From the main highway of Lacson St. in Mandalagan, I turned on a road going towards Villa Valderrama. Before the entrance, my fellow blogger, Mea, told me to park underneath the canopy of trees and pointed me towards a small entrance at the side of the street. “Is this the Welcome Home Foundation Natural Garden Caf茅?” I asked. She informed me that we would be entering through the garden as the caf茅 is at the other end of the lot.
Excitedly, I immediately took snapshots of plant boxes and vegetable beds – lettuce, romaine, tarragon, spring onions, and a lot more. We walked a short trail towards a corner where people were converging. It was an open air area, about six tables on gravel and covered by a roof.
Lourdes came out from a small bungalow and greeted us. She pointed us to a green chalkboard where the menu for the day was posted along with its corresponding sign language. While diners were busy with their lunch, we chatted a bit, asking Lourdes various questions before we decided to settle in one of the tables and give our orders. As we went along, their US Peace Corps volunteer, AJ, joined us as we exchanged ideas and concepts.
I glanced at the Welcome Home Foundation, Inc. (WHFI) logo on Lourdes’ shirt and pointed out聽that it was founded in 1986. In fact, they would be celebrating their 30th anniversary next year. WHFI was founded by Fr. Joseph Coyle, SSC and Mrs. Salvacion Tinsay. The main thrust of the Foundation is for the聽education,聽ministry聽and聽outreach聽for the deaf and their families.
Their core strength is with their pre-school education. But they also have a youth literacy program and various trainings, like cookery and massage, in partnership with TESDA.聽 WHFI partners with different organizations, institutions and private companies for the development of their programs that will help their beneficiaries. They also encourage the parents of their deaf and mute students to learn sign language.
I was really excited about their program because when I was working in Hands On Manila Foundation, we also had projects for the deaf-mute and I even learned a few words and phrases in the Filipino Sign Language (FSL). When I also handled the PR of Jollibee soooo many years back, I remember that they’ve been encouraging the hiring of deaf-mute applicants.
As we were chatting with AJ and Lourdes, we touched on the continuous need for support for the deaf-mute community, financially, socially and mentally, particularly here in our province. Not many are aware of the plight of this聽community and there is still a gap on the basic understanding of the special needs of those who are deaf-mute. There are still so much to be done to help these individuals cope and fit in.
The Caf茅 was established as a training facility for its deaf students and staff. It wasn’t meant to gain profit so the dishes only cost P50 or less (about USD 1.10 or less). The menu was developed by its volunteer, German chef Ella Richster. It endeavors to serve, as much as possible, organic or naturally grown products. That was the purpose of the garden in the compound. They have a two-week menu wherein they only serve limited dishes per day that vary daily in a two-week period.
That day, a Thursday, we had grilled chicken leg with banana flower or heart (“puso” in the local language) salad, banana chutney and rice. We also tried their Puso Wrap with tomatoes, bell pepper, mayonnaise and lettuce and their mango banana smoothie. For dessert, we had their pumpkin pie and local coffee with milk.
And though we were invited to try their food, we felt that the price was too low. Instead of paying for our food, we decided to drop, as our donation, a fair amount of the value we ate in their tip box located at the bar.
We finished our lunch sated with good food and a lot of hearty talk. We will definitely be back in the Welcome Home Foundation Natural Garden Caf茅. See photos of our visit there through this link. For reservations or advanced orders, feel free to call 0927 816 8757聽or聽034 441 2031. For more information about WHFI and their caf茅, including their menu, visit their website http://whfi.ph.
I was going to say that the dishes are priced really low ( you’d rarely find meals at P50 ) and I would do the same thing that you did. Bless your heart for your generosity. I would definitely visit Welcome Home Foundation Natural Garden Cafe and I’ll try the Puso Wrap + the smoothie.
I really hope more people can support their foundation. I have told friends that when they visit Bacolod, they should go to the natural garden cafe.
The food is so affordable and yet it looks really good. It’s nice to know that they are also supporting a foundation. That’s awesome and admirable!
