Henry Sy Sr. Stayed Here in Tagaytay and Now You Can, Too

Guests staying at Taal Vista Hotel’s Presidential Villa don't need to go through the crowded main lobby to get to their suite; there is a private entrance and elevator that whisks them up to the fourth floor of the Mountain Wing, where a butler will personally greet them upon their arrival.

The wide double doors open to a foyer; on the left is a small pantry and kitchen and glass doors that open up to an al fresco space that can be used for parties and events. On the right is the expansive living room anchored by an L-shaped sofa facing the eight-seater dining table.

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The entire villa measures 630.2 square meters, making it substantially larger than a conventional hotel suite. It has three full-sized bedrooms: a Master Suite with a walk-in wardrobe, bathroom with bathtub with a view of Taal Lake; plus King and Twin bedrooms, both of which has access to balconies with gorgeous views of Taal Lake.

The most extraordinary aspect of this experience is the amount of space. There’s room to have several people staying together without constantly being in one another's way. One can sit in the living room while someone else is having coffee on the balcony, or move to the dining room for a meal without making the entire villa feel occupied.

It all makes sense once you realize that this villa was once the private penthouse of the late Henry Sy Sr., founder of the SM Group. It’s common knowledge that when he was younger, Sy was a regular visitor to what was then Taal Vista Lodge. He eventually acquired the property in the late 1980s and turned it into what is now Taal Vista Hotel. The penthouse was later converted into a spa before being renovated and converted back into a residential-style space. The villa then, isn’t just a very large hotel suite but a private residence within the hotel open to outside guests. 

Another unique feature of the villa is the presence of a butler, who is on call around the clock. Guests can ask him to assist with everything from late-night cravings and over-the-counter medicine, to making arrangements for a tour around the property. There’s also in-room dining and access to a service kitchen. That means there’s hardly any reason to leave the villa at all for the duration of your stay.

The design lends itself to anyone wishing to just tuck themselves in and enjoy the weekend indoors. The interiors use contemporary furnishings, artwork and large windows to keep the attention on the spectacular views, which, as anyone who’s been to Tagaytay would know, can be difficult to ignore.

Should guests decide to tear themselves away from the comforts of the room, there is a spa with a full menu of treatments at the ground floor; Veranda restaurant for all-day dining, and Taza Fresh Table country restaurant that serves pastas, grilled meats, pizzas, and other comfort meals.

That sense of privacy is probably the villa's strongest quality. Tagaytay itself can be busy, particularly on weekends, but once inside the Presidential Villa, the experience becomes noticeably removed from the traffic and crowds outside. It’s the ultimate getaway for anyone looking for the full luxury experience in one of the country’s most popular weekend destinations.