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Finding serenity amidst the hustle and bustle of city
life is possible at Garinfarm. This
lovely, green, retreat is the epitome of country living near the city. After a
week of stress at work and the clichés of day to day life, there’s no better
way to take stress away from your system than a weekend in this destination.
Set in the calmly town of San
Joaquin, Iloilo’s southernmost frontier, treading the highway dotted by
farmlands on the one side and by the sea on the other would lead you this
peaceful location. Anyway, the trip itself is a relaxing one. Roads in the
first district of Iloilo are well-paved although some are under construction
right now. A day or two at Garinfarm is the culmination of your search for
peace… it’s well worth it!
Garinfarm sits on a 14-acre property that covers rice
fields, vegetable gardens, rolling hills, chicken coops, pig pen and many more.
There’s so much that you would want to do here that a day is not enough to
enjoy the activities in the resort. You should also explore the rich
historical, cultural, and natural wonders of San Joaquin and nearby
municipalities of Miag-ao
and Guimbal
and Anini-y
in Antique.
My elementary school buddy, Jason, and my college bff,
Charmine decided to visit the place for the weekend. We entered the resort via
the expansive and long green tunnel shrouded by vines of vegetables and passion
fruits. I was amazed by the calming effect it offers, particularly for someone
like I who always wanted to embark on a relaxing retreat. Because the plants
here are raised organically, the produce looks really healthy and fresh! The chicken
coops also look interesting. Here, fresh, organic eggs are harvested every day,
while the chickens supplied to the restaurant kitchen. There is also a model
for urban farming, which could be replicated even in small spaces (6x6 sq. m.)
in the city. This way, households could raise their own animals and have fresh
and organic supply for food.
The Pavilion
At the end of the tunnel awaits the imposing pavilion
that doubles as the guests’ rest area and banqueting hall. This sets atop a
hill at the heart of the property. One side, you will marvel at the imposing
view of the fields, the town nearby, and the seemingly endless sea. On the
other side, the magnificent cross stands on top of the hill. On the mountain
steps are villas that overlook the town. Guests converge at the pavilion for
lunch. A must have for visitors are their tinuom
na manok, calamares, and crispy kangkong. For the thirst quencher, the
locally-produced coconut nectar is highly suggested. It tastes like the sweeter,
lighter version of tuba (coconut wine), which, when fermented, becomes vinegar. For
the dessert, their ice cream stick is a must try. Another organic,
farm-produced flare. Food at the restaurant are not pre-cooked, so expect to
wait from 30-40 minutes. Anyway, better order ahead of time, if you don’t want
the long wait. Your patience is well-worth the time because you’ll enjoy your
meal with the mouth-watering cuisines that they have to offer.
A must not-miss event is the animal feeding ceremonies every
12 noon. The resort staff would ring the bell to catch the attention of the
doves and they would all swarm at a spot near the pavilion where they are fed.
The staff would invite one or two guests, preferably a kid to come and feed the
doves and if your kid happens to be the lucky one, it’s a perfect experience!
That would last for like five minutes and then the staff would proceed to ringing
the bell on the lake and the vibration would reverberate throughout, calling
the attention of the fish to come to the surface for their lunch. The goats and
turkey would also line as they parade for their lunch! Such symmetry! I wonder if they are trained to be
disciplined for their lunch? Whether yes or no, the effect is perfect and it
catches the attention of guests.
The Stairways to the Cross
The biggest thrill for any visitor is climbing the 465-step
hill that leads to that imposing Divine Mercy cross on top. But before you get
to the steps, you have to pass through a wall that would call you to bow down as
a manifestation of humility before the Creator. Re-creations of different
Biblical scenes carefully crafted by local artists give you a lesson about
faith. There’s the creation, Noah’s Arc and his animals, and Moses and the Ten
Commandments. As you grasp for your breath making the steep walk, you would
pass through depictions of events leading to the passion and crucifixion of
Jesus Christ. It seemed to me that every step I made was becoming more
difficult as I get higher on my journey. But then, I pondered upon the suffering
of the Christ and the glory that was after His resurrection. Perhaps, that’s
the lesson. If you want something truly rewarding—like the view on top of the
hill—you have to work for it. As I get closer to the cross, I found the view
was getting more beautiful and yes, I was really grasping for my breath as I
reached on top, but the reward for the sacrifice I made was the sweat and
pounds I lost (perhaps?) and the breathtaking panorama that San Joaquin has to
offer. I looked for a seat and stayed there for a few minutes. I sat still and
simply gazed at the view, feeling thankful at the beauty that God has
wonderfully created. Definitely, it’s worth the sweat!
The accommodations
There resort’s villas set in white provide a contrast
against the lush green backdrop naturally provided by nature. Because it’s set
apart on a more elevated part of resort, guests get that feel of exclusivity
and privacy. The villa’s interiors are appointed in the minimalist style,
painted in green to bring the outside serenity in. Each room has its own
private garden, so that even lying inside, guests could still commune with Mother
Nature. And no garden landscape is the same. One room has tropical garden, the
other is Japanese, then, there’s Mexican landscape. With each room having this wall
to wall glass windows guests are treated with an unobstructed panorama from
dusk till dawn.
Leisurely Activities
There are many activities that Garinfarm has to offer, so
after learning so much about urban farming, why not try fishing at the 5,000
sq.m man-made lagoon? You could actually have your catch prepared into a
sumptuous dish. You could also go boat riding, kayaking or even horse
riding. For a more thrilling experience,
the 300 meters zip-line is available for you, which would take you from
pavilion through the lagoon and the trees.
From creation to ascension… agriculture, leisure, and
pilgrimage… Garinfarm is a destination
you should check out for an unforgettable weekend getaway.
Garinfarm Pilgrimage Resort
Purok 2, San Joaquin, Iloilo
+63 033 314 75 55
+63 916 667 6851
garinfarm@ymail.com
How to get here?
Get a taxi or jeepney ride going to Molo Bus Terminal. It’s right after Iloilo
City College. Then ride a Ceres bus headed to Antique but be sure to tell the driver
to drop you at the San Joaquin town proper. There, you can ask a tricycle
driver to take you to Garinfarm.
