MANILA, Philippines – Volcanic ash and COVID-19 aside, Tagaytay City’s OG wellness destination Nurture Wellness Village miraculously made it through the soot after two years of no guests, no staff, and no steady stream of income.

It’s surprising to think that 20 years ago, Nurture Wellness was not yet a village but just a spa of only four employees.

Check it out in 2022 (just after its full COVID reopening), and the beautiful nature sanctuary now boasts its own lush estate, sprawling with foliage and well-maintained landscapes, pebble stone paths, an outdoor pool, modern bahay kubos, al fresco massage villas, its own farm, and a neighboring restaurant. The environment of peace, tranquility, and privacy that clients travel all the way from Manila for still remains, with holistic health and wellness at the core.

Two years ago, Nurture Wellness was far from what it is today – the property was sullen, empty, silent, and covered in volcanic soot after Taal Volcano erupted in January 2020. To think, just a month prior, Nurture was bustling and full of life due to the holiday peak season.

“Christmas 2019 was wonderful. We had all guns blazing, everything was looking good,” Cathy Turvill, founder of Nurture Wellness Village, told Rappler. However, a month later, Nurture was a ghost town, showing no signs of life.

“We had to let people go. The painful thing was we had to refund during peak season. We had to stop the business. For prior reservations, they canceled so we had to refund all of them, and those payments were already part of our cash flow,” Cathy said. But in true bayanihan fashion, the community-based business’ staff came together to help clean up Taal’s aftermath.

“Yung kabuhayan ng mga tao nasa amin e (The people’s livelihoods are with us),” Cathy said. “Everybody cleaned up, since everything was super gray. After two weeks of cleaning, we opened up and announced that we were back.” But then two months later, COVID happened, and Nurture Wellness was forced to close down again as the world took an indefinite, uncertain pause.

“It was very challenging because there were no jobs, no nothing. Everything was at a standstill. We had to do refunds heavily, so it was crazy. 2020 was a very difficult year, and March moving forward was really bad. We were following DOLE rules, we did a couple of community pantries. We gave some of our guys work-from-home setups. Mahirap talaga,” Cathy said. When restrictions began to relax, Nurture Wellness tried to reopen in March-April 2021, but it was a series of close-open-close-open.

“When the pandemic first happened, we had to make personal sacrifices. Those were decisions we made, since we were family-run. We were able to introduce changes rather than having to go through very high-board structures which will take much longe. It was much easier and much faster.”

Things started looking up when Nurture Wellness partnered with Raintree Hospitality (Jones All Day, Saboten, The Coconut Club, Providore, Friends & Family, Chotto Matte) around this time as well. Raintree was a restaurant group that was also bearing the brunt of the lockdown, having closed down many of its restaurants.

“Anabelle, the owner, is a friend and said to me: ‘Why don’t [we] try [partnering in] Tagaytay?’ We looked at each other. We had nothing to lose, because wala na eh. Wala ring business sila. Kami din talaga sarado,” Cathy said. The two ladies decided to give it a shot. A few months later, a picturesque al fresco restaurant called Farmer’s Table was put up.

“The open-air restaurant was good because it responded to people’s needs to be out and social distanced at the same time,” Cathy said. With good food, A+ presentation, breezy and beautiful interiors, and repeat customers, Farmer’s Table gave them a survival boost, and Cathy still feels very blessed and grateful for what she believes was their second chance. “The fact that we’re still here is a miracle,” she said.

The wellness industry was one of the hardest hit in the pandemic, especially for spas located in tourist-dependent cities such as Tagaytay City. Pre-COVID, Nurture Wellness had over 130 employees. Since its recent reopening in April, only 55 of the staff are left. But many of them still decided to come back, just to work again for the humble, family-owned company that took care of them during the pandemic.

