the province of Quezon, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 106,265 people. Tiaong is from Lucena and from Man ...

Quezon Quezon, officially the Province of Quezon ( tl, Lalawigan ng Quezon), is a Provinces of the Philippines, province in the Philippines located in the Calabarzon Regions of the Philippines, region on Luzon. Kalilayan was the first known name of th ...

, south of the city of San Pablo,

Laguna Laguna (Italian and Spanish for lagoon) may refer to: People * Abe Laguna (born 1992), American DJ known as Ookay * Andrés Laguna (1499–1559), Spanish physician, pharmacologist, and botanist * Ana Laguna (born 1955), Spanish-Swedish ballet d ...

on the border with

.Kirk, Kate and Lopez, Katherine (2000)
"A Guide to Los A guide to Los Baños for IRRI international staff & families"
p.18. Google Books-International Rice Research Institute. Retrieved on 2011-01-15. Since 1981, the plantation has opened its doors as a resort offering village tours, a museum tour, food and accommodations. It has developed a worldwide reputation as a focal point to experience Philippine culture and history in a beautiful rural setting.F&S Travel Online Services (2010-09-22)
"Villa Escudero Plantations and Resort"
Travelmart. Retrieved on 2011-01-17.

Location

The plantation spreads across three municipalities located in two provinces: San Pablo in Laguna and the towns of

and

Dolores Dolores, Spanish for "pain; grief", most commonly refers to: * Our Lady of Sorrows or La Virgen María de los Dolores * Dolores (given name) Dolores may also refer to: Film * ''Dolores'' (2017 film), an American documentary by Peter Bratt * ' ...

in Quezon Province. The entrance to the resort is located just a few feet from the Laguna and Quezon boundary arch.

History

Villa Escudero Plantations was founded in 1872 by Don Plácido Escudero and his wife, Doña Claudia Marasigan. Originally a sugar cane plantation, the crop was converted to

by their son, Don Arsenio Escudero, in the early 1900s. A pioneering

agriculture Agriculture or farming is the practice of cultivating plants and livestock. Agriculture was the key development in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that enabled people to ...

industrialist A business magnate, also known as a tycoon, is a person who has achieved immense wealth through the ownership of multiple lines of enterprise. The term characteristically refers to a powerful entrepreneur or investor who controls, through perso ...

, he built the country’s first working hydroelectric plant ''Labasin Dam'' to supply his

desiccated Desiccation () is the state of extreme dryness, or the process of extreme drying. A desiccant is a hygroscopic (attracts and holds water) substance that induces or sustains such a state in its local vicinity in a moderately sealed container. ...

coconut factory and the Escudero Plantation house, which he and his wife, Doña Rosario Adap, built in 1929. Dancing performance

The plantation was opened to the public in 1981 as a tourist attraction offering glimpses of plantation life. The family's eclectic private collection formed a museum. Carabao cart ride takes visitors to the resort area, surrounded by a park-like setting while being serenaded by locals. Dining is offered in a unique al fresco

restaurant A restaurant is a business that prepares and serves food and drinks to customers. Meals are generally served and eaten on the premises, but many restaurants also offer take-out and food delivery services. Restaurants vary greatly in appearan ...

where the dining tables are situated below the spillway of the hydroelectric dam (the Labasin waterfalls) while diners enjoy their lunch dipped in the flowing calf-deep water. Later attractions include an authentic live cultural dance show choreographed by

National Artist National Artist is an honorary title issued by some states as a highest recognition of artists for their significant contributions to the cultural heritage of the nation. An equivalent title, People's Artist, has been known in countries of the f ...

Ramon Obusan Ramon Arevalo Obusan (June 16, 1938 – December 21, 2006) was a Filipino dancer, choreographer, stage designer and artistic director. Obusan is credited for his work in promoting Philippine traditional dance and cultural work. He is also an accl ...

, performed with live music. The resort has since expanded, offering accommodations, more restaurants, sports facilities, and a conference center. In 2008, , more than half of the estate, was converted into an exclusive residential development called ''Hacienda Escudero''."Hacienda Escudero"
PhilRealty Showroom. Retrieved on 2011-01-18.

Museum

The Escuderos have been a well-known family in Quezon since the late 1800s. The museum contains the private collections of the family from their local travels and from around the world. It was started by Arsenio and Rosario Escudero and passed on to the living generations of the family. The assorted collections include, among others, religious artifacts, Chinese porcelain, antique furniture, ethnic clothing, relics from the Second World War, clothes of Philippine presidents, butterfly collections, up to

Jose Rizal Jose is the English transliteration of the Hebrew and Aramaic name ''Yose'', which is etymologically linked to ''Yosef'' or Joseph. The name was popular during the Mishnaic and Talmudic periods. * Jose ben Abin * Jose ben Akabya *Jose the Galile ...

's letters in his slumbook. In 1987, the extensive collection was moved and showcased in the church of the plantation. A trip to the museum is a must for Philippine history enthusiasts and is included with the admission.Taglish (2007-04-17)
"Villa / Hacienda Escudero"
Taglish Review. Retrieved on 2011-01-19.

Labasin Lake

Lake Labasin and pier (Villa Escudero, Tiaong, Quezon)

Labasin Lake is the narrow lake or

reservoir A reservoir (; from French ''réservoir'' ) is an enlarged lake behind a dam. Such a dam may be either artificial, built to store fresh water or it may be a natural formation. Reservoirs can be created in a number of ways, including contro ...

created by the Labasin hydroelectric dam. One of the amenities provided by the resort to visitors is rafting and native

bamboo Bamboos are a diverse group of evergreen perennial flowering plants making up the subfamily Bambusoideae of the grass family Poaceae. Giant bamboos are the largest members of the grass family. The origin of the word "bamboo" is uncertain, bu ...

rafts are available and are included with the day tour.Administrator (2010-09-22)
"Villa Escudero Day Tour"
. Travelmart. Retrieved on 2011-02-06. Some accommodations made with native materials are beautifully set protruding by the lake.

References

External links

Villa Escudero Official Web SiteVilla Escudero videos
at WN {{coord, 13, 59, 42.48, N, 121, 20, 31.53, E, display=title, region:PH_type:landmark Resorts in the Philippines Museums in the Philippines Buildings and structures in San Pablo, Laguna Buildings and structures in Quezon Tourist attractions in Laguna (province) Tourist attractions in Quezon Sugar plantations in the Philippines