The Pili Haven
Part of Sorsogon Countryside Tour
After our hike to two of three waterfalls at Zoe’s Resort & Eco-Adventure Park in Bulusan, we again boarded our coaster for the short 9.3-km. (20-min.) drive to The Pili Haven along the highway in the adjoining town of Irosin.
Check out “Zoe’s Resort & Eco-Adventure Park”
The Pili Haven, an agri-eco tourism site operated by Angkie Agri Enterprises, features everything about pili (Canarium ovatum), from its multiple uses to how they were processed and eaten. The pili tree, a low-maintenance crop, is the rarest nut in the world and the Bicol Region’s main produce. It grows in rich volcanic soil. The Pili Haven has a beautiful view of Mt. Bulusan.
Pili tree (Canarium ovatum)
Upon arrival, we proceeded to their Resto Hut where a merienda awaited us. Here, we were all welcomed by Ms. Myra Zandra Navarro-Gestida. The brains behind Pili Haven, she was formerly an OFW working in Dubai who decided to return to the Philippines to take care of her mother who was diagnosed with amyitrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Myra also took over the already established but struggling Vicky’s Pili and Food Products. The enterprise recovered and became even bigger. In 2017, it was awarded as DTI Go Lokal! Top Seller.
Ms. Myra Zandra Navarro-Gestida
Lomi, a delicious and filling comfort food, was served to us was. We also all tried out a delectable array of bili-based delicacies -pili tarts, mazapan de pili and pili macaroons. We were also served their signature kalamansi-flavored lemonada de ricah, a sort of a margarita with Himalayan salt on the rim of the glass.
Resto Hut
Resto Hut also serves s other specialties made with local ingredients that feature pili oil such as spaghetti with oil, panic with pili, and others. They say that actress Heart Evangelista loves going to this restaurant.
Pili tarts
Mazapan de Pili
The place features a nursery for pili, a pili plantation, and a plant for the production of pili oil, pili sweets (Mazapan de Pili, Honeyed Pili, Sugar-coated Pili, Buding, Molido, Pili with Himalayan Salt, etc.), Pili Oil, and pili souvenir items.
An A-frame hut accommodation
Within the grounds is a restored red jeepney. The first jeepney of the owners (Navarro family), it was used this as a transportation in the 1990’s to deliver pili en route to Irosin-Bulusan-Sorsogon.
An Instagrammable spot
They also have cottage rooms for accommodation and several Instagrammable sections for photo shoots and selfies. After our merienda and before departing The Pili Haven, some us shopped for some pasalubong at Vicky’s Pili and Food Products which sells local handicrafts, tea, juices (melon juice, pandan coco juice, etc.) and their other products.
Vicky’s Pili and Food Products
The Pili Haven also has a 24/7 commuters’ restaurant (Rapid Eats and Take-Away) that serves breakfast (spamsilog, cornsilog, mami, etc.), snacks and lunch and dinner (kinunot, ginataang langka, ginataang kalabaw, pork humba, igado, pakbet, chicken curry, pork sisig, Bicol express, tortang talong, kaldereta, pangat na isda, lumpia gulay, sinigang na bangus, paksiw na isda, ampalaya guisado, etc.) for travelers.
Rapid Eats and Take-Away
Arts & Craft Nook
Pili Haven: National Highway, Brgy. Gulang-Gulang,Irosin 4707, Sorsogon. Mobile number: (0939) 907-5325 and (0945) 722-9182. E-mail: thepilihaven@gmail.com. Open 8 AM – 5 PM.
How to Get There: Irosin is located 556.4 kms. (a 12.5–hr. drive), via the Pan-Philippine Highway/AH26, from Manila and 43.4 kms. (a 45–hr. drive), via the Pan-Philippine Highway/AH26, from Sorsogon City.
Sorsogon Provincial Tourism Culture and Arts Office: Ground Floor, Capitol Building, 4700 Sorsogon City. Mobile number: (0968) 624-6279. E-mail: tourism@sorsogon.gov.ph. Facebook: www.facebook.com/sorsogonprovincialtourismoffice.
Irosin Municipal Tourism Office: E-mail: tourism@irosin.gov.ph. Website: www.tourism.irosin.gov.ph. Mobile number: (0977) 382-2298. Facebook: www.facebook.com/IrosinTourismOfficial
Ur Place Travel & Tours: OLV Pangpang, Sorsogon City, Sorsogon. Mobile number (Viber): (0927) 950-3927 (Ms. Annie Gueb). Facebook: www.facebook.com/urplacetravel.