Many have arrived lost and broken at Nurture Wellness Village, but have left with peace of mind, body, and spirit as the wellness destination applies a calming pressure to what ails them and tries to fix it as best as it can.
Located deep amid coffee orchards, Nurture offers a distinctive brand of ecotherapy or healing by and through nature. It provides a unique Filipino wellness experience, from its unique Ifugao native huts and its Filipino-themed décor, to its therapeutic Filipino-themed spa treatments and its Filipino fusion cuisine in its restaurant.
In an interview before the Department of Tourism’s ‘Kain Na! Food and Travel Festival’ at the Ayala Serin Mall in Tagaytay City, Cavite, Catherine Brillantes-Turvill, co-owner and president of Nurture Wellness Village, said they are excited about the medical aspect of it as guests, especially the balikbayans, can come there, decompress for a week, and have all of their treatments done before their reunions.
Brillantes-Turvill mentioned the wellness destination, which is the pioneer in the Philippine spa and wellness industry, focuses on prevention, and they are now in talks with neurosurgeon Dr. Joel Macatula, who is the president at First Cabuyao Hospital and Medical Center.
Introduced by a plastic surgeon offering aesthetic services to Brillantes-Turvill who happens to be looking for someone to partner with, Macatula told Malaya Business Insight their partnership aims to offer clients of both sides an alternative so as to keep them healthy. In addition, for those who still do not want to go to hospitals, they will be provided with an avenue for their wellness.
“We are coming up with a package,” Brillantes-Turvill mentioned. Procedures such as ultrasound, 2D echo, specialized procedures, blood works and liver profile, among others, can be done within Nurture; and for those who have back aches, muscle and knee joint pains, pain management services will also be offered, Macatula said.
Another exciting thing is, the wellness destination eyes to partner with corporate groups.
For instance, if the Japanese group wants to go home, “they can come to us; we can give them pampering services, and then they stay overnight,” Brillantes-Turvill added.
Macatula said that as the hospital has its own molecular laboratory, the RT-PCR testing can also be done. “It’s a one-stop shop for them as everything will be there.”
Before they return to Japan, they can take their rest at Nurture. Macatula said, “We can go there to swab them, too. Once they are cleared and checked out, all certifications, including the Japanese certification, will be issued to them.”
A transport service may be provided by Nurture that can take guests to the airport.
However, if they tested COVID-19 positive, “they will decide if they want to be isolated in facility or be admitted to their hospital, particularly if they are symptomatic,” Macatula stressed.
Located at Pulong Sagingan, Barangay Maitim II West in Tagaytay City, Cavite, Brillantes-Turvill can’t say much at this point because they are excited potentially that “hopefully, God-willing, there will be plans for expansion.”
Right now the wellness destination is focusing on maybe adding more rooms and adding more services.
“We have long-term plans with very good relationships with the Rain Tree group and hopefully, we will continue to expand with their help,” she said.
“No other country is doing the concept right now, so we can put it all together,” she pointed out.
Nurture offers different relaxation activities. Guests may go swimming, do meditation, or try the reflexology path. There are also scheduled juice demonstrations, tai chi exercises, and an in-house garden tour.
It offers a full range of services including pampering spa services, holistic and sustainable weight loss programs, customized detox and natural healing packages, exclusive and intimate weddings and family events, and corporate wellness (The Work Well Project). The place also offers customized packages depending on one’s body needs, budget, and specific wishes.
The Farmer’s Table, on the other hand, serves vegetarian and non-vegetarian cuisine with a variety of dishes which are not only tasty but a feast for the eyes as well.
Brillantes-Turvill said “we want to make wellness fun” and underscored that guests are actually eating medicine. “At cellular level, your bodies are so happy and they are thanking you for eating something healthy and organic.”
“We want to make Filipinos healthier and by giving them options, you’re giving them a fair chance of being healthier, happier, and better,” she noted, adding they can eat whatever they want today but on the next day, they can take care of their health and sort of rebalance it by consuming juices, vegetables, etc.
Chef Jhun Paloma is the one who prepares the dishes at the Farmer’s Table.
Just like other business establishments, the destination has also been affected by the pandemic but Brillantes-Turvill gave credit to the mayor for being very strict about allowing people in. “We were one of the first to have almost a 100 percent vaccination rate, and the local government unit was giving out ayudas.”
Because the place is out in the open, “we were allowed to open and people came to ‘revenge’ eat,” Brillantes-Turvill said.
Likewise, staycation at Nurture will be perfect there: “It is not just a staycation wherein you are so stressed, because staycation when you are here lowers your stress level and they are able to think more clearly,” she noted.
She also pointed out that the place does ‘workcation’, “so that you can actually work here.”
It has video communications app-friendly rooms, too. At Nurture, “you are hitting many birds with one stone rather than going from one place to another.”
“We are taking the fear away or at least lessening the stress,” Brillantes-Turvill concluded.
