Time was when rumors of a secret garden tucked in the gentle rolling hills of Tagaytay inevitably sneaked into conversations of Manila’s inner circle on what is new and exotic.  Stories were told in awe and delight about a flower garden planted in “organized chaos” yet soothingly pleasing to the eye, as if choreographed with artistic perfection. And then there is the simple yet incredibly filling country cuisine with fresh and organically grown ingredients from the garden, served in fine tableware that complements the idyllic setting. Then there is Sonya herself with her memories of growing up in her grandmother’s country garden in the Philippines, her life as an expat in Europe and the US, and her dreams of carving out a place in the country where she can live her philosophy on “the art of doing nothing”.

            This was supposed to be Sonya’s private paradise, open only to family and friends and eventually, friends of friends. But after much prodding from all who have enjoyed the country living experience to share with more people what otherwise would have been her retirement lifestyle, she finally but reluctantly relented.  In February of 1998, she opened the doors of her secret garden to the public in time for Valentine’s Day. From then on Sonya’s has been host to a bevy of visitors; the tourist from a far off land who looks beyond the beaten path; the balikbayan looking for a familiar sketch of a memory of home; burned-out city-dwellers seeking respite from the din of the city; and practically anybody who is looking for something different yet strangely familiar. Of course, as a wonderful haven of romance, love blooms in Sonya’s garden like flowers of an eternal spring. Many romantics have found it to be a popular spot to disarm, to court and to propose. Some have even returned to say, “I do.” And with that, Sonya’s Secret Garden earned the reputation of being the worst kept secret in Manila.

            Perhaps Sonya’s most generous gift yet is the opportunity for her guests to stay awhile in her private world thru her Bed and Breakfast facility were one can retreat to a charming cottage of their own.  Families or friends who wish to bond, couples on their nth honeymoon or just the tired soul longing for solitude and a bit of pampering - all have found their way to Sonya’s B&B. And to continue her quest for creating more spaces of serenity, Sonya also opened the SPA, a pampering salon where harried city folks are reminded to be kind to themselves once in a while.

            This website is a tribute to Sonya and her sanctuary which she has kindly shared with us - we who have been touched, soothed, healed and inspired by the unforgettable experience that is Sonya’s Garden. She has once again agreed to break her privacy by allowing us, her friends, to share a part of her world again with those who have experienced it and with those about to discover its secrets.
                                                                                   
                                                                              - Friends of Sonya