LIST: Yuletide season 'staycation' options

MANILA, Philippines — Come holiday season, people look forward to get some "R and R" (rest and relaxation).

Philstar.com lists down some "staycation" options for those looking for new ways to enjoy the Yuletide season. 

A post shared by Kilyawan Farm Resort (@kilyawanfarmresort)

The holiday season is a time of joy and celebration, but it can also be one of the busiest times of the year. To enjoy some relaxation away from the city, Pix Republik PR In collaboration with Kilyawan recently organized a quick media getaway. 

In the town of Ibaan, Batangas, approximately 95 kilometers from Manila, a bamboo farm resort offers a place for solitude that allows people to take a break from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Kilyawan, the local name for the black-naped oriole, finds refuge in this 8.5-hectare farm resort previously used as an agro-industrial complex that 55,000 chickens used to call home. 

Inspired by a desire to provide an authentic rural escape, the architecture seamlessly integrates local materials and maintains the memory of the chicken farm. The Cabins Building and Reception Building incorporate original footprints and steel trusses, partly clad in bamboo. Courtyards separate cabins, constructed with bamboo, ecobricks and recycled wood, while masonry modules house bathrooms. Ceilings are lined with woven mats crafted by local women weavers.

The Reception Building features bamboo, recycled narra wood, and locally handmade clay bricks arranged in a weaving pattern. A central skylight connects the lobby, function halls, and restaurant, leading to a pool.

Guests who visit Kilyawan are taken on a tour to explore the property aboard a tractor while learning about the different produce and the day-to-day workings of the farm. A quick stop is made for a close encounter with farm animals and a feeding session with black native pigs, rabbits and heritage chickens.

Kilyawan Farm Resort has welcomed families, groups of friends, and teams from different corporations that look for the time and space to connect with each other amidst nature. The resort’s amenities include a courtyard restaurant, a 30-meter pool, a nature trail with a bamboo orchard and a cacao