I love going on road trips, sometimes they take us to places where we discover something wonderful and I just stare in awe and imagine myself transported to a world where only peace and quiet reign, when the only thing you could hear is your heart saying, “Thank You, Lord, You took me here.”
This morning, hubby and I decided to visit Regina RICA (Regina Rosarii Institute for Contemplation in Asia), an hour and a half trip by car from our place. This is my second visit to Tanay but it is my first time to see Our Lady Regina Rosarii located at Brgy. Sampaloc, Tanay, Rizal. I love the winding road going there, it’s more of a zigzag actually, with curves and bends and lots of greenery dotting the countryside. It’s what I like about going on road trips because I get to recharge and relax while traversing a road that leads to somewhere interesting. We passed by the place where I took my first test of endurance three weeks after my final session of chemotherapy last December 8, 2009. It was indeed like touching heaven. I really find it so relaxing traveling the scenic Marcos Highway where the view of the Sierra Madre mountains is an eye candy for city dwellers like me. The glimpse of the Laguna de Bay from a distance is an added bonus.
The Warm Welcome
This is the view that greeted me upon reaching the gate of Regina RICA, an image of Mama Mary from a distance. In my excitement I forgot to take pictures of the two iconic figures of the Dominican community, the image of St. Dominic and St. Catherine of Siena at the gate.
Another journey has begun and I am committing it to memory.
Regina Rica is a 13.5-ha land envisioned by the Dominican Sisters of Regina Rosarii to be a place of pilgrimage, prayer, contemplation, ecological sanctuary and wellness environment.
Pasilungan which in Ilonggo dialect means shelter is the first stop where you get to see the miniature models of the entire place and where you can also write your prayer petitions. They have a welcome video just waiting for the visitors to appreciate what Regina RICA has to offer.It serves as their reception area.
The Journey To Mama Mary
The view from the top…
Getting closer and I am so excited. The walk towards the image of Mama Mary is a S-rail to give the pilgrim a breathtaking view of the place. She stands 71-foot high. There are 13 candle stations where one can leave candle offerings.
Catching my breath at one of the candle stations. There was a gentle drizzle on our trek up and while going down the road leading to the Fourteen Stations of the Cross. I told myself, “this must be Mama Mary’s way of showering her blessings.” I held that thought until we went back to Pasilungan while looking at her through the open windows of the place, so serene and so peaceful.
Seeing her up close at last. Sr. Eppie Brasil, OP describes the image this way, “She shelters and shield us in the safety of her mantle of love. Below her feet is a canopy of clouds where 17 angels watch over us. Inside the mantle of Our Lady is our Adoration Chapel called Sulod (Sanctuary of Universal Love and Devotion) an Ilonggo word for “enter”. We were allowed to enter the prayer room, barefoot and taking pictures is not allowed. Imagine yourself in a very peaceful place enveloped in the mantle of Mama Mary. Awesome!
Going Down, Exploring The Site
A distant view of the Sierra Madre Mountains and the S-Trail of Our Lady and Candle Offering Stations.
This place reminds me so much of Caleruega in Nasugbu, Batangas, another Dominican site where peace and quiet abound. I was delighted to see their vegetable garden where they grow different varieties of lettuce, Chinese kangkong (water spinach), okra, cabbage and other garden veggies that I could not identify.
Near the garden is Rotunda de San Jose, where the image of St. Joseph is enshrined. Near the place are lovely small Bahay Kubo and animal shed where you could find some birds, monkeys and some flowering plants. I was tempted to take shots of all the lovely flowers, some I’ve seen only now.
We went back to Pasilungan and watched the video presentation, ordered their popular mais con hielo and met Sr. Ellen Tayo, OP who is in charge of the place. I gave her two rosaries which I made and she was thrilled. I just told her it’s my way of giving back for all the blessings and for my health. She was so touched she gave me prayer pamphlets, their latest issue of Sacred Space mag and Regina Rosarii calendar for 2012.
It was a journey worth-repeating. One of these days, I would love to visit the place again and attend a Holy mass there. It would take one or more blogs to complete the pictures I took of the place. This message I read in one of the pages of their calendar touched me to the core.