“If there’s one thing COVID taught us, it’s that there are things beyond our control and you just have to be ready for it. COVID taught us to be wiser. We’re conscious of costs now. We now have savings for a rainy day. If you just hang in there, things will get better, ” Cathy added, owing their “resurrection” to the tenacity and resilience of the Nurture Team.

She also said that there is an advantage to being a family-run company; it made them more nimble and flexible in responding to challenges. “We had to make personal sacrifices, like selling our house in Manila to save the business. We could make these decisions right away, rather than having to go through high-board, hierarchal structures which will take much longer.”

The idea for Nurture Wellness was nurtured by Baguio native Cathy, who was in Manila and looking for a place to be quiet and escape during her midlife crisis. Baguio was too far away, so she started heading to Tagaytay to pray and meditate. “When you go through a situation like that, you need to be still and not go crazy. I was in Pink Sisters when I thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be nice to have a massage?'” At the time, spas weren’t a big thing yet, especially in Tagaytay, so Cathy wanted to be one of the firsts to offer both massages and simple good food in one relaxing place. With that vision, Nurture Wellness was born.

At that time, Nurture was a mess, Cathy said. She was lost – she had 1,800 square meters of empty space, a contractor-landscaper, and no concrete plan of what to do, until she met her husband Mike, who just arrived from Shanghai as a Unilever expat. He invested in the company, helped Cathy structure her thoughts, and learned “the correct way of doing things” together.

“We learned how to professionally manage the spa, we hired an expat consultant from Thailand who guided us, trained our people, and developed our spa menu, and since Mike was also a chemist, he developed our essential oils,” Cathy said. Even the toiletries are made in-house by Mike’s team.

“The combination of professionally-trained therapists together with very good essential oils is actually the magic of the spa,” she added. Sooner or later, the property was no longer just at 1,800 square meters – Nurture Wellness began hosting weddings, receptions, romantic proposals, and special occasions. “We invested in expanding it; we bought the next property. When we already had accommodations, we expanded. As we grew, we acquired more properties next to us, and grew.”

Lo and behold, Nurture Wellness Village become one of the very first DOT-accredited destination spas in the Philippines! “We felt that it was important to build the Filipino brand, so from the very beginning, we were all about being Filipino,” Cathy said.

The first thing she did was introduce the healing therapy of traditional hilot. But beyond traditional massages and spa treatments, Cathy also knew that holistic health needed to be in the picture. She partnered with Dr. Sam Dizon, who helped create need-specific wellness programs that promoted natural healing programs to guests. Couple that with eco-therapy, touch-therapy, and Filipino hospitality, and Nurture Wellness has solidified its concept.

“Studies have shown that a healthier person is more productive at work. Lalo na ngayon with the pandemic, mental health is such a big issue, so eco-therapy is a simple solution. Akyat ka lang ng Tagaytay, and very important, combine it with touch therapy, which is very powerful. Especially with COVID, people are touch-starved,” Cathy said.

Fun fact: Before Farmer’s Table came to be, Nurture Wellness had its own restaurant called Gabriela. It was named after Filipina activist Gabriela Silang, a family ancestor. “We’re descendants of Gabriela Silang. That’s why you will notice very strong Filipino accents from Abra. Because my dad’s from Abra, we like to give honor to Gabriela Silang.” Bloodline aside, Cathy also feels connected to the Filipina heroine by joining a revolution in her own way – a healthy revolution.

It doesn’t feel stuffy, stiff, or overly aspirational at all either – yes, it’s premium and high-end here, but the Filipino heritage runs deep in the spa’s hospitality and themed experience makes it feel like an extension of home. It’s relatable, familiar, and comforting, because the Filipino-themed spa has solidified its home-is-where-the-heart-is concept in the decor, ceramics, spa packages, massages, and the Ifugao native hut suites. Choose from the Nilaib, Hilot and Dagdagay wellness packages; enjoy Haplos Kalinga Touch Therapy, Dagdagay Foot Massage; or indulge in a romantic Magkasintahan Package for two.

