I THOUGHT I was just visiting a mountain barangay. But Aningalan, San Remegio—the so-called Little Baguio of Panay—turned out to be something else entirely. It wasn’t just the place, but the people, the mist, and the way nature insists on being your teacher the moment you arrive.
We came as a group, the Solution Ecosystems Activator (SEA) Inc. staff, for what we thought would be another field reflection. But this place held us differently. It embraced us, made us pause, made us think of the ground we stand on and the dreams we chase.
When Dreams Take Root
Our visit began with a story. Ms. Ruth Condeno Martinez, San Remegio’s MENRO, welcomed us with her warm, steady smile. She told us about her dream—not just to serve here, but to live here. And now she does. To her, Aningalan is proof that when you hold a dream close enough, nature conspires to let it bloom.
She introduced us to members of Dihon ‘Sa Raya Institute—Enrique, Tin, and others whose energy makes the place hum with quiet movement. They spoke of gardens, inner work, and protecting Antique’s treasures. Some of them are also behind AMLIG Antique, an alliance fighting to keep mining and destructive industries from scarring the province. Their courage is contagious; you feel your own convictions sharpen just by listening.
And then there’s Eli Cueva, still so young, yet already carrying a mentor’s wisdom. He was the one who invited us here, to use Aningalan as the canvas for our renewed reflections as CSOs. Watching him guide the SEA team, I saw why the late Nicanor Perlas—his mentor—once trusted this lad’s vision. Elias speaks softly but plants ideas like seeds that take root long after the session ends.
Clouds, Coffee, and Conversations
Our mornings started at Banglid Dos, a ridge-café where coffee steams as if in a race with the mountain mist. We laughed as we reached out for the drifting clouds—hawak mo ang ulap, pero hindi mo mahawakan. You hold it, but it slips away. Like life, Ruth mused: fleeting, fragile, but still worth reaching for.
By midday, we found ourselves at Cozalandia Nature Park, where we stayed. It wasn’t just the cottages or the breeze that made it special—it was Enrique and Tin, the sweet young couple from Dihon ‘Sa Raya, who cooked meals straight from the garden. There was something deeply grounding about eating food whose roots were just pulled from the soil hours before. Fresh vegetables sizzled, herbs cracked open their fragrance, and then came their signature—a house-blend mint tea, brewed from leaves they picked themselves. It wasn’t just a drink; it was a kind of healing. A sip, and the mountain air seemed to flow right into your veins.
Here, amidst laughter, shared stories, and the clinking of mugs, we felt what it meant to be part of something simple yet profound: to be nourished by land and by love.
Food for Body, Soul, and Spirit
Travel often feeds the senses, but Aningalan nourished us threefold.
Our bodies found joy in meals lovingly prepared from the garden, with Enrique and Tin’s tea becoming the flavor of our stay.
Our souls found calm in the silence between conversations, in the laughter that floated under pine trees, in the shared conviction that we were all part of something bigger. And our spirits—those found renewal in the clouds we touched but could never hold, teaching us that beauty isn’t meant to be possessed, only experienced.
More Than a Place to Visit
I arrived thinking Aningalan was just a destination. I left realizing it was an invitation—to belong, to breathe deeper, to live closer to what matters.
SEA Inc came here for reflection, but what we found was a mirror. In Ruth’s dream, in Dihon ‘Sa Raya’s courage, in AMLIG’s vigilance, and in Elias’ young but steady leadership—we saw what it means to fight for the ground we stand on.
So if you ever make it here, don’t just pass through. Stay. Touch the mist. Taste the mint tea. Listen to the laughter of people who believe in their land. Because Aningalan isn’t just a place to relax—it’s a place to live, to learn, and perhaps, to find yourself.