The Boutique—Bed & Breakfast is one of the newest and hottest destinations in Tagaytay.

Opened only in December last year, this lovely hotel located along the Tagaytay ridge (a few mnutes from the rotonda) is the only place in the world that allows to explore one’s feelings as the rooms are named after different emotions.

Also known as the Boutique of Emotions Hotel, it features seventhemed rooms. On first floor guests who may be in the mood for "Love" or to "Escape" or, well … "Surrender."

The second floor was designed for people who want to give vent to intentions to … "Lust", "Desire", "Dare" or "Dream".

"We named the rooms after ‘our’ emotions because we are very emotional people… and there’s an explanation behind it…" said hotel owners Happy Ongpauco-Rivera and Allana LopezMontelibano.

Inspired by the places and hotels Happy and Allana have been to during their travels in Europe, Asia and the United States, Boutique was designed because…

"We ‘desire’ to treat guests to an ‘escape’ into a quaint and private place that you can only ‘dream’ of," explained Allana.

This one-of-a-kind hotel used to be an abandoned house Happy and Allana told us.

The two each come from a family of entrepreneurs — Alanna being the daughter of the owners of the University of Iloilo and Happy, daughter of restaurateur Rod Ongpauco of Barrio Fiesta and other Filipino restaurants and actress Liberty Ilagan.

Originally, the girls had no plans to put up a hotel until an abandoned house was offered to them along the Tagaytay ridge in June last year.

Happy and Allana together with their two other business partners Melon Santiago and Sweet Cañete, virtually rebuilt the house with the help of Arch. Jay Pabalana and interior designer Chat Forest.

Finally, after four months of continuous construction, the old property was transformed into a charming place, a synthesis of the old and new worlds with a minimalist European-inspired design grounded in a Filipino hospitality.

The clean white paint, the tall palm trees planted in front of the building, the glass walls and the pretty entrance featuring a "framed" stairway leading to the lobby are just among the impressive "external features" of the Boutique Hotel.

Each room differs from the next, depending on what mood you’re in and so do the room rates for bed and breakfast.

And the dreaming and pampering doesn’t stop with the rooms.

Even though there are many beautiful boutique hotels found in different countries, Happy and Allana took an extra mile by creating their own line of body, bath and beauty essentials for their guests labelled "Pamper Me".

The specially designed toiletries make Boutique the "only hotel in the world" that offers such service.

The moment guests check in at the Boutique, they are immediately escorted to the hotel’s "powder room" to choose their special shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, soap, lotion and room scent.

They also get to choose two extra pillows from the pillow menu which offers specialized pillows for head and back aches or to enhance the memory as well as pillows for side sleepers.

"We ‘lust’ to pamper you with our handmade, all natural bodyline of ‘Pamper Me’ products and a choice from our selection of pillows from our very own ‘Pillow Talk’ for your ultimate relaxation," said Allana as she continued to explain the "story of their emotions".

"As we take you to explore the Boutique experience we ‘dare’ you to release the pressures and strain of the city and immerse in the serene ambiance of our hip, intimate dwelling, while managing your day to day activities via our modern amenities within the warmth of home," she added.

Every room is equipped with a king size bed with soft feather covers, LCD TV, ipod ready speakers and wireless internet acces.

Hungry guests can eat at the hotel’s dining area called "Hawaiian Bar–B–Cue" which is strategically located next to the reception area.

On the menu are tropical and seafood dishes as well as barbecues concocted by Happy herself who is in–charge of the hotel operation and kitchen. Happy, a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America in Napa Valley in California, operates fastfood eateries on her own … the World Tops, Bento Box, Sake Lab, and Happy Carts in the malls.

At Hawaiian Bar–B–Cue, bestsellers include Volcanic Wings, Spam Masubi, Taal’s Own (fried spicy tawilis), Lava Lava Fries, Boullabais, atbp. And if you love Spam, Happy has got lots of variations of spam because, she said, spam is a popular Hawaiian dish.

This is actually the second "Hawaiian Bar-B-Cue branch. Happy and her other business partner Dexter Tiu opened the first restaurant last year in Boracay.

Guests can savor their meals indoors or at the al fresco veranda that affords a magnificent view of Taal Volcano.

"We urge you to ‘Surrender’ to the taste and flavors of our interesting delectable dishes. We give you ‘The Boutique’… your delightful home in Tagaytay born out of the ‘Love’ and passion we have for the pleasures of living," stated Happy.

Apart from its unique toiletry/beauty line, the Boutique’s "personalized service" also sets it apart from the other hotels on the ridge.

"Me and Allana are always here in the hotel because we want to personally deal with our guests as owners. Not many boutique hotel owners are willing to do that," stressed Happy.

An Assumption graduate in international business, Happy used to help her parents run their restaurants when she was still studying. Allana laughs whenever she tells people that she holds a BS degree in political science also from Assumption. But she does help the family manage the University of Iloilo back home.

Happy and Allana call themselves a "consierge for couples" because they do WHATEVER their guests want them to do.. within reason.

"Our services are really personalized… we even assist our guests propose to their girlfriends or if they want to surprise their sweethearts," said Happy.

"We give tips.. We try our best when they want us to do something. One time, we were asked to deliver a bouquet of roses at 12 midnight in the room and the girlfriend was so surprised becaause she didn’t have an inkling. And that made them happy and they enjoyed their stay here," recalled Happy.

You’re probably thinking of taking your wife or Valentine date to Boutique—Bed & Breakfast…

Unfortunately, they are already booked for the entire Valentine week. But you can always take your date to Hawaiian Bar-B-Cue which is open the public every day, no reservations needed.

Boutique—Bed & Breakfast is located at 45 Aguinaldo Hiway, Silang Crossing East, Tagaytay City. Call (046)413-1885 or (046)413-1795 for reservations.