Old world splendor

CEBU, Philippines - I chanced upon a Louis Vuitton print ad featuring a dishevelled Angelina Jolie looking pensively across a swamp strewn with strands of grass and sparse patches of lily pads while sitting on a boat close to ruins somewhere in Cambodia.  The statement beneath her photo struck me because I knew the line perfectly fit the story behind how Hans Schoof breathed life into one of the Philippines' most luxurious hideaways, The Peacock Garden.  Indeed, as the print ad aptly put it, “A single journey can change the course of an entire life.”

I chanced upon a Louis Vuitton print ad featuring a dishevelled Angelina Jolie looking pensively across a swamp strewn with strands of grass and sparse patches of lily pads while sitting on a boat close to ruins somewhere in Cambodia.  The statement beneath her photo struck me because I knew the line perfectly fit the story behind how Hans Schoof breathed life into one of the Philippines' most luxurious hideaways, The Peacock Garden.  Indeed, as the print ad aptly put it, “A single journey can change the course of an entire life.”

Hans Schoof set out from Germany in pursuit of his heart's desire.  Hans' journey eventually took him back to his first love, Greece, where he had his sights set on a German-inspired restaurant perched on a cliff overlooking the glittering waters of the Mediterranean.  While the paperwork moved at a snail's pace, Hans decided to take a quick detour to Asia with no plans and no itinerary.  He eventually found himself in the shores of Bohol, Philippines, where he fell in love with Lani, now his wife, and with Baclayon, a bucolic coastal town in the island.

What was supposedly a quick visit to an unfamiliar country turned out to be a journey back to the center of his heart – a pivotal moment as he stood on the threshold of fulfilling his dreams – a quintessential case of serendipity that completely changed Hans' original plans. 

One can easily say that The Peacock Garden, a sprawling 11-hectare complex of fountains, manicured lawns, and unmistakeable European architecture is a Taj Mahal of sorts – except that The Peacock Garden is pulsating with life and love.  As a product of Hans' attempt to bring together the disparate worlds of Europe and Asia, of West and East, the boutique resort perched on a hill in Upper Laya, Baclayon, is a collection of everything that has fuelled Hans' fervor for savouring life.

Nearly every corner of the resort from the resplendent Old Heidelberg Restaurant to the hallways leading to the Peacock Suite is replete with Hans' personal collection of antique furniture dating back to as far as 1700.  It is this old world charm that makes The Peacock Garden captivating.  The chairs surrounding each of the tables at the Old Heidelberg Restaurant, the muskets proudly displayed on the walls together with a vast collection of centuries-old postcards from Jose Rizals' European sojourn are vestiges of Old World Europe-an era romanticized time and again in the pages of history and literature.

Hans' vast collection of the Philippine  national hero, Jose Rizal's memorabilia ranging from a wooden bust to old photos to an authentic living room set from Rizal's stay at Heidelberg provide an interesting point of connection to Hans' passion for his home in Germany.

While the resort is generally a sampling plate of the best of Western Europe, its spirit and brand of hospitality is  unmistakeably Filipino as every guest can expect to be treated like royalty.

The main attraction, however, is the resort's fabulous infinity pool and Fontana Aurelia Spa complex, both of which are inspired from the Roman bath houses which have become a legacy of Emperor Caracalla of Rome.  The infinity pool set right at the edge of the cliff offers a panoramic view of the Bohol Sea emerging from an ocean of green foliage stretching from the foot of the cliff.  On a clear night, lounging by the balcony of the opulent Peacock Suite or whiling the night away over the resort's bright pink Pinakwan Shake sets the perfect mood for stargazing with Vivaldi's Four Seasons playing softly from the lighted pavilion.

Enveloped in a serene sense of silence, The Peacock Garden is a time machine more than it is a resort.  It isn't just a vast collection of the best of Old World Europe, it is a collection of memories and stories that took root in one man's heart.  It is a testament of the force of love and a manifestation that while life is governed in its entirety by chance, the combination of love and the spirit of adventure never fail to urge the universe to overcome the seemingly impossible in order to create what is unmistakeably beautiful.

How to get there:

By Sea:

• From Cebu or Dumaguete, take a fast ferry ride to Tagbilaran

• Hotel transportation can be arranged to take you from Tagbilaran, Bohol, to the resort

By Air:

• Direct flights from Manila are available

• Flight duration: 1 hour and 15 minutes

• Ideal length of stay: 2-3 days

• Must-try: The Wine Bath at the Fontana Aurelia Spa (FREEMAN)