Picnic Grove, Tagaytay

In the 1980s to early 1990s, we would go to Picnic Grive in Tagaytay, frequently. It had wooden cabins which you can rent per hour for picnics and also cottages to rent overnight.  It also had a playground for kids. It was rustic, great way to commune with nature with its tall trees, and a fantastic view of Taal lake and volcano.

So imagine our pleasant surprise when we visited Picnic Grove again but this time in October 2025. It is still scenic with a panoramic view of Taal volcano. It seems smaller and more refined with fewer cabins and cottages, scattered within the dense forest. It still has a viewing deck and an observation deck. It was really windy with a cold breeze. Perfect weather for October.

Entrance fee is ₱75.00 per pax and ₱50.00 per car.

I will just let the pictures speak for themselves. 

Tagaytay: October 2025 - Day two

Second day started with a small but nice breakfast buffet spread at our hotel. It was great to feast on some authentic Tagaytay fare with a stunning view of  Taal volcano and lake.

Lunch was at a very aesthetically pleasing restaurant. One of the newer restaurants located on the ridge. It is located right in front of the Ayala Malls Serin. The place is called Bahay ni Maria at Marta Restaurant. The food was delicious and I like that their bulalo has a peppery taste.

After that sumptuous lunch, a slight drizzle that turned into soft rain didn't stop us from further exploring Tagaytay. Cooler climate with hovering light mist/fog was perfect to venture into Our Lady of Manaoag at Tierra de Maria. H.O.M.E (haven of meditation and enrichment) of the majestic 50 foot statue of Mary, Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and Earth.

An intimate chapel featuring a replica of Our Lady of Manaoag (Pangasinan) inside the chapel. It is a serene, quiet sanctuary located on the main Calamba -Tagaytay roadm fronting the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) and near the Picnic Grove. In fact, one needs to park at the Picnic Grove then walk a short distance to the Tierra de Maria. 

The gates are open from 8:00 AM until 6:00 PM. There is a garden wall vine of murals depicting the joyful, luminous, sorrowful and glorious mysteries of the Holy Rosary. As well as the life of Jesus, the Stations of the Cross and the suffering of our Lord.

Tierra de Maria is a haven for the searching soul, a refuge for the weary traveler, a sanctuary of peace, and a threshold for healing. It is truly a spiritual experience, a piece of heaven and earth, feels like being HOME.

Tagaytay: October 2025 - Day one

October 2 was sister dearest's 50 something birthday so we decided to spend 3D2N in Tagaytay for some well deserved sister bonding moments. But first we dropped by the parents' final resting place in Loyola Memorial Park in Paranaque.

An hour and 30 minutes road trip through Skyway, SLEX then CALAX just in time for our standard Tagaytay lunch fare of bulalo, crispy tawilis, and pancit - full tummies before checking into our hotel. We rested for a few minutes then when we were about to go out again to hear mass at 5:30 PM at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, we couldn't open the front door. LOL Unbeknownst to us, it was double locked accidently by the hotel staff who accompanied us to our room. After several calls to the front desk, they sent a maintenance person to climb through the balcony (luckily we were just at the ground floor) to unlock the door for us. 

Lunch at Leslie's

We stayed at the Lake Hotel which is conveniently located on the main ridge.

Our Lady of Lourdes Parish Church

By half past 6 PM, Tagaytay was wrapped with a slight mist and only the headlights of the cars brightened the dark roads. So we decided to have an early dinner at the place near our hotel.  If you are familiar with Bag of Beans, a known cafe that is all over Tagaytay City. They also serve delicious hot cooked like meals in their Bag of Beans Charito branches.

4 cheese pizza, Batangas beef tapa with rice and slice of cheese cake

Back at the hotel to call it the day. A blessed day celebrating sister's dearest birthday with good food, heard Holy Mass and a lovely hotel in cool and windy Tagaytay City.