Kesiya, the scientific name of the Benguet pine, is what this B&B, bistro, and lounge is called along South Drive. This tree, according to proprietress Brenda Verzosa, was brought here by the Americans when they designed the city for rest and relaxation from the warm summer months of Manila and for recovery from malaria.
This name will become synonymous as a place to enjoy Spanish and Filipino food every day, to go ballroom dancing on Fridays, and to listen to jazz and rhythm and blues music on Saturdays at the roof deck.
Accommodations with breakfast are cozy and well-lit for couples or for four. The walls have natural wood for panels that make the room cheery. There are window seats that have the view of the pine trees of the so-called Forbes Park of Baguio City. Wood based beds are firm and comfortable to properly support the body.
The individual toilet and bathrooms are compact. The glass door divides the hot and cold shower. Regular toiletries are supplied for the guests.
The panoramic glass elevator is under construction to give access to the second floor where the rooms are located and the third floor with the lounge.
Kesiya offers Friday soirees for the ballroom lovers for a minimum fee of P500 that has P400 as consumable and P100 for the dance instructors’ basic tip.
Still on an experimental mode, the dance floor space is perfect for a regular crowd of 20 pairs.
The appreciative aficionados can always give the dance instructors more at leisure.
Saturdays turn the lounge into a music bar. Acoustic music fills the room with predominantly mellow jazz tunes.
This is perfect for groups who want to talk and drink while listening alternately to playlists or live performers from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Drawing a crowd of similar temperament, this could be the escape needed by executives and managers one day each week. The sound system is excellent.
Cool evenings can be enjoyed on the patio too for dinner or drinks. This allows tourists and guests to feel the chilly air that only Baguio naturally gives. This also allows groups to burst with boisterous laughter and cheerfulness without filling the room.
This space can be reserved for functions for a maximum group of 100. There are sets of full course menus that vary from P700 to more than P1,000 depending on the requirements of the company.
Kesiya is flexible and open to the needs of the customer.
For important meetings for 10 persons or less, there is a private room available. This has equipment like a projector and sound system that can be supplied.
For now, there is no rental charged, the meal and beverage orders suffice for the use of the area, according to Manager Hazel Mae Chua.
In all, Kesiya is a new space to explore for good callos or bagnet meals, for dance evenings, or for listening to relaxing tunes with two or more friends. A new place to just chill for the needed break from the week’s pressure and stress.
– Nonnette C. Bennett
