A Most Amazing Encounter

(This is long overdue. I received a lot of inquiries about the pictures of the beautiful bamboo structures I posted in my previous blog: To Live, To Love, To Learn, To Leave a Legacy… And To Laugh Along the Way, hence, this post.)

Late last year, my wife, Wit, brought me to join a retreat in the far-off highland mountains of Davao City. It was an amazing, re-energizing experience and a totally unique one; far different from the retreats and religious activities I had tried previously. Instead of having a solemn and serious environment, we were hugging and dancing like crazy, and smiling from ear to ear, and crying tears of joy. At one point, we tried laughter yoga, and we laughed to our hearts content.

The place itself was truly awe-inspiring. Far from the deafening crowd of the urban centers, the Hayag Farm School reminded me of an old movie “Lost Horizon”, whose theme song lyrics fit the venue to a T. Hayag is nestled in the foothills of Mt Apo. It reminds me of Baguio City of old, with its abundant pine trees, their scent wafting in the early morning fog, and the bright, clean-and-green surroundings mesmerizing you as the sunrise reveals the frontier’s majestic splendor.

This retreat was organized by Fr Loreto Jaque, a diocesan priest from Cebu, who was trained in Europe on the importance of therapeutic play and the expressive arts. A member of the Philippine Mental Health Association (Cebu Chapter), his unique approach has helped recovering drug dependents, sexually-abused women, as well as abused children. After travelling extensively in Europe and the Americas, he is back in the country introducing ‘Biodanza’, a movement meditation which allows one to experience “vivencia”, being fully present in the here and now.

Biodanza is a most calming, soothing experience that is worth investing in. And I felt so refreshed, so invigorated after our 3-day sojourn. I felt so at peace. With myself, with my family, with my new-found friends, and with the world. In everything, there seemed to be something to smile and be thankful to God for.

Hayag Farm School is located at Baganihan, in Barangay Buda, in the highlands of Davao City.

They say that pictures paint a thousand words. Hence, I shall let the pictures do the talking for now.

For a closer look, just click on the pics.