LOCATION: MUNICIPALITY OF BAUKO, MOUNTAIN PROVINCE, PHILIPPINES
Enjoying the scenic infinity pool of Iyaman Farm Resort
Iyaman Farm Resort is a mountain resort located in Sanguan, Barangay Bila, Municipality of Bauko, Mountain Province, Philippines, a more famous neighboring municipality of Bontoc. It has a distance of 39 kilometers or 1-hour 15-minute drive from Bontoc, 119 kilometers or 4 - 6 hours drive from Baguio City. Iyaman is word in the local dialect which means "thanks for coming!".
A hobbits house accommodation type in the farm resort
The resort was conceptualized and made into a reality out of necessity and was just converted to a farm resort. This happened when its owners spouses Danny and Marjorie Balance escaped the Manila during the pandemic time around 2020. Mr. Balance, is a junior high school teacher of Santo Tomas University in Manila who with his wife and two children decided to stay in the farm in order to escape the threatening spread of Covid 19 virus in the Metropolis Manila. In here, they can grow organic food in this farm to help them sustain their need for food in a daily basis as they continue to observe the pandemic protocols. In November 2021, he converted this farm into a resort and invested a rapid development in terms of its facilities in order to cater the convenience of their growing clientele.
The trail heading to the farm resort
I came to know this place when I availed a Seven Peaks of Bauko climbing package from the organizer, Dr. Ericson Ranchez and by that time one of their three tour guides was Angela Andrada. It was thru her that I was able to get some information about the resort. So, after the climb, I returned again to Barangay Bila this time to finish Seven Peaks of Bauko climb, where by that time of our climb, it rained so hard that we only able to climb 4 peaks by that time.
With my Seven Peaks of Bauko climb guide, Tom Sudaypan
The resort served to be my accommodation before and after my climb. Since it is a part of the Mountain Province, it is really cold here. It was freezing cold when I had a later afternoon swim at the infinite pool.
The picturesque amenities of the resort
The farm resort is indeed manicured but the natural pine forest setting has been maintained. Most of the food served for the guests were organically produced.
The Cafe and souvenir shop
The original and main building serves as the cafe and souvenir shop. This is the house that was originally constructed by the owner couple. In the cafe, guests can order their food as there is no other restaurant near it.
