A Stranger in One's Paradise

A New Discovery
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In my recent love-affair with Nature-Tripping here, I have found a weekend get-away out of the City's madding crowd. Not too distant, nor too pricey. I was smitten by its virginal beauty, captured by creative wonder. Such is a shining example of how God works greater with men.
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The haven I am referring to is exactly where that healthy girl in green is sitting in peace and solitude, - unmindful of the chaotic world outside her. Well, not your typical attraction, but there's something there that made it special, the kind that you would want your love ones to see. Albeit, due to the location's enormity and height, it would ask an open mind & a pair of willing legs - healthy for the spirit and body, anyway. Thus: before the claws of media market its cultural uniqueness and environmental awareness in the mainstream, let me take you there while I'm going to -
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Aeta's Field, Forever...

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The Paradise' long and winding road is Dusty, Rocky and Grassy....
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And the narrow path is dotted with smiling cum waving children whose skin color, hair type and faces mirror one another. Their deep-brown eyes talks, gently confronting yours as they hail you with gusto. I was astonished. mystified. humbled. and yes, - entertained. Right in my front are the new breed of lingering aborigines kept and beloved by Barrio Secovia, province of Pampanga. Contrary to popular belief, they aren't naked and w/o the legendary bows and spear. Real people in real sense. Living a meager, yet less-complicated life. Shy, but genuinely friendly. They embraced the community after escaping the notorious Mt Pinatubo's mega-million spewing of burning ashes and lavas that ravaged their former tribal homes decade ago. After few minutes drive from Nayong Pilipino in Clark,

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The Gate of a Tailor-Made Paradise opens...
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and Welcome us to a journey of a lifetime inside the Paradise Ranch - a 50 hectare joint eco-tourism project of the Philippines and America. The temperature inside is tantamount to Baguio City, so cool for Wedding, ...cooler for Honeymoon...ideal for recreations...perfect for retreat w/ the Prayer Mountain atop. The cost of native bungalows, small villas, lake houses and cottages is fair to one's pocket.

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Nested at the peak of the infamous Clark Air Base is a million dollar panorama of the entire Clark Zone. The sight of nearby cities and towns is breath-taking. The hills and mountains so picturesque, the rivers and volcanoe, an eye-candy. Yet, the vista is just a tip-of-the-iceberg because there's more to discover inside,... there's -
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More than meets the eye,

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Garden-fresh air is in abundance, green-leafy bushes are well-manicured, red soil is fat and skillfully landscaped. Butterflies of all colors spread their wings freely and just like me, they are besotted by the grace and fragrance of Earth flowers around. The kid in me squeal all the more when I spotted life-size ostrich, marching ducks and proud peacocks in orchestra with the exotic birds' intermittent hummings and musical chirpings. These and more are what made up the hidden Sanctuary. In the midst of them are -
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The special workers,
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the bare hands who turned the formerly dry prairies into a Greenland. The men and women in Blue who used to be naked, and armed w/ bows and spears. They are the parents and siblings of the younger Aetas we've rubbed elbows with near the Gate. This Paradise was made for, and by them. While Non-Governmental-Organization abroad has made the funding, the Natives has provided the meaning. The Ordinary has become ExtraOrdinary with the intimate merging of the two.

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Report says, the Aetas are dedicated workers and proficient on their fields. They know how to innovate their craft. Plus: they are approachable, jolly and courteous. You won't get lost. You wont get bored with their company. But wait, there's more: not all employee w/ curly hair and bronzed skin are Aetas, some are AmerAsians w/c you could easily mistaken for their purely-pinoy blooded counterpart. The Ranch has been a medium to reunite them with their long lost American parent. They too plays a vital part for their good command of English to the delight of foreign guests. Most of them are visible during school breaks. And as I gladly -
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Look Forward,

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I wish and hope the Ranch will endure the test of times, so more younger generation would come to visit, support the noble cause, and be inspired by the brain and workforce behind - so as to learn, share and promote to others the very essence of -

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Tree-Caring,

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- and Tree-Planting for the Future.
I've been to someone's Paradise. But because I was made to feel at home, I'm a stranger no more

(The Attraction is open to public 7 days a week, P50 entrance. For xtra info: contact 045-8898245/46)