Regina Rica
Regina Rosarii Institute for Contemplation in Asia
Tanay, Rizal
Tanay, Rizal
September 18, 2011
About a year ago, I had the chance to meet an old friend. Unexpectedly,
we reached a place where we can have peace of mind, reckoning, and a real place
for spiritual reflection. Yes, on the
mountain top… in Tanay Rizal.
We have the old saying, “if there’s a will there’s a
way!” It may be passé for others but for
me it is absolutely true.
9am – when we
started travelling. The destination? It
is unknown to me and my friend Agnes. Only
her brother, Kuya Rodel knows where we’re going.
About 20miles away from
my friend’s house, the clutch diaphragm exploded. We were using an AUV manual transmission van,
of course we have to stop and we waited for at least an hour until the rescue
team came. In just 30mins or so we hit the road again.
Ka-Boom!
Few minutes from the
point where we stopped… or maybe about 5-7miles away, the radiator’s water tank
exploded. Again, we have to stop in the
middle of nowhere. The question is: “How
are we going to replace the plastic tank; we are along the mountain side and in
a grassy area?”
In short, it is another
few hours of stop over, to find temporary solution for the broken tank. YES! We got hungry and ate along the mountain
side. Around 2pm we hit the road again
and continued travelling. However, almost
every 5-10minutes we have to stop and add water in the temporary container.
Oh, God is so good!
After a few hours of stop and go, we reached the unfamiliar place on top of the
mountain and it is already around 4pm. Finally,
our pilgrimage has been realized!
So what’s on top of the mountain then?
Yes, it was a huge statue of Mother Mary on top of the
mountain?
YES it is! And it
was so Serene! Refreshing! Inspiring!
And it is called Regina RICA.
The 13-hectare land
was managed by the Dominican Sisters. At
first, there were no houses. No constructions. The mass was held in the between
the tall Mahogany Trees
But because the
Dominican Sisters’ friends and mission partners, they said “We felt the presence of
our Lady protecting us and covering us with her mantle of Love.”
Inauguration Plaque
of Regina Rosarii
Regina RICA also
offers the following facilities:
Tagpi-tagpi ni San Jose - it is the first
“kubo” (small house made of wood) at Regina RICA
Kubol ni Moises, Elijah at Shua – a cozy hut in the middle of the fish pond, with
beautiful waterfalls
The Woods Kakahuyan – small cottages that can house guests
The Sacred Trail – going to the top of the mountain to see the shrine of Our Lady which
is a 53-foot tall statue of Virgin Mary
Regina Rosarii Sanctuary – an adoration chapel under the mantel of our Lady
Rotonda de San Jose – 13-foot statue of St. Joseph looking at his family from a distance
Pahuwayan, the resting Gazebo – a resting place and a good conference site
Pasilungan –
the souvenir shop and canteen
Under Construction (taken a year ago):
a
3-storey Chapel and Columbary
We stayed there
about an hour. We hate to go, but we
must go home before dusk breaks!
5pm we are back on
the road and as usual we have to stop in the middle of nowhere to get water
replacement and fill the temporary water tank. I was in charge of getting the water, while my
friend Agnes and the rest of the oldies (men) are assisting Kuya Rodel who is
very much distressed.
Oh by the way, in
between our breaks – the break lining is also in trouble because of the hilly
road. There were high peaks and it’s kinda
hard for the car to crawl, then suddenly too fast in going down on the road…
too much effort for the break.
Now can you imagine
how hard our travel was?
Around 6:30pm -- We’re
home at last! Thanks God! Thanks Regina Rosarii. It’s Sunday, I need to hear mass and I still have
to rush going back to my own home. I refused
to stay on the road especially if the sky is dark and seeing dancing lights on
the streets. Cinderella? Yes maybe.
Anyway, the rest is
history. HQQ2012
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