Recharge and rejuvenate at The Farm at San Benito

I thought I would start the year right by disconnecting from the busy city life and going on a quiet retreat somewhere. 

 

Since I didn’t want to go too far, I decided check out The Farm at San Benito, in Batangas, which attracts visitors from all over – both local and foreign. I brought my mom with me so we can both experience a healing journey at The Farm and have some mother-daughter bonding time, too.

 

Although guests of The Farm may avail of transportation from them, I decided to drive myself and enjoy the first part of the journey. From south of the Metro, it took us an hour and a half to get to this secluded sanctuary in Lipa. 

A secluded sanctuary 
 

As we got nearer, we passed through a winding road that was lined with tall mahogany trees. We haven’t arrived at our destination yet, but I felt one with nature already. I couldn’t wait to breathe the cool and fresh air!
 

I have always been curious about The Farm since I’ve heard of its health and wellness retreats. I discovered that it specializes in organic weight loss, diabetes prevention and management, beauty & longevity, heart health and stress reduction, environmental detox and an all-inclusive luxury premier retreat. 

 

The Farm also has a wide array of medical treatments and services such as acupuncture, colon hydrotherapy, and nutritional microscopy, among others. 

 

The costs of each wellness retreats vary, but one should expect to pay even more than an overnight stay at a top luxury hotel. Guests, though, have an option to simply stay overnight sans the treatments.

 

 “We have comprehensive programs,” said Michael Di Lonardo, The Farm’s General Manager. “We practice integrative medicine. Basically, understand that your food is the key to your health. If you eat properly and nutritious food, balanced diet, your body won’t get sick.” 

 

I had no plans of taking a specific treatment during my stay. I was simply happy to be there, to explore the area and experience The Farm’s holistic approach to health and relaxation.

 

Rubbing elbows with Mother Nature

 

Upon arriving, we were given cool coconut juice as our welcome drinks. It refreshed us as we walked to our accommodations at the Palmera Suite, which was a good combination of simplicity and elegance. 

 

The suite has a big comfortable bed, a nice lounging area at the terrace, and a spacious bathroom with an open shower. It lacked the usual amenity of most resorts – a television, which I did not miss at all because I did not go there to watch the boob tube. 

 

Besides, The Farm offers other activities to keep guests occupied. We were given a list that we could take part in while there. After we settled down, we walked around the area to check out the nice surroundings. 

 

There were lush gardens, spots for meditation, and big spaces to explore. Then we stopped at The Farm’s restaurant to join the ALIVE! Cuisine Prep Class. It was a complimentary class where guests can see how to prepare vegan dishes and get to sample it as well. 
 

I was impressed with how the chef combined various ingredients to create something good and healthy. The chef prepared a smoothie, a couple of salad dressings and raw crackers. I was amazed at how they use all organic and natural ingredients, some of which were grown at The Farm. The ALIVE! Cuisine experience is an important part of the healing programs at The Farm where the food is rich in fiber and live enzymes. 

 

During the class, I met a lady who has been going to The Farm for three years now. After the holidays, she and her husband would go there for a week to detox from indulging during Christmas time. 

 

She even brought their children with them, one time. She said that she was on a special program where she can only consume liquid foodstuff – mostly smoothies and soups. It must have been working well for her since she doesn’t look like a mother of three children who have all graduated from college!

 

Guests should be mentally prepared to consume a vegan diet while there. For carnivores, it might be a huge challenge, but it’s still doable. I am not a vegetarian, but I enjoyed the food while I was there.

Living healthy, eating healthy
 

Mr. Di Lonardo shares, “The Farm is showing a nice way to live in a healthy fashion.” Diners experience the luxury of being able immediately eat food that has been freshly picked from the garden. “10 years ago, [The Farm] was created especially to teach the people in the Philippines about ways to eat in a more healthy way, to include more vegetables in the diet.”
 

After the class, we participated in some afternoon tea and then joined the Power Walk that was supervised by one of the staff members. Our fitness guru also served as a guide as he toured us around the different areas of The Farm. We even got a glimpse of the beautiful peacocks! We also went outside the gate and walked past the coffee fields and as far as we could go.  

 

Aside from fitness walks, other activities that guests may do are yoga, circuit training, aqua aerobics, Oil of Life tour and Mandala floral arrangement, among others. 

 

I was disappointed that we only booked an overnight stay because we didn’t have time to do all the activities. As we retired for the night, I enjoyed a luxurious shower under the stars. The room may not have a TV but the  bathroom was well equipped with modern amenities – complete with the coconut-based bath toiletries and a rain shower to boot. We had a good night’s sleep that time.

 

Although we prepared to leave the next day, we were still able to have a leisurely breakfast al fresco. I devoured my plate of greens, cereals with gRAWnola and scrambled tofu, as I sipped my barako coffee. My healing healthy holiday was over but both my belly and soul were full. I was ready to come back to the hustle and bustle of the city life – recharged and rejuvenated. – KDM, GMA News