Royal Treatment in Mandala

CEBU, Philippines - Legend has it that the spa industry in Boracay was a favorite neutral ground for island mobsters – putting corporate and city life aside to partake of the tranquility and quietdom of near beach resorts along the White Beach stretch – and that the island’s anchor, Mandala Spa and Villas, was the destination of choice.

Mandala Spa and Villas surprisingly manages to insulate (and isolate) itself from the hurly-burly of White Beach. In Barangay Manoc-Manoc past the town proper to Angol, Mandala’s tree-lined driveway already signals euphoria to day spa dilettantes since 2001. Because I was to try their award-wining Holistic Treatment of the Year from last 2007’s Asia Spa Baccarat Award, it can be exciting to find out what make the spa heap awards (yes, and why Piolo Pascual incessantly comes back whenever he visits).

I was ushered into the reception office that also houses a dressing room with lockers. It wasn’t long before I changed into a sarong and was brought to the one of the four spa villas Mandala has by my therapist.

No spa villa is complete without two massage beds and Mandala makes certain the venue is the perfect setting for couples who also seek therapeutic bliss in each other's company.

The Hilot Trilogy commences as the therapist indulges your feet with a footbath. You couldn’t help but settle into this relaxed state of mind as the rose petals moisturizes your skin and prepares you to what lies ahead.

Three traditional Filipino healing modalities make the Hilot Trilogy awarded for being the Holistic Treatment of the Year: Hihilaan, the application of coconut oil of strips of banana leaves and placed on one’s back to identify areas of imbalance in the physiology; Bentosa, the traditional technique of vacuum cupping which uses glasses to create areas of low air pressure on the back; and, Hilot, an ancient Filipino therapeutic form of massage through a combination of long and deep strokes along energy pathways while the flow of vital energies is harmonized and equilibrium is established.

Mandala employs the finest 100% extra virgin coconut oil, renowned for its powerful  rejuvenating, anti-ageing and cleansing properties, and is lavishly applied over  the entire body throughout the treatment.

Hilot Trilogy then finishes off with Dagdagay, a foot massage using bamboo sticks applied with long motions while paying particular attention to acupressure points that triumphs over all the elements.

As it turns out, for every treatment, Mandala Spa and Villas has committed to planting one tree. For this unwavering commitment to the environment, Mandala received their first ASEAN Green Hotel Award 2012 – 2014.

As more treatments become available (and even encouraged) for everyone, it can be a challenge to know what's worth your time and money. Given Boracay's reputation as a hard-partying beach island, the pampering done in Mandala after all the activity in the beach makes up for the almost two-hour communion with serenity and tranquility.

Hilot Trilogy is available  at Mandala Spa and Villas and at Mandala Spa at Discovery Shores. Mandala Spa and Villas is located at Boracay Island, Malay Aklan. For reservations, please contact reservations@ mandalaspa.com or visit their website www.mandalaspa.com.