Visiting Mimosa before the storm

ANGELES CITY -

Pampanga, the home

province of my mother has

always been close to my

heart. As a little girl, my

lola used to bring me here

during holidays especially

on Holy Week. But as I

grew up, schooling and

eventually work prevented

me from coming here as

often as I used to.

A working assignment, however, sent me back to this province, at

the Mimosa Leisure Estate. This was a couple of weeks before the

Clark Development Corporation (CDC) allegedly took over by force

its premises last Dec. 4.

The state-run CDC took over ownership and management of the

estate last Dec. 1 following the issuance of a writ of execution by

Angeles Regional Trial Court (RTC) Judge Bernardina Erum who

after hearings established that Mondragon Leisure and Resorts

Corp. failed to comply with a Supreme Court-approved compromise

agreement aimed at settling its P325 million financial obligations

to CDC.

Earlier, MLRC president Jose

Antonio Gonzalez who in the

midst of securing an P8

billion foreign loan asked for

a grace period of up to Jan.

15 next year to settle once

and for all overdue debts

consisting of back rentals

and taxes to CDC. His last

ditch appeal, however, was

ignored. On the early

morning of Dec. 4, CDC

officials and policemen stormed the clubhouse of the Mimosa Golf

and Country Club, allegedly pushed and dragged some eight

female managers out of the building while two other policemen

reportedly mauled its finance comptroller Jose Arcilla without any

provocation. The women allegedly suffered bruises and minor

injuries. Gonzalez said the court sheriff Hilario Salvador who was

supposed to implement the court order has given them five days or

until Dec. 7 to stay in Mimosa.

As of this writing, the Montevista Villas is closed. Gonzalez said

the MLRC employes who were hurt from the melee are going to file

human rights violations against the people concerned.

During my stay at the

Mimosa, there were no

indications of coming trouble.

Children biked around the

park as their parents either

stayed at the villas or walked

leisurely around the shaded

wide streets.

It was my first time in the

leisure park and yet my working assignment turned out to be as

memorable and precious as those of my childhood experiences in

this province. One factor was my chance to bring a couple of

friends for this weekend trip. I was booked on a Montevista

2-bedroom villa. Upon seeing it, I was glad I brought along my

friends for it would be too big for me alone.

Owned and operated by MLRC, the Montevista Villas which

started operations in Jan. 1997 are a division of the Mimosa Golf

and Country Club. It is located within the 215-hectare Mimosa

Estate along with the Holiday Inn Resort ClarkField, also an MLRC

property in Angeles City, Pampanga. The estate was a former

residential grounds and golf club for US Air Force officers at

ClarkField. It is easily accessible through a 90-kilometer drive

along the North Expressway from Manila.

The estate is incredibly beautiful. It is surrounded by century-old

Mimosa rain trees and green foliage. Due to its vastness, golf

carts are used to transport guests to and from the estates other

facilities.

For a person who does not know his history, it would be

unbelievable to think that this place was covered with lahar when

Mt. Pinatubo erupted years back. This amazing transformation

could be the reason why Pampanguenos and Mimosa employes

have a high regard for Gonzales who took the risk of investing in

the place at a time when no one would for the place seemed

hopeless.

"Nobody really imagined that Mr. Gonzalez would come up with

something as beautiful as this place. He is really a visionary. What

he envisions in his mind, he makes it happen," said Joy Pena,

membership manager of the Mimosa Golf and Country Club.

Pena and Emely G. Serrano, Montevista Villas public relations

and guest services manager toured us around the estate while

informing and entertaining us with estate facts and even their love

stories. Next thing I knew, we were already talking like buddies

and they were giving advices. It was really fun meeting them. By

the time, we were leaving, we already felt like old friends.

Serrano, who was with us most of the time, brought us to see the

different categories of the 96 Mediterranean-style villas and 38

suites built by J.T. Manosa and Associates and designed by

Almario/Del Rosario. These are the Standard 2-bedroom, Superior

2-bedroom, Superior Executive Suite and Deluxe Executive Suite.

Amenities in the 2-bedroom villas include a living room with cable

tv, guestroom with twin beds, pantry with complimentary coffee

and tea, mini-bar, drivers or maids quarter with separate toilet and

bath, in-room safe and suite bathroom, lanai with game table,

electronic vingcard door lock system and an individual carport. The

Suites, on the other hand, have upgraded furnishings and

additional amenities such as a lounge with desk, toilet and bathtub

with shower, His and Hers sink, IDD/NDD telephone and a covered

carport.

Montevista also has villas designed for meetings and conferences

with complete facilities. Its meeting villa can accommodate 25 to

30 persons while the Hilltop has a seating capacity of 50 to 100.

Montevista guests also have a special golf playing privilege at

Acacia or Lakeview course and a public driving range. Other

services and facilities include a 24-hour room service, laundry and

dry cleaning, Danielli spa, Shiseido Salon, in-villa massage, gym,

swimming pool, basketball and tennis courts, bicycle and roller

skate rentals, Kids central (a playhouse where parents can leave

their kids with trained nannys) and the Club Mimosa.

Serrano said one of the most popular packages or promos that

Montevista guests have availed are their "Cocoon for Two"

Honeymoon package. This for-couples-only special promo

includes an overnight accommodation in an deluxe executive suite,

breakfast for two inside the suite or by the swan lake, bottle of

wine, chocolate-dipped strawberries, personalized souvenir

compact disk containing love songs, aromatic candles, scented

bath and body essences, flowers on the bed and other bedroom

surprises. (To be continued)