A haven for the wanting & the weary

Wouldn’t it just be like heaven if one were to find a place that treats you like royalty, shakes off your stress away and delights your senses with its overwhelming beauty? Believe it or not, all these can happen at Segara Villas at Subic Bay.

Segara Villas Hotel sparkles under the bright sun of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone. Perfectly situated just 110 kms. north of Manila, the cozy hotel is close to the commercial establishments that have made Subic a popular tourist destination but far enough to give the place a serene feel about it. One might say, Segara Villas Hotel could easily be the loveliest idea Subic Bay has had since the area was converted from being a US Naval Base in 1991.

“Segara is actually a Thai word, which means harbor bay or bay view,” explains Avi Baldeo-Chua, one of the daughters of owner Rose Baldeo, “And the frontage of our hotel is a harbor. We’re at the waterfront area.” Avi, who helps in the marketing and promotions, adds that Segara Villas Hotel is lucky to be in an area in Subic that offers tranquility that many a-tired traveler craves for. At the same time, the hotel is not far from where all the action is at the Subic Bay, making Segara Villas Hotel the perfect spot for the wanting and the weary. “The place is perfectly secluded,” she enthuses.

Embracing its inspiration from the Baldeo family’s travels in Asia, the entrance of the hotel virtually transports you to Thailand with the hotel’s fascinating full-scale golden buddhas and buddha heads that spurt out cascading water. On the right side of the entrance, to the delight of kids and the kids at heart, statues of baby elephants playing under the heat of the sun, unfailingly captivate guests. But of course, from the entryway, the Segara experience has only just begun.

“We make it a point to pamper our guests,” offers Che Baldeo-Flores, Rose Baldeo’s other daughter who helps out in the hotel communications department. “Aside from a free welcome drink common in other hotels, upon check-in, guests get a foot or hand massage,” she says.

Not your typical hotel, Segara does not have the usual multiple room set-up housed in one big structure. Segara has 10 cute baby houses — villas if you may — that stand on a 5,275-sq. m. area. “Every villa has its unique personality,” relates Che. Avi adds, “No two villas are the same, even the doors to each one are different.”

The villas, which can comfortably accommodate three adults (or two adults plus two children), are classified into two groups: the Executive Suites (P12,000) and the Junior Suites (P8,000). The five Executive Suites, each occupying a 70-sq. m. area, boast of a loft-style architecture with the bedroom leveled above the living room. The other five Junior Suites are single level rooms, each room has an area of 57-sq. m.

Aside from each villa being equipped with high-end amenities like a flat screen LCD TV and DVD player, a ready iPod dock speakers, a safety deposit box, an IDD telephone and a 24-hour wireless broadband Internet connection, Segara Villas Hotel has given each villa a quiet elegance by adding a private patio and a pocket garden to each of the baby houses.

Segara Villas also has the Indulge Me Room where a wide variety of the hotel’s very own deluxe body essentials of body scrubs, bar soaps, massage oil, shower gel, lotion and other bath and body products can be had. It also has what they call the “simple indulgence” line which are the DVDs and board games that guests can easily borrow from the hotel and the “ultimate indulgence” which are the pillow choices that guests can request to complement their sumptuous king-sized beds. Segara Villas Hotel also houses its own first-class, fine dining restaurant named Asian Spices Bar and Restaurant, and a function room that can fit 300 people perfect for wedding banquets and other special occasions. 

Located at Waterfront Road, Subic Bay Freeport Zone, you may e-mail at [email protected] or check out the website www.segaravillassubic.com.

PlusIminus’ free workshop

PlusIminus Film Camp will give a one-week free cinematography workshop to students who will enroll in the two-week digital filmmaking course conducted by PlusIminus Film Camp and Aquarian Artistic Production. The workshop is open to anyone who is interested in digital filmmaking and cinematography. The digital filmmaking course covers the subjects on producing, editing, scriptwriting, acting, directing, among others. The workshop starts March 16 until April 3.

The cinematography workshop will be conducted by Russian trained cinematographer Ariel Reyes. Ariel studied cinematography at the All Union State Film Institute of Cinematography (VGIK) in Moscow, Russia. It is one of the best cinematography schools in Europe. He is a Gawad CCP awardee and an Urian Awards nominee for Best Cinematographer.

Among those tapped to lecture in the digital filmmaking course aside from Ariel are Gerald Madrid, Trox Salazar and Ivan Togonon.

PlusIminus Film Camp and Aquarian Artistic Production are the production outfits behind the indie movie Ugat Sa Lupa, a National Commission for Culture and the Arts film grant directed by Ariel Reyes. It was shot on location in Batangas with workshop students as production staff and crew. It was recently exhibited at the International Arts Festival at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. Ugat Sa Lupa stars Gerald Madrid, Angellie Urquico and Arnold Reyes. For details, call Aquarian Artistic Production at 889-1292 or e-mail [email protected].