Too sad that we weren't able to visit The Villages, also known as the Garden of Eden Restored last December to witness their Christmas Festival. I have been hearing a lot of positive feedback about that event and I regretted a lot. But when my brother-in-law alerted us that The Villages will be celebrating Chinese New Year and Spring Festival, we didn't hesitate to visit a couple of weeks ago.
As soon as we got there and while waiting for the nightly event which is Chinese Parade and Lion Dance (just to mention a few) we explored right away the entire place. Here are our photos.
Upon entering the place, we were greeted right away by the enticing Chinese decors which are in line with the theme. The warmth and hospitality of the people working there were also remarkable. We fell in love right away with the place so we took pictures non-stop.
The Villages features three mansions in blue, yellow and pink. We feel like we were traveling in another country because the design of the houses looks like Europe-inspired.
Our kids really enjoyed running and chasing each other. The landscape is obviously well-maintained and wherever we go, I've seen lots of staffs doing their designated tasks.
We waited for almost two hours to witness the Chinese Parade which is the highlight of the event. But it's worth the wait when they turned on the lights simultaneously with a count-down. The night was so surprisingly magical and we've never experienced like this before. Only HERE!
No idle moments had happened because 30 minutes later, they started right away the Dragon Dance Presentation and Chinese Parade. Watch the full video in my
Instagram post.
One thing that really impressed us was the 3D Mapping show (
video here). They turned off the lights in the area before they started it but we felt secure because there were plenty of uniformed men watching over the place. All in all, the production was impeccable.
An event like this is something you shouldn't miss with your family. We love everything here from the place, people, customer service and foods. Oh yeah, I forgot that they also have food stalls in case you get hungry.
The Villages is located in Tamayong, Calinan, Davao City. It is 11 kilometers from Calinan proper and the road is well-paved and can be accessed easily by small cars or even tricycles. It is owned by Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, founder and leader of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ.
Here are the details of the festival:
The CHINESE NEW YEAR & SPRING FESTIVAL 2019 at the Villages is until FEBRUARY 28, 2019.
Featuring:
Lion Dance Performance, Chinese New Year Parade, New 3D Mapping Show, Lighted Lanterns, and many more...
Village Hours:
8:00 am to 9:00 pm
TICKET PRICES:
P350 for adults
P150 for kids 6 to12yrs old
60 to 64 yrs. old 20% discount if with senior citizen ID
FREE 5 yrs and below
FREE 65 yrs old and up
For booking and inquiries, visit their
Facebook page.
This was indeed the most memorable vacation ever with my family. What I admired about the place is their peaceful community, simple living, green surroundings, fresh air, friendly people and the list goes on and on. I am looking forward to go back there soon.
