Caroline Sylge proposes an intriguing alternative on the tropical spa scene, venturing to a holistic health retreat nestled within a lush coconut plantation in the Batangas hinterland of The Philippines. This sanctuary offers a unique blend of therapies under the sun, providing a hippy holiday with a focus on spiritual, emotional, and physical well-being.
A Serene Setting for Inner Exploration
I find myself seated in a long pink T-shirt, a giant ice bag perched precariously on my head, gazing out across a pea-green swimming pool at The Farm at San Benito. This retreat is set inside a verdant coconut plantation, offering a green and serene environment conducive to deep relaxation. The patterned turquoise ice bag, reminiscent of a century-old shower cap, is recommended to ease a headache, complemented by mindful breathing exercises.
As I balance the ice bag, I listen to the calming voice of Dr Marian Alonzo, the medical director known as Dr Marie. She analyses my results from Brain Biofeedback, a computer programme originally used by Nasa to treat astronauts. This innovative tool assesses which organs in the body are struggling to cope, identifying the grey area between health and disease.
Personalised Insights and Holistic Healing
In the analysis, numbers two and three indicate optimum function, while five and six suggest an organ is expending significant energy to maintain balance. Dr Marie points to several number sixes clustered around my throat area. While I have an upper respiratory tract infection and am on antibiotics, she offers a holistic perspective.
"Your work as a journalist is straining your throat energetically; the throat area relates to expression and when it is out of balance we suffer," explains Dr Marie, smiling warmly. "You need to portion out your work and spend less time on it, so you can create a feeling of spaciousness around it and not give so much of yourself away." I adjust my ice bag and return her smile, contemplating this advice.
Embracing Energy and Balance
Throughout my ten-day stay at The Farm, terms like "energy", "balance", and "spaciousness" are frequently echoed. Guests visit to de-stress, detox, lose weight, improve fitness, address skin issues, manage heart conditions, or recuperate after cancer treatment. Uniquely, children and even dogs are welcome, though it is a considerable journey from Britain.
All programmes are founded on the belief that health is first influenced by our spiritual selves, followed by our emotional and mental states, and lastly our physical bodies. Despite this holistic ethos, the five resident doctors are fully medically trained, ensuring a comprehensive approach to wellness.
A Journey Worth Taking
The trip from the UK is lengthy, but with Philippine Airlines reinstating direct flights from London to Manila last year, the journey becomes more accessible. From Manila, The Farm is a ninety-minute drive inland. While I initially thought I might miss a beach, the inland setting proved ideal for introspection and genuine retreat.
The landscape is a tapestry of lush green palms, papaya and coconut trees, and a magnificent two-hundred-year-old mango tree with sprawling branches. Stone pathways adorned with bowls of floating flower petal mandalas weave through the resort, while peacocks roam lawns beside a central lake with views of distant, tree-clad mountains.
Activities and Accommodations
One morning, I participate in an Anasura yoga class with Francesca, one of three daily yoga options. During the session, three female peacocks stroll across the stone floor of the amphitheatre, accompanied by a male displaying his vibrant emerald green and electric blue feathers nearby.
The resort features just thirty-three rooms and villas scattered across the plantation. I stay in a Narra Villa, a spacious wooden-floored retreat filled with natural light and an inspiring scarlet oil painting of a yogi. Outside, a private mini pool and an expansive balcony overlook a sun-dappled jungle, where I spend hours on a chocolate brown day bed, listening to the rustling trees and reflecting.
Comprehensive Treatments and Therapies
Fortunately, I avoid colonic treatments due to illness, but the doctors leave few stones unturned in my care. I undergo live blood analysis, art therapy, liver compresses, meditation, and extensive acupuncture. At one point, Dr Sig tapes a needle securely between my breasts for the entire day, prompting a tranquil phone call later to request its removal.
Various daily walks, fitness sessions, and excursions to Taal volcano crater lake or Mount Malarayat are available for those seeking activity. Being unwell, I opt instead for indulgent pampering at The Healing Sanctuary, a simple spa surrounding a pool flanked by plants and a frangipani tree.
Highlights of the Spa Experience
Standout treatments include the Filipino "Hilot" massage, which uses strokes, kneading, and stretching to alleviate tension; "Relaxology", a unique blend of reflexology and acupressure; and a refreshing peppermint foot scrub. Each session feels prolonged and luxurious, with therapists concluding with a heartfelt "God Bless You".
If this is hippy, it is decidedly five-star hippy. Red-shirted Filipino waiters seek me out wherever I am to serve green detox juices, which taste distinctly plant-like. Upon arrival, I receive a Moleskine notebook for jotting thoughts, while spa and room products are handmade on-site using The Farm's organic virgin coconut oil. Staff exemplify hospitality, seemingly unfamiliar with the word "no".
Vegan Cuisine and Effective Results
The all-vegan menu, featuring miso soup, stuffed shiitake mushrooms, and raw chocolate cake, is impressively varied and highly effective. Without conscious effort, I lose six pounds during my stay, attesting to the nourishing quality of the food.
Holding the ice pack and practising conscious breathing ultimately alleviates my headache, leaving me headache-free and equipped with valuable advice after my session with Dr Marie. On my final day, she presents me with a pretty set of Post-it notes to record the wisdom I have gained.
Key Takeaways and Final Reflections
The primary lesson is that protecting my immune system requires working less and relaxing more. As Dr Marie succinctly advises, "Don't bash yourself." For anyone recognising this truth in their own life, The Farm at San Benito offers an excellent starting point for transformation and renewal.
