Vegetable farms, pineapple farms, dragon fruits farms and cacao plantations remain the favorite destinations of both local and foreign tourists when they visit the agriculture-rich town of Tanay in Rizal province, especially during this summer months.
The office of Tanay Mayor Rafael “Lito” Tanjuatco said tourists continue to visit farms and farm resorts, both in the lowland and upland villages in the municipality, during the dry months of the year to enjoy the view of nature and the cool breeze that surround the places, and indulge in the food and the agriculture products that are served and harvested in the facilities.
Vegetable and flower gardens in lowland communities and cacao farms and fruit farms in upland barangays in Tanay are among the favorite places of visitors in Tanay.
One such place in the upland Barangay Cayabu, the Palaya Eco-Natural Farm, keeps on welcoming tourists to their farm resort that boasts of the sprawling 68-hectare agriculture area, home to some 36,000 posts of dragon fruit plants, and other vegetable products.
(photo by Nel Andrade/Manila Bulletin)
At the entrance to the farm resort, visitors are welcomed by rows of greenhouses where leafy greens and cherry tomatoes are propagated.
Once inside, the visitors are greeted with several types of accommodation facilities such as teepee-type kubo, native nipa hut cottages and rooms for those who want to enjoy the relaxing scenery, with flowers and ornamental plants all over the place.
The owner of the farm resort, Mr. Josh Colesio, and the members of his family envision the farm to be the largest dragon fruit plantation in the country while helping their farmers sustain their livelihood.
Rows of dragon fruit plants/posts are everywhere in the Palaya Natural Farm (photo from Palaya Natural Farm's Facebook page)
Colesio said the farmland uses natural fertilizers from indigenous materials, fermented plants and fruit sprays while cultivating the land using natural soil treatments. He said the facility’s natural farming practices have benefits such as environmental sustainability, cultural preservation, resilience to climate change and animal welfare.
Greens at the farm facility of the Colesios (photo courtesy of the resort's Facebook page)
Visitors can also enjoy the All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) rides with options of short to adventure rides such as river crossing and side trip to the dragon fruit farm. They can also enjoy off road drive aboard the ATV as an added activity in the area in the nearby river, along with horseback riding and tree planting.
Tourists enjoy the ATV ride in a river in Barangay Cayabu in Tanay (photo by Nel Andrade/Manila Bulletin)
Along the river, visitors may stroll or take a dip or make a quick swim in the refreshing water to cool off and beat the summer heat.
The house restaurant that serves buffet meals and a coffee shop are ready to offer healthy meals and beverages to visitors.
Mr. Jeff Pino of the office of the mayor told Manila Bulletin that tourists will find Palaya Eco Natural Farm and other similar facilities in the upland villages of Tanay, the proper place to visit especially in the coming Mother’s Day, May 12, as these farm resorts and lodging accomodations in one place offer a relaxing ambiance for all mothers and their family members as well.
As a gift to mothers, Palaya Natural Farm is waiving the entrance fee for all mothers until May 12.
Other agriculture sites that tourists may visit this summer include the pineapple plantations in Barangay Madilaydilay, a farming community near the Tanay-Laguna boundary and the RNC Organic Farm of couple Romeo and Nancy Casco in Barangay Plaza Aldea, and other vegetable and fruit farms that can be found in the upland villages in Tanay.
Visitors are encouraged to coordinate with the tourism office of the local government unit for guidance on how to go to the sites.
This coming Mother’s Day, the municipal government said tourists, especially the commuters, may now easily reach Tanay town proper via the mini buses that ply the route Tanay Grand Terminal in Tanay to Starmall at EDSA-Shaw Boulevard in Mandaluyong City as the Eastern Rizal AUV Transport and Multi-Purpose Cooperative has started its transport service to this part of Rizal Province since May 1.
(photo from Tanay Municipal Government's Facebook page)
With the easy access to Tanay via public transportation, the municipal government is hoping that the tourist arrivals in the town, especially the agricultural sites, will continue to increase this year.