A spiritual retreat at Lake Placid

While everybody was all agog watching the live coverage of the Senate’s investigation about the Jose Pidal scandal on TV, I took the liberty to hie off to Caliraya Re-Creation Center in Lumban, Laguna. Here, the hustle-bustle of city life took a back seat as I literally threw my worries away and embraced the bucolic lifestyle. In just two and a half hours drive from Manila, I reached the resort where I was welcomed by a serene surrounding so placid and peaceful it made me feel I was one with nature.

If it were a Japanese art, Caliraya Re-Creation Center is a perfect ikebana. Like the Japanese flower arrangement, heaven, earth and man converge in this place. It has the handling of heaven because the center is actually a family Christian resort. It has the endowment of earth because the 7.6-hectare property is majestically perched on a palm-laced mountain shoulder overlooking the 15-km. man-made Caliraya Lake. It has the cooperation of man who clearly understands the three cardinal rules of the center – one, no smoking; two, no alcoholic drinks; and three, yes to spiritual reflection which is part and parcel of the experience offered by the resort.

I was told that if I needed a healing of the inner self, Caliraya Re-Creation Center is the place to be. Some people enthused that if I wanted to escape the concrete jungle, the center is the place to go to reinvigorate my mind, revive my spirit, and replenish my soul with everything bright and beautiful. I discovered all this for myself soon enough.After driving up to the mountaintop for less than 20 minutes, we excitedly transferred to a motorized banca that ferried us to the resort in less than three minutes. Gracious Frederic Tan Ching, operations manager of the resort, welcomed us.

He toured us around the three-level hotel comprised of a 72-room Christian facility, the first of its kind in Asia. Rooms are available in single, double, triple, quadruple or quintuple occupancy. Each room is equipped with its own toilet, and hot and cold water. Overnight rates cost P770 a person for five people sharing the spacious lodging, inclusive of three sumptuous meals, eat-all-you-can! For breakfast, their US-trained bakers make the tastiest breads with homemade jam and butter plus your choice of Filipino breakfast (tocino, tapa, daing na bangus). For lunch and dinner, there is a buffet spread of chicken kaldereta, lechon kawali, fresh vegetables in oyster sauce or freshly caught lapu-lapu in sweet sour sauce. Meal schedules are set and followed at the resort’s fully equipped 350-seater dining room which provides three buffet-style meals each day. Nobody would want to miss any meals at the resort because it offers home cooking at its best. The food is cheap but it tastes heavenly.

For more adventurous guests, there are 23 native cottages waiting for them at the campground. The resort occupies 76,000 square meters of beautifully manicured landscape complemented by resort-class comforts and amenities. Since its opening in 1995, Frederic said, the place has been a home to many a group and family from all over the country as well as from Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, among others. The center also has a number of big and small air-conditioned function rooms that can be found indoor or outdoor. The main meeting area can seat 200 to more than 300 guests. The newly constructed, fully air-conditioned Valley Theater can seat up to 350 people.

The center caters to all people of different religions," Frederic enthused. "We seek to provide an atmosphere that is conducive to spiritual growth as well as physical rest and recreation." He added that a rededication program was held last month to instill in the minds of its loyal patrons that the services of the center have not changed contrary to rumors that the resort would run a casino. The event was led by owner Luke Roxas, Rev. Tony Vic Reyes, Rev. Philip Taroja. Frederic Ching played the piano, Lisa Cabahug rendered her special performance and Windsong performed the praise and worship numbers.

Frederic brought us to the gazebo tower, a strategic place where one can see the splendor of Lake Caliraya. Below this lake, which is 290 meters above sea level, is the Laguna de Bay whose water is pumped up to Lake Caliraya. Lake Caliraya serves as a water reservoir being tapped to generate hydroelectric power for Luzon. The breeze at the resort is cooler because Caliraya Lake is surrounded by Mount Banahaw, Mount Cristobal and Mount Makiling. The center has consistently won the cleanest and best landscaped resort given by the Laguna Tourism Council.

Walking around the resort is a treat in itself. Our very dear family friend, Noah Manarang, had the grandest time of her life chasing dragonflies and butterflies as she photographed the lovely scenery. The resort offers water sports like kayaking, canoeing, wind surfing, jetskiing, and sailing. Speedboats for hire are ready for those who rave for speed and power. Outdoor game facilities for lovers of basketball, volleyball, soccer, tennis, among others, are also provided. Indoor games include billiards and table tennis. Table games and puzzles like Bible trivia, Scrabble, Pictionary, Chinese checkers, Games of the Generals, Boggle chess boards, Uno cards, Whatzit, Outburst, Domino, among others, are also for rent. Those who want to discover the beauty of the place may also opt for horseback riding.

All guests are required to attend at least one spiritual activity during their stay at the center. Groups or individuals are surcharged 10 percent of their total bill if there is less than 80 percent compliance for their spiritual reflection. Also, guests who are caught smoking or drinking alcoholic beverages will be fined accordingly.

"We maintain a smoke-free, alcohol-free policy because we seek to promote a family-friendly atmosphere. If it’s inevitable, we have designated a place for smokers. Only it is 50 meters away from the resort," Frederic informed us. One smoking buddy, who was with us, retorted: "With a place so beautiful and serene, I couldn’t bear pollute the air. It would feel like committing a grave sin not only to myself but also to Mother Nature."

As for me, peace of mind is what I brought with me when I came back to Manila. The Caliraya Re-Creation Center taught me that I can bring this piece of peace anywhere. After all, being at peace does not mean being in a place where there is no noise or hardship. It means to be in the thick of things – chaotic or otherwise – and still be calm and still inside.

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For reservations, call 892-7777, 810-9557 or 0920-8548080.

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E-mail the author at Miladay@pacific.net.ph.