Pop diva Kuh Ledesma on making music and managing a resort

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 8) — "Taking a break is as much a need of the spirit as it is of the body" is the mantra of Original Pinoy Music icon Kuh Ledesma, known for her soulful voice, who is now leading Hacienda Isabella resort.

The pop diva joined CNN Philippines' The Final Word on Thursday to talk about how her management of the resort in Indang, Cavite reflects her passion for music and performance.

"It started with a dream to have a farm, dapat maliit na house lang, and then, it just became bigger and bigger. Okay let's raise the roof here, let's extend here. Naging mansion na, and then you know we started building other rooms because friends would come," said Ledesma, the president, CEO and owner of Hacienda Isabella.

Ledesma said after the pandemic, she also performed at the resort, which then became a monthly thing.

The resort has 85 unique rooms for any type of event like team building, weddings, parties, and staycation.

"I have naman people who do the day-to-day [operation] but I'm very involved, even checking the rooms. I tell my girls for example, you better check lahat ng mga details, pati mga ceilings, I check. Ganun ako eh, like to the details…Even the design, yes, I want to know...how much is the food cost, what's the net, syempre no," said Ledesma.

[Translation: I have people who do the day-to-day [operation] but I'm very involved, even checking the rooms. I tell my girls for example, you better check all the details, including the ceilings, I check. That's how I am, like down to the details...Even the design, yes, I want to know the food cost, what's the net, of course no..]

She said that everything that people can see at her resort was born in her imagination of being an architect and her passion for music.

"I like having a place like this where the garden is so beautiful, as you've said, sprawling, and I can also share it with my friends, enjoy a place like this and share it to other people," she added.

Ledesma will have a performance on Sept. 23 at Hacienda Isabella.