As Sta. Elena Golf and Country Estate turned 25, the Tantoco family hosted an intimate lunch celebration (a buffet of hearty comfort food by Gourmet Garage) and a wonderful afternoon in their private sanctuary south of Manila. The gathering was also where Rico Tantoco unveiled his plans to further develop Sta. Elena into a bigger community.

Clockwise from top left: Katrina, Ambassador Tantoco, Rico, Beatrice, and Nena

Rico was joined by his wife, Nena (the gracious lady of the house who is the inspiration of the family), and his two daughters, Katrina Tantoco-Lobregat and Beatrice Tantoco-Reyes to help put into words the next phase of Rico’s vision for Sta. Elena. “We open our home to you today to discover the beauty and serenity of this natural paradise, to experience this space with soul,” he said. With Ambassador Benny Tantoco also present and the first solstice full moon in 50 years happening later at night, it was truly a special day.

A peaceful oasis away from the hustle of the city, the Sta. Elena development was first centered around a celebrated golf course in 1991 by Rico. Soon, the vision evolved into a mission to build a community for families living within the compound that would be a natural sanctuary with rich flora and fauna, open spaces, yet with modern amenities. Sta. Elena has lined up the development of a world-class country club, the expansion of current residential villages, and the creation of new spaces with soul. To bring this concept into fruition, Rico enlisted Katrina and Beatrice to be general manager and marketing manager of the property.

Residents or member of the golf course have access to a myriad of amenities within the estate. The river park and the Big Lake allows people to go boating and fishing. The Banahaw Fairway Park is conducive to fitness activities, while the bike and running trails allow the guest to savour the beauty of the natural environment. Elegant village clubhouses dot the estate where residents can mingle with others or bond with the family. Finally, the Fun Farm is a hit with children, as they are allowed to interact with different animals such as horses, carabaos, ducks, chickens, bunnies, and hamsters.