One day I decided to go to San Pablo on a whim, even more emboldened by the fact that I haven’t set foot in the city before. What made it more exciting was the prospect of visiting a number of Filipino-inspired restaurants and resorts which have risen here in recent times.The most prominent are included in the directorymap called Viaje del Sol ("the way of the sun") which lists interesting spots the adventurous wanderer can try in Laguna, Batangas and Quezon.

Luckily, my wandering feet led me to Tahanan ni Aling Meding. Don’t be misled by the name as it is hardly built like your traditional Filipino ancestral home. It loomed in fact as a concrete white mansion in the scenic expanse that was Sampaloc Lake and is just a few meters away from the city hall. From the moment Tahanan ni Aling Meding’s black wrought iron gate was opened to me with a view of its swimming pools and verdant gardens, I knew right away that this was a place I could stay in and fall in love with.

Tahanan ni Aling Meding’s story is very unique in the sense that it wasn’t originally built to be a hotel or a bed and breakfast place. Owned by the Borja family which traces its roots in San Pablo, the mansion was envisioned to be the retirement home of the 11 Borja siblings based in the US who have carved a name for themselves as self-made professionals. However, Dr. Mario Borja — the most established family member who founded the Bayanihan Community Center in San Francisco, California — died soon after the four-storey house was constructed . The siblings then decided to open their private sanctuary to the public, faced as they were with the difficulty of maintaining the whole place.

One may ask, who is Aling Meding? Eileen Estiva, the youngest of the Borja siblings, says: "Meding was our mother, Remedios Agnes Borja. We named this place to honor her because she raised us so well, even if there were 11 of us to take care of." The children of Rafael and Remedios Borja are in this following order: Iluminada Mea, Dr. Mario, Edilberto, Rafael Jr., Merlita Evangelista, Efren, Aleli Estacio, Cesar, Rommuel, Wilson and Eileen. Two of the siblings have died and most have found success as doctors, teachers, businessmen and nurses in the US. Their family pictures are framed in strategic parts of the hotel, adding a personal touch to the somber surroundings.

Tahanan ni Aling Meding has a total of 11 guest rooms classified into De Luxe, Executive, Suite and Honeymoon Suites (of which there are two.) Prices range from R2,000 to R3,000 for an overnight stay. There is also a huge family room in the attic with three beds which can be had for R3,500 a night.

The rooms are very cozy with fluffy pillows, embroidered bed linen and curtains which were chosen with care all the way from the US. The rooms are equipped with all the amenities you expect to find in a luxury hotel such as hot & cold shower with toiletry kit, cable TV, aircon and ref.

But the best part about staying in Tahanan ni Aling Meding is the view. Sliding doors open up to a large terrace which has a fantastic panorama of the mountains and Sampaloc Lake. This view, I think, is priceless. Nothing compares to the splendid feeling you get upon waking up in the morning with the sight of the vast lake adorned with boats and surrounded by mangroves and trees. Just being there soothed my frazzled nerves and calmed my spirit.

In terms of recreational facilities, Tahanan ni Aling Meding has a couple of swimming pools with jacuzzi and a water slide for kids to play around with. One can also wander through the superbly landscaped garden bedecked with all kinds of lovely plants and flowers. No wonder, many celebrations like weddings and reunions have been held here since the house opened as a hotel three years ago.

Because I wasn’t sure whether San Pablo’s night life is worth trying, I chose to stay in the hotel and had an in-room pedicure and massage. They also have an extensive menu worth trying, ranging from salads to sandwiches to steaks and Filipino favorites like sinigang and pancit.

A stay at Tahanan ni Aling Meding can be a good jump-off point to other destinations listed in Viaje del Sol. In San Pablo City alone, must-tries are the culinary specialties of Kusina Salud; a visit to the original Colette’s Buko Pie; observing the artist at work in Carlito’s Workshop; picnicking at Casa San Pablo; touring Sitio de Amor Farm Resort; testing your green thumb at Successful Family Farm; and checking out collectible items at Pillar Plants and Novelties. Of course, do not forget the tour of Sampaloc and Pandin lakes which are the most picturesque of San Pablo’s seven lakes.

And if you’re feeling a little more adventurous, San Pablo is just very near other towns in Laguna like Liliw, the tsinelas capital of Luzon; Nagcarlan, site of the underground cemetery; Alaminos with its Hidden Valley and Tiaong, Quezon which boasts of its own tourist destinations like Villa Escudero.

Tahanan ni Aling Meding is at Dagatan Blvd., Sampaloc Lake in San Pablo City. For more information, visit www.tahanan.info.