As you may all know, Albay is the home of the majestic Mayon Volcano. But there’s so much more Albay can offer. One of which is experiencing the genuine province or countryside life here in the Philippines — fresh air, lush greeneries, calming landscapes, and laid-back kind of living. Fret not as Albay is giving you the farm fever with their most-visited tourist destination nowadays: The FarmPlate and El Miro De Shei Integrated Farm.
FarmPlate | Gabawan, Daraga, Albay
Just five and a half kilometers away from Legazpi Airport lies a laid-back and aesthetic farm where you can just sit back, relax, and enjoy nature’s best. FarmPlate is perfect for those who yearn for a quick getaway from the hustle and bustle of the city or for those who want to reconnect with nature.
FarmPlate was used to be a privately owned farm by Mr. Llaguno, where he initially thought of having this as his peaceful retirement place. Not until a lot of people noticed how aesthetic and beautiful the expansive farm is.
FarmPlate will surely give you a farm fever when you’re in Albay. Imagine waking up in a red barn with a view of the scenic Mayon Volcano surrounded by coconut trees, landscapes, and animals. Ahh, heaven!
It is open every day from 8:00 am until 9:00 pm, and you’re free to explore the whole area with a lot of amenities and activities you can do while you’re in the FarmPlate.
The entrance fee is Php 75 ($1.50) for adults and Php 50 ($1.00) for kids below 12 years old.
You’ll be greeted by a lot of birds chirping here and there, and you can also request to feed them if you want!
Aside from that, there’s a free round of carabao ride, kite flying, a playground, as well as free use of picnic mats should you want to spend an afternoon picnic on the farm.
Not only that, top off your FarmPlate experience by joining the bonfire session every 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm!
The 2.7-hectare farm also houses the tiniest chapel in the Philippines and a unique bathroom called banyo na bato (bathroom made of stone).
Both of them are Instagrammable and pleasing to the eyes. There’s also a lake and a windmill to complete the farm experience.
FarmPlate also has country-themed food stalls named FarmPlate Country Store. You may order rice meals such as barbeques, grilled hotdogs, chickens, refreshments like fresh buko (coconut) juice, halo-halo, shakes, burgers, pasta, pizzas, and more.
For those looking for a place to stay while you’re in Albay, look no further as FarmPlate can be your countryside overnight accommodation!
You may opt to stay in a tent which costs Php 1,600 ($31.50), suitable for two. Or experience staying in the iconic Barnhouse for only Php 1,000 ($20) minimum of five persons, maximum of twelve. Should you wish to stay in the FarmPlate, here are the inclusions:
- Free Welcome Drink
- Free Breakfast
- Full Farm Access
- 24-hour security
- Free use of clean shower area
- Towels and beddings
- Complimentary bath soap, shampoo, toothpaste, and toothbrush
- Free 1 round carabao ride
- Free kite flying
- Free use of bonfire (firewood, marshmallows, and hotdogs are available for sale)
- Free use of barbeque grill (charcoal is available for sale)
El Miro De Shei Integrated Farm | Salugan, Camalig, Albay
The farm fever in Albay isn’t complete without dropping by this seven-hectare farm at the foot of the perfect cone volcano. It is located in a nearby town, around a 20-minute drive from FarmPlate.
El Miro De Shei Integrated Farm created a buzz in social media during the COVID-19 Pandemic. It definitely is a must-visit tourist destination, especially for those who love flowers, landscapes, and gardening.
El Miro De Shei, or “The Look of Shei,” is owned by Mr. Edmiro Dino & Mrs. Sheila Dino. It used to be a sustainable farm for their workers. Little did they know, their love for gardening would blossom a top hit tourist spot here in the Bicol Region. The farm’s entrance fee only costs Php 50 ($1.00) per person, and check out their operating hours:
Monday | CLOSED |
Tuesday to Thursday | 7:00 am – 5:00 pm |
Friday to Saturday | 7:00 am – 7:00 pm |
Sunday | 6:00 am – 7:00 pm |
This farm became a hit because of its wonderful flower farm full of sunflowers, cock’s comb, marigold, and orchids with a scenic view of the ever so beautiful Mayon Volcano.
It’s more than a flower farm, as this farm is home to organic fruits and vegetables like lettuce, cucumber, pechay, kangkong, tomatoes, bitter gourd, string beans, okra, peanuts, sweet corn, dragon fruit, strawberries, and so much more.
Final Thoughts
We need that rest and recreation now and then, don’t you agree? Living in our usual routines where everything is fast-paced and many things to attend to here and there, we definitely deserve a much-needed sweet escape from our realities.
Visiting the FarmPlate and El Miro de Shei Integrated Farm is pure bliss. You can recharge, enjoy mundane things, and have a little getaway with a scenic farm view.
And the farm fever is an experience you definitely must try once you’re here in the province of Albay. As the saying in the picture goes, de-stress and unwind naturally.