INTRIGUED by some posts that I saw about a bamboo house and private resort being built by Alec and Celina Le Neindre Vandierendonck, I crossed my fingers and wished I could visit this beautiful house by the sea in Mati, Davao Oriental.
My wish came true when I received an invitation from Tess Villanueva Le Neindre, wife of the late French Chef, Claude Le Neindre, who owned one of the most popular restaurants in Davao City. Tess was celebrating her birthday in advance at the private resort. I was fetched from my house and stayed overnight with the three Villanueva sisters, Sister Virgie, Inday, and Ethel, who arrived on the same afternoon on June 19, 2025.
The noonday celebration was on the 20th of June, although the birthday of Tess was actually on June 28. But June 20 was the birthday of her father, which was a good date for the gathering.
Tess planned for a Hawaiian-themed celebration, just appropriate for us to wear flowers on our heads and dance to the tune of the hula, boogie, Beatles, and favorites of the 60s onwards. Endless dancing after a sumptuous lunch and singing favorite songs made the afternoon fly swiftly, but left unforgettable memories for the 75th birthday of Tess V. Le Neindre.
The highlight of our stay was of course, the hospitality of Tess and her daughter Celina, breakfast by the beach after the online mass and staying overnight at Aman Sinaya, the lovely home and private resort by the sea in Barangay Bobon, Davao Oriental, featured on Tatler Homes Magazine which we would love to visit again in the near future.
