MANILA, Philippines - Destination HEAL (Haven for Ecological Alternative Living) in Villasis, Pangasinan province is better visited than written or read about. It is a two-hectare Camelot of sorts, home of five nuns of the Medical Mission Sisters, the most senior being all of 90 years, the youngest 70 and the rest in their mid-70s. Seniors all, but gifted with youthful spirit and energy.
It is a path well traveled since HEAL seems widely appreciated by environment conscious individuals. It is near the landmark market, the Bagsakan, where trucks unload upland produce from Baguio.
Our travel group – my cousins Fr. Rene Javellana SJ, Angie Salazar and her daughter Jae – left at 4 a.m. A breakfast stop at Pampanga woke us up with coffee, pan de sal and
platefuls of pancit palabok with yummy sauce. At Bagsakan we spent two hours happily purchasing native onion bulbs, chilis, garlic, cauliflower, broccoli, eggplants, sweet potato, tomato, mango... even bottled bagoong. Brunch tempted, with so many stalls in the market offering inviting buffets of delicious Pinoy cuisine, but we held our cravings since the HEAL lunch awaited us.
We entered the HEAL nipa cottage through a thick curtain of vines with white blossoms cascading to the ground. It was instant enchantment with this beautiful floral welcome. We were greeted by Sr. Anne, a sibling of Angie, an energetic 75 years, the former Nelia Bellosillo of Capiz, who introduced the resident nuns: Sr. Natty Cristobal, 75; Sr. Mary Grace, 90; Sr. Eu Briones, 75 and Sr. Lynn Kaum 70. ( Interesting to note that Sr. Lynn’s father is a Muslim in Mindanao.)
They led us to the open dining area, refreshed us with iced buko juice. Lunch was a feast. Wild young boar stew with bananas, sweet potatoes, vegetables from their garden; grilled pork, grilled catfish and fruits; organic brown rice, fresh salad with a piquant calamansi dressing. Cold pandan water to drink.
Interesting to observe after lunch were the nuns tucking the dishes away in an ideal waste management drill. All leftover scraps immediately went to the wet garbage. Soiled paper napkins went to another bin. They had a system to wash dirty dishes and silverware with a water conserving procedure.
A tour of the eco farm followed as soon as the sun mellowed. One admired the simplicity, the uncontrived natural look of the whole place. Flowering shrubs lined the path to the orchard of fruits bearing trees. Ripe macopas of the red and green varieties so coveted from Bangkok. Branches of kasuy heavy with fruits. The jackfruits enormous and fragrant. The nuns allowed us to pick fruits within reach and we felt like giddy children.
The herb area had spices for culinary uses as well as medicinal herbs for health remedies. The different varieties of basil filled the air with such sweet aroma.
Passing beside Sr. Anne’s cottage, we noticed a pebble walk around her hut. She said it was to discourage snakes from entering her hut as slithering through moving pebbles drove the snakes away.
Nearby a pen housed negroid chicken believed by rural folk to cure arthritis pains. White hens plump and pretty invited one to cuddle them, as Fr. Rene did. From afar, the turkeys cackled.
Then, the salad bowl displayed various greens so leafy and fresh. Did we spot a shy wild strawberry plant, that Jae touched a wee fruit ever so gently?
A most interesting area was the vermiculture farm where blue and red worms were propagated by the local male staff. One manong offered me a handful of worms to touch but I was afraid and instead offered the open palm of Jae. She was brave indeed, and rather delighted with the wiggly creatures. Their castings were used for natural fertilizer throughout the farm.
We stopped at the two-story dormitory that has facilities for 40 persons. HEAL has programs year round, like seminars on eco living, eco agriculture, waste management, farm walks, individual and group retreats, etc.
Sr. Anne, head of the nuns there, had lived in many countries, pursuing eco spirituality for caring for Mother Earth. She lived in India for seven years and in London for nine, with shorter stints in Pakistan, Indonesia, Kenya, Malawi, Venezuela, Peru, Germany, USA and the Netherlands. The Medical Mission Sisters’ motherhouse is in the US.
Sr. Anne summarized their environmental advocacy cum passion simply: Take care of Mother Earth and Mother Earth will take care of you.
It was getting late. The sisters offered goodbye cold tea of pandan, avocado, calamansi as well as okra water ideal for lowering blood sugar especially for diabetics and gave us their recipe. Take three okras, wash well. Cut each okra into four pieces then place in a glass of water. Refrigerate overnight to drink in the morning. Make another batch for bedtime.
For another health drink, simply boil the leaves of pandan, lemon grass, avocado, ginger, yellow ginger or tumeric or even whole calamansi; then cool and enjoy every sip during this hot summer.
With plenty of pasalubong of fruits and vegetables, we headed home as we promised a next visit.
For more information, visit the HEAL website www.mmsheal.wordpress.com 
or email mmsheal@yahoo.com.