Philippine resorts among world’s best green places

MANILA, Philippines – In a flurry of international recognition for the Philippines, two prestigious publications, CNN Traveller and Asia Spa, add three more accolades to the country.

The latest online and print edition of CNN Traveller showcases The Farm at San Benito in Batangas as one of the world’s best green places to stay.

The wellness and health resort set amid 48 hectares of coconut palm forest, lagoons and gardens in Lipa City makes it to CNN Traveller’s list of Six Best Environmentally Friendly Hotels in the world.

It is listed number four after Kenya’s Borana Ranch, Belize’s Chaa Creek, and Australia’s Daintree Ecolodge and Spa, followed by Ecuador’s Huaoroni Lodge and Switzerland’s Whitepod.

The magazine, which focuses on conservation, the environment, and local customs is distributed in CNN partner hotels in Europe, Africa and the Middle East, on intercontinental flights of Lufthansa and British Airways as well as on the newsstand in the United Kingdom.

CNN Traveller

CNN Traveller defines the Batangas resort’s traditional Philippine designs of “rice barns and leaf-roofed houses” as environmental friendly.

It cites its use of locally reared produce in its application of a holistic wellness philosophy. It has its own organic plantation that produces much of its vegan food and spa ingredients.

It credits The Farm with employing and training a significant proportion of local staff from surrounding towns.

Before the CNN Traveller feature, there was the prestigious Baccarat Award given by Asia Spa magazine.

Asia Spa

In an evening dominated by big hotel names last November 12 in Hong Kong, the Philippines garnered two of 27 awards voted on by 28 independent judges as best in the region.

Mandala Spa & Villas in Boracay won the Spa Treatment of the Year for its “Hilot Trilogy” employing an indigenous Filipino healing technique in an innovative way.

The Farm at San Benito in Batangas was voted Spa Cuisine of the Year – for the second time (the first was in 2006) – for its organic and vegan gourmet rendition of traditional Philippine dishes, such as lomi, halo-halo and lumpia. –Philippine Daily Inquirer