The story behind Qalmara Lifestyle Resort is one woven by friendship, gratitude and trust.
This started in the 1990s when Gen. Cesar Fortuno was travelling from Manila to Camp Capinpin in Tanay, a sleepy mountain town.
As his military convoy was going up the circuitous and deserted road, they found a car that had fallen into an embankment beside the road. After approaching the vehicle and seeing that there was someone inside, Fortuno immediately called for assistance to have the passenger airlifted by a helicopter to Manila.
The person he rescued was Gen. Agustin Marking, a World War II hero. Upon arriving in Manila, Marking was immediately given medical care and survived the heart attack that caused him to steer his car off the road. Recognizing what Fortuno had done to him, he gave a large piece of land to his rescuer.
Fortuno had a close friend named Col. Lito Santos, his mistah in the Philippine Military Academy. They treated themselves as brothers even after graduation. As the area of land that was given to him was large, he offered a portion to Santos. The two of them eventually built their own rest houses that they enjoyed with their respective families for several years.
As years went by, going to Tanay became arduous for the two friends who were growing older. Fortuno then decided to give the rest house to his son, Dr. Edwin Fortuno who was intent to make it look aesthetically better. Seeing that the new owner was intent on improving the property, Santos sold his half to Doc Edwin’s Qalmara Lifestyle of Health Corp., a company formed by friends who have been together for decades through thick and thin.
It is a mixture of physicians, a nurse and a businessman. This unusual combination of backgrounds has made Qalmara Corp. develop swiftly because each member harnessed his unique talent to contribute to the growth of the corporation. Qalmara is driven by a group of friends impassioned with a common goal – to make Tanay a top tourist destination.
They built Qalmara Resort on a 15-hectare property which is now open to a select number of guests who want to enjoy clean and green surroundings. The temperature is often cool at Qalmara even during summer. It gets to be chilly during the afternoon up to the early morning.
Vistors wake up to a magnificent view of the mountains of Sierra Madre, Laguna de Bai and the windmills of Pililla, Rizal.
Qalmara is rising as a lifestyle resort. Aside from accommodation, it will have a spa where one can get relaxing and therapeutic massage, a gym for health buffs, natural grounds for camping and bonfires, a chapel, cafes, restaurants, conference rooms, organic farms and more.
