San Remigio, Antique

You know that saying that sometimes what you are looking for is right in front of you but you were too busy looking someplace else that you never noticed? This is that story. Well, sort of.

See, a couple of years ago, our grandmother gave each of us apos a piece of farmland. I guess at the time, we were all busy with our own lives that we never really took the time to even check it out. The caretakers would deliver our share of the produce and that was that. I remember I asked my mom once to send me pictures of the place but her pictures were meh so I didn’t take interest.

But then 2016 happened. The world turned upside down and the prospect of a developed farm suddenly seemed like a great idea to shield ourselves should the global economy go any crazier. And so I booked a quick trip home and scheduled a visit so we can check out the place and plan out improvements.

Our farm is in a town called San Remigio in Antique. We had to go on a five minute hike from the main road where we parked to get there. But even before we arrived, we were already welcomed by these amazing mountain ranges that served as a breathtaking backdrop to the entire area. It was so gorgeous that I was fervently wishing that the same view would be visible from our property. I thought that a mountain cabin would be perfect if I could wake up to this every morning.

And blimey it was! I had a perfect spot picked out under a tree that looked out to an amazing view of the mountains.

The last time that I ever was in an actual farm before this was when I was a freshman in high school. I fell in the mud so deep that I could not get my shoes out. I never went back after that. I guess I decided then that farms and I don’t mesh well so I was not looking forward to going when we did. Man, was I glad that we got to go anyway.

See, we would always travel around the country looking for a place with the perfect view whether it was a weekend hike in Batangas to see Taal Lake from above, driving around Camp John Hay in Baguio, or a tour of the majestic mountain ranges of Batanes. Little did we know that we had a little bit of all that in our province. And though the place was not immune to the scorching summer sun, as evidenced by my toasty sunburn, I was told that it can get foggy and cold from October to February. The topography in fact is so close to that of Baguio that neighboring properties are able to grow strawberries.

After we were done gushing over the view, we spent the rest of the morning huddled with the farmers. I stressed that we needed more trees everywhere. (Side note – how do I ship pine tree saplings to Antique?) We checked out the local crops, visited the farmers’ homes, and made plans on what and where to make improvements over lunch.

Away from the rest of the world, it is easy to forget the troubles of the city when you are here. It is a place where everything that you need is provided by the land around you. You harvest the crops, grow some livestock, you sell what you do not need and you are set for life. It is mind-boggling how some people who have the option to be in places like this prefer to live as vagrants in the city instead.

For city dwellers, this is an ideal place to recharge your depleted chi (I know! I just finished watching Iron Fist on Netflix 😂). I think I can only last approximately two days max without internet connection but hey, that should be ample time for an R&R.

If you are passing through Antique, make sure to give this place a visit. It is about 30 minutes away from the capital town. Renting a vehicle is advisable as public transport only come here during the day and through the main roads. In the same area not ten minutes away, there is a strawberry farm that is open to the public, a tour of the local caves and forests that feature the Rafflesia Arnoldii also known as the world’s largest flower, a newly constructed zipline attraction, and the famed rice terraces similar to the one in Benguet.