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  designed everything, from the turnilyo to the bato.”
That's pop diva Kuh Ledesma proudly talking about Hacienda Isabella, her four-hectare piece of property in barrio Carasuchi, Cavite, just a little off Tagaytay. The place, long undeveloped, was recently turned into a lodge for those who'd like to get away from the hustle and bustle of the metro.
The improvements on the property didn't happen overnight. “I was gonna sell this already, about a year and a half ago,” Kuh recalls. “Because nobody comes naman, parang nakatiwangwang lang, sayang.” She confesses that, after buying the property almost a decade ago, she and her family didn't really do much to it: “We started building a house, then we left if for a while,” unfinished. Kasi parang tinamad kami.
It was after she became a member of Christ's Commission Fellowship, seven years ago, that Kuh realized the potential of Hacienda Isabella. 
“When I became a Christian, I realized everything that I have really belongs to the Lord. So, sabi ko, ‘How do I serve God with the things that I have? I realized that in the Christian churches they do a lot of retreats… So it would be a great idea to have a place to go to, but at the same time be able to share it with people.”
Being Kuh Ledesma has its advantages when it comes to promoting her business. Instead of advertising in the usual way, she decided to hold a concert at the Hacienda Isabella last year. She and her only daughter, Isabella, after whom the lodge is named, performed in the courtyard, underneath the stars.
 Despite her demanding schedule (she performs every weekend at the Captain's Bar of the Mandarin Hotel in Makati , as part of her celebration of her 25 th year in the entertainment industry), Kuh tries to visit her Cavite estate regularly.
“I come at least once a week. God willing, sana in another two years we'd be able to complete this project… I'm hoping that I can really leave this to my daughter as a legacy and as something that she can continue for our ministry. It's really a ministry for us.”
This room—located in another villa, within walking distance from the main house—really lets the breeze in, with its high ceiling and with windows on both sides. “This is my favorite room, kasi mahangin,” Kuh says. She and daughter Isabella have named this the Flower Room, because of the various flower patterns found in it.
This solitary daybed (a couch that can be used as a bed) welcomes guests coming from the courtyard into the dining hall, which also serves as the main lobby. The tall windows bring in natural light and at the same time give guests a panoramic view of the rest of the property. 
The main dining table and its upholstered benches take center stage in the dining hall. A huge fireplace in the corner keeps dinner guest warm. Flanking the fireplace are two antique wooden doors with intricate carvings, adding rustic charm to its place.
This is the main guestroom, with a king-size bed in the center of the room and a smaller bed in a corner. The windows look out to the dining hall below and to the garden beyond it. The room's occupants get a good view of the goings-on downstairs. All the bedrooms in the main house are on the second floor. The cool air makes air conditioning unnecessary.
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The eye-catching painting in the second-floor hallway was done by Isabella when she was 14 years old. The proud mama says,” “She has many talents. She writes poetry, she writes music, she paints, she sings, she also likes to cook.” And antique comoda stands below Isabella's painting.
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This lovely bathroom, adjacent to the main guestroom, is adorned in surprising places with antique knickknacks. Note the uniquely designed sink with table legs.
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A magnificent four-poster molave bed, which Kuh bought in Cebu , is the centerpieces in this sparsely decorated bedroom. Note the Spartan white floors.
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Kuh says that appearing regularly on a television show (ABS-CBN's Sunday noontime variety show, A.S.A.P.) definitely has its advantages: “Television is very good exposure. Even the kids know me now who didn't know me before.”
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Another daybed, found in the courtyard, gives guests the perfect place for resting after exploring other areas. The pathway leads to the billiard hall and the entertainment lounge. Fruit-bearing jackfruit trees, or langka, can be found in almost every corner of the property. “We have about sixty na langka.” Kuh says. “We give the fruits away, or we used them as dessert.”
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“I designed the landscaping,” says Kuh of this area. “A lot of the trees we also planted.”
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“It's Mediterranean, parang south of France na villas,” is how Kuh describes the look of her design in the two-story structure and the rest of the units found at the Hacienda Isabella. The façade of the main house reflects her ideas, with all the walls painted in solid white and a turret-like structure added for the veranda.
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This main entrance, which has an unobstructed view of the courtyard, immediately leads the guests to the dining hall. The old wooden bayuhans make unique doorstops.
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Her fans may not be awared of it, but Kuh the great singer is also a gifted designer. “I think that first and foremost the gift that God has given me is really designing,” she says. “That's my hobby. I designed my first house in Mandaluyong, and then my Pasay house, and then the ones in the States that I did, and then this one.” The praise she has received for her work on Hacienda Isabella, Kuh adds, “inspires me more to fix it, to sustain it.”
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Another open structure is this lounging area, with its white L-shaped sofa, matching the colors of the wall and the ceiling. A pair of wooden mortars originally used for threshing rice, known as bayuhan or lusong, adds a native accent to the area. A low wooden bench, with each end shaped like a pig's face, is sure to amuse kids.
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The billiard hall is set in an open structure, with wooden beams giving strong support to the tiled roof. For those who would rather watch than play, there's a cool pair of mismatched seats—an upholstered sofa and a bench.
(For complete details check YES! Magazine July Issue. Now Availale at all Tatak store outlets and websites) -  - 
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