Wency Cornejo's Fourth Visit: A Pickleball Weekend

Mr. Cornejo is one of the well-loved voices of Filipino music. As the vocalist and principal songwriter of the band AfterImage, he gave the country songs that many of us still know by heart, among them "Habang May Buhay," "Next in Line," and "Mangarap Ka." His work as a solo artist followed, including "Magpakailanman," the theme of the television program hosted by his mother, the broadcast journalist Mel Tiangco. To have an artist of his standing choose to spend a weekend with us is a privilege we do not take lightly.

The Celebrity Pickleball Tour brought a group of well-known personalities to our courts with a simple purpose, the one written on the tour's own banner: play together, stay active, have fun. Pickleball has a way of putting everyone on the same footing, whatever their age or experience, and we were glad to see our courts used in exactly that spirit.

After the weekend, Mr. Cornejo shared a kind message about his stay: "Had such a fun weekend with the Pickleball Stars at the fabulous #RanchoBlanco in Batangas." He also wrote, with good humor, that a fourth visit was still not the charm for his ailing knee, and added, "pero tuloy lang ang recovery para sa pickleball." The recovery continues, for the love of the game.

We were touched by his words, and even more by his decision to be with us while still recovering. It is a reminder of what we hope Rancho Blanco can be for our guests: a place worth coming back to, not only for its courts and grounds, but for the time spent in good company.