"It's vegetarianism on its face. No killing of animal life—it's primarily based on sustainable farming."

[TANAY, RIZAL, PHILIPPINES] ► There are just people who would fight for what they believe. Although some may give up the fight, some just have this insatiable drive to push their ideals that the end-result went bang just the way they wanted.

Nuns who were originally based in Metro Manila run this place. Their desire to own a property they can call their own was not a prayer instantly answered. It was a bumpy ride to their destination called success but everything was worth the bumpy ride. They were able to acquire a 13-hectare property in Sitio Aguho, Sampaloc, Tanay, Rizal because they didn't give up. That blessing wasn't in disguise. It was a result of their faith mixed with hard work and prayers. So basically, they worked hands on to acquire this blessing.

This is the fourth installment of this series and if you cannot relate to some of the things I'm saying here, I would advice you to read the EPISODE 01 so that you can understand the flow of the story.

Anyway, the people who manage this place believe in vegetarianism. They respect nature so much (they don't want pollution - more on this below) and lastly, this is a pilgrimage site for Roman Catholics.

Vegetarianism

While exploring and touring the expanse of this 13-hectare property, my stomach is dying to grab some food to keep my physical body sane and working.

Within the property, there are helpful sign boards to assist visitors. In my case, I found the direction to an area they call as handong, an Ilonggo word for "a shady area."

[TANAY] ► HANDONG IS REGINA RICA'S AREA FOR DINING.

[TANAY] ► PLENTY OF TALL TREES MAKE THE AREA SHADY.

[TANAY] ► ME WHILE WALKING AROUND HANDONG.

I finally reached handong after a brisk walk-in-the-park moment. I started to feel a cooler atmosphere with fallen browned-by-time leaves all over the ground where I'm stepping on.

I felt closer to nature really; and what a gorgeous idea to dine under the trees (though there are gazebos or huts where you can dine). But it seemed like the gazebos were for visitors who brought food with them. In my case, I'm looking for a restaurant or a store where I can buy food.

I continued to walk until I found a restaurant.

[TANAY] ► THIS SCENE WELCOMED ME IN THE RESTAURANT.

As I enter the restaurant, a wooden box filled with green grass (or herbs, I'm not sure) welcomed me. The floor is also made of wood. I didn't bother to ask what is this but my theory is that this will attract insects, hence, keeping them away from the visitors dining inside the restaurant.

There were other customers inside, mostly in group. Me? I'm all alone. Anyway, I asked for the menu and one of the crew informed me that their restaurant doesn't sell meat, so it's a vegetarian restaurant. Well, it's not an issue for me because I prefer vegetables over meat 75% of the time.

[TANAY] ► THEIR MEATLESS LOMI, NO PORK

[TANAY] ► MEATLESS LOMI, MY MEAL THIS TIME

[TANAY] ► A COMMUNE WITH NATURE

Nature and Religion

One of the interesting things I learned in this destination is their love for nature. I mean, they do not want pollution. I said they do not want pollution because they prohibit smoke-spewing vehicles to go beyond a certain point. They want the air inside this sanctuary fresh and clean. Aside from the latter set-up I am talking about, it's really part of their advocacy to protect nature and you'll learn about this if you visit this place because every visitor is encouraged (if not obliged) to attend the visitor orientation.

Their love for nature reflects to this restaurant I am featuring now. It's vegetarianism on its face. No killing of animal life—it's primarily based on sustainable farming.

[TANAY] ► RELIGION: THIS DEVOTEE BELIEVES THERE'S HEALING IN THIS FOUNTAIN.

[TANAY] ► RELIGION: A WELL WITH HEALING WATER, AS SOME BELIEVE

[TANAY] ► NATURE: A THICK VEGETATION OF TREES

[TANAY] ► NATURE: AUTUMN FEEL

[TANAY] ► A HILL WITH MAHOGANY TREES

It's also worthy to note that this is a religious place. It is managed by nuns who consider this property as sacred. Basically, their religion (Roman Catholic) interconnects with nature and vegetarianism. This only applies to this sanctuary though. It's just a matter of concepts put together as one.

It's time to leave Tanay and I'm off to my next destination. I have this instinct that the next destination would be the opposite of Regina Rica: different set-up, different location, same pilgrimage site. | to be continued...|

[LUZON] ▬ Faces of Pilgrimage Sites: Tanay and Quiapo

[LUZON] ► TRAVEL BLOGSERYE

STORIES OF TOWN EXPLORATIONS
"Faces of Pilgrimage Sites: Tanay and Quiapo"

| | | EPISODE 04 |

SERIES TEASER: PILGRIMAGE SITES WERE ALL MADE FOR THE FAITHFUL. THEY HAVE THE SAME PURPOSE BUT THEY MAY DIFFER IN MANY THINGS. JOIN MY TRAVEL TRAILS FROM TANAY TO QUIAPO AND DISCOVER THE INTERESTING THINGS I PERSONALLY LEARNED FROM THESE PILGRIMAGE SITES. TANAY AND QUIAPO ARE TWO OPPOSITE VARIABLES ON THEIR OWN.

14 MARCH 2015: REGINA RICA
ME INSIDE REGINA RICA, A PILGRIMAGE SITE IN RIZAL PROVINCE, PHILIPPINES.

[TANAY] ► HELLO! WELCOME TO REGINA RICA!

► FOOTNOTES, DISCLAIMERS, ACKNOWLEDGMENT, ETC

[1] This post is filed under the category "Restaurants." This is a category here on my blog where I write my experiences, note down my insights and post photo essays about restaurants I've seen or visited then I weave them into travel stories. There is a section below where you can see other related posts from this category.

[2] All maps I used on this post are the works of Eugene Alvin Villar and Mike Gonzalez published on Wikipedia. Source: 1 | 2

[3] All photos are mine. You may not use it without my permission.

[4] The insights, conditions and name of places or properties I mentioned here are based on the facts and situation on the day of my visit. Take note that you may have a different experience when you visit Regina Rica. Names of places and properties may also change by time.