Symbios Experience: Coming Closer to Nature

Symbios Holistic and Wellness Sanctuary

Symbios: A Bali-themed spa sanctuary

           Opened in October 2012, Symbios Holistic and Wellness Sanctuary welcomes its guests through a Thai-themed gateway surrounded by lush Bamboo trees. Traditionally before entering, one has to ring a bell - indication that you are passing through a portal to a separate world away from the urban life.  After which, challenge comes in as guests have to walk along steep and man-made trails to get to the receiving area. Worry not, the Healing Village provides a “hammock ride” to those wish to and feel like ancient royalties.

Walk along man-made trails.

                Health and wellness tourism in the Philippines started off during Marcos’ regime. With the initiatives coming from the former First Lady Imelda Marcos, Philippines once aimed to be prominent in the field of healthcare. This paved way to building of several medical institutions such as the Lung Center, Philippine Heart Center, Philippine Children’s Medical Center, and National Kidney and Transplant Institute. To date, the Department of Tourism banks on health and wellness tourism as it is projected to earn billions of dollars for the next years.

Symbios Holistic and Wellness Sanctuary in San Mateo offers a lot of healthcare services such as detoxifying and cleansing, meditation lectures, grounding or Earthing,  movement exercises and sound therapy.

                 Having a great potential, there have been quite a few number of emerging spas and wellness centers in the country. One of which is Symbios Holistic and Wellness Sanctuary in San Mateo, Rizal. This serene sanctuary, also known as “The Healing Village” is owned by a medical practitioner, Dr. Sonny Viloria. It is becoming gradually popular in its nearby cities.

Symbios Holistic and Wellness Sanctuary nestles on a 9000 square meter land with native trees and man-made trail.

Proximity to the city. Because of Dr. Viloria’s love for the highlands and consideration of the proximity from the urban center, he strategically chose to situate the Healing Village in the mounts of San Mateo which only takes a 20 to 30-minute ride from Quezon City. Different from other urban health and wellness, Symbios is located in a quiet and tranquil farm estate. Surrounded with virgin forests, existence of fireflies and lichens growing on tree trunks reveal the cleanliness of the air. Transportation to Symbios is more convenient because they provide hassle-free transfers from the main office in Cubao.

Bamboo forest. In some parts, you can hardly see the sun as the leaves cover the sky.

Value for Money. Compared to Farm at San Benito and other five-star hotels offering the same products, Symbios taps both middle and upper classes. Mr.Viloria aims to give awareness and more access to those health-conscious people who cannot afford expensive spa products.

Fresh refreshments! Made from extracts of boiled sweet potato tops, peppermint, lemongrass and honey.

Good food for the mind and soul. Symbios Holistic and Wellness Sanctuary is advocating locavore which means consuming organic and locally grown products. They serve freshly harvested food such as welcome juice (made from extracts of boiled sweet potato tops, peppermint, lemongrass and honey) and lunch (brown rice paired up with native chicken adobo, pako salad and sautéed bean sprouts). Mr. Ronnie Bernardo, one of Dr. Viloria’s friends, believes that consuming locally produced goods decreases carbon footprints as transportation of goods is more costly and exhausts of liters of fuel.

Mr.  Ronnie Bernardo, one of the specialists, conducts a sound theraphy using a crystal singing bowl.

Wellness Program. Symbios offers a number of wellness programs customized to the needs of their clients’ needs. Some these packages include detoxifying and cleansing, meditation lectures, grounding and Earthing, movement exercises and sound therapy. During the tour, Mr. Bernardo, one of the specialists, conducted a sound therapy using a crystal singing bowl. It created a loud, vibrating sound that pacified the listeners and neutralized their minds. Aside from the health programs, Symbios also offers glamping (glamorous camping) recommended for couples who dare to commune with the nature.

Turning from professional to a businessman. Dr. Viloria 25 years’ experience in the medical field is a major advantage to business. He started his own clinic after 14 years of practice in complimentary medicine. It finally increased into five BioVitale branches located in some areas of Luzon. Eventually, he put up his own wellness haven in San Mateo. Not just a typical Spa destination, he expressed his creativity in this property. The interiors of every structure were designed after his own tastes and preferences. These Bali-themed houses contain replicas of Thai furniture that are locally made by Filipino artists in Bacoor, Cavite.

The owner, Mr.Viloria visits his 'healing village' more often to give seminars and break free from the city life.