The price is good, the taste is good, the ambiance is good, and the cause is good. 馃檪
I cannot get over how affordable the food is! Would love to visit here soon! We need more places like this in Manila 馃榾
There are many affordable eateries here in Bacolod. 馃檪
Wow, the prices are really low considering everything is organic. By the looks of your orders, each meal would be sulit!!! Definitely going here when I get the chance to go to Bacolod
Please do and please share this place to your friends, too!
This is one of those places which make me want to “go back to basics”! Love the natural feel!
I feel you. It’s good to eat food that are fresh and not too commercialized.
I like the garden setup and the outdoor feel. The prices are reasonable and it can really be refreshing eating here.
Not to mention where the money goes, which is to help their cause.
Great advocacy for the benefit of the deaf and their families. Their prices are so low, you even feel you need to give them more. You have a good heart.
I told them that they can increase the price to include a donation to their programs.
looks like a very simple, no frill kind of cafe/eatery. not sure about the exchange rate, but organic or naturally grown food produce should be much more expensive, no?
It should be expensive, as we’ve expected, but the meal is just a little over USD 1.
Totally love the way the restaurant is inside the garden. I always love the restaurants that have nature wrapped all around like roof top restaurants, garden restaurants, valley or sea view restaurants etc. This is so gorgeous… The food is very appetizing as well!!!
The fresh air adds to a wonderful ambiance. 馃檪
You made me want to go there. I wonder if the place is big and if it can accomodate many people. Do they have a website so I could dropby? I would love to be part of their outreach, back when I was in college we do outreach in our organization.
The place is quite small. I have left their website in my blog but I’m providing it here as well — http://whfi.ph/
Here’s the Facebook page of the Natural Garden Cafe — information is updated regularly:
https://www.facebook.com/naturalgardencafe/
Wow, the prices are very affordable and the food looks delicious. Although the place is a bit small. But having nature around you is a plus. 馃檪
Yes, it sure is a plus. 馃槈
wow! i saw the pictures and now i think im craving. checking your review i think i really want to visit this palce now. i hope i get to eat in here one day.
When you visit Bacolod, please drop by this place.
The menu board looks cute. I love the cafes who keep a menu of day option for the customers.
It’s also a good way to practice sign language.
is there a sign so you know which road to turn (right?) from lacson st?
I can’t remember a sign though. It’s just the sign for Villa Valderrama.
It is for a good cause. Prices are incredibly well-priced. So I guess anyone eating there should drop something (donation) to help out.
Wow, food is well-priced! And this is in Bacolod, whoo gonna visit this soon!
I love the concept and the place looks really relaxing.. i think this is a kind of place that will make your stomach full yet you will leave without the feeling of guilt because you know the fact that you ate nothing but healthy meals and the prices are surprisingly affordable too!
This is definitely worth visiting!
Such a very relaxing place! Having greens and fresh air around provides calmness to every visitor! Food looks appetizing as well 馃檪
i love the concept of a resto inside a garden. looks so refreshing. would like to try the foods too!
Great find! Affordable and looks relaxing to dine in. Would love to try the puso wrap. 馃檪
Wow probinsyang probinsya! Sarap naman jan!
It is! Fresh air, fresh food, and not everything is rushed. 馃檪
the mango banana smoothie looks flavorful though.. so its a cafe for a cause? interesting…
Yes, it is run by a foundation and the original intent was for their deaf-mute beneficiaries to have a venue where their skills can be honed.
This is awesome. The place looks fresh and it’s for a good cause too. Thanks for sharing 馃檪
Bacolod is the best for their food. Plus the prices are inexpensive! 馃檪
This looks so great!! Deliciousness in a wonderful ambiance!! And the best thing is you get all these in such a good price!! 馃檪
I love the “probinsya feel” of this cafe with all those greens, bamboo furniture and “dahon ng saging” placemats. hehe So relaxing. Hope we can try this out.
The prices of food and drinks in Home Natural Garden Cafe are very affordable but where is this in Visayas? I think there’s the same place in Lucban, Quezon, a cafe within an garden of organic plants.
Php 50 for such a place like that is wow! In Manila, you can eat 1 rice and meal for Pho 45-55 but the service and ambiance is way different ( in some instances, may libreng hepa pa)