Nurture Spa Tagaytay

Hundred year old ulong

You need not venture far if you seek a one-of-a-kind spa experience steeped in Filipino traditions and culture. Nestled in a 2.6 square meter property in Pulong Sagingan is a rustic little village of native wooden huts called the Nurture Spa Village, considered  one of the pioneers in bringing worldwide attention to our very own hilot, the Filipino ancient art of healing massage.

Inside the ulong

 When Catherine Brillantes-Turvill decided to put up Nurture Spa in 2002, she had in mind a spa that that would draw from our own heritage. After researching into the healing traditions of our forebears she bought four authentic hundred-year-old ulogs, native Ifugao huts from the Mountain Province , knocked them down and re-built them piece by piece in Tagaytay.  From those initial four huts, they spa now has 14 accommodations – the four naturally-ventilated Ifugao huts, six couple rooms and two family rooms.  All are sprawled within the confines of a lovely flowering garden on a sloping hill with stone paths that lead surreptiously  to various parts of the property – among them, a wellness center  for long-stay guests called the Kanlungan, four outdoor treatment rooms, an herb garden and a healing path called the Lakad Kagalingan (reflexology stone path).

Asian fusion cuisine may be enjoyed inside air-conditioned Dulang Bistro restaurant while seated cross-legged on embroidered pillows or at the trellised garden studded with creeping vines and mini ponds made of talyasi and ancient banga with small kois and floating water lilies in them. An array of healthy dishes with vegetarian and non-vegetarian options uses only the freshest ingredients sourced from around Tagaytay. A must- try is the Nurture Salad that has fresh greens, kesong puti and oriental dressing, and the Osso Buco, beef shank served Batangas kaldereta style, washed down with a healthful drink of carrot pineapple juice. A pavilion at the west side of the property can accommodate 150 persons, perfect  for team buildings and corporate functions, while the garden can be made to accommodate 200-250 guests for a truly romantic garden wedding.

Lakad Kagalingan

Nurture Spa receives overnight guests who want to relax and unwind for the weekend or walk- in guests who may want to experience the embrace of a truly Filipino spa experience for an hour or two.  Treatments start and end with a relaxing hot ginger tea locally known as salabat. An ancient feet bathing ritual called Banos (meaning “a bath”) is performed as well where feet is soaked with warm water steeped in healing herbs to promote blood circulation and remove pain or fatigue. Then, as you lie back to enjoy the soothing massage, a music ritual using a Palawan rain flute is performed.

 Sinaunang Lunas, the spa’s range of ancient cures offers the traditional Philippine provincial Hilot Kagalingan usually done to cure cold, sprain, fever and relieve fatigue.  If you have back pain and colds that won’t go away, you are likely to have lamig, excess air, that stays inside the muscle and causes body pain.  The spa has two kinds of hot massages therapies to alleviate this condition. Lunas ni Nanay is a ventosa massage performed by placing a glass in specific accupoints on the back to create a vacuum and suck out the lamig. The Filipino version of the hot stone massage called Nilaib uses steamed hot pouches of Filipino herbs wrapped in banana leaves placed on the back and on the hands and feet.  The Dagdagay foot massage is also offered at the spa. This is an authentic tribal massage using herbal clay to cleanse and purify the feet, using bamboo sticks to stimulate the soles.  Armie, one of the therapists, says our forbears practiced this unique kind of reflexology since massaging their bare feet, with soles thick from not wearing footwear and being exposed to the elements, can be difficult. It was also unhygienic to massage feet with the hands.

