There’s a newly opened coffee shop along Aguinaldo Highway en route to Tagaytay. Unlike other cafés in the area, however, Caffè Sant’Antonio is attached to the Rogate Images store, which sells religious images and articles. One can thus enjoy a cup of Caffe al Cioccolato Bianco and, afterward, browse through the shop for meaningful and spiritual gifts to give your loved ones this Christmas.
Managed by the Rogationists of the Heart of Jesus, the shop is the result of their need to provide a wider working space for the production of these religious images. The statues are made of resin, a synthetic, environment-friendly material, and have noticeably softer facial features. Some examples include San Pedro Calungsod, and a “Filipinized” Nativity set, featuring wise men clad in barong Tagalog, carabaos as the Biblical cattle, Joseph in a farmer’s outfit, and Mary’s Filipino features.
Caffè offers a wide range of coffee and tea-based drinks, served in beautiful, handcrafted mugs by Lipa potter Tensie Dimayuga-Bello. They also have various treats to satisfy a sweet tooth, from chocolate-macadamia cookies to Polly’s chocolate cake. Don’t forget to put in an order for the bakeshop’s special Pan di Sant’Antonio, a mouth-watering (but healthy) loaf of whole wheat bread best served hot.
Rogate Images and Caffè Sant’Antonio is open Sunday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-8:30 p.m.; and 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday. For inquiries, call 0917-5545564 (Ruth); or e-mail info@rogate.ph