long, yet scenic, drive finds you in the heart of historic Quezon province. Here, nestled between emerald rice paddies and swaying coconut trees, is the expansive Casa Esperanza, the weekend home and lovechild of famed architect Conrad Onglao and partner, the “Divine Diva”, singer Zsa Zsa Padilla. “When we purchased this place, nobody really wanted it because the terrain was not flat and very difficult for agriculture,” explains Onglao. “But that’s precisely why we loved it. The gentle rolling slopes, the forest—we really wanted to embrace the natural landscape and build around it.”
