Jap capitalist invests P4M for coral stone spa in Cebu

The growing health and wellness industry in the Philippines has attracted a Japanese capitalist to invest on a first-of-a-kind spa facility in Cebu using coral stones as a major component.

In partnership with a Filipina businesswoman, Jessielyn Abueva-Sato, Japanese national Kazuhiko Suzuki saw a good opportunity to offer a therapeutic Spa Center called “Queen of Stone” to provide diverse spa and wellness service in Cebu.

The revolutionary healing technique—the Medical Stone Spa, which is a popular natures way of healing in Japan, is finding its way in the Philippines through Cebu, and is expected to boost the positioning of the province as health and wellness center in the country.

The Queen of Stone Spa center is located at the St. Patrick Square entertainment and commercial complex in the uptown district. The P4 million facility could accommodate about 20 customers at one time, availing of its 15-minute Stone Bath process, which is considered to have therapeutic effect.

Each room in the spa is set at a room temperature of 40-45 degrees celsius. which emanates heat through pipes below it, thus bringing out perspiration that detoxifies the body from unnecessary fats and oils.

As this kind of spa service is expected to become popular in the next few months, Sato said the company is working to open up its second outlet and will spend P20 million to build a much bigger facility at the Park Mall at the North Reclamation Area.

Suzuki, who has been engaged in this kind of business in Japan for 11 years now, is bringing this nature-based healing process through Spa service to the Philippine market, and Cebu’s good strategic location for health and wellness has impressed him.

According to Sato, she is applying with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to have the center accredited for medical tourism service, however, she said while waiting for the approval, the center is positioned as “therapeutic Spa center.”

“We would like to make our services affordable to majority, in order to provide alternative healing service to the local residents, including visitors and tourists,” she said in a press conference.

Each slab is powered by a heated “powderized” coral stones which releases negative ions, a nature’s way of healing.

“Healing comes when perspiration detoxifies the body from unnecessary fats and oils. When done, lightness, smooth skin, stickiness and oiliness is experience,” Sato said.

She said the stone treatment made from giant crystal improves blood circulation, activates cells and disposes body waste matter.