 Since Nurture Spa is surrounded by coffee plantations, it specializes in the aromatic Kape Barako coffee scrub. Other scrubs available are Aliwalas Dead Sea Scrub, The Halimuyak Rose Petal body polish and Mayumi Coconut body polish. Body wraps include the Manggang Yakap (mango), Sarap ng Papaya (ripe papaya) and Hilom (healing) Dead Sea Mud Wrap. Facials available are the Maharlika Lavender (lavender scrub and mud mask), the Makisig Gentleman’s Facial (green clay mask) or the Marikit (honey and lavender scrub with protein mask). The hair also gets special care and attention with the Kaaya-Ayang  Buhok treatments that include Hasmin Royal Hair Spa (jasmine oil and extra virgin coco oil) or the Sabila Hair Luster (aloe vera).  

meditation nooks

The spa assures guests a garden enclave of solitude where meditation nooks are situated on various areas of the property – in the verandas of the garden houses or in open spa treatment areas. Visitors are requested to keep their voices down or maintain silence by signs posted all over the property. Quaint tent structures decorated with white flowing fabric, massage chairs made of native kamagong hardwood and footbaths are used for outdoor treatments. There, you can enjoy a relaxing foot spa with massage (Hele) or the combo hand and foot massage they call Pawi. To relieve sore neck and back muscles, opt for the Iglipang Ginhawa.

Nurture Spa, known for its signature “floral” strokes, uses only freshly prepared natural ingredients.  An excellent pre-treatment to these massages is the suob, where guests are made to inhale healing unguents to open the skin pores and remove toxins. Their massage menu includes the Kambal Kamay, or four hands touch. Also popular are the Aruga (care) massage, Haplos ng Ayurveda, or the Magsing-Iirog lovers massage for couples. Combinations of several of the packages (wraps, scrubs, facials, foot spas) are available such as their Maharlikang Lubos which can range from two to three hours. 

 Catherine’s husband and business partner Dr. Mike Turvill, a British national and a chemist, created the Amuin product line, a range of aromatherapy and massage oils used at the spa. Amuin is a Filipino term for “caress” or “to tame”. Their lemongrass oil is sourced from Mambugsay, Negros . This, along with other native products such as gift bags and boxes made of Abel fabric from Bangar, La Union, and Bulua ceramic cups from Cagayan de Oro, is sold at the spa’s curio shop.

 Long-stay guests (2 days/1 night minimum) at the Institute of Natural Healing (INH), headed by Dr. Samuel Dizon, a doctor of natural and alternative medicine, can avail of the Joyful Health Packages. Among the treatments being offered in this range are the Glowing Beauty, an anti-aging program that includes facial treatment using Biodroga products and Algotherm products for the contouring body wrap. Weight loss and total detox coupled with holistic healing methods, planned menus, computerized health scan, Qi breathing exercises, acupuncture and colonic enema are likewise offered to aid in serious ailments such as kidney, and liver malfunction, hypertension and even cancer.

The INH Wellness Center

Last  June, Nurture Spa will start expansion of the INH building, include more services and promote it as a medi spa. A condotel with 50 rooms will be built at the adjacent lot and the forest trails to the banana and coffee plantations will be cleared for guests to enjoy guided eco-tours.

 Overnight billeting is recommended to make the most of the relaxing visit to Nurture Spa and weekdays, from Tuesday to Thursday, are the best time to visit. The more adventurous may opt for the ulog accommodation, with the cacophony of night sounds and the gentle rush of an artificial waterfalls lulling one to sleep.  By day or night, the cold Tagaytay air and charming gardens of Nurture Spa puts one in a contemplative mood. There, you are safely cocooned in your own private space, embraced in the warmth of the Filipino’s healing touch and hospitality.

Getting there: By private car, Nurture Spa is 45 minutes from Makati via SLEX. Take Sta. Rosa exit then turn right following the main road to Tagaytay. Turn right to the small road going to the subdivision of Pulong Sagingan and follow the signs leading to Nurture Spa.  Weekday discount of 10% may be availed from Monday-Thursday on all treatments (complimentary snacks included). Ifugao rooms are at Php 3,500, garden view room at Php 4,500 and forest view rooms are at Php 5,500; all have toilets and bath, and LCD television. Wifi access in the pavilion, reception  and restaurant. Reservations may be made directly at Nurture Spa through sales manager Noel Tindogan at tel. nos. (63 46) 483-0805, mobile (63 920) 950-5724 and (63 918) 888-8772.