Parallel: A Private Sanctuary to Escape & Reset

As you get closer to the property in Tanauan, Batangas, Parallel stands out as a simple, yet striking spot that blends brutalist architecture with the natural surroundings. Created by experienced entrepreneurs Geronimo and Pam Begre, this custom-designed home offers a private retreat that has everything you need for the perfect weekend getaway.

The design mixes different styles in a way that works perfectly together. The carefully planned landscaping transitions smoothly into untamed nature, creating a space that’s perfect for escaping the everyday and reconnecting with yourself.

Parallel offers two different types of villas, each with three bedrooms and private bathrooms adjacent, a private swimming pool, living quarters, and kitchen (including a dirty kitchen if you opt to have your meals prepared by the chef).

In the upper villa, the living room serves as its nucleus, separated from the bedrooms by a courtyard. It’s more intimate, showcasing a scenic view of the Lake Taal and hills of Tagaytay. The main bedroom is facing the pool, where you can peacefully admire a 180 degree view from the comfort of your bed. The villa is built around small, cozy, individual outdoor spaces where you can gather throughout the day for a lunch, read a book, or simply enjoy the view—and you can choose among a mix of high and low seating and benches depending on your mood.

View from the pool of the upper villa

The living quarters are set around a large wooden dining table that opens onto the outdoor area through a panel of glass windows. The sofa corner allows you to sit and relax, always with a view, while others can interact around the dining table or cook a delicious meal, all together, sharing the same space, and creating memories.

The lower villa reveals a more elongated structure, offering expansive spaces that nurture intimacy without confinement. It is set around large gathering spaces, making it ideal for big groups or family reunions. Divided on two levels, the first floor has a huge living space with a L-shaped sofa and a gigantic kitchen with a view of the forest. One floor down is the beautiful swimming pool, a long dining table to host lunch and dinner, and a grand fire pit for evening gatherings around the fire, as well as then three bedrooms.

Each villa is different from the other, but the key is selecting your venue depending on the experience you want to have and how many people you are with. My personal opinion, the first villa is very romantic between the view and all the small spaces, it’s perfect for a couple’s weekend. The second villa is more suitable for a weekend with friends or family with kids, where everyone can run around and enjoy the huge spaces, sharing stories at night around the fire.

Front view of the lower villa

A very important thing to highlight are all the services offered that come with the villa, which I believe are a key part to the overall experience:

A private chef: Prior to your arrival, you will receive a list of the different kinds of “feasts” as they call it that you can pick from. This includes breakfast, lunch, sunset aperitif, and dinner/BBQ. Each feast comes with a starter, main, and a dessert, and I can testify that the portions are very generous and it is totally worth it. The food was delicious and among all the options provided, there are really enough choices to please everyone.

We decided to cook our own breakfast because we are not big eaters in the morning and we didn’t want to waste food, but if breakfast is your favorite meal of the day, it is a must-try—the selection will definitely satisfy your cravings.

We opted for the Mediterranean feast on our first night, which was a mix of homemade tabouleh salad, tasty beef and lamb kofta, flavorful beef lasagna, hot bean soup, fresh garden salad, and a delicious homemade yogurt cake. Honestly, it was delicious and such a pleasant surprise, we could not even finish the food and had leftovers for the next day.

For our lunch on day two, we opted for their “summer snacks” offer, which consisted of a delicious homemade pizza, a fresh pasta salad with vegetables, and a delicious watermelon & goat cheese salad.

Summer Snack feast from Parallel Chef

Later for sunset that day, we tried their “Apero” selection, which included a selection of international cheeses, some fresh fruits, and a frittata. Again, everything was delicious and we could not finish it all.

A Hot stone sauna by Oasis and cutting-edge cold-plunge technology by Optima: Both are brand new, in pristine condition, and ready for you to enjoy at any time. After a relaxing day by the pool, an energizing morning workout, or a peaceful yoga session, you can simply head over to experience the ultimate in relaxation and rejuvenation.

Massage treatments: These are available upon request, offering you a truly relaxing and indulgent experience. All you need to do is inform them ahead of time, and they will go out of their way to carefully arrange everything for you, setting up all the luxurious details and necessary items right in the comfort of your room, ensuring a completely hassle-free and soothing experience.

A projector: For movie nights, this can be set up in the living space or your bedroom, available anytime—day or night—with access to Netflix or other streaming apps. It’s paired with a state-of-the-art speaker system to elevate the experience. It’s the perfect way to unwind and end your day, enjoying a cozy movie after dinner.

I loved making use of it as well while cooking dinner, feeling at home in your own living room on a Sunday afternoon cooking family dinner.

