‘There’s a farm in everybody’s heart’

FARM ESTATES are becoming a hit among retirees and investors these days. Reasons point to a more vibrant, peaceful and healthier years of life settling in an organic and hobby farm; others simply enjoy the laid-back hacienda feel that these farm estates can offer.

Take for example Hacienda San Benito, an expansive property in San Benito, Lipa City, and touted to be the first residential wellness estate development in the country with all the trappings of organic living, and an eco-friendly community.

Owned and developed by Milrose Development Corp., the hacienda is proudly a Filipino venture which sports the “real farm” theme sitting on a 22-hectare land at the foot of Mount Malarayat.

“There’s a farm in everybody’s heart,” said Ricky Ocampo, president of Milrose, in a recent tour with members of the press in the hacienda that is considered one of the nearest farm estates to Metro Manila.

Investing in farm estates

“With the generation now, people are living in a fast-paced lifestyle that mostly leads to various sickness and illnesses. The Baby boomers (45 years and up) are now more conscious about living a healthy lifestyle,” said Ocampo, who believes that people should take a closer look at investing in farm estates.

As part of the hacienda living, lot owners in Hacienda San Benito are encouraged to practice organic farming and live the “healthy” lifestyle. Each lot has sizable backyard for farming. Tenants could also raise poultry, goats, even horses themselves, or have them under the care of hacienda farmers for a fee.

Officials said prices of lots inside Hacienda San Benito are competitive with condo rates in Manila. Their target buyers are new couples, overseas Filipino workers and urbanites who want a good investment or a retreat home not too far away from the city.

Chosen for its cold climate all year round, Lipa City is the perfect haven for the hacienda as it is the third coldest city in the Philippines with an altitude of 1,025 feet above sea level, Milrose officials said. It is also dubbed as “the Rome of the Philippines” because of the number of churches, cathedrals and retreat houses situated in the city.

To complete the country feel, Hacienda lot owners can boast of the farm’s large apiaries (bee yards), koi ponds, clubhouse and the five-hectare commercially integrated farm named “Finca Central” which grows organic herbs, vegetables, fruits and ornamental plants. It is also home to Boer goats and horses, carabaos, turkeys and free-range chicken, Japanese kois, and even ostriches. At the hacienda entrance is a mini plaza called Commercio de Ciudad where farmers and homeowners can bring their farm produce for trade and commerce.

For the art lovers, the community will feature the works of some of the country’s top architects and designers like award-winning industrial designer Kenneth Cobonpue, architect Jason Buensalido and designer Teng Bustos. Already, Hacienda San Benito prides itself with the spectacular Capilla de Sagrado Corazon, an open-air circular chapel designed by the renowned Buensalido + Architects.

The hacienda recently unveiled its restaurant named Terrazas de Barako billed to be a one-of-a kind organic dining destination in the country with chef Teresa Lobb at the helm. The British chef has more than 10 years of work experience cooking for some of Brunei Darussalam’s fine-dining restaurants, and the British and Libyan royalties. She specializes in healthy and wellness cuisines.

Terrazas de Barako serves the world-famous kapeng barako or the Philippine libereca and the delectable Maliputo fish from Taal Lake. The restaurant is open to the public but prior reservation must be made.

Stay natural, organic

“The promise of Terrazas de Barako is to stay as natural and organic as possible with ingredients locally produced and harvested from the hacienda,” said Chef Teresa, who herself bought a piece of land at the hacienda because she “fell in love with the place.”

The restaurant is an eco-friendly structure with generous air flowing in and out of the small space thanks to wooden slat windows and its strategic location overlooking the farmlands and cascading pools at the back.

On top of hacienda living, owners can also make good investment from raising livestock or farming in their backyards. Those who do not have prior farm management experience will be assisted by a cooperative in making the most out of their lands, thus ensuring productivity and profitability. As lot owners, everyone will automatically become members of the cooperative with shares depending on their lot sizes. The cooperative also offers tending services for the owners’ farm and livestock property.