When you wake up each morning, do you ever ask yourself who do you live for? Is it for God, your loved ones, yourself? For me, loving the good Lord and being still in His presence takes precedence over everything. After all, He takes care of all whom we hold dear.
I have traveled the world in search of a paradise where you can embrace and celebrate the grace and beauty of being you — pampering and reconnecting with what truly matters. I have always taken the exodus home only to find this favored place right here where it beckons.
It is a cool night as we say fervent prayers of praise and thanksgiving to the good Lord. My rambunctious siblings Jaqui Boncan, Michelle Soliven, Mark Dayrit, Yvonne Romualdez, my brother-in-law Benny Soliven, our family friend Tita Elo Santiago, my best friend Bum Tenorio and I converge at a stunning English-themed villa in the middle of a lush tropical garden. Like poetry in motion, the perfumed fragrance of the nocturnal flowers like dama de noche waft in the air. The gentle flicker of the pink ornate lamp, acquired from a local market in Paris, shines as the melodious harmony of the mating cicadas enthrals us. The moment is magnificently surreal.
Seemingly lost in time and space, we embrace this sanctuary where loving kindness, self-nurturing and a passion for doing the things we love is a way of life. Here at the dreamlike Sonya’s Garden in Alfonso, Cavite, time lovingly halts and our heartfelt prayer is that it remains this way in perpetuity.
My siblings and I can never thank the Royal Innkeeper enough, the gracious Sonya Garcia, who has showered us with a steadfast love to help us through life’s joys and hurdles as well.
Early this year, our sister Michelle was diagnosed with breast cancer and her oncologist Dr. Gary Lorenzo, a dear family friend, prescribed that she undergo six neo-adjuvant chemo therapy sessions. Yes, her tumors have decreased in size and down staged and tonight, we celebrate her road to wellness. Even during her six “chemo parties,” at the Makati Medical Center, she inspired to celebrate by coming dressed in colorful outfits with matching funky headgears for the girls and angry bird hat for Mark. Each themed party was a blissful event of love, camaraderie and delicious food prepared by Ate Jaqui. After the last chemo session which was a Bollywood-themed party, Dr. Lorenzo recalled, “I look back at the six cycles of Michelle and I cannot hide my smile. Her spirit is admirable and siblings unbeatable. I’m thankful she did fairly well. A hard act to follow.”
A portrait of courage and kindred faith, Michelle continues to inspire us with the kind of positive and joyful spirit she believes is a grace from God. She lifts up to the good Lord in obedience and servitude this challenge in her life as she truly believes that God is healing her every step of the way. As we join Michelle in celebrating the miracles of life, loving compassion and prayer, we thank Sonya’s Garden for being our paradise of healing. In between her chemotherapy sessions, our gregarious family set special dates to take Michelle to her favorite Sonya’s Garden for delightful rest and rejuvenation from the loving and caring Sonya and her equally compassionate staff.
Michelle cheerfully says, “I enjoy coming back to Sonya’s Garden again and again with my family because everything we love is here. It is our special bonding place. Their thoughtful pampering never ends. With love, you are served the best, healthiest, tastiest food. There’s cool and clean fresh air to breathe in and cleanse my lungs as I walk through beautiful fragrant gardens and greenhouses. I see and feel God’s loving hand just everywhere in this blissful sanctuary.”
Michelle adds: “Special blessings include the aroma of a delicious assortment of freshly baked breads wafting from the panaderia; the best hot chocolate poured from fine bone china and the well trained masseuses at the spa who know exactly how to soothe every muscle of your body. My loving husband Benny has tried many treatments for his back pain but swears the dorn spine alignment treatment here is the most effective of all. Another favorite of mine is the warm dalandan tea with fresh basil served after your spa treatment. It is very hard to leave this place but when you do, you leave calm and refreshed in mind body and spirit full of peace and gratitude in your heart.”
As numerous fireflies dramatically light the stony pathways, we all retreat to our respective cottages and before I succumb to the sweet arms of slumber, I review the 11th anniversary special of PeopleAsia magazine, which published my “Top 11 travel destinations of 2012.” A scented lavender sprig indicated the page where Sonya’s Garden was essayed. As I recall these unforgettable journeys, I feel transported to each distinct dream destination.
Among my top 11 entries, the only one in the Philippines and the closest to my heart is enchanting Sonya’s Garden, where the “art of doing nothing” actually means engaging in everything that matters. As Sonya says, “Doing what makes you happy, as long as it is legal, is the art of loving yourself. Here, one learns that to nurture the self is not tantamount to selfishness but rather self-care. Every so often, pamper yourself, take care of what matters inside of you, refresh and nourish your fatigued and weary self.”
We travel to bring forth excitement into the otherwise mundane. When you wish not just to recall the memory but to recreate and live it out so that the moments actually become your very own lifestyle, this is the ultimate nirvana. I am currently in the process of converting my home into an extension of Sonya’s Garden. I will adorn my walls with Michelle’s acryllic paintings of her favorite scenes at Sonyas. Everything that is used in the Bed & Breakfast villas can be ordered from Sonya’s artisans and the beddings and linens are sold in her country store. New developments at Sonya’s Garden are the creation of a furniture store called “Favorite Finds,” an idea born out of guests wanting to take home pieces from Sonya’s’ romantic furniture collection like handcrafted beds, dressers, woodworks, coromandels and more.
A steam sauna is also being constructed, the perfect complement to the exhilarating massage treatments at Sonya’s Spa. On July 7, the solar dryer will be installed by brilliant engineer Rene Alejandrino and gracious wife Ditas. The solar dryer will process fruits and vegetables like pineapple, guava, tomatoes and more while preserving their natural sweetness. A new panaderia with a brick oven is also in the works..
Over divinely delicious banana fritters topped with slivers of guyere cheese and homemade guava jelly and hot tarragon tea, the affable Sonya passionately imparts her nuggets of wisdom to live by. We learn that people cry not because they’re weak but because they have been strong for too long. Since pain is inevitable and suffering optional, we must choose what route we wish to embark on. Here at Sonya’s, one reconnects with one’s emotional, physical and spiritual equilibrium and creates a happy reunion with the warm, witty and wonderful self that one possesses. Sonya adds, “We should enjoy the present moment and live in it. Do not dwell in the past or in the future. We are nothing but the sum total of our thoughts. As you think, you are.
Worthy to note, Sonya practices “socialized fencing,” which simply means she hires the people within her community. Sonya says, “ There is no need for guards or guns here. Everyone works together, in love, humor, unity, respect as the welfare of each one is valued by the other.”
There are countless blessings that endear you to this haven. Whether it be the loving way everything is presented from the lavender-laced beddings, the crisp linens with sprigs of rosemary, the hearty cuisine of fresh picked fruits and vegetables, delectable creamy or tomato based pasta, warm breads with various spreads as well as the made-to-order dishes like chipirones ensutinta (squid in olive oil), pochero with an addicting eggplant dip, tender braised chicken, ensalada sa gata and kamote, langka and banana sweetened with coco-nectar.
As we create unforgettable moments in this healing paradise, they become our life’s blueprint, the very holidays of hope that we treasure. As you wake up each morning with the Supreme Gardener revealing to you His miracles of love and healing, there will be much more to look forward to. For as you experience how it is to be blessed here at Sonya’s Garden, you become a blessing to others as well. Life takes on a whole new meaning.
* * *
For more information on Sonya’s Garden, call 09175335140, 09175329097 or log on to www.sonyasgarden.com
E-mail the author at miladay.star@gmail.com