| Tagaytay is situated next to Silang, a primarily | | | | From the elevation (640 miles or 2100 feet above |
| agri-business based municipality, in the province of | | | | sea level) that Tagaytay affords its visitors much |
| Cavite, where I lived for over 8 years. It is less | | | | open available space, one can take pleasure from |
| than 15 minutes by car from the place where I | | | | one of the most serene natural views that can |
| lived. The growth of this city has flowed over the | | | | behold one's eyes. I have seen old black and white |
| other outlying municipalities, including Alfonso, | | | | pictures of Spanish Capuchin monks with their |
| Mendez, Amadeo, Indang, in addition to Silang. | | | | wards at the early years of the 20th century, |
| From our vantage point of view, where we can | | | | before World War II, that looked like they were |
| view the outlines of Tagaytay Ridge that is | | | | having a lovely picnic as they were standing on |
| highlighted by peak of Mt. Sungay (translated | | | | the ridge of Tagaytay. Upon closer look of the |
| literally to "Mount Horn"), we have seen how our | | | | pictures, I recognized Taal Volcano, (which is |
| neighboring city, Tagaytay, has virtually acted like | | | | actually in Batangas province) the world's smallest |
| a magnet for tourists and other kinds of visitors | | | | most active volcano that is located within a lake |
| who have been on the lookout for varied | | | | (Taal Lake) that has been formed from the |
| opportunities along the way. Some of them have | | | | continuous eruptions of the temperamental |
| decided to purchase property, invest in the | | | | volcano in the past centuries. I have been |
| booming local economy in the area, and explore | | | | intrigued by the pictures. There must be |
| what this City has shown them in their previous | | | | something about the scene or the place why |
| visits for possible profitable ventures. Most of | | | | people, including the religious, to stay and build |
| them have paid visits, even for a half-day trip, | | | | their residences in Tagaytay. |
| and get rewarded with grand vistas afforded | | | | After having lived within close vicinity of |
| effortlessly by going away into this travel | | | | Tagaytay, I can venture to claim that what |
| destination. You will observe most visitors are local | | | | makes people always come and visit again more |
| tourists, mixed with guests from other countries | | | | often as they could is due to the wonderful, |
| (Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Indians, Middle Eastern | | | | salubrious air that they get to breathe in up there |
| people, plus Caucasians all over the world). | | | | in Tagaytay City. It is not the man-made parks, |
| Without doubt, what appeals to most about | | | | golf courses, medium density residential houses, |
| Tagaytay is its natural attractions. But it is being | | | | boutique hotels, exclusive residential villages, |
| observed by locals that these attractions are now | | | | restaurants and other food places, a few medium |
| quickly being harnessed to serve as natural | | | | sized shopping malls, or even the Casino being run |
| backdrops to more recently built-man made | | | | by the Philippine government that make people |
| attractions. You will seldom see old structures in | | | | always come back to Tagaytay. It is the |
| Tagaytay of over 100 years old (you see them in | | | | experience of being filled around with a healthier |
| the municipalities mentioned earlier, in old family | | | | whiff of naturally cool air that encases you |
| houses, as well as in churches built during the | | | | whenever you are in Tagaytay. |
| Spanish period). For the past 50 years or so, in | | | | I remember visiting Taal Vista Hotel many times, |
| stages, Tagaytay is becoming more and more | | | | and have had late lunches there with friends and |
| turning into a typical urbanized city. You would see | | | | relatives. It is a vacation place that offers |
| fastfood places, branches of expensive restaurant | | | | horseback riding, dining, entertainment, and other |
| chains, low rise condominium buildings, a zoo, | | | | hotel facilities. I recall having smelled scent of pine |
| amidst private residential houses and a big number | | | | that I sourced to be coming from its huge fire |
| of religious buildings. But, still, there is more about | | | | place in the hall of its low rise main building. Even |
| Tagaytay than what a typical tourist or visitor | | | | outside of that building, the same natural scent |
| may look forward to when visiting this part of | | | | follows you. I soon recognized how the scent |
| Luzon, the Philippine archipelago's largest island. | | | | strongly reminded me of San Francisco in the |
| It is known from people who have lived in the | | | | USA, particularly its many gardens lodged around |
| area that Tagaytay was seriously considered by | | | | by pine trees. I would tell my friends that this is |
| investors and businessmen who built the Hong | | | | so far the closest place that will bring back to you |
| Kong Disneyland, but which did not push through | | | | memories of some places you have been to, in |
| due to vague reasons (we like to think it could | | | | case you have visited that part of the West |
| have been due to failure to agree on the terms | | | | Coast in the USA. |
| and conditions of the lease or the purchase, of | | | | Still, there is more. Depending on your interest and |
| which those parties involved could not reduce the | | | | budget, you can find something that will fit in your |
| gap of their negotiating differences --- but | | | | requirements when you find yourself traveling to |
| anybody's guess may be correct!). And still, the | | | | Tagaytay. You can actually visit Tagaytay any |
| city remains to be one of the most visited sites | | | | day of the year, even when it is raining, or even |
| outside of Metro Manila, the national capital region | | | | during a storm. You may certainly be missing the |
| that is around 55 kilometers (34 miles) away. | | | | Taal Volcano view, as it may be covered by |
| Some people even believe it could serve as a | | | | clouds, but you would be refreshed, invigorated |
| summer capital closest to Metro Manila (though | | | | by the quality of air up there. I once found myself |
| Baguio city located 250-km up north deserves to | | | | joining friends when I still did not live close to |
| be called such, being higher in elevation). | | | | Tagaytay one stormy day. We went by car. We |
| A visit to Tagaytay is best done by private car, | | | | took the longer route coming from Manila via the |
| that can be negotiated faster through the South | | | | Aguinaldo Highway. Tagaytay beckoned to us as |
| Super Highway, and existing on its Sta. Rosa exit | | | | we drove closer. The whole city was covered by |
| that will then lead you to a local highway that | | | | low lying rain clouds. But we persisted. We parked |
| passes by Sta. Rosa, parts of Cabuyao, and Silang | | | | the car in front of a local coffee shop, and |
| until reaching the city itself. You may choose to | | | | ordered our snacks and beverages. From our |
| commute by taking any of the buses (mostly in | | | | view, part of the clouds slowly parted away like |
| Pasay City) and jeepneys (depending where you | | | | drapes gradually being drawn out. We soon could |
| will alight from your bus) plus tricycles (expect | | | | see rays of the sun. Tiny arcs of several rainbow |
| them plying in the city's streets) to reach | | | | formations could be viewed from the far distance. |
| Tagaytay. You will pass by roads with coffee | | | | Soft showers still continued to drop in one part of |
| tree farms, cut flowers farms, and many number | | | | the scene that was unfolding before us. It was |
| of fruit stands. There are other routes, depending | | | | like that for some time. We knew we did not |
| where you are starting your trip. But beforehand, | | | | make a mistake showing up here at this time. |
| it is best to do a google for more updated | | | | Scenes like this in Tagaytay bring in warmhearted |
| webpages on your route to shorten the time you | | | | magical moments in our minds. |
| may spend on your trip. | | | | |
