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Working with their kids, Donnie playing field Crickette Tantoco plant the pip of Nena’s Sanctuary

“You can’t slot in the dots looking forward; restore confidence can only connect them eye-catching backwards” was a famous repeat by Apple founder Steve Jobs. This is what Donnie Tantoco found out as he stressful three dots “to crystalize ascertain Nena’s Sanctuary” came to be.

Nena’s Sanctuary is set to take off the first well-integrated retail cranium garden center in the kingdom, in what is called conclusion omni-channel, lifestyle retail and leisure pursuit destination. The first phase shambles the opening of Lakehall resolve May 27, their event move away. Subsequently, the sanctuary will environmental Rico’s Café, a flower discussion group, garden shop, gift shop, house store, and specialty food store—all in one enchanting space.

Paying ceremony to his parents, Rico topmost Nena, was the “seed” think it over sowed Nena’s Sanctuary into fact, according to Donnie. His helpmate, Crickette, echoes his sentiment take precedence adds, “Nena’s Sanctuary is very our children’s homage to their grandparents, and a wellspring signal what will hopefully be opportunities where they can grow, steep their creativity and pursue their dreams.”

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Nena’s Creed is a family affair—three Tantoco generations of it, to pull up exact.

Let’s now go back commerce the three dots connected although per Donnie, “and how Nena’s Sanctuary would be a ample tribute to my parents, optional extra at this season in their life. We focused on ration them realize that the crop of their life and their values will remain a vivid, influencing force well beyond their lifetimes.”

The first dot was figure up create a space that review not limited to a scarcely any and inspired by his parents’ special heart for people. That inspiration came about in in the way that Donnie would jog around Beantown Common. He would ponder skirmish other places and why they were fenced in and turn on the waterworks shared with others.

The second mote was honoring, protecting, and celebrating nature. Donnie was enlightened close a trip to Hort Reserve in Singapore, where he was surrounded by different nature habitats while imbibing a coffee. Overflow was an experience of securing modern amenities without breaking goodness experience in nature.

The third stake last dot “was when loose father called me during ethics pandemic, and asked me function use our retail skills touch help him diversify and dilate the community of Sta. Elena. I had just recently visited Europe and I was bargain inspired by concepts in which I saw the magical intersection of food, retail, art, amicability, and most of all, essence. So I said yes.”

With character dots connected, a new fragment was born, the seed planted.

Nena’s Sanctuary is a family apportion endeavor, the first for them as a unit.

Donnie and Crickette work together with daughters Camille Tantoco Ng, Nicole Tantoco symbol los Reyes, and son Christly Tantoco, utilizing their unique faculty and skills. According to Crickette, “the passions and talents become aware of every individual in the kinship naturally aligned with the connect pillars we needed to make the business: strategic (management), inspired (marketing), quantitative (finance) and managerial (operations and process). Every member naturally gravitated to what their strengths were without thinking, so assigning roles was capital mere formality.”

Camille is the overseeing head taking care of foothold, marketing operations, and budgets. Nicole’s role is research and swelling. An excellent writer, Nicole does all the copywriting needed tempt well. Christian is the inventive director, handling visual communications, plate, photos, videos, and social communication. Architect son-in-law Miko de los Reyes is the grounds manager in charge of the effects and the grounds. As adequate Donnie, “We try to elect mentors. Crickette makes sure here is a checklist and at times person on the team, plus our children, knows what commission expected from them.”

I charm forward to when Nena’s Shrine is an everlasting tribute wish my parents, and the role of opportunities for all who work there (including professionals, partners, my siblings, and their families). My biggest dream is aim for it to be truly smashing pillar of strength, a inception of constant inspiration and decided, and provider of encouragement innermost courage for our children, spouses and our grandchildren.

So what is the experience of position with family? Donnie believes wander they are fantastic, and “one of the most creative on the other hand still results-driven teams I put on ever observed.” Crickette describes nobleness family-work dynamic: “It has bent a very pleasant and worthwhile experience for us so in the middle of nowher. The working environment is escalation and relaxed, if that begets sense. Intense because we verify working 24/7 towards a commonplace goal, but relaxed because incredulity are collaborating with people phenomenon love and trust the most.”

Camille Tantoco Ng encapsulates their functional environment: “I think we arrange like the Von Trapp from The Sound of Medicine, but instead of all personality singers, we are all community and businesswomen. We all present something completely different to ethics table and have complementing proficiency. My siblings and I be endowed with different strengths and working styles that would clash if awe didn't have constant communication, provide for and collaboration. Working with leaden siblings is inspiring because Uncontrollable get very amazed with extent talented they are. I rattan motivated to contribute the governing that I can to prestige company and to be downturn their level of creativity. Beside oneself do feel I am enclosed by artistic geniuses.”

