Summer all year - round

MANILA, Philippines - In the early 80s, Calamba was our go-to destination for quick family weekenders. Looking back it is easy to figure out why the city is considered the “Resort Capital of the Philippines.” Just along the main highway were — still are, actually — resorts for every Juan. There are swimming pools, hot springs, public dipping spaces, and private resorts. All of them are affordable, and it also helps that Calamba City is easily accessible from Manila. On a good day, one can reach the city in under an hour.

But anyway, our Laguna habit fizzled out when we reached our teenage years. Apparently, our parents, guardians, and governesses figured that the novelty of Calamba was starting to wear out as we were growing up. Maybe they thought our tastes were becoming more, shall we say, sophisticated — which was why we found ourselves at the mall on weekends and summers.

However, we never really did outgrow our appreciation of the things we loved as kids. Our recent trip to Calamba City brought back fond memories of our childhood. The resorts we went to still stand, as do the salbabida and buco pie stores. This time, we were going to appreciate this city from its newest resort, Sol Y Viento Mountain Hot Springs Resort.

Brig. Gen. Antonio Tamayo, University of Perpetual Help founder, CEO and board chairman, discovered the beauty of Sol Y Viento in 2004.

The resort sits on a height that provides a scenic view of Laguna Lake, the cascading greens of Mt. Makiling, the forest of Greenfield, and the towers of Makati City. In fact, we could not help taking in these sights as soon as we disembarked from our vehicle. It is a refreshing sight in the summer heat, and as we trudged along the paths inside Sol Y Viento, we knew that the resort has more exciting things to offer.

We quickly gravitated toward the three swimming pools with natural hot spring water from the underground of Mt. Makiling’s volcanic geological springs. The good news is, the bicarbonate water is odorless and clear.

“The water has been tested rich in organic minerals, which is believed to cure a variety of skin diseases,” said Sol Y Viento’s general manager Minerva Sembria. The resort also has a lagoon pool and a wading pool.

“The resort is a destination itself for quality bonding moments with family, friends, and business colleagues,” Sembria added. “Soon we will have giant slides, a zip line, team-building facilities, and other amenities.”

Sol Y Viento’s relaxing atmosphere extends to its rooms as well. It has cabanas, each of them equipped with an indoor Jacuzzi, flat-screen TV, mini bar, electric kettle, rice cooker, serving and dining ware, outdoor grilling station, and outdoor dining area. “This is best for families, honeymooners, and corporate clients,” she said.

Sol Y Viento’s cabanas offer a view of Laguna Bay.

She offered that Sol Y Viento also has dormitories for guests from corporations, government agencies, schools, and associations. These are air-conditioned rooms with double beds and TV sets, and can accommodate four to 12 people.

“Sol Y Viento is an ideal place to experience tranquility and nature. Because it is away from the main highway, you can be assured that you will enjoy peace and quiet here. The resort is also great for personal development, retreats, recollections, seminars, trainings, and conferences,” she said.

There are seven function halls that can house a group of 10 to 250 people. These rooms work best for social events such as weddings, baptismal parties, birthdays, and other corporate events. Sembria said Sol Y Viento has come a long way since its discovery by University of Perpetual Help founder, CEO and chairman of the board Brig. Gen. Antonio Tamayo in May 2004.

Tamayo unintentionally found the place previously known as Club Sol Y Viento when he and his family were visiting their newly acquired Pansol property nearby. He dreamt of developing the place into a center for retreats, trainings and other group activities. He also realized that the property needed a makeover.

While looking for a good view, he stumbled upon a road leading up to a hill and followed the path which led him to Club Sol Y Viento. He fell in love with the place, the lake view, and the beautiful scenery below and around. When he learned that the resort was in the market, Tamayo wasted no time getting on board. The rest is history.

“In fact, the Sol Y Viento story continues to be written,” said Sembria. “We are also aiming to become a wellness and health center in the area. We will have a spa as well as a skin and body clinic. We are also putting together a cozy restaurant that provides a panoramic view of Laguna Lake.”

We cannot wait to see more of Sol Y Viento in the coming days. We love new and wholesome destinations that are easy to reach, and offer great value for money in terms of services and facilities. Sol Y Viento brings back the experience of summer all year-round. Indeed, what’s not to love? Looks like we will be frequenting this place often.

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Sol Y Viento Mountain Hot Springs Resort is located at Makiling Heights, Calamba, Laguna. For more information, visit www.solyvientoresort.com.