Eclectic escape: exploring Patis Tesoro’s vibrant home in Laguna

This desire to be immersed in nature never abated, even after decades of being based in Manila. “I needed to smell clean air and go beyond the concrete, Western style,” said Tesoro. She also wanted to engage in the practice of permaculture, which adjusts to a specific forest’s ecosystem. “We follow the American way of mass planting bananas and rice. But in between, it’s important to let indigenous crops like lansones and guava grow in their natural habitat,” she explains.

Her return to a more Southeast Asian style is reflected in this San Pablo haven. Immediately, one feels boundaries blurring between the indoors and outdoors, heritage and novelty. In line with this philosophy, Tesoro displays her memories in each home décor item. From lizard-shaped door knobs to recycled vases of ceramic and metal, each piece adding a glimpse of who Tesoro is. “If you look at Southeast Asians, we put four walls over four sticks, nothing fancy,” she said. “People display their unique taste through embellishment.”

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Even the dining table features her explorations of sustainability, with a candelabra formed from her endless supply of bamboo. But Tesoro’s favourite element is the hand-painted ceiling mural that brings ocean waves indoors, transferred from her old San Juan, Metro Manila home.

Outside her private quarters, one sees iconic Machuca tiles spreading from the floors up to the walls. “I got the rejects at half their original price, but they were all in different patterns,” she said. “So I decided to use a carpet system.” The courtyard evokes images of a patchwork quilt, enveloping viewers in a dynamic, warm embrace.

Past the private residence is a series of workshops; Tesoro’s store sits above a bed-and-breakfast. Each guest room is decorated with hand-painted walls that recall scenes of nature both indoors and outdoors, from bouquets in china vases to branches of foliage cascading with fruit. Above the illustrations are intricate dividers with sprawling peacock motifs. These add visual harmony, allowing the cool Laguna breeze to permeate the interior while shielding it from the sun.

For Tesoro, this Laguna escape is constantly evolving. In between exhibitions throughout the country, she conducts lively symposiums with artists of all ages. “This is why I chose to live in a barangay,” she said. “I like to make friends from different backgrounds. Connecting with them brightens this place and makes me happy.”

In her eyes, Filipinos are shifting to a slower pace, seeking a closer connection with the outside world. She extends an invitation to visitors seeking a change from the city —after they make a reservation, of course. “My vision for this area is to encourage creativity, not just in fashion but in all kinds of art,” she says. “Beauty inspires you to try making something new.”

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