A wellness sanctuary that offers healing of body and soul: Part 1

BEFORE going to The Farm at san Benito, I had to complete a form which asked what my reason for going was. I ticked the box that said “stress management.” By my second day at the holistic health and wellness sanctuary, I was so relaxed that my blood pressure was at 110/70 from my usual 110/80 or 110/90.

But that’s getting ahead of the story. We traveled for a little over two hours from Fairview in Quezon City to The Farm at san Benito. When we got there, we had to take an Antigen test. I also went through an overall health assessment.

We had lunch at Alive! where we were pleasantly surprised at how tasty the food was considering that this was a vegan restaurant. But then, Alive! has received a number of international awards in recognition of its exemplary cuisine.

The food preparation and cooking methods at Alive! make sure that the food retains the optimum amount of enzymes and nutrients needed by the body. For instance, fresh fruits and vegetables are prepared raw or blanched so there’s still a lot of crunch there. The restaurant’s food preparations include dehydration and fermentation. These methods enhance proper digestion, absorption, and nutrient utilization.

For lunch, we were treated to a five-course meal that included Buffalo cauliflower wings, fresh spring rolls, and Pad Thai. For dessert, we had pecan chocolate pie. Everything was delicious and filling.

After checking in at one of the Garden Villas, we explored our surroundings. Our villa was near the spa, the playground, and the 300-year-old mango tree where peacocks congregated in the evening. This tree is believed to be an energy vortex that brings positive energy and good health.

After resting for a bit, it was time for my first treatment, which was the Purification Treatment designed to improve the metabolism and repair cell damage. You lie face down on massage bed and then your whole body is massaged with a wonderful mixture of warm coconut oil and salt for 90 whole minutes. After the therapist is done with your body, she tackles your face and scalp. This may be TMI but before I came to The Farm, I had some scalp irritation but I swear it’s now gone, thanks to that invigorating scalp massage. The scent of the coconut oil was very comforting and brought back memories of my childhood.

After the treatment, the therapist told me to take a shower using soap or shampoo, and let me tell you that advice was worth following. My skin was so silky even the following day.

I truly enjoyed the massage but really the benefits of taking three days off were precious. There really is something magical about The Farm—from the peacocks and peafowls to the small ponds around the property, all helped to heal body and soul.

I have always wondered why people referred to wellness retreats as healing. I thought it was boring to go on such retreats. Well, I was wrong. I wish I had gone sooner. The Farm at san Benito encompasses over 50 hectares of lush greenery. When you look out the window of your villa, all you see is green and, if you’re lucky, a peacock or peafowl jumping over the fence. Our villa had an outdoor shower and tub and as someone who grew up in the province, it was really like going back to my childhood.

For the first time in over two years, I got to go around maskless.

The Farm at san Benito uses a multi-modal approach against Covid-19. It has onsite Covid-19 testing for guests. employees at The Farm are also required to undergo swab testing every week. All facilities at The Farm are sanitized by Sanivir Smoke, which is proven by international laboratories to effectively eliminate all types of viruses, including the coronavirus, on surfaces and in the air. The Farm is also the first in the country to use Betterair solution that disperses environmental probiotics in all its enclosed spaces to create a clean, pathogenand allergen-free healthy indoor environment. The Farm was certified by the Healing Hotels of the World with a Healing Certificate and safety seal from the Philippine Department of Tourism and World Tourism Council.

It’s no wonder that celebrities like Daniel Padilla, Kathryn Bernardo, Sofia Andres, Sarah Lahbati, Sofia Andres, Nadine Lustre, Gabbi Garcia, Khalil ramos, and many others stayed at The Farm during the pandemic.

earlier in the year, The Farm unveiled an expansion in the property’s development.

Chemist, entrepreneur, and philanthropist Pinky Tobiano is the first homeowner at The Farm’s Mahogany Luxury residences. This is an elegant villa that can accommodate seven persons. The 281-sqm villa has a two-bedroom suite with a spacious living area and dining area.

The villa is built amid a natural forest grove hemmed by verdant foliage and overlooking the majestic ridges of Mount Malarayat.

Next week, we continue on our journey of healing in The Farm ....