Duyan House - The Cradle of Sinagtala 

To operate a bed and breakfast is not difficult for Federico and Frances Pascual, owners of Duyan House. Since starting travelling in their youth way back in the late sixties and up to the present, the couple would stay in a Bed and Breakfast (B&B) accommodations wherever they could, which was popular in the United States or in Europe at that time.

During the mid-seventies when the Philippines hosted the Miss Universe Pageant and the International Monetary Fund Meeting, the government encouraged the establishment of B&B’s in Manila to cater to foreign guests who could not be housed in the then few operating and reputable hotels in Manila. 

The couple who then lived in a 6-bedroom house plus a guest house in the center of Malate, Manila (then a top tourist spot, and only one block away from Manila Bay) answered the call of Government, and, together with a group of B&B proprietors in Manila, formed the first association of B&B operators in the country. This association had its own reception area in the Manila International Airport to cater to tourists who had no hotel reservation.

The couple named their guesthouse “Pension Camille” in honor of their first born with the same name. The guesthouse operated successfully for 6 years until  the couple moved abroad.

When The Sinagtala Farm Resort opened, the couple were again challenged to embark upon another Bed & Breakfast operation, a business they are fond of and knew how to manage. As an investor in the Resort, they volunteered to test the acceptance of the B&B concept within Sinagtala.

The Roots

The foundations of the Duyan House were founded in 2008. This started modestly as the couple were not sure whether the venture would succeed. The first building was a six-room structure with a bedroom and high ceiling serving as the couple’s family room (now part of the dining room with a mezzanine) and five fan rooms. The guests could then use the couple’s small kitchen which then was surrounded by open walkways (now covered with roof). 

To make a long story short, despite the modest accommodation offered and the absence of a swimming pool, internet and cellular phone signal, guests started visiting because of the pleasant environment and the courtesy and hospitality of the staff and a cook that was an expert in the local cuisine.

When the time came to give the B&B its own identity, the couple’s niece suggested the name “Duyan” to reinforce the care offered to guests and capture the essence of the overall relaxing experience of their stay.

Hence, The Duyan House was born and as the flow of guests continued to grow, other guest houses followed suit: Tanawin, Beacon House, Tampay & Labuyo Nest.

Branching Out - Phase 1

In its infancy Duyan was a place where the owner’s friends and family would visit, but through word of mouth and guest referrals the need to share the beauty of Duyan to more guests meant new rooms were needed. From a modest operation of five fan rooms, the first expansion came three years later in the form of what is now the New Wing, adding another six fan rooms consisting of two family rooms and four double rooms. The top floor of the new wing became the couple’s family apartment. Duyan was now an eleven-room operation that could cater to 50 guests.

Branching Out - Phase 2

As new guests arrived and old guests continued to return, Duyan had to expand again four years later. Utilising insights and feedback, Duyan’s next expansion was focused on providing rooms for families and larger groups. Having acquired more land, Duyan again built 6 detached villas adding an additional 15 family rooms each with a capacity of 6-10 guests,

Today, Duyan has 25 rooms on more than one half hectare of land capable of hosting a maximum of 120 guests. All rooms are now air-conditioned on account of the demand of most guests and also in part due to the change in weather and climate patterns. 

Continuously Exceeding Guest’s Expectations

Duyan continues to operate under the Bed & Breakfast culture. It looks to follow the best-practice of B&B operations around the world. 

Being family-owned means we are more homely and less corporate in how we operate. We also put a lot of faith in hiring and developing local talent from the local community as a means to improve their livelihoods, and while we may not offer the amenities of chain hotels, our strength is in providing a home away from home experience in a natural setting that is second-to-none.

We also understand how important it is to strengthen shared experiences between family and friends, hence our goal is to provide an environment where groups, families and barkadas may come and bond in a unique environment.

We encourage our guests to explore Duyan’s surroundings - the walking trails and the river trek which is 15 minutes away or to walk along Orchard Lane to enjoy partaking of the fruits in season. Duyan will strive to give its guests the best in care in terms of cleanliness, courtesy and comfort. Duyan will go out of its way to please its guests and Duyan’s owners and its owners and staff will always be around to assure that they are properly cared for just like being cradled in a “Duyan”. 

Federico C. Pascual - June 2018