Manila Bulletin

Getting well in Eden

From floral to fauna, there is a lot more to see at The Farm at San Benito

- Text and images by JOHN LEGASPI

From floral to fauna, there is a lot more to see at The Farm at San Benito

Offering ‘Healing Retreats’ since 2002, The Farm has not deviated from their mission to give solutions for a better life, revitalizi­ng individual­s, and helping guests make healthy choices.

It was idyllic and revitalizi­ng, a place that instantly heals you from the moment you breathe its air. The Farm at San Benito, to say the least, is an Eden, not just because of its beautiful landscape, but because of its people and its mission to enrich people’s wellbeing and state of life.

The 48-hectare grounds of The Farm, as the people working there call it, is verdant.

Grown from the earth

Welcoming guests with delectably healthy selections, from tasty appetizers of grilled mushroom toast and tiny risotto balls to organicall­y brewed coffee, this place is a paradise for green-loving individual­s.

The Farm grows its own supply of vegetables. The banquet showcased the best of The Farm’s agricultur­al produce, all sourced from within the property. The food served in The Farm is surprising­ly filling and flavorful, even without any meat. It was a rainbow served on a plate. Leaves of every shade were tossed for a salad, soft gnocchi made from carrots, tasty pesto pasta, tofu in sweet and savory sauce, and colorful treats such as pizza and rolls that were so good, both for their taste and for your health. The brightly hued organic shots in red (ginger) and green (lime and lemongrass) are tiny glasses of energy booster, adding a zing to your after lunch drink.

The best from man and nature

The Farm is a combinatio­n of natural beauty and manmade aesthetic. The place endorses itself more as a place for wellness than a resort. A magical sight is the gathering of peacocks and other birds at The Farm.

At the heart of property stands an old mango tree, which has been around for 200 years. It is still capable of bearing sweet fruits. The tree must be a testament to the healing power of the place. A staffer says that the mango tree grants your heart’s wishes if you whisper to it. Close to it is the yoga place that somehow mimics a Japanese temple with its miniature trees and ponds. The place is a Zen hotspot, with a breathtaki­ng view of the mountain range. The Farm also features a manmade waterfall.

The fruit of their mission

Offering “Healing Retreats” since 2002, The Farm has never deviated from its mission to give solutions for a better life, revitalizi­ng individual­s, and helping guests make healthy choices.

And The Farm’s newly opened Aesthetic Center is doing just that, promising to diagnose, cleanse, nourish, repair, and sustain.

Top-of-the-line technology helps doctors and patients assess conditions and formulate effective cures. One thing guests can try is the Life Blood Analysis, where with just a tiny dot of a blood, you can assess the state of a person’s health through its flow, color, and present radicals. It can even detect how much tie a person spends on gadgets. Dr. Conrada

Veruasa-Apostol, medical director of The Farm, believes in the institutio­n’s mission of fostering wellness.

The Farm has partnered with top-notch health and wellness centers like European Wellness and CIGNA healthcare through Living Life Well Medical Group. The new Health Optimizati­on Program, Cellular Health Program, Executive Health Program, and Aesthetics Program are some of the things guests can avail of.

A day in the farm ends with a fiery sunset and a spectacula­r performanc­e from the peacocks living in the property. Not a show they advertise, but upon sunset, the majestic birds fly to the air setting a whirlwind of white and blues as their long tails flutter.

There are a lot of magical things to discover at The Farm at San Benito. From its earthly goodness and serene surroundin­g to their attention to vitality, The Farm at San Benito is a farm where you can harvest good experience, love of nature, and ways to build a better, healthier life.

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 ??  ?? THE ZEN SPACE From left: Still standing in the heart of The Farm is the 200-year-old mango tree; Mandala floral arrangemen­t; and man-made waterfalls
THE ZEN SPACE From left: Still standing in the heart of The Farm is the 200-year-old mango tree; Mandala floral arrangemen­t; and man-made waterfalls
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 ??  ?? REJUVENATI­ON Clockwise from top left: Rows of plant beds; Pomelo salad; Organic shots; Fresh salad rolls; The Farm’s Aqua Bar; and chili rellenos
REJUVENATI­ON Clockwise from top left: Rows of plant beds; Pomelo salad; Organic shots; Fresh salad rolls; The Farm’s Aqua Bar; and chili rellenos
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