Vitalis Villas
A place in the sun
What is regarded as the Philippine Santorini promises travelers radiantly memorable days of relaxation.
WORDS BY ZEAN VILLONGCO
IMAGES BY MAGSY MAGBANUA
I have yet to know an avid world traveler who has never included Santorini as a bucket list entry. Anyone who has ever been to or ever wanted to visit this fabled Greek island in the southern Aegean Sea would, by the very mention of its name, break into passionate effusions and wonderings of picturesque postcard sceneries, of whitewashed cubiform houses and blue dome roofs. It’s a bit of a long and pricey journey though to get from Manila to this iconic world destination, yet travelers in the Philippines need not overextend themselves to experience a dream Mediterranean journey, or be it a genuinely enthralling facsimile of such. Upon a seaside hill along Sabangan Cove in Santiago, Ilocos Sur sits the Philippines’ “Santorini of the North,” Vitalis Villas.
“Basically, what we’re trying to do is to bring closer to the people what is available in the world market,” Dennis Doroja, general manager of Vitalis Villas, explains. “We are the perfect replica, if I may say so, of what you have in Santorini.”
INSPIRED LUXURY, UNIQUE EXPERIENCE
Affording guests elegant, well-appointed accommodations that wholly delight the senses with quaint Greek Mediterranean aesthetics of dove-white stucco interiors, spaciously high ceilings, minimalist furnishings, and sprawling floor plans, Vitalis Villas spin a worldly allure of comfort and luxury. From their Superior and Deluxe Rooms, which already offer wide bedroom layouts and ultramodern bathrooms, to their multiple-bedroom villas with airy living areas, stylish dining spaces, fully equipped kitchens, and some of which come with their own outdoor jacuzzis and private swimming pools, Vitalis Villas may well be considered the most luxurious place to stay in Ilocos.
Developed and operated by ArtStream Hospitality Management Group Inc., and named after Macario Vitalis, a Filipino-French modernist painter who was born in Ilocos Sur and is one of the resort owner’s favorite artists, Vitalis Villas is in itself a work of art, as the resort houses feature pieces from the Philippines’ most sought-after artists, which include Macario Vitalis himself. Within The Parthenon, the resort’s 500-person main function hall and events venue, lined with Ionic Greek columns and adorned with gold trimmings on its white walls, several sculptures by Fred Baldemor, who himself owns a villa within the resort property, are on display. The venue’s glass walls allow the outside cove and blue sea to be a natural backdrop, providing a showcase window to the masterful artworks exhibited within, and to the serene masterpiece of nature displayed without. Other notable artists whose works are housed in the resort are Ben Cabrera and Daniel Dela Cruz.
Dining is also an opulent and exceptional affair at Vitalis Villas. At Petra, the resort’s main restaurant, in-house guests can indulge in the resort’s full board meal buffets of local and international dishes, all while having a commanding view of the resort grounds and of Santiago cove. With food lavishly provided, one could be forgiven for overindulging a bit, just as I have when I tried out new dishes served daily during our stay. There is also, down by the infinity pool, The Snack Bar which serves Western and European comfort food made with local Ilocano twist, such as their Katuray Pizza topped with tomato, anchovy, pecorino and goat cheese, and katuray, which is the flower of the corkwood tree and is a classic ingredient in traditional Ilocano pinakbet. There is also the signature Crispy Pork Belly stuffed with Karimbuya, a cactus-like plant of which the leaves are thinly sliced and seasoned with garlic, pepper and salt. As Chef Dickson Valmeo, Vitalis Villas’ executive chef explains, “We prepare mostly Mediterranean food, but we incorporate local ingredients. We also prepare local Ilocano dishes for our guests.”
Other than basking in the resort’s splendidly distinguishable architectural design and distinctive elegance, lounging either in their villa’s private pool or in the resort’s main infinity pool, taking some time for reflection and meditation inside the resort’s Immaculada Concepcion Chapel, or enjoying some delectable fare in any of the resort’s dining outlets, guests can indulge in other amenities and activities outside the resort’s premises.
Adding uniqueness to the Vitalis Villas experience, there is the Vitalis Hilltop Adventure grounds with its petting zoo replete with an exotic menagerie of llamas, dromedary camels, big horn sheep, Shetland ponies, and zebras. For some adrenaline high, one can ride the 650-meter zipline that runs above the cobalt waters and spans the entire breadth of Santiago Cove. Water sports such as jetskiing, kayaking, paddle boarding and wakeboarding, likewise abound, jointly provided by sister hotel, Vitalis White Sands, which is a free 5-minute shuttle ride away from Vitalis Villas.
FILIPINO HOSPITALITY, MEDITERRANEAN GRANDEUR
With its rooms and villas spread across almost a hectare of relatively steep seaside slope, getting around the resort premises through its almost labyrinthine walkways and staircases can be an exercise, just like things very much are in Santorini. The ready attentiveness of the bell hop crew in loading our luggage onto golf carts upon our check in, and transporting us to our villas, thus came as a much-appreciated service. For all its exterior elegance and stylistic bravura, it is the hospitality and dedication to customer satisfaction rendered by the resort staff that is the heart of Vitalis Villas’ successful operation.
“What differentiates us from other resorts or competitors out in the market is that the people – our colleagues and team members here – are well-trained. Add to this the nature of the Ilocanos being gracious,” Dennis Doroja stated. “Everywhere you go within the property, they’ll greet you with a friendly smile. That’s something that is innate to us here in Ilocos.”
Ana Mendoza, director for public relations of ArtStream Hospitality Management Group Inc., who accompanied and hosted us during our stay in Vitalis Villas, illustrated just how much management emphasizes upon the resort staff the value of good customer service. A jovial and steely heft of a woman, she saw to it that our needs and concerns were competently well-attended to by resort staff members. And throughout our stay, I noticed how she would zealously impart to individual members of the resort crew this customer-centric ethos, instructing and coaching them to be always attentive to and anticipate the needs of guests.
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