Zobel women define El Nido luxury vacation home rental

LADY OF THE MANOR Bea Zobel Jr.

Bea Zobel Jr. and her daughter Paloma originally planned to spend most of their time in idyllic El Nido in Palawan, where they are helping enhance the character of Ayala Land Inc.’s masterplanned Lio Tourism Estate.

And so they embarked on a mission to build a home that will express their shared passion for Filipino arts and culture, craftsmanship and sustainable living.

The extended pandemic, however, upended their best-laid plans and altered their priorities.

But while they may no longer intend to put down El Nido as their primary address anytime soon, the Zobel tandem forged ahead with their home-building project.The result of their combined efforts is Bahay Artisano, a home they are proud to call their own but also one that they are more than willing to share with others who are yearning for a unique blend of understated luxury, serenity and privacy.

Bahay Artisano is available for bookings starting August for P42,700 a night for four persons (with extra charge for up to the eighth person). The rent covers private use of Bahay Artisano, roundtrip transfers to Lio Airport, welcome refreshments, set breakfast for four persons, internet connectivity and coffee and tea selections.

Those who will be lucky enough to book a short stay of a minimum of three days and two nights will not find Bahay Artisano wanting.

Far from it, as the mother-and-daughter team put “love” into the design and every piece of decor, furniture and appliance that fills the expansive two-bedroom villa with a loft, full-service kitchen and activity areas where families and friends can come together to bond.

BEST OF THE PHILIPPINES Bea Jr. and Paloma Zobel tapped Mindanao architect Deo Alrashid Alam to execute their vision for Bahay Artisano. They took inspiration from the torogan, the traditional Maranao home for royalty.

Maranao-inspired

Helping them execute their vision for Bahay Artisano is Deo Alrashid Alam, an architect from Mindanao who took inspiration from the torogan, the traditional residence of Maranao royalty.

Zobel shares that Alam chose the torogan as the design inspiration because of its functional features such as elevation to resist flooding and high ceilings for cooling, taking into account the local environment and weather patterns of El Nido at the northern part of Palawan.

There are also displays of local craftsmanship all around Bahay Artisano, such as the intricately carved panolong, the extended house beams of the torogan and the sculpture of a sarimanok, the legendary bird of the Maranao people of Mindanao.

Also collaborating on Bahay Artisano are Palawan artists Nuno Finez and Frances Mendoza and Zobel favorite Milo Naval and Antonio Garcia of Mabolo Flowers.Together with the Zobel women, they built a home that celebrates rich Filipino culture and brings elements of the past to the modern, luxurious setting.

The airy residence filled with natural light also comes with its own space for yoga sessions plus an outdoor pool with its own bar and entertainment area, blending well with the lush greenery that envelopes the property.

Bahay Artisano is thus a reflection of the character of 325-hectare Lio Tourism Estate, the first resort development of Ayala Land that is guided by the main principle of sustainability, which is to develop the land with the least impact to the environment.

CREATURE COMFORTS Bahay Artisano comes with modern amenities such as a pool with its own entertainment area, high-speed internet connectivity that seamlessly meld with curated furniture pieces and home decor done by Filipino artisans. — Photos By Tina Arceo-Dumlao

Lio Estate’s vision is to be a thriving community with space for residential developments, hotels and resorts and commercial establishments that blend with the enviable natural features of the beachside property.

This is why Bahay Artisano, for instance, was built to bring the forest in, rather than clear the trees for the sake of design.

It is also adjacent to Kalye Artisano, an artisan village and collection of community-based enterprises within Lio Tourism Estate that seeks to add a cultural element to the popular beach destination, adding to the appeal of El Nido that has attracted a good number of urban dwellers to its fold.

The almost 3,000-square-meter Kalye Artisano houses four arts and crafts and souvenir shops (Talindak Arts and Boutique, Manggad, Ka Likha and K Art Collective), Eve Salon, food and beverage outlets (Charlie’s Kubo, Islas Makinas, New Delhi Kashmir and Ay Papito) and The Earth School.

Also within Lio Estate, just a few minutes away from Lio Airport, is Seda Lio, a 153-roomn resort hotel available for destination weddings, team building events, meetings and leisure travelers looking to experience laidback living in Palawan.

There is indeed something for everybody at Lio Tourism Estate and for those who may have already seen it all but are open to a welcome surprise, there is the Zobels’ Bahay Artisano.