Tagaytay, a welcome respite from the Metro Manila heat
This is usually the time of year when families take off for the provinces or travel abroad while their kids are on summer break. However, with the high cost of fuel, traveling has become so prohibitive that it is now a luxury many cannot afford. A clear case in point was this past Holy Week, where both Baguio and Boracay reported an almost 50-percent drop in tourist arrivals. I noticed significantly fewer people traveling even to nearby Tagaytay.
I drove my children Gabbie and Paolo to Silang last Holy Wednesday around 3 p.m. and was surprised to find so few cars on the highways. I did not even need to take the Skyway, and it took me under two hours to reach the rest house of my sister Penny’s in-laws, where we spent the long weekend. When we arrived, everyone was hanging out by the poolside and enjoying the cool breeze, which was a welcome respite from the heat in Metro Manila.
After an early dinner of Hainanese chicken and pork barbecue, the kids jumped into the solar-powered heated pool to unwind. The adults, meanwhile, could not resist playing a few rounds of mahjong — the official pastime of the Yap-Daza family — before calling it a night.
The following morning, fueled by a hefty breakfast of eggs, tapa, bangus and longganisa, my kids wanted to try a new coffee shop called Concordia’s Café, located along the Tagaytay highway. I was apprehensive at first, fearing bumper-to-bumper traffic, but it turned out to be easy to get a table and parking was not a problem for a Maundy Thursday. Had this been before the oil crisis, I am certain we would have faced a long wait, but while there were plenty of customers, groups seemed to be constantly coming and going.
Since we were able to sit comfortably while waiting for the kids’ orders, my mom and Tita Jojo — her younger sister visiting from Sacramento — even managed to take a small tour of the shop. They rode the glass elevator to the second floor to view the café from above, taking in the full scale of the lovely space. The coffee shop itself is a striking two-story building with an A-frame roof and a Mediterranean feel, characterized by clean, off-white walls and blue accents that immediately evoke the iconic architecture of Santorini, Greece.
Upon entering, the modern vibe and cozy corners, curated with comfortable furniture, make the shop an immediate hit with diners. The bar area is particularly unique, featuring a series of LED screens that simulate a window view that changes occasionally. The shop also offers a photo booth as an added feature and displays signs warmly welcoming pets. Gabbie enjoyed her white mocha latte, while Paolo ordered a “blue cloud” simply because he was curious about how a blue drink would look and taste. Fortunately, he liked his drink very much.
Though the restaurant featured a full menu ranging from breakfast to dinner, we had no room for a meal since we had eaten such a heavy breakfast before heading out. Our visit was actually a detour, as we were on our way to the Acienda Outlet Shopping Mall in Silang. Gabbie, Paolo and my niece Alli wanted to engage in some retail therapy, and the adults accompanied them to handle the shopping expenses. I have seen Acienda during previous long weekends when it usually draws a massive crowd, but this time, there were hardly any shoppers despite the sale signage in most of the stores. Gabbie bought a sports bra for her Pilates, Paolo picked up a pair of sneakers and Alli found a floral summer dress. We walked around the shops for over an hour before heading home for lunch.
After a lunch of fried chicken and sinigang na baboy, my body longed for a nice siesta. There is something about provincial life that constantly lulls one to sleep, or perhaps it was just my body telling me to rest and recharge. Whatever the reason, I did not resist and gave in quickly.
By the time I woke up, my mom, Tita Jojo, and my siblings Paul and Penny were already playing mahjong. Shortly after, my brother-in-law Mike arrived with their youngest child, Miggy. We eventually enjoyed a wonderful meal of paella cooked by Penny along with some juicy pork chops and a fresh green salad.
On Good Friday, we stayed in and caught up on our reading while hanging out and taking trips down memory lane. It was a wonderful time for my mom and her sister to catch up, especially since Tita Jojo had not visited the Philippines since 2022. It was endearing to listen to them reminisce about their younger years and watch them call their other siblings who are based abroad.
After lunch on Holy Saturday, we all headed back to Manila so we could spend Easter Sunday at our respective homes. Once again, we made it home in record time because the roads were clear.
When I attended the Easter Mass the following morning in San Juan, the church was packed. Seeing the prayerful crowds gathered in the church made me realize that while the high cost of travel may have kept the highways clear, it simply meant that more families were celebrating right here at home. It was a beautiful reminder that no matter where we are, the true spirit of the season is found in the gift of being together.
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