Finding their ‘Heart’ in Laguna

(Editor’s note: Starting this week, Inquirer Property is featuring individuals who have modest ventures in real estate, with their cozy private resorts or a boutique bed and breakfast. These property entrepreneurs deserve to have the spotlight on them too, alongside established industry giants, for helping buoy the vibrant Philippine real estate sector.)

The Philippine real estate scene is not left wanting when it comes to having giants creating towering structures and liveable communities.

Over the past decades, we have seen large corporations undertaking massive land developments, putting up large scale projects that have since shaped the landscape and paved the way for many Filipino homebuyers to improve their quality of life. Indeed the Philippine real estate has come along way and it continues to make landmark progress as developers and industry experts continue to share their expertise.

And while we see these so-called property giants continuously raising the bar in residential, office, hospitality, commercial and leisure spaces, there are also individuals who, in their own way, are contributing to the sustained vibrant growth of the Philippine real estate industry.

Take the case of property entrepreneur Marl Kenn Kristian R. Tobias and his wife La Arraine L. Tobias, both 29 years of age, and who had recently opened the La Kassandra Heart Resort and Events Place.

As the couple hails from the province of Laguna, where private resorts for rent abound, it seemed only natural for them to venture into such an enterprising business. Presented with the right opportunity, it didn’t take long for the couple to turn a three-storey structure into a private resort, which they hope to share to a market who are just as fond of spending restful weekends with family and friends.

Guests can spend some quality time with family and friends while lounging and relaxing at the three-storey La Kassandra Heart Resort and Events Place.

“Yes, this is our first venture in private resort and recreation. I recently resigned from my corporate job to focus on our business and to spend some quality time with our kids. We don’t want to miss the small milestones and we really want to see our kids grow up. Thus, when the opportunity came to create and operate our own business, we immediately took it,” Marl shared.

Located in Laguna Hot Spring Resort Village (Lazaro Subdivision) in Calamba, Laguna, La Kassandra Heart Resort and Events Place was created primarily because the Tobias’ eldest child loves swimming. The resort sits on 408 sqm of prime lot, with the pool area occupying almost 200 sqm.

“We decided to put up La Kassandra because our 5-year-old son loves to swim. He really enjoys being in the water and the activities he can enjoy while swimming. However, the resort was named after our 3-month old daughter, Kassandra whose name, according to feng shui, was auspicious,” he said.

“I think the best part about La Kassandra really is the vibe that it offers. Here, guests can bask in the stunning view of the mountains while enjoying the natural hot springs of our pool. Also, our goal is to elevate customer service by providing customized services, which would allow us to meet or even exceed our guests’ requests,” he added.

Guests can spend some quality time with family and friends while lounging and relaxing at La Kassandra. You can enjoy a refreshing swim while your kids paddle their way across the entire pool area.

If you have time, La Kassandra also serves as the perfect jump off point to many other must-visit destinations in Laguna. It’s 15 minutes away from University of the Philippines Los Baños, where you can also buy some buko pie as pasalubong; and 10 minutes from Rizal Shrine, and Mt. Makiling’s Magnetic Hill, among others.

For now, the resort offers four quaint rooms, which can accommodate 30 guests. But the couple is hoping to further expand the resort along the way.

“We try to elevate our guests’ relaxation experience. We also provide them a videoke machine and or paddle boats for the kids. We also hope to add more amenities in the future to make our guests’ stay even more fun and memorable. At La Kassandra, privacy, excellent service and fun are guaranteed,” Marl concluded.