Alone? Feel His presence in pain, persecution, and problems. Don’t be afraid. Jesus promised, “I will be with you until the end of time.” You will be okay.
Hopefully makarating po ako sa place na to… Thanks po pala sa copy ng “Prayer for Healing” pamphlet na binigay mo at sa guide map papunta sa place na to…
Malapit ka lang diyan Lilet, kayang kayang pumunta diyan. By March inaugurate nila yung Chapel, it’s the best time to go there.
[...] Last January 2, hubby and I went on our first road trip for the year going the long distance route from our place in Cainta to Tanay, Rizal. Passing by Marcos Highway was such a breeze because there was no traffic. Hubby loves driving along curves and bends on a concrete long highway where sometimes all you see are just mountains and the fantastic view of foamy and cotton clouds hovering above. These are those times when you think of life and how blessed you feel communing with nature. Here are some more shots I took (sorry, if they look a bit grainy, took them all while traveling) on our way to Regina RICA. [...]
I would like to bring mommy there/. It looks so serene and beautiful! But I’m afraid the rolling terrain would be difficult for her.
Hi Leo, thanks for the visit. If she can’t climb the trail, there is another way up by car, a concrete road near the Chapel. Madali lang puntahan eto, dere-derecho lang yung Marcos Highway until you reach Brgy. Sampaloc in Tanay. I am sure your mom would love to visit.
nakapunta po ako sa chapel ng regina rosarii sa Sct. Fernandez gusto ko pong marating din ang sa Tanay, pwede po bang pumunta kami dun ng family ko kahit hindi na kami magpa schedule? Maraming salamat po..
Pwedeng pwede pumunta dun at any time of the week except Monday (ata). There’s no need to schedule your trip with them. Mama Mary’s image here is definitely bigger and larger than the one they have in Quezon City.
magandang lugar sa mga nagnanais ng katahimikan. alam po ba ninyo kung paano mag-commute papunta rito. salamat po. God bless.
Rosy, marami namang biyahe going to Tanay which pass along Ortigas Ext. Ang hindi ko lang alam kung may derechong biyahe hanggang dun sa malapit sa lugar. May mga jeepney po from Crossing in Pasig going to Tanay. Malayo layo rin po ang lalakarin from the gate kung commute po kayo, going to Pasilungan which is their reception area.
maraming salamat sa info. sana makarating din kami rito. kung meron mag- organize papunta rito nais naming sumama. God bless.
hello po.i’m from rizal but not yet able to go there. i heard and passed once in this place. hopefully this time po makapunta kami with my family.salamat po sa info….God bless po senyo and best of health….thanks again
You’re welcome Ann and thanks!
Hello po im from Rizal, we were planning to go there this coming sunday to attend the healing mass. The first time i saw Regina Rica online i was amazed, its like Kamay ni Jesus in Quezon. Thank you for sharing information about Regina Rica.. God bless po and Good Health for you and your family…
Thanks Ruby! It’s a beautiful place, you won’t regret going there!
hello po how do we go to regina rosarii by car?iam organizing a pilgrimage there for my fellow catholic womens league (cwl)we are from the diocese of imus cavite.what is the schedule of masses ?thank you sister mary of the nativity ocds.
Madali lang po by car Sister, dere-derecho lang po yung Marcos Higway. Pagdating po sa Tanay, itanong niyo lang po yung liko going to Sampaloc, Tanay. Ang pinakamalapit pong landmark eh yung JE Camp at Camp Capinpin. Pag nalampasan niyo po yun mga 200 meter away po yung Regina Rosarii RICA. You can reach them at this number po (632) 3725327.
hi, nakarating po kami ng family ko last holy week and even if the lines going to the balai was so long my four year old kid wanted to go back. and i must also say that the trip we had really gave us a really good family bonding moment. hope to go back soon. thank you.
i love to go there and i wish we can make it!!!
You won’t regret visiting the place Liza!
hi,the description of regina rica is very nice!I also went there last April lenten season! we were tasked to have our first aid station.
i would like to invite everyone to visit tanay adventure camp!the place were you can relax after a long trip from manila!
hi mam arlene, i was also amazed in this place,!
