Chill off this summer at Pranjetto Hills

MANILA, Philippines - Traveling is as much the journey as the destination. So, just think about that four- to six-hour trip up north with a chance of heavy traffic and overcrowded streets. The nearest tourist spots down south are a couple of hours away and are also tried and tested but a little too familiar now with many summer vacationers. Rare is the chance to try something new, someplace different to cool your heels. It’s time to head east, toward the secluded mountain resort of Pranjetto Hills.

Located in Tanay, Rizal, Pranjetto Hills is a resort complex that is perfect for people who want to have a quiet holiday in the mountains or groups who wish to take advantage of the property’s massive 10-hectare area. It can get a bit chilly here, especially at sundown when you get to see the fog rolling in across the mountain. Ahead of you, the beautiful Sierra Madre mountain range is a sight to behold.

Over the course of a year, Pranjetto Hills has implemented a few improvements and new facilities to welcome more people. Accommodations, as before, can be as small as a standard room for two to six people; or the brand-new additions such as a cabin for two to four people; and as large as a resthouse for 12 to 14. Each amenity is spread out across valleys and hillsides covered in greenery. The natural scenery is perfect for parties, banquets, wedding receptions and a myriad of social events. Well-equipped training and conference rooms and a banquet hall serve corporate accounts for seminars, workshops and organizational activities, complete with audio-visual equipment.

Pranjetto Hills offers all these for up to 250 people at a time. It certainly has the facilities to keep people happy during their stay. Down a small valley is the adult and children’s pool where one can just hang out for the day. A set of open cottages by the pool can accommodate groups as they eat, swim and have a great time just cooling off.

Numerous sheds and benches are strewn around the beautifully landscaped hillside where one can rest and meditate. The resort was built around the trees and greens that existed before, with paths winding around the landscape with not a single plant uprooted.

Even further down the valley is a stream channeling the natural water flowing from the hill. Go further and a chapel will greet you with your spiritual needs. Going back up to the main building you may find a koi pond.

Companies have found Pranjetto the perfect setting for team-building. Facilities such as a zipline add a little excitement; furthering the adrenaline rush are ATVs with their own dirt trail. More intense activities include the wall climb and paintball. An obstacle course is standard for every team-oriented  gathering and kids can explore the mini-forest by the hanging bridge. All activities are supervised by professional staff for added safety.

Rizal has a lot to offer and Pranjetto Hills can help you explore the province. There are many historical and religious sites nearby, such as the Regina Rosarii Institute for Contemplation in Asia which has the largest Marian statue in the area. Much nearer is Pranjetto’s farm and picnic area where guests may delight in the organic vegetables grown by the resort or maybe fish in the ponds for some tilapia.

It only takes about an hour from Manila, in relatively traffic-free roads, to get to Pranjetto Hills. It’s an hour worth traveling. The ease and convenience alone should draw you in. Once you are there, breathe in the silence, the calm and serenity of a place that embraces nature. It can be an energizing experience, away from the maddening city crowd.

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Pranjetto Hills is located in Sitio Mayagay, Barangay Sampaloc, Tanay, Rizal. For more information, call (02) 697-1785, (02) 4015995, (02) 994-3622, (02) 630-5686 or 0949-4065776, fax at (02) 695-1332, e-mail at webmail@pranjettohills.com or info@pranjettohills.com or visit its website at http://www.pranjettohills.com. Photos by Fernan Nebres