The grande dame of holistic healing in the Philippines is adapting to a new era of wellness.

The infinity pool at the Healing Sanctuary Spa overlooks a swath of lush greenery. (All photos courtesy of The Farm at San Benito)

By the time I arrived at The Farm at San Benito, I was running on fumes. Sleep-deprived and tightly wound from a sucker-punch combination of too much travel and excessive screen time—first-world problems indeed—it was clear I was in dire need of a reset. Thankfully, my immersion in the lush tropical beauty of this holistic health resort, set in the Batangas countryside about a two-hour drive south of Manila, was a literal breath of fresh air.

Coconut palms, banana trees, and giant fern fronds dot The Farm’s 52 jungly hectares, interspersed with serene ponds and lagoons. Gaggles of geese, ducks, and peacocks wander the grounds pecking for food. To my delight, a litter of kittens could often be spotted frolicking in the grass, charming every guest into slipping them treats. (Lucky for them—and us—the food here is wholesome, but more on that later.)

The restful surroundings provide a fitting backdrop to the integrative medical approach practiced here. Since its debut in 2002, The Farm has pioneered detox-based wellness in the Philippines, offering intravenous vitamin infusions, body scans, and its signature colon hydrotherapy, which comes in three varieties. Over the years, the resort has added treatments for chronic pain and mental and emotional health, and is now developing a longevity program. My own visit came on the heels of The Farm’s announcement that it was joining Marriott International’s Autograph Collection, for which it has streamlined its offerings into four core programs that include Resilience & Recovery and Metabolic Reboot. A fifth option, The Signature Path, offers a bespoke wellness journey, with more than 100 diagnostic services, treatments, and even dietary plans tailored to individual needs.

After filling out a questionnaire detailing my litany of modern malaises—exhaustion, neck and shoulder tension, poor mental focus—I was looking forward to a tailored program for my four-night stay. So I was surprised when my schedule relied almost too heavily on The Farm’s legacy detox regimen. My consulting doctor, a general practitioner, prescribed a series of colon hydrotherapy sessions, saying a gut cleanse was the best way to begin the transformation.

When I asked about alternatives, like a mental health consultation to address underlying anxiety, the suggestion was politely acknowledged but then deferred until “after the first cleanse,” at which point there was no real follow up because my body “needed time to rest.” More jarringly, phrases like “toxin elimination,” “energy blockage,” and “cancer prevention” came up often. Once staples of wellness marketing, these terms are now widely disputed by mainstream medicine. A quick online search confirms that scientific support for colonics is scant—and in some cases, cautionary.

Still, one suggestion resonated: to explore the wellness offerings beyond the clinic, since true healing here is meant to be holistic. I took it to heart, rising early for functional training at the gym and slowing down with yoga in the pavilion overlooking the lagoon.

A resident peacock on the grounds of The Farm at San Benito.

The Narra Pool Villa is surrounded by the lush jungle.

*Left to right:* Spa director Lemoiel Senillo; vegan dishes at Alive!.

The Healing Sanctuary Spa proved a revelation. Longtime director Lemoiel Senillo, who has been with The Farm since its inception, told me he is gradually shifting the focus toward traditional Filipino therapies to ground the experience in a deeper sense of place. Indeed, my two-hour Hilot Haplos treatment—a ritual combining a scrub, herbal bath, and distinctive deep-pressure massage with gentle stretching—was so restorative it lulled me into a deep, dreamless sleep that night.

The therapists here also seem attuned to energetic healing. During a facial, mine detected tension in my neck and scalp and somehow kneaded away a persistent headache. For long-term relief, of course, I’ll need to work on improving my posture.

The spa is complemented by an aquatherapy facility anchored by a spaceship-like flotation pod designed for deep relaxation. I lasted 40 minutes of my one-hour session—proof that achieving mental stillness may take more practice. Other facilities include a Vichy shower, steam rooms, saunas, and, soon, an ice plunge tub—arguably today’s most popular form of aquatherapy.

Mealtimes showcase The Farm’s philosophy of nourishment through nature, with much of the produce sourced from on-site gardens. What began with a single vegan restaurant, Alive!, has grown to include four additional dining outlets that cater to different styles of conscious eating. There is Prana (Indian vegetarian), Upper Deck (Mediterranean and Filipino), Pesce (pescatarian), and the newest, Souffle De Vie, a French fine-dining spot so popular it was fully booked both nights I tried to get in.

Alive!’s vibrant dishes made clean eating a joy, but I also relished the spice-laced warmth of meals at Prana and even teared up over the soulful chicken adobo at Upper Deck. Soon, more nutritional guidance will be available across all restaurants, helping guests enjoy a variety of cuisines while staying aligned with their health goals.

The Farm at San Benito’s Isla Royale villas are infused with local textiles and art.

This adaptive spirit reflects the broader changes underway. Systems are being integrated to meet Marriott’s standards, while the villas are getting subtle upgrades—from bedside master switches to conveniently placed charging ports—designed to enhance comfort.

What I hope never changes is the warmth of the people. Whether it was the waiter who escorted me to my villa on my first night or the nurses who sent guests off to their colonics with a cheerful “let’s get a good harvest,” there is a depth of heartfelt hospitality here that feels increasingly rare.

And yes, about those colonics. I was naturally skeptical, but in the name of journalism—and curiosity—I went ahead with all three sessions. The process was only mildly uncomfortable as the nurses were pros. While it was undeniably awkward to be, well, eliminating in front of someone, their upbeat guidance turned the experience into something oddly motivational.

Even more unexpected were the aftereffects. I felt physically and energetically lighter, my dulled palate sharpened, and food tasted more vivid. My sleep improved and my energy levels rebounded. Whether it was the enforced rest, the clean food, or the colonics, something had clearly shifted.

That is the paradox of The Farm at San Benito, and perhaps the reason why so many guests return. It sits at an unusual intersection between old-school detox retreat and evolving medical wellness center, contradictions and all. Yet in a world increasingly obsessed with biohacking gadgets and hyper-personalized health metrics, there is something reassuring about The Farm’s earthy, slightly retro philosophy that takes into consideration how one feels as a valid measure of progress. Sometimes, that matters most.

On my final morning, while wrapping up the last of my consultations, someone asked when I might return. To my own surprise, I replied with certainty, “See you next year.”

thefarmatsanbenito.com; multiday programs from about US$400 per person a night.

Yoga at the resort’s centerpiece lagoon.

This article originally appeared in the October/November 2025 print issue of DestinAsian magazine (“Down at The Farm”). Buy a single issue or subscribe here.

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