Yes, it is an amazing place Esther. Thanks for visiting my blog.
Nice place! Maraming salamat. I appreciated so much and now longing to go there soonest.
You’re welcome Imelda! I hope you could visit it too.
when we went there 2 years ago, it wasn’t finished yet, ang ganda-ganda na niya ngayon. do the sisters still serve sushi? masarap sila gumawa ng sushi, i must go back and visit them again.
pwde po b my dala water
Kung water lang po pwede, may mga huts sila dun pa pwede magpicnic, yung iba po may dalang food. Malapit na lang po yun, baka thirty minutes na lang!
mga ilan oras po kya kpag galing ng tayuman binangonan o sa my angono po
Good evening po. Am so impressed with all the pictures and write-ups about Regina Rica. Actually I am a regular listener of Sister Eppie on her program over radio veritas every Sunday evening, lI am so much inspired with the different stories she shared with her listeners. She gave a beautiful picture of the place, how the visitors shared their uplifting experiences in the place. I had that longing to visit the place someday and feel same experience. Now that opportunity has come. Unexpected, My boss in school invited me to join her group to visit the place. I readily accepted that invitation, though I had to cancel a previous appointment. Our trip is scheduled tomorrow early morning. None of us has gone there before. We relie so much on the guidance of the Blessed Mother to bring us there. At last I can see the place and feel same experience for myself. I pray to God to bless us on our trip to Regina Rica.
Thank you Lord for this chance.
Thank you Ester. Enjoy your trip. It was a lovely, blessed and joyous experience visiting the image of Mama Mary. Regina RICA is one of the best places where you can feel peace and tranquility while enjoying nature at its best!
Hi Sister,
This place is very very good.. This year we went there with my wife and my mother in law… The first time i saw this my eyes getting wide… I’ve never thought na meron na pala place like this sa Rizal.. Place is very peaceful… that’s why we’re going back there with my family and some friends.. We told them to see this place…
More power to anyone who do and maintain the place…
Eboie
hello po maam arlene we are planning to go there po,,,sana matuloy……gus2 ko po mkrting dun….god bless po!~!!
Thanks for your comments Hannah! It is quite easy enough to go there, it is even easier if you have a car, dere-derecho lang yung Marcos highway. See my other blog on Regina RICA (The Garden and Beyond), you’ll have a concrete picture of the place.
pano po ba pumunta dito kung galing ng sanpedro, laguna. gusto po namin makapunta this lenten week. salamat po.
I am not really sure po…Could you just contact them personally?
thank you arlene1027 now i know the way going to REGINA RICA,you are a blessing…
You’re welcome, enjoy the trip!
hello po and good day!!plano po namin pumunta ng Regina Rica sa tuesday pwede po ba kaming pumunta sa tuesday. at pano po pala pumunta dyan galing po kami ng sm masinag.tnx po and god bless.
I posted the numbers in one of my comments in this thread, you can call them up first to make sure they are open. Dati po kasi Monday ang close nila. If you are traveling by car, derecho lang po yung Marcos highway until you reach the town of Tanay, Same route po siya going to Camp Capinpin.
Makano po kaya ung fare papunta dun s Regina Rica, Tanay?
I am really so sorry, I have no idea how much the fare is.
open po ba ang Regina Rica the whole day? thanks po.
Open po siya, di ko lang po alam kung anong oras sila nagsasara.
IT IS MY DREAM TO REACH THIS PLACE, WHEN I AM COMING HOME FROM ABROAD, IT HAS BEEN LONG TIME , THAT I WANT TO SEE THE PLACE OF OUR LADY OF THE HOLY ROSARY.I SAW TWICE IN THE FCBK, I PRAY I REACH THis PLACE, with my family. THANK YOU LORD, THAT I FOUND THE ADDRESS OF THIS PLACE.
[...] year now. The last time I did, we visited the 71-foot statue of Mama Mary in Tanay which I shared here in a blog. I love visiting religious sites where one could savor the peace and quiet and get in [...]