Fire pit experience: This is exclusive to guests staying at the lower-level villa. It’s a fantastic way to gather with friends and family, especially the kids, creating lasting memories. It’s particularly enjoyable during the winter months when the evenings are a bit cooler, adding a warm, inviting touch to your stay.

If I had to sum up our experience, Parallel really embraces the idea of bringing people together—whether it’s for sharing moments, ideas, or memories. It offers guests a peaceful space to relax and recharge, not to run away from life, but to make it even better

Sunset on Taal Lake

Finally, yet importantly, from Manila on the way to Parallel, you can easily make a trip of this stay and include a few stops for some fun activities. Here are some suggestions:

• Casa Luisa: Perfect for breakfast or lunch. Dinner is also available, with pre-arranged reservations required. San Pedro, Laguna.

• Fun Farm at Sta. Elena: A fun ranch to visit with kids, opportunities for feeding animals and horse rides, carabao rides, and many others. Sta. Rosa, Laguna.

• MidCentrury Manila and OMO Furniture: Inspiration can be drawn from every visit of these design spaces. Biñan, Laguna.

• Mando and Elvie’s: Only 5km away from Parallel is a food hall serving Filipino food and offering sweet delicacies for purchase.

• J Castles: A new virtual reality theme park near Parallel. Tanauan, Batangas.

• Hidden Valley Springs: An enclave of natural pools, hot and cold springs with waterfalls. Calauan, Laguna.

• Kayak Philippines: Experience kayaking or paddling with a stand-up paddle board in Taal Lake. Tanauan, Batangas.

• Plant Shopping: Nearby, I can guide you to the nearest plant nurseries. Tanauan has one of the most fertile soils in the Philippines, and much flora abounds.

And for the foodies like me, I added a pit-stop each way for a nice lunch in Tagaytay:

The Fatted Calf offers a farm-to-table concept. They just moved to a new location, an old house that was renovated with a beautiful garden, and you have the option to sit inside or outside. They take pride in using only locally sourced ingredients, and the chef regularly collaborates with farmers and producers to create the menu. Their goal is to honor the creator of everything, the soil, and the hard work of the farmers.

For starters, we had their homemade duck liver pate, which I love, and their deep-fried Kesong puti, both delicious and served with crostini on the side. Then we followed with a local cheese & homemade smoked salmon salad, freshly picked from the garden and in a very generous portion, and their beef Ruben sandwich with homemade focaccia bread. We had no more space for dessert, so we took away a slice from my favorite Buko Pie (local coconut) which was even better a few hours later at home.

Address: Tagaytay - Nasugbu Hwy, Tagaytay, 4120 Cavite

Homemade smoked-salmon salad from The Fatted Calf

Mrs. Saldo is an artsy little heaven and is the home of Chef Rhea Rizzo. It is located in the middle of beautiful greenery surrounding the restaurant, which really feels like you are entering into someone’s living room filled with artwork, books, and objets d’art.

Her food relates to her travels, inspired by many places around the world from trips throughout Southeast Asia, dishes from her mother-in-law’s home city of New Orleans, and South American touches highlight her love for spices and Mexican cuisine. There are vegan options as well, with a colorful menu designed to play with plant-based dishes.

And I assure you, everything on her menu tastes as good as it looks!!

Upon entering the property, you will be welcomed with a small coffee shop at the entrance of the garden where you can sit for a matcha and a pastry while enjoying the nature. Slowly make your way to the main dining area while cruising through the trees, where you will find several small hidden cozy corners to dine and enjoy a chill afternoon. In the middle of the garden, you might notice a beautiful standing red door, the Cellar, where Chef Rizzo keeps her wine collection.

For lunch or dinner, this is a must-try in Silang. Mrs. Saldo’s never disappoints and you will always leave with a memorable dining experience which will only make you want to come back for more.

Address: Silang, Cavite

Mrs. Saldo's garden table

I would recommend staying for two nights because just one night is not long enough to really experience what the villas have to offer. If you love to cook as I do, I suggest bringing some food along and planning to cook one dinner. It’s a great setting to cook a meal for your loved ones and the kitchen is perfectly equipped. Note that there is no big supermarket around so it’s better to really plan for your groceries ahead of your arrival and bring everything you might need along, including beverages, as they only provide the food part of the “feasts”. I strongly suggest bringing along a book you have been wanting to read for the longest time and making it your goal to finish it before the end of the trip—I did so and it was such an achieving feeling!

Wifi is available on site and working well however there is no TV only the projector, so download your series if you plan for a day of streaming.

Just take note that the property does not allow karaoke sessions, bringing of pets, smoking inside the rooms, and cooking of fish.

For more inspiration and insider recommendations, visit our Philippines page.