LIST: Places to spend your wellness and spiritual retreat this Holy Week
As a historically Catholic country, the celebration of the Holy Week has always been given to Filipinos as a time to attend our religious activities.
However, you do not have to be a devout Catholic or Christian to see the Lenten Season as a chance to reflect. The sacred week can be viewed as a simple opportunity to take a pause from everyday routines and responsibilities and prioritize our physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual wellness.
Choosing a place where you can immerse yourself in a solemn retreat and freely prioritize your well-being can help inspire the success of your reflection.
So if you are planning to embark on a solemn retreat during the Holy Week this year, fret no more, because here is a list of places where you can take your mind off things and prioritize either your spiritual life or well-being in general.
The Farm at San Benito
You might have heard The Farm at San Benito a lot, as they have been popular among celebrities, but it is actually an ideal place for retreat.
If you’re planning to take a break for healing, this “holistic medical wellness resort” in Lipa, Batangas might be your place.
Surround yourself with 52 hectares of nature and breathe in the peace at your own time, or you can also participate in their personalized regimen sessions, whichever you may need.
They also have health programs available that are supervised by medical professionals, such as holistic cancer care, fertility programs, mental health retreats, pain management, and sleep recovery.
Nurture Wellness Village
Another place where you could lean on nature for your holistic healing is Nurture Wellness Village in Tagaytay City.
Expect serenity as you can meditate surrounded by the lush greenery and Filipino-themed huts of the area.
Your physical well-being will also be taken care of. Considered the “pioneer wellness spa in the Philippines,” they offer unique “ecotherapy,” including Filipino spa treatments to pamper your body.
The resort also has discounted promos this March, in light of the Holy Week, so maybe this is your sign to finalize your retreat.
Mount Purro Nature Reserve
For those who are looking to prioritize their physical well-being while carrying out their spiritual activities this Holy Week, Mount Purro Nature Reserve in Antipolo should be considered.
Sitting at the foothills of the Sierra Madre Mountain Range, this eco-park and nature reserve might be a destination of choice if your definition of healing is being surrounded by nature through camping, hiking up the mountain, or trekking along rivers.
It also emphasizes the role of God in one’s life. They believe that "God, Nature, and People as the true measures of personal and community development."
Along with the activities offered, guests of this nature reserve are encouraged to “disconnect to connect,” which includes praying during the duration of their stay.
Touch of Glory Prayer Mountain
Strengthen your spiritual connection here at the Touch of Glory Prayer Mountain.
Also situated in Antipolo and about an hour away from Manila, this retreat center is considered the first prayer resort in Southeast Asia.
You can spend your time in reflection in the cottages in their garden area or silent prayer in their chapel.
They also offer overnight accommodations.
Oasis of Prayer
If you are really looking to spend your retreat to strengthen your connection with God this Lenten season, Oasis of Prayer in Silang, Cavite should be one of your choices. This retreat center offers wellness and spiritual activities that will help you reconnect with your faith.
Surrounded by luscious greeneries, the area offers solemnity, making it an ideal place to close your eyes, breathe the fresh air, meditate and pray.
Caleruega
Caleruega, situated in Batangas, is also a retreat center that you may visit if you hope to get closer to God this Holy Week. They offer retreat programs that will nurture your religious well-being.
The area will also help you find peace and reconnect with nature, as you can explore the wide area that is filled with trees and other greenery. They even have a hanging bridge, if you are up for an adventure during your retreat.
You may also trek until you reach the beautiful church that is seated on the top of a hill.
Bahay Kalipay Raw Food & Yoga Retreat House
Bahay Kalipay Raw Food & Yoga Retreat House in Puerto Princessa embraces a holistic approach to wellness, combining yoga, raw food, and a deep respect for the community and the environment.
They have activities such as wellness yoga programs, deep nature cleanses, sound-based healing activities, and more.
This April 26-29, the retreat center is also offering a pottery and wellness retreat package at P36,600 per person in a twin-sharing room. It includes the accommodation, daily meditation, breath work and yoga, eight vegan dishes, pottery clay sculpting, mindful movement for emotional release, raw food cooking lesson, self-massage and essential oil therapy, and use of resort amenities and facilities.