Memorable vistas and visionaries enrich Antipolo cultural tour

THE MALVARS (center, standing) with friends—Boots and King Rodrigo, Chiqui Puno and Mar Bacani—at Camp Explore.

EARLY THIS year, we steamed and seethed in traffic for hours on end, trying to reach a highland resort. We were so drained by the time we got to our destination that—the thrill was gone.

The energy-sapping experience made us think: For our next weekend break, we should beat the traffic by driving really early to a vacation destination closest to the metro. —That would be Antipolo, but we’d heard similarly discouraging stories about heavy traffic.

Still, it was worth another, savvier try—so, with the help of Antipolo Rep. Robbie Puno and his wife, Chiqui, and culture, arts and tourism head Mar Bacani, we lined up a three-night, “immersive” visit to Antipolo for a family of four.

Our hope was that it could help other families firm up their own short-range travel plans this summer.

Heeding our own advice, we got started early—and were pleased as punch to see that we reached our Antipolo abode in only 45 minutes, no traffic at all. Heartened by that happenstance, we settled into our homey and welcoming family room at the Velada Estate (tel. no. 681-3708), a popular events place and getaway.

What to do in Antipolo? There are many fun and fave tourist spots but our family loves the arts, so our first stop was the Pinto Art Gallery (tel. no. 697-1015).

We had visited the place over 10 years ago, when it was the venue for the wedding of Julius Babao and Tintin Bersola. Dr. Joven Cuanang’s place had impressed us even then—but our 2016 “revisit” bowled us over, because it was much bigger and better!

Best of all, the day was full of happy and excited visitors. It was great to see the arts complex doing so well!

We can only attribute this to Dr. Cuanang’s love for the visual arts, which is obvious in the care and expense that he has lavished on his “baby.”

After our impressive and inspiring Pinto Gallery interlude, it was time to feed the stomach, so we dined at De Mars, a relatively new restaurant that’s already attracting the knowing attention of foodies.

The attention is well-deserved, because the resto’s owner, chef Demar Regresado, is not just experienced (many years in London) and creative, but completely committed—and hands-on.

As in Dr. Cuanang’s case, chef Mar’s personal passion, this time for the culinary arts, is deliciously evident in his creative “fusion” dishes—and in his espousal of the freshest and healthiest seafood, meats and organic produce (tel. no. 706-0591).

The icing on the already scrumptious cake at De Mars is its nighttime view of Makati’s lights, one of the best vantage and advantage points in Antipolo—a shimmering necklace of many scintillating and dazzling colors!

The following day, at our next stop, Camp Explore (tel. no. 0998 533-2765), when we’re told that our host, Toto Malvar, is a direct descedant of the famous hero, Gen. Miguel Malvar, we are not in the least bit surprised.
No, he doesn’t greet us on horseback, saber drawn—but he’s larger-than-life and fiercely passionate and proud about his camp’s long-term goal—a massive reformation of the watershed that’s needed to prevent the disastrous flooding of the lowlands at its base, which include Metro Manila!
It’s such a crucial undertaking with great benefits for many people that similarly committed Filipinos should rush to support it.

Communities

On the short term, the Malvars seek to help the communities around Camp Explore, which include some ethnic minority settlements, to rise above poverty, illness, malnutrition and illiteracy.
To raise funds for this worthy endeavor, Camp Explore hosts team-building, father-son and other training sessions and encounters, during which games and sports are utilized to dramatically transformational effect.

Antipolo residents’ passionate and visionary espousal of causes is similarly evident at Flor’s Garden, where volunteers work to support its founder Florencia Gozon Tarriela’s own important transformational objective, which is to make sure that no Filipino goes hungry.
They do this by propagating indigenous plants, herbs, shrubs, grasses and “weeds” that are usually ignored, and teaching everyone how to avail of their nutritional and healing benefits.

The volunteers at Flor’s Garden are committed and driven, but they also have great fun and derive sweet satisfaction from their selfless work—which is deeply appreciated by the many groups of visiting students who benefit from their talks and demos.

Even better, our hosts treated us to delectable “proof positive of their illuminating demo—a feast of creative dishes that made innovative and healthy use of the herbs and “weeds” they had introduced to us (tel. nos. 635-6092 to 94)

Our next destination turned out to be a significant introduction to an artist whose work we have admired for years—potter Lanelle Abueva-Fernando. Her combination studio, workshop, gallery and dining place, Crescent Moon Cafe, is a specially prized destination for lovers of art and good food.

Generous

Even better, Lanelle is generous about sharing her beautiful and striking creations—not just the products of her creativity, but also the process involved in coming up with them.

Lanelle gave us a more personal appreciation for her love for the potter’s art by recalling the years she spent in a small town in Japan, living with the family of a master potter.

As for our lunch at Lanelle’s café (by reservation only, tel. no. 630-5854), it was memorable in its own, synengistic way, because it was similarly organic and creative.

Capping our three-day staycation in Antipolo was our nostalgic visit to the pioneering Vieux Chalet—which, like our Pinto Gallery stop, we had specifically requested, because we wanted to make a hopefully instructive “then and now” connection.

In the ’80s, a dear friend had taken us to the pioneering restaurant tucked away in the hills of Antipolo, and we loved the entire experience. Would that golden memory hold up today? —It did—and more!

Its owner, Susan Hassig, shared her love for the place, what it meant to her, and how she hoped it would enhance the sensibilities of the strangers-turned-friends who regularly dine at Vieux Chalet.

Indeed, the evening we were there, various groups of diners came and went, and they were all welcomed with spontaneous warmth—and attention to individual preferences.

Looking back on our entire Antipolo cultural and culinary adventure, the great variety of activities we experienced was truly exciting and eventful. —But the ones we ended up valuing most of all were the encounters we had with Antipolo’s artists, pioneers and visionaries!