I’VE never been to Bali, Indonesia, but based on the photographs and video footages that I’ve seen of this resort island, I felt like I had seen and trod on the grounds of Bali when my husband Raff and I, along with Philippine Star’s Lualhati Fausto, Fernan Nebres, Gillian Gacuma and Lester Hallig, Manila Bulletin’s Maan Pamaran, and blogger Alex Dizon, visited Cintai Corito’s Garden in Balete, Batangas, recently.
Named after the Indonesian word ‘Cintai,’ which is pronounced as “Chin-tai” and means “Love,” Cintai Corito’s Garden started out as a private weekend vacation place of a businessman and his family in 2005. But when the wife passed away two years later, the businessman and their four children decided to develop the seven-hectare property into a Balinese-inspired garden resort, a paradise where they could keep the memories of their beloved mother alive in their hearts. They got a modest staff and, in 2011, decided to open the place to the public, managing it on their own at the start but later on turning over the management of the place to a professional group, Paramount Hotels and Facilities Management Co. Inc., the same group behind the highly successful Microtel chain in the Philippines.
PARADISE BEYOND COMPARE
Tucked in an almost hidden area of Sitio Pandayan, Malabanan, Balete, Batangas, Cintai is like a piece of Bali in Batangas. Unlike other places I’ve seen that claimed to be Bali-inspired yet only offers a glimpse of Bali in the form of a Balinese-looking architecture or sculpture, Cintai offers an entire Balinese experience because everywhere you look, it’s Bali that you see. The walls are filled with Balinese sculptures and not just murals, the details on the awnings and posts are intricate with peacocks and Indonesian characters. Authentic sand stone “Gebyok” doors, or traditional Javanese carved teakwood doors, adorn the ballroom. The architecture of the restaurant, pavilions that serve as function rooms, as well as the reception area – and even the powder rooms for both men and women – are unmistakably Indonesian. Breathtakingly beautiful stone sculptures are scattered all around the place, from the entrance to the hidden nooks of the endless stretches of gardens.
Perfect for couples and families, Cintai is a favorite reception venue of marrying couples who are dreaming of a romantic setting for their wedding reception. They go for Pavilion Tresna, which can accommodate 180 to 200 persons and is the biggest event area in the garden resort. An elegant and spacious air-conditioned ballroom with metallic black flooring, Gebyok doors, intricate lattice works and Joglo ceilings adorned by two magnificent chandeliers, Pavilion Tresna also has hand-carved Indonesian “murals” on its walls. It has its own private garden, and a grand entrance that separates it from the rest of the resort.
Another grand wedding reception venue that corporate guests also love as a team-building venue is Napas Pavilion, which can accommodate 150 to 180 persons. It is a grand open-air pavilion with authentic sand stone carved walls specially made by a Boracay designer as well as awesome ceiling artistry and roof design. ‘Napas’ is an Indonesian word that means ‘breathe,’ which is just perfect since it’s an open-air venue that allows guests to breathe in fresh air. Napas Pavilion also happens to be a favorite place for recreational activities, such as Yoga and Zumba, owing to its open-air character.
Garden weddings and ceremonies can also be held at the Open Garden, which is spacious enough to fit 100 persons.
And, yes, Cintai allows pre-nuptial shoots for Php4,600 good for four hours. Truth to tell: Pre-nuptial shoots are one of the biggest sources of income of the garden resort, simply because marrying couples instantly fall in love with the place when they see it. Every nook and corner of it is simply picture-perfect.
Couples can even have their pictures taken with Cintai’s beautiful animals in the background. There are 11 peacocks in the place, some roaming the gardens and the others in a huge cage that allows them to move freely around. When the males spread their wings and show off their beautiful blue-green feathers with lovely eye-shaped details dotting each feather, it’s just amazing.
Cintai also houses six horses, one alpaca, one donkey, two hawks, one eagle, seven deer, two musangs and one monkey, plus a pond full of koi fish that are considered as bringers of good luck. The ‘endangered’ animals, resident manager Francis Salanguit stresses, all have permits issued by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
COZY ACCOMMODATIONS
Just a two-hour drive from Manila, Cintai Corito’s Garden stands on the same elevation as Tagaytay, so it gets breezy and cool in the evening. Just perfect for those who are staying overnight at the garden resort, which houses 18 villas, each uniquely designed with Balinese accents inside and outside the villas. These are divided into the Terrace Villas (Php11,550), which have two Queen sized beds, a bathroom, mini refrigerator and their own terrace outside, good for 4 to 6 persons; the Garden Villas (Php16,500), with three Queen sized beds, a day bed, table setting, mini refrigerator and terrace outside, good for 6 to 9 persons; and the Executive Villa (Php27,500), the biggest villa with its own Jacuzzi and personal bar, terrace and pocket garden, good for 6 to 9 persons.
Overnight accommodations in any of the villas are inclusive of breakfast at Abadi Restaurant and use of all facilities, which include four swimming pools – two adult pools and two kiddie pools.
Staying at Cintai is like communing with nature. You have to be ready to leave the stresses of city life behind. There are no TVs in the rooms nor WiFi. No disturbance, so you can relax and enjoy nature activities, such as stopping to smell the flowers, trying to communicate with the peacocks so they’ll spread their beautiful wings and have you take pictures of them, taking a hike down the walking paths to visit the animals, feeding the kois in the pond by the entrance, swaying leisurely on the wooden swings dotting the garden, enjoying the delicious local fares whipped up by the kitchen staff led by Executive Chef Mel Lopez… Cintai’s specialties include Slow-roasted Pork Sinigang, Baby Back Ribs, Pinaputok na Tilapia, Bulalo, Batangas Lomi, Balete Suman, Tablea Cake and Batangas Coffee, among others.
Guests can also go fruit-picking. There are makopa, lanzones, durian, avocado, santol, mango, banana and guyabano trees around.
“Yes, we do encourage guests to go fruit picking around the garden, but only in amounts that they can consume while in the resort. Our staff will assist them so they’ll pick only the ones that are ripe and ready to be eaten,” explains Dean Cid, chief operating officer of Paramount Property Management.
BLISSFUL PLACE
Cozy and comfortable accommodations in villas under the canopy of the moon and the stars, refreshing greens and beautiful blooms to feast your eyes on, the sound of crickets chirping away into the night… Cintai is a blissful place to be, a gentle place that takes you to Bali, Indonesia, and back…
(Cintai Corito’s Garden is located at Sitio Pandayan, Malabanan, Balete, Batangas. For inquiries or reservations, contact the Batangas office at 0917-8331728 or the Manila office at 870-0100 or 899-7171. Online booking is available at www.coritosgarden.com.)
