Blissful Escape at Aum Spa

Cebu is not only known for its rich historical and religious past, it is also a modern bustling city and home to some of the most luxurious accommodations outside Manila . When in Mactan Island , just outside the city, and billeted in one of the many five-star resorts and hotels along its shores, you get the added bonus of some of the best spa treatments in the country.

Crimson Resort and Spa is an exclusive piece of paradise just 15 minutes away from Mactan’s airport. On this sprawling six-hectare resort facing the Olango Island sanctuary and Hilutungan Channel is a tropical escape of 250 suites and 40 villas, 38 of them outfitted with private plunge pools, set in the Asian contemporary style. There are not one or two but four theme restaurants—Saffron (Asian), Azure Pool Bar (tapas), Tempo Music Lounge (canapes) and Score Sports Bar (Western)—in this private luxury enclave and the 1,000-square meter Coral Ballroom, fit for a king’s banquet. No wonder the resort is a favorite for weddings and big parties and events.

 Being Filinvest Land ’s first foray into the hotel and hospitality industry, nothing was left to chance. No less than architectural and interior design firm Wimberly Allison Tong and Goo (WATG) from California was tapped to masterplan the resort. Landscape architecture is by Belt Collins from Hong Kong , which created a garden atmosphere reminiscent of Balinese-inspired resorts. The result is understated elegance with subdued cream walls and dark wood paneling in its interiors, enhanced by accents of wood, stone and woven natural Philippine fibers, and exteriors that echo a lush tropical paradise.

 The resort devotes 2,000 square meters to its Aum Spa and Wellness Center , housed in a separate structure, a short walk or a golf cart ride from the main resort. The spa derives its name from the word om, a Hindu sacred sound spoken in the beginning and the end of prayers and meditations. Considered as the greatest of all mantras, it also used in the practice of yoga and is related to techniques of auditory meditation. The very act saying “om” or “aum” leads one to a heightened sense of awareness of one’s place in the universe.  It is with this philosophy that resort spa consultant Karen Villarica of Mandala Spa conceptualized a spa that would provide guests a place of peace and serenity, where you find your own center and work towards “holding everything together.” With the fast-paced lifestyle we are leading, searching and finding that place is priceless indeed.

 Tucked away in its private place, the spa’s entrance welcomes you with a nurturing embrace the moment you set foot at the cavernous reception area. Croissant-shaped Kenneth Cobonpue loungers neatly arranged against a spirit wall invite you to take a seat and enjoy the soothing sound of water gushing from the mini falls located on the sides of the receiving area.

 After perusing the spa’s menu of treatments and given a choice between a one-hour or a two-hour massage (I settled for the one-hour massage), spa manager Melissa Montesclaro gave me a short tour of the spa while my assigned therapist prepared the treatment room.

 Aum Spa has 14 rooms. Massages may be arranged in the comfort of the rooms or in one of the open pavilions. You pass by a series of European-inspired stone-cast fountainheads spewing out water that gently flow into one horizontal pool before you find one of the spacious Balinese-inspired open pavilions. Modern clean lines, indigenous materials like grass for the roofing and the muted earth tones of the stone floor make the room a relaxing place for treatments. Tastefully appointed with two massage beds; a huge, immaculately clean bathtub; and a pocket garden of bamboo and tropical plants, the rooms provide a Zen experience.

 Montesclaro said the wellness center offers the Aum Half Day Spa Experience in which, for a full four hours, guests are treated to a day of pampering in one of the open spa villas. Stress-reducing treatments come in fanciful names such as Tropical Getaway, Aum Luxury Escape and Ultimate Retreat, which include a welcome foot ritual and water therapy sessions at the spa pool.

 For the weary traveler, recommended treatments under the Spa Journeys menu are the Tranquility, Rejuvenation, Renewal and Jet Lag packages. Those pressed for time can avail of the Aum Express Relief, 45-minute massage therapy for the head, neck, back and shoulders using herbal-infused hot compresses placed on the back and foot.

Deluxe King room

Deluxe Twin room

 Long-staying guests can avail of the Aum Lifestyle Classes, private and group yoga, tai chi and meditation lessons held at the open cabanas where one can spread yoga mats on the wooden floor and spend the day in deep, soulful meditation.  A steam and sauna room and an outdoor pool with a spacious sundeck have plenty of loungers to allow one to soak in the sun after-treatment while sipping Gingered Oranges, Aum’s signature drink,  a calming and revitalizing drink of ginger ale, fresh organic juice, calamansi and lemon twist.

 After the tour, we headed back to the room, our staccato footsteps echoing in the stone courtyard. I was ushered into the changing rooms and into the spa room where for the next hour or so the trained hands of the therapist transported me to a blissful state of nothingness as I felt my muscles being kneaded and stretched as soft piped-in music filled the air. I chose the Aum Signature massage, a combination stroke massage that applies the right pressure on just the right spots on the shoulder and lower back using lavender-infused virgin coconut oil. After a day of exploring the resort and savoring the delicious food prepared by master chef Stefano Lerillo at the spanking Saffron Restaurant, there was nothing more gratifying than to just lie back and find that inner calm while my body was being restored to health.

 Other signature treatments are the Aum Deep Tissue Massage, ideal for severe or chronic muscle tightness, and the Aum Healing Stone Massage, two hours and 15 minutes of bliss guaranteed to transport one to state of healing and health. One-hour treatments such as the traditional hilot, Thai and Shiatsu massage, foot reflexology, prenatal massage and a Teen Spa are offered to guests.  And if those are not enough, they also have body wraps and scrubs. The spa offers detox and firming body wraps such as Phytomer Seatonic Firming Wrap, the Rhassoul Body Wrap, Dead Sea body wrap and the after-sun cooling body treatment. Body scrubs come with a tantalizing blend of fruit and herbal formulas such as the Spicy Sugar Scrub, Wild Orange Calamondine Body Polish, Tropical Fruit Body Scrub, Jasmine Body Scrub, Coffee Invigorating Body Glow and the Aromatherapy Salt Rubdown.

 Anti-aging facial treatments include the Babor HSR Glamor Lifting Facial with Gold, Tropical Revitalizing Facial (lime and pineapple), and the Phytomer Skin Escape for Men.

 Aum Spa day entrance is at Php1,800 in case you want to indulge in a spa experience for a few hours. However, an overnight stay at one of the resort’s spacious beachfront, oceanfront and private pool villas is an experience one should not miss.  To this I say, “om”, a prayer that someday I might visit the resort again to find myself lost in this tropical paradise.

Crimson Beach Resort and Spa is located at Lapu-Lapu City,  Mactan Island, Cebu, Philippines with telephone number (+63 32) 401-9999, fax number (+ 63 32) 401-.9998 and email info.mactan@crimsonhotel.com. Their Metro Manila sales office is at Unit 2202, PBCom Tower, 6795 Ayala Avenue corner V. A. Rufino Street, Makati City, with telephone number (+ 63 2) 728-0005 and fax  number (+ 63 2) 729-0077.