Batangas Chicken Farm Turned Award-Winning Resort

Key Facts

Kilyawan Farm Resort is an Architecture Honoree at the NCCA Haligi ng Dangal Awards 2026.

It sits on an 8.5-hectare former chicken farm in Ibaan, Batangas.

Two old chicken coops became the reception building and guest cabins.

It was Highly Commended at the World Architecture Festival 2023.

It's about 90 minutes from Manila via SLEX.

Plot twist: your next weekend getaway used to be a chicken farm.

Kilyawan Farm Resort in Ibaan, Batangas, has been named an Architecture Honoree in the Professional Category of the Haligi ng Dangal Awards 2026. The awards are given every two years by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) to projects that make the Filipino built environment better.

Coops, but make it cozy

The 8.5-hectare property was once an agro-industrial chicken farm. Instead of tearing everything down, Dominic Galicia Architects turned two of the old chicken coops into the reception building and the guest cabins, and kept the trees around them.

Inside, think woven split bamboo ceilings, clay tile floors, clay brick walls and reclaimed wood. Even the cushions and pillowcases are handwoven by local weavers in Ibaan.

Not its first award

Highly Commended, World Architecture Festival 2023 (Hotel and Leisure)
Shortlisted for Best Use of Natural Light at WAF 2023, a first for a Philippine entry
Shortlisted, 2024 Brick Award
Finalist, 2025 Golden Pin Design Award (Spatial Design)

A real working farm

The resort is run by the Ganzon family, who rediscovered farm life during the pandemic. "Kilyawan grew out of wanting to share that experience with others," said Tina Ganzon-Ozaeta, the resort's chief resort steward.

Fun fact: the name comes from the kilyawan, or black-naped oriole, a bright yellow bird you can spot around the farm early in the morning and late in the afternoon.

The farm grows cacao (turned into tablea), golden queen mangoes, bamboo and organic veggies, and raises native black pigs and free-range chickens. A lot of it ends up on your plate at The Courtyard Farm Kitchen.