“We are proudly Filipino from the very beginning. That’s our DNA. 21 years ago, there was no Filipino-themed spa yet, and at that time, Filipinos were trying to be everybody else except being Filipino. It was so frustrating, because we have such a beautiful culture and people are hiding behind other people’s cultures,” Cathy said. No Thai or Balinese-inspired villas here – Cathy made it a point to insert Filipino culture in every detail possible, like using native woven cloth abel as the linens in the spa, local homegrown herbs for tea, and native fresh ingredients for face scrubs and masks.

The Filipino spirit is also embodied in how Nurture Wellness takes care of its staff. For Cathy, it’s all about inclusive growth and self-empowerment. “We hire from within, and we’re proud to say when we first arrived in Brgy. Maitim, it literally lived up to its name. It was maitim. No jobs, no nothing. Our therapists were like, ‘Ganito lang ako. Housewife lang ako. Dito lang ako.‘ There was very low self-esteem,” Cathy said. Ever since, Nurture Wellness has primarily hired from the barangays nearby and invests in extensive training for each employee.

“The women had no concept of self-dignity, so they were trained by an Australian to help build up their self-esteem and their dignity. They now have very good paying jobs; one now has a five-door apartment. You can see that their lives, from mud walls and mud floors, they now have a second floor,” she added. Because of how well Nurture’s employees are treated, that happiness reflects in the sincere service they offer Nurture’s guests.

Last August, I visited Nurture Wellness Village for the weekend to try out the Stress Buster Wellness Package, a recommended option for guests looking for both R&R and a health boost (both physically and mentally)! As a believer of alternative therapy, I was looking forward to a weekend of holistic health, Filipino care, and the magic of eco-therapy (healing in nature).

The whole experience exuded Filipino warmth and service, even upon check-in. We were given complimentary pandan tea while waiting for the go-cart shuttle to transport us to our Payapa Cottage (it’s a scenic and short drive). Upon settling in our suite, two ice-cold bottles of fresh, cold-pressed fruit and veggie juices from Farmacy were waiting – sweet and refreshing – the best healthy thirst quencher after a long drive from Metro Manila.

The air-conditioned Forest View Room was minimalistic, sophisticated, and modern, with a cozy queen bed, smart TV, and a spacious comfort room with a bathtub. The sliding door extended to a private balcony with seats, overlooking a quiet, verdant forest. The cottage provides silence and exclusivity, but it is also conveniently located right beside the massage huts and outdoor villas.

Just being at the property already felt like an instant recalibration of my nervous system. The cool, unpolluted air and nature oasis immediately evoked a sense of calm, and the slow and steady pace of the day was a reminder to be mindful. It felt like a literal breath of fresh air; a “wellness vacation” I didn’t know I needed.

Nurture Wellness’ Stress Buster program included a one-hour acupuncture session (you can also opt for an enema). Yes, I did the “needle thing,” and no, it wasn’t painful, thanks to Nurture Wellness’ skilled therapist that made the whole experience comfortable and gentle. At the outdoor villa, I was asked to lay back, relax, and let the needles do its “healing.” The prick you’ll feel in certain spots is very minimal.

Just be ready to stay still for almost an hour, but this wasn’t so hard to do, surprisingly. I closed my eyes, enjoyed the Tagaytay breeze, had a chat with my therapist, talked to my friend, and even had a short nap. After the session, I felt a sense of relief – they do say that acupuncture helps to release any blocked or stuck energy in the body.

A hearty dinner at the private balcony area of Farmer’s Table was next. The ambiance and weather were on point, and so was the extensive Filipino-continental menu of healthy choices. Here are my favorites: the best-selling vegetarian Buffalo Cauliflower and Broccoli, which was *chef’s kiss* – deep-fried, crunchy veggie “poppers” coated in a sweet-spicy-tangy buffalo sauce, and then dipped in a blue cheese sauce. This was so addictive!

