Work in progress - A resthouse in Pilar, Bataan evolves into a mountain resort ~ Provincial Government of Bataan

BATAAN, Philippines -- Many resort hotels in the country were first built to serve as private vacation homes. Oftentimes, the rest house is expanded to accommodate the guests of the homeowner. To make the vacations more memorable and fun, certain facilities are later added. These would include a swimming pool, a Jacuzzi, and a huge veranda that can be used as a venue for family reunions.

The St. Gabriel Hotel and Resort in Pilar, Bataan evolved in such a way. Located near the foot of Mt. Samat, the resort makes an ideal hideaway for vacationers. It’s in a less conspicuous address, hidden in a serenely pastoral area. It’s accessible through a side street from the National Highway. Yet to get there, it takes just a pleasant 15 minute drive from Balanga City.

St. Gabriel is owned by businesswoman Ehmidina Persico, a congenial lady who owns a number of business establishments in Balanga City.  The resort is her newest pet project. Although it’s operational now, she’s still busy building more facilities within the hilly property.

As mentioned, the resort was meant to be a private vacation house, but the businesswoman in Persico saw the potential of establishing a resort in the sprawling lot. “My husband and I bought the property in 1998 because we wanted go into farming. With so much space in the lot we decided to build a house, and it got bigger and bigger,” she says. “So turning the place into a resort seemed like a good idea. The Mt. Samat Shrine is nearby. Tourists visiting the Shrine can have a place to stay.”

She named the place after her favorite saint. “It’s also my favorite name,” she says while laughing. “It’s also the name of the angel who visited the Virgin Mary.” With the resort, Persico aims to promote her home province as a major tourist destination. She says Bataan is a haven for nature lovers and so many of its beaches and mountains are ideal for trekking and sports activities. It’s why she chose to maintain a bucolic atmosphere for St. Gabriel.

Persico designed every structure in the property and she also oversaw the construction. She also designed the interiors of the guestrooms and most of the furniture. One of the newer buildings is a one story-structure that resembles a log cabin. Rooms of varying design and sizes are now ready for occupancy. Each room has a porch where guests can enjoy the cool mountain air.

This rustic setting, however, ends once the guest enters the room. It has almost all the modern amenities a deluxe hotel ought to have. Persico says she’s a very finicky homemaker and traveler. She wants to be comfortable in any place she might stay at, and she’s sure other travelers would like to have the same kind of accommodations. “I love sleeping in four-poster beds. It’s why I insisted on having one in the honeymoon suite!” she says.

The buildings at St. Gabriel have that unmistakable countryside charm though Persico has infused traditional Filipino elements into every building. Capiz and lattice are prominent touches.

Also, there are several huts in the premises for day guests. A point of interest is a unique structure that consists of two Ifugao huts. The huts can accommodate a small family. The first hut was designed for couples, while the second has enough room for three guests. Persico had a complete bathroom installed below the huts.

Persico isn’t a licensed architect or interior designer. She just has a vision and she makes it happen through the help of an architect and engineer. Right now, she’s busy with the construction of an additional two-storey house which will have more guestrooms and a coffee shop. She’s also up and about the adjacent lot, which she’s developing into an activity area for team-building. The view of Mt. Samat and the surrounding mountains from that spot is simply breathtaking.

With the resort, Persico has also found a way to use the various decorative pieces she’s accumulated during her several trips here and abroad. “I like to collect souvenirs, and they can be anything that can remind me of the place I went to,” she says. The items vary; they could be a small wooden sculpture, an accent piece, or chair. They adorn the various rooms and they do much in adding a sense of history to this relatively new place.