On October 7, 1939, Taal Vista Hotel opened its doors to the public. As the second oldest hotel in the Philippines, Taal Vista conjointly goes with the area of Tagaytay, and the wonderful and sublime views of Taal Volcano. The three Ts of history and of past memories, Taal Vista Hotel, Tagaytay and Taal Volcano, a triune if you may.
All full of fun times with the family, and even up to now, creating more precious moments as visitors enjoy the cold weather, accommodations and great food. The views, the vibe, the place and the feeling; all connected, all dependent on each other.
Getting to know Taal Vista Hotel
Known in 1939 as Taal Vista Lodge, the property was owned by The Manila Railroad Company, and managed and operated by its subsidiary, the Manila Hotel. This was also the time when the first golf course in Tagaytay was constructed.
During World War II, the property was converted as quarters for the officers of the Japanese army. The US Army then took control of the area in February of 1945.
After the war, the lodge was repaired, renovated and expanded by the Philippine government and was promoted as a major tourist destination in the Philippines. Tagaytay and the lodge then became one of most popular destinations in the country for foreigners, local tourists and businessmen.
On January 11, 1984, the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) took ownership of the lodge and then renamed it to Taal Vista Hotel. DBP managed the operations of the hotel from 1984 to 1988.
The late Henry Sy Sr. has a favorite spot overlooking Taal lake and he would come and sit there from time to time. In August of 1988, his company, SM Investments Corporation (SMIC) took ownership of the hotel. A tree now marks the spot where Mr. Sy used to stay and enjoy the views of the caldera.
Back to the present
Nowadays, people come here to be amazed at the sight of Taal Volcano. That was my experience before when my parents used to bring me here many moons ago. Now, as an adult, I realized that Taal Vista Hotel offers much more than just the views. It was also my turn to bring my mother, writer/novelist Elena Patron-delos Angeles to have lunches at Taal Vista Hotel. She loved the views and enjoyed the Filipino dishes while being serenaded by the 3-man band of the hotel. My mother passed away last year and it’s her 1st death anniversary this January. Our return to Taal Vista did bring back a lot of memories.
Our visit
We took the history and property tour when we arrived at the hotel and I felt just how deeply etched in Philippine history this hotel is. I became aware of the story, the culture, and how the decades of life in this part of the world had evolved. It is always good to go back, review, study and learn of the everyday things we experienced growing up. You would be surprised how things are so different yet still manage to stay the same. This is the time when I view and learn to appreciate things differently.
As we walked the hallways, everything felt new. The appearance, the smell and the services offered makes you feel like you are in a newly constructed establishment. My mind on the other hand thought about the hotel’s rich history. If only these walls could talk.
Heading outside of the hotel, we were able to visit a piece of land on the property where they have a small farm. The produce of which is used for their select farm to table meals that is served in their Veranda and Tāza restaurants.
After having a hearty lunch with much chit chat and laughter with Chef Jayme Natividad at the hotel’s Veranda restaurant, we had a chance to relax at our lake wing rooms. We enjoyed the beautiful views of Taal and the chilly weather that Tagaytay is known for at the room’s balcony.
A lovely picnic
In the afternoon, we were able to have a glam picnic overlooking the lake. We had cold cuts, a cheese platter, pizzas and chilled juice, while sitting close to Mr. Henry Sy’s spot where he used to sit and enjoy the views. The experience was like living the past while enjoying the present.
Dinner under the stars
The title says it all. The strip steak dinner included three long-stemmed roses, a bottle of sparkling wine and praline chocolates. Just a perfect time as the weather cooperated and the moon and the stars provided brilliance as we finished our meals.
Grilled food with a view
Before we called it a night, we went to have some drinks and grilled food like pork skewers, sausages, beef and chicken. A great time to unwind, talk, and reflect on what I learned today.
After all these, it’s hard not to look at Taal Vista Hotel without thinking about its colorful past. We will be coming back, this time to appreciate more of the present time and what it has to offer.
Taal Vista Hotel, Taal Lake and Tagaytay. The trio of the south. It is definitely time to relish the experience once more.
Image credits: Ardee P. de los Angeles