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won them over. “This is a place where
we can empty our minds and slow
down,” Erwin says. Lying on the grass,
climbing trees, swinging on a
duyan
(
hammock), swimming in the pool and
stargazing through a telescope were all
priceless experiences.
And of course, there’s the matter
of the hearty Filipino food. “We serve
native Laguna dishes, food the way
our Lola used to serve them,” An says.
“
And nothing transports you back to
heart and home faster than the simple
taste of a lovingly prepared home-
cooked meal.” You can even round
up the clan and sign up for the Native
Cooking Tour and learn how to whip up
delicious coconut dishes, try hands-
on cooking in a native kitchen, walk
through a coconut plantation or ride
out to a lake and collect the freshest
ingredients.
As a writer who picked up pottery
a few years back, An also creates
Casa San Pablo
Circled by pine trees and lush gardens,
and built close to one of San Pablo
City’s seven lakes, Casa San Pablo
feels as though it was plucked out of
a storybook. Like a captivating tale, it
comes alive with the details you find in
its every nook and cranny, all thanks to
innkeepers Boots and An Alcantara.
“
There’s always some little tale
waiting for you to discover here,” An
says. “Some are literal stories written
out in little cards all over the place,
while others are subtle stories you
catch when you see our nostalgia
pieces and repurposed knick-knacks.”
Although she is the writer, she attributes
the main influence to her husband’s
family. “They are natural storytellers
with a captivating folk appeal and
sense of humor.”
Each of the 18 rooms were designed
by Boots to look totally different from
one another. The most popular
casita
Clockwise from top
left: A nice spot
for early-morning
coffee; you can
have sweet dreams
here; owners An and
Boots Alcantara;
Casa San Pablo’s
dining area; the
casa serves home-
cooked dishes like
this; the staff putting
finishing touches on
the food
boasts two levels plus a screened-
in porch that’s perfect for intimate
gatherings. The first level has a
queen-sized bed, with edgy posters
by J.P. Cuison and a lightbox painting
by Robert Langenegger hanging over
it. Up on the cozy loft, there are six
floor beds, and on the porch there is
a barber’s chair — the ideal perch for
visiting storytellers. Another room
houses nearly 100 miniature cars, while
another has whimsical etched drawings
by artist Francis Nacion on one wall.
Erwin Chuaunsu first came
here when it was just a two-room
establishment many years ago. His
brother-in-law had recently flown in
from the US with his family and it was
the perfect excuse to check out the
bigger, better Casa San Pablo. Their
reunion consisted of a party of 17. Apart
from the proximity to Manila, the inn’s
Filipiniana ambience and interiors,
sprawling gardens and friendly staff
Fall in
deep
slumber
here!
