Jay Ledesma

This was the only 2nd out of town trip for our family since the start of the quarantines 17 months ago, so you can just imagine how excited we were.
Since we had our first in a beach resort in Davao de Oro, we decided to go to the mountain side this time. We wanted to escape the hot weather in the city proper.

But since we do not want to go through so many check points going out and back into Davao City, we looked for a place that will still give us the mountain view, cold weather and take us away from the hustle and bustle of the city, without needing to get out of Davao City. So we headed to Marilog District, our Davao version of Baguio. Marilog is now the home to many private and pubic mountain resorts and restaurants. For this trip, we found the perfect hideaway… Pine Breeze Villa.

Just an hour and a half drive from city proper, Pine Breeze Villa is located in Barangay Salumay, Marilog.

As the Villa is about 1200 ft above sea level, it’s no surprise that as soon as we entered the resort’s driveway, we immediately felt the cold fresh air and chilly breeze which is a complete departure from the city air we are used to. The huge trees, ornamental plants and colorful flowers welcomed us. It feels that we’re in a mini forest.

Pine Breeze Villa offers only 3 cottages so you can expect very few guests at a given time. The 4th cottage is for the use of the owner’s family but I was told that it can also be rented out, when necessary. During our stay, there’s only a guest couple, so we practically had the place to ourselves. A perfect place if you want peace and privacy. We love the unique A-frame structure of the cottages which blends well with the trees and lush garden around them. The cottages are clean and offers comfortable accommodation. We stayed at the Pine Breeze Cottage, which can accommodate at least 7 people. It even has a loft. Outside each cottage is an eating area where guests can enjoy their meals when they do not want to go to the main dining area.

However, as the cottages are located at the lower portion of the resort, it’s tricky and a challenge going up and down. I personally enjoyed it because it forms part of my daily exercise. But in can be challenging for our senior citizens, especially that the installation of the hand rails has yet to be completed. But if you are just planning to stay and enjoy the comforts of your cottage, then this should not be a problem.

What we can say as the centerpiece in their garden is the main dining area. Considering the protocols and ventilation required during this time, we appreciate the wide open-air area with enough room for all of the guests staying over. Each cottage is assigned a specific table so there’s enough social distancing among guests. It also serves as a lounging area where one can relax, read books, listen to music or play board games while enjoying the refreshing sights and sounds of nature. The owners mentioned to us that they will soon have billiard tables, darts and other recreational facilities beneath the structure of the main dining area. This will give guests more options during their stay.

There’s also a common cooking area where we prepared and cooked our own food. Again, each cottage is assigned a sink, a utensil rack and cookwares. They also have a grilling area. The kitchen is not that spacious so we had to schedule our cooking time to make sure that there are no other guests during our turn. Good thing that there was just one couple vacationing at that time so scheduling was not a problem.

On our 2nd day, we woke up very early and drove to the nearby New Year’s Peak where we were able to view the sea of clouds. It was such a sight to behold! Another example of God’s perfect creation. We were lucky that the weather was nice so we were able to experience it. Locals say that their formation differs, depending on the weather. At that time, they were behind the hills. We intended to visit the other viewing sites and restaurants, like The Gethsemane and the Bemwa Farm, but unfortunately, they were closed. We were told that since the start of the pandemic, a number of the restaurants and viewing farms had to close shop. Hopefully, as the condition improves, they will be able to resume their operations.

We capped our last day in the Villa with a campfire. Each cottage is provided its own fire pit to enjoy that perfect family bonding under a starry night and a chilly weather. It brings back good old memories of our high school and scouting days. Kids will definitely enjoy roasting those hotdogs and
marshmallows while enjoying the bonfire.
And on cue, the rain dropped as we were going back to our cottage.

It was a brief stay but surely a memorable one. Thanks to the PBV owners Billy, her mom and her aunt, who made our stay comfortable. There may be some hiccups, which can be expected in a nature-inspired accommodation, but they did best to still make it an enjoyable experience for our family. Thanks for the fruit basket.

We left very early the next morning to head back to our reality in Davao. We made some quick stops along the way to buy plants and fresh-harvested vegetables. We now feel recharged, reenergized and reinvigorated!

Thinking of having a quick getaway to the mountain side? You may want to consider Pine Breeze Villa! (Jay Ledesma)