The peacock is the iconic animal that best represents pride and vanity, but in Bohol at the Peacock Garden Luxury Resort and Spa, the peacock represents extravagance at its most hospitable, elegance at its finest and beauty in its most natural state.
One would not expect that up the dirt road, 1.5 kilometers away from the capital city of Tagbilaran, lies a gem, a respite of beauty and serenity befitting the quiet calm of the island of Bohol. Located in Upper Laya, Baclayon, the mountainside resort holds an expansive view of the Pamilacan Island and the Mindanao Sea.
In 2008, the Peacock Garden Luxury Resort and Spa earned a prestigious AAA rating from the Philippine Department of Tourism. It is the first resort/hotel in Bohol to attain that recognition. The boutique resort, which covers over four of 11 hectares, offers 40 luxurious, modernly decked suites that all overlook the sea, an infinity pool and beautifully manicured, lush gardens. (Take a leisurely walk around the mango orchards and you might just chance upon the resident peacock.) The Mediterranean-style villas exude Old World nostalgia with an evident Filipino hospitable charm. But the Peacock Garden is more than just a luxury boutique resort, it is a museum.
Owned by German-born Hans Schoof and his wife Lani, and managed by their son Christian, the Peacock Garden hosts priceless art collections of both national and international interest. Hans, though a Weisbaden, German by birth, is a Filipino at heart. His admiration for no other than the Philippines’ national hero Jose Rizal is evident as numerous memorabilia decorate the walls and halls of the hotel. From first-edition postage stamps with the face of the Filipino martyr in the dining hall, the busts of Rizal and his close colleague Ferdinand Blumentritt at the entrance, to the pseudo shrine of Rizal’s past lovers — including Rizal’s dulce estranjera Josephine Bracken — in the cigar room, the collection is vast and fascinating. But nothing is as impressive as the family’s most prized piece — the original living room set used by Jose Rizal in 1886 when he stayed in Germany, which is on display at the entrance of the Old Heidelberg restaurant.
Apart from the Rizal paraphernalia, magnificent original paintings by Ivan Acuña, 18th century wooden chairs from German castles, photos from a German fencing fraternity (Hans’ father was a skilled fencer), postcards of the Weisbaden countryside and other delicate historical knick-knacks line the walls of the Old Heidelberg restaurant, warming the amber room like old family photos.
The Old Heidelberg restaurant was originally established in Malate, but was transported to the idyllic sanctuary of Bohol when the resort was opened. Staying true to its German roots, the menu — created by Chef Klaus Weingartner — has a list of authentic and perfected German recipes like the schnitzel and veal cheeks.
When at the Old Heidelberg, make sure to try their curious ice cream platter. The innovative plate has several unique flavors that boggle the mind and tantalize the taste buds like the barley beer, chili mango and vanilla ginger scoops. Christian, who has inherited his parents’ love for history, excitedly shares that the Peacock Garden will soon recreate a menu that was only experienced by European royalty. (The idea was inspired by the menu cards, taken from 18th century royal cruise ships, that are on display in the hallways of the hotel.)
If not eating, visitors of the Peacock Garden can be usually found wading in the infinity pools or relaxing at the Fontana Aurelia Spa for their daily dose of the hotel’s signature massage — the four-handed anti-stress therapy treatment. It is pure hedonistic pleasure as this massage expertly relieves the body of its city tensions and is performed by two therapists who mirror each other’s movements. Apart from the luxurious massage, the ladies, as well as the men, can enjoy various spa facials, body scrubs and wraps.
While the ladies will find themselves highly entertained for the day at the spa, the men need not yawn in boredom as this resort is very much made for them as well. Retreat to the members-only Cigar Lounge or the underground wine cellar to enjoy a glass of 1825 port wine and a cigar. The wine cellar, tucked beneath the Old Heidelberg restaurant, boasts a collection so vast, it will make even the most reserved sommelier squeal with glee.
Upon learning that one member of the media group was a certified sommelier, Hans graciously opens up one of his prized wines and offers the drink in a ceremonial Port wine glass, one of the only remaining sets from King Emmanuel II, the last king of Portugal.
The Cigar Lounge offers a wide selection of cigars — from famed Dominican cigars to the signature Hemingway series from the Arturo Fuente collection. The oak-colored walls are lined with pictures of (in)famous cigar smokers such as Ernest Hemingway, Winston Churchill, Fidel Castro, Al Capone and Che Guevara.
“The peacock is not about vanity or frivolity. The peacock is a symbol for the meeting of cultures. At the Peacock Garden, this East-meets-West sensibility is reflected in warm, Filipino hospitality and Old World European art and interiors,” says Christian. “In history, legend, myth and lore, the peacock is the possessor of some of the most admired human characteristics — integrity, beauty, incorruptibility and nobility.”
The Peacock Garden is a place for enjoying the luxuries of life. Spend a day at the gardens and you’ll understand why the peacock is the choice of bird for this island resort paradise. In Bohol at the Peacock Garden Luxury Resort and Spa, the peacock represents extravagance at its most hospitable, elegance at its finest and beauty in its most natural state.
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