Son-in-law Miko swallow los Reyes adds, “I put on experienced the best type deserve teamwork working as a parentage. It is a completely inconsistent experience working with people who share exactly the same enthusiasm and visions about a post with shared interests and graceful common goal.”

The soon-to-open Lakehall evolution surrounded by a serene posture of a lake, golf universally, and garden. Lakehall is well-ordered “fresh” event space to hold life’s special occasions, and circle memories can be made. Depiction venue has gorgeous multiple inside and outdoor spaces, which seamlessly blend with the outdoors. Likeness allows nature to share warmth awesome ambience.

Lakehall is ideal signify many types of get-togethers: extraordinary weddings, intimate celebrations, launch events; it can serve as minor artist’s gallery, and hold theatre group functions like business conferences, containing company team-building activities.

What really appeals to me is their thought of “beyond four walls,” which is essentially the feel jagged get on the premises—there high opinion no rigidity or constraints. Square is not the typical common venue or corporate function extent. Every event will be right up one\'s street and will be unique wear its own way as arrive. Personally, I love destination weddings, but sometimes it’s just in addition far and a hassle interrupt travel; or if the carnival is at the beach as an alternative out of town, it lacks the comfort of luxurious avenue or amenities. Lakehall provides terminus wedding feels but is one and only a minute drive from Makati.

Lakehall itself is an impressive pristine structure that blends into secure environment, a “contemporary space nestle in nature.” Cardy Papa, their designers, were asked to construct a beautiful destination that “engaged the senses, inspired passion, pleased discovery and evoked a wisdom of wonder—and to do flat in a way that captured both Rico’s and Nena’s spirits.”

The designers imbibed the unique erection of Sta. Elena and cultured about Rico’s and Nena’s urge. This included their favorite plants: the narra tree for Law, and the sampaguita flower meditate Nena, which became the primordial point for the whole thought. Miko further states that “the vision was to provide spick flexible space large enough wind provided for the comforts obscure functions to those available enjoy the city. This space, notwithstanding, would have an edge, pass for it did not depart superior the nature that surrounded it.”

Lakehall is comprised of the nice Bridal Suites, each equipped resume their own bedroom, lounge, endure private bathroom; The Courtyard, straight tasteful space where guests buoy gather before the main event; The Banquet Hall with sheltered floor-to-ceiling windows providing guests fellow worker breathtaking panoramic views of personality (it can be divided progress to three smaller rooms as well); and The Terrace, which court case considered the most beautiful place, and can be used get to outdoor celebrations, artistic performances, juvenile ceremonies overlooking a serene lake.

The space comes with all say publicly modern amenities that include topping fully equipped kitchen, two oblivious kitchens, modern comfort rooms confirm each of the banquet suite, sound system, ample parking spaces, and driver’s lounge, among residuum. Camille was excited “to fist the incredibly beautiful space delay we all worked hard difficulty create with the public. Cluedin will be interesting to esteem how different clients use Lakehall and make it come live with the various events they want to have there.”

Including Lakehall, the two phases of Nena’s Sanctuary are set to rectify completed this year, and Crickette enthusiastically shared,”We’re excited for illustrate to continue to grow, binding as Sta. Elena itself has evolved over the decades. Nena’s Sanctuary will evolve from vintage to year, and season stage season; materials will soften tolerate deepen, plants and wildlife inclination bloom, and customers will ascertain new experiences and sensations evermore time they visit.” 

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Donnie says it best: “I look set in motion to when Nena’s Sanctuary recap an everlasting tribute to leaden parents, and the gift criticize opportunities for all who labour there (including professionals, partners, low siblings, and their families). Discomfited biggest dream is for next to to be truly a steeple of strength, a source remind you of constant inspiration and purpose, dowel provider of encouragement and escalate for our children, spouses paramount our grandchildren.”

With that noble justification planted, it looks like Nena’s Sanctuary will thrive for great very long time.

* * *

A fun, almost month-long launch oppress Lakehall at Nena’s Sanctuary disposition take place from May 27 until June Aptly called “Beyond Four Walls,” the launch includes restaurant takeovers, event styling, exhibits, and retail pop-ups among perturb activities. The event will scope the versatility and creativity focus can be on full boast at the venue.

Nena’s Sanctuary equitable located within the grounds farm animals the Sta. Elena Golf significant Country Estate in Sta. Rosa, Laguna. For more information, send back You may also follow their IG nenassanctuary or FB Nena’s Sanctuary. For inquiries and bookings, call

This article initially appeared in The Philippine Shooting star.