The Tagaytay staple Fried Tawilis was also a goodie to have as an appetizer or as an ulam, paired with hot bulalo broth. The generous serving of local tawilis fish were well-coated in light yet crispy batter and dipped in native suka. Another pescatarian-friendly option I enjoyed was the filling Salmon Salad Niçoise, served with the works – fresh romaine greens, boiled egg, potato, green beans, dill honey ranch dressing.

For take-out (since dinner was fairly early), I got the Margherita’s Garden Stone-Fired Pizza (fresh basil, tomato, arugula, oregano, Malagos pecorino) and Labneh, a tangy Middle Eastern yogurt-based cheese dip served with pita, tomato, fresh herbs. They both still tasted A+ hours later, as we enjoyed it in bed for a midnight snack.

To cap off the night, the Stress Buster Program has a one-hour Indigenous Hilot Kagalingan planned out for you in a private massage hut. The treatment started with a relaxing foot spa and made use of traditional massage techniques using banana leaves, local herbs, wooden sticks, and coconut oil to soothe any tension, aches, pains, and provide an overall sense of zen afterwards. Don’t leave Nurture Wellness without trying out this therapeutic massage – your mind, body, and spirit will thank you.

After the one-hour massage, I enjoyed a follow-up, 60-minute Mutya Facial on the massage bed. This signature facial uses only natural ingredients like oats, yogurt, honey, sugar, and cucumber to “beautify your skin.” The therapist’s gentle strokes may make you doze off, but you’ll wake up with glowing skin and a refreshed, cleansed feeling for optimum zzz’s.

We woke up to gloomy, rainy weather the next morning, so we unfortunately could not attend the 8 am farm tour or the outdoor 7 am tai-chi session (also, mornings aren’t really my forte). We did make sure to enjoy a leisurely breakfast at Farmer’s Table, which came with bread and jam, fresh fruits, brewed coffee, and a satisfying Salmon Eggs Benedict.

After breakfast, the Stress Buster Program includes a few more activities guests can enjoy before noon check-out. We enjoyed a live Fresh Juicing Demonstration by Nurture Wellness’ therapist, where we got to watch firsthand how Farmacy creates its power juices from scratch, using only the freshest farm-to-table produce, herbs, and other natural ingredients.

Aside from the knowledge imparted, we also left the session with free samples of all four juices made (each one was delicious, by the way). We were also scheduled for a Coffee Roasting Demo, but we were a bit short on time. I guess we’ll have to come back for that one!

I didn’t think I needed nature and silence until I was there; living in Metro Manila somehow makes you numb to the stressors and fast-paced lifestyle needed to survive the day. Cathy also shared that the stress of living in Manila really took a toll on her that she and her family finally moved to Tagaytay. Now, she considers herself “super blessed to live amidst nature.”

“That’s what we would like to offer as a gift to our guests. You might be in a condo. You don’t have much clean air. You don’t have much beauty around you, since everything’s so gray. We would like to offer the gift of ecotherapy, since it’s all about being healthier, happier, better,” Cathy said. Like they say, rest is essential to success. Recovery is part of productivity. This was me taking care of my gas tank, and making sure I wasn’t running on empty.

The nice thing about being at Nurture Wellness is that you don’t feel talked down upon; the brand doesn’t preach wellness or boss you around with health rules. It non-judgmentally allows you the space, time, and opportunity to nurture and nurse yourself to better well-being. Taking care of myself felt like an indulgent luxury, and not a chore; but hopefully, this will no longer feel like a privilege but a right to Filipinos, especially after the pandemic.

“Love yourself enough to live a healthy lifestyle. Do it for yourself. Do it for your family. Do it for your company. We’re here to help, not by talking about it, but by providing an experience so that you make the decision yourself that you want to be healthier.” – Rappler.com

Nurture Wellness Village is located in Pulong Sagingan, Barangay Maitim II West Luzon, Tagaytay, Cavite. You can book through the website, +639176878873, or email at info@nurture